Oh. Sorry. Claudia turned to look out the windshield at the parched midsummer fields. Its an occupational habit.
Its also kinda rude. I mean, when women stare at me, I want to at least pretend its because theyre trying to get inside my pantsnot my brain.
I dont want to be either place, thanks, she said tartly, and Billy grinned. A quick glance told him she was blushing.
Youve been awful quiet, Billy said. How about you give me some more background on this woman were going to see? I read the court transcript, but you must know stuff thats not public.
Claudia had a transcript in her lap, but shed spent more time covertly studying Billy than looking at her notes. Maybe shed thought he wouldnt notice, but he had excellent peripheral vision.
This interview was a waste of time. But Daniel wanted him to check it out, so here he was. Daniel had built Project Justice from the ground up and continued to choose which cases they took on. Apparently he trusted Claudias opinion that Mary-Francis was innocent. Or he at least didnt want to offend her.
Billy preferred to work behind the scenes, supporting the other investigators. But lately Daniel had been pushing him out the door more and more.
Mary-Francis isnt the most likable woman Ive ever met, Claudia said. She never should have taken the stand in her own defense.
Ill say. The cross-examination was a bloodbath.
And yetI still believe shes telling the truth. Not about everything, maybebut about not killing her husband, yes.
Obviously, or you wouldnt have brought the case to Project Justice. As a psychologist on retainer with the foundation, she didnt normally bring in cases. She interviewed witnesses or analyzed interrogation or trial video. She was a nationally recognized expert on body language.
Which, if anyone asked Billy, was all a bunch of hooey.
Since nobody asked, he listened politely as she went through her notes. Anytime she was questioned whether she knew where her husband was, or whether shed killed him, or if she knew someone else had killed him, her body and face indicated her answers were truthful. If she were lying, her body would show more stress. But her shoulders were relaxed, her eyes wide and animated, her voice confident. However, she wasnt always truthful. She lied about some things.
Like what?
Like her marriage. She tried to pretend everything was fine, that she and her husband were deeply in love. But any time that subject came up, she would pull her head in like a turtle and hide her hands in her lap. In fact, whenever anyone raised their voice or tried to intimidate her, she showed the classic body language of an abuse victim.
A squirrel darted out into the road. Billy swerved to miss it.
Claudia squeaked and grabbed on to the door. God, Billy! What the hell are you doing?
Trying not to hit a squirrel.
Oh. That shows great compassion. But Id prefer one dead squirrel to a head-on with a semi.
It was a reflex. He didnt like her assigning a motive to his actions. Great compassion. For a squirrel? Really? But he had a lot of hours to spend with her, and he didnt want to spend them arguing.
So, he continued, youre telling me someone does an imitation of a turtle, theyre lying?
Claudia released the door handle and seemed to gather her composure around her. That was one of many signs that she felt threatened when certain subjects were broached. Each person is different, though. I have to observe a subject for some length of time to get a baseline of their usual body language, then note when that changes
Yeah, okay.
You dont believe me?
He shrugged, unwilling to tell her what he really thought about hocus-pocus disguised as science. He much preferred the old-fashioned method of catching someone in a liebreaking them down with tough interrogation.
What I do is legitimate science, backed up by scores of studies
Really, you dont have to convince me. Its not essential for me to understand your work to do my job, is it?
Well, no.
You just want me to interrogate Mary-Francis so shell tell us about this supposed new evidence, and youll observe.
Interrogate is rather a strong word. I dont want you to put too much pressure on her. It could completely shut her down or cause her to end the interview.
Hmm. He had his own way of questioning a suspect, a way that usually worked, honed by his experience with the Dallas Police Department. Hed have to play it by ear. Any idea what this evidence is?
Only that its something shocking. But whatever it is, I want you to evaluate it from a cops point of view.
That means I ask hard questions.
I know. Just dont bully her, or her stressed-out body language will override everything else.
Got it.
They lapsed into silence. Claudia shifted in her seat, crossed and uncrossed her legs. Billy couldnt help looking at the bit of leg she revealed as her skirt slid up.
Damn, hard to keep your eyes on the road when something like that was sitting next to you.
So you really dont believe in what I do, she finally said.
He grinned. That really bugs you, huh?
Yes.
Why? You must be used to skepticism.
Usually not from people in my own camp. I thought Daniel only hired open-minded investigators.
Youre saying I have a closed mind?
I think you refuse to open your mind to something that goes against your deeply held beliefs. In my business we call that
Stop right there. You are not allowed to analyze me. Thats not part of the deal.
You didnt object to my analysis during your initial employment screening.
Cause if I had, I wouldnt have gotten the job. My head is just fine, thanks. It doesnt need shrinking.
Fine. The single word came out sharp and punchy as a quick right jab. But after a few moments of tense silence, she spoke again, sounding much more relaxed. I apologize. Analyzing everybody I spend time with is automatic for me.
That was something Billy understood. Even now, years after his undercover work, he still evaluated every person he met in terms of potential threat. He still sat with his back to a wall. And he still kept a spare gun inside his boot.
Back in the day, he hadnt been completely safe anywhere, not even behind locked doors. Ingratiating himself with one party of drug dealers made him a target for the other. Hed had a price on his head when Sheila was killed. His superiors had agreed that relocation to a different city, where his face wasnt known, was the best course of action.
The Houston P.D. would have hired him, but hed decided that he was done with police work. Getting the job with Project Justice had seemed like a godsend.
Didnt mean to overreact. But if youre going to pick apart every word I say or every gesture I make, maybe you should keep your observations to yourself.
She raised an eyebrow. Afraid of what you might hear?
Lets just say I dont want to have to defend myself against incorrect assumptions. Im a lover, not a fighter. He smiled and hoped she took that in the spirit hed intendedas a joke. Because even though hed spent a good portion of his sleepless night last night fantasizing about her slender legs wrapped around his hips, he did not intend to become her lover.
Like most women, she would want way more from him than he was prepared to give.
* * *
BY THE TIME MARY-FRANCIS Torres was led into the interview room wearing handcuffs and leg irons, Claudia had set up her small video camera in one corner. She might want to analyze the video later, run it in slow motion to detect the rapid-fire expressions that were too fast for human eyes to catch.
Claudia had requested that she and Mary-Francis be seated face-to-face, no glass partition, no telephones, not even a table between them. The prison officials had reluctantly agreed after Daniel had intervened. Whatever people thought of Project Justices efforts to free inmates who shouldnt be in prison, Daniels name had clout.
Remove her handcuffs, please, Claudia instructed the guard.
I cant do that, maam.
Yes, you can, she said smoothly. It was essential that Claudia observe Mary-Franciss entire body. Legs and feet often revealed a lot because people didnt monitor those body parts as much as hands and facial expression.
With a bit more prodding, the guard finally did as Claudia asked, though he cautioned her and Billy that no touching was allowed.
Finally they were left alone, and Claudia was able to inspect her subject.
Mary-Francis Torres was forty-three years old, slightly overweight, with black-and-silver hair scraped into a tight ponytail. Before imprisonment shed worn it in a bun, but she probably wasnt allowed hairpins.
She looked as if she was holding up pretty well. But death row inmates, isolated from the rest of the population, didnt have to worry about fights, or other inmates stealing their food. They were allowed books, sometimes a radio and an hour of outdoor recreation a day.
It was probably the most comfortable way to spend time in a maximum-security prison, not that Claudia would recommend it.
Prison had not yet humbled this woman. She still wore a belligerent expression, a subtle sneer that had not impressed the jury at her trial.
Claudia supposed she would be belligerent, too, if someone unjustly accused her of killing her husband. Assuming, of course, that she had a husband.
Hello, Mary-Francis. Claudia used her most soothing voice. How are you doing?
How do you think? Mary-Francis spoke with only a slight accent. She had emigrated to the U.S. when she was fifteen, Eduardo Torress child bride.
Is there something you need? Claudia asked. Toiletries or books?
Mary-Francis declined to answer the question, and instead looked pointedly at Billy. Who is he?
Billy is my associate from Project Justice. Hell be helping me evaluate whatever evidence you present.
Hes staring at me. Tell him to stop staring at me.
Billy didnt look away. He said nothing. Claudia wished he would try to put Mary-Francis at ease. A relaxed subject was much easier to read.
Lets get down to business, shall we? Claudia said. You said in your email that you have new evidence that will prove your innocence.
Mary-Francis shot another look at Billy. Not in front of him.
He has to be here, Claudia said. He is the only one who can decide whether Project Justice will take on your case.
Mary-Francis pursed her lips in disapproval. I have no patient-doctor privilege with him. This information cant get out. It cant go public. If certain people find out what Im going to tell you, they could have me killed.
Evidence of paranoia. That wasnt a good sign. Claudia hoped this wasnt a fools errand.
Billy is entirely trustworthy, Claudia said. He would never reveal sensitive information to an outsider.
Not even for a lot of money? A whole lot of money? He might be wearing a nice shirt, but he looks like a gangbanger to me. The kind who would pop an old lady in the head and steal the rings right off her dead fingers.
Claudia watched carefully for a reaction from Billy. But he took the insult as if Mary-Francis had been commenting on the weather. Which was one of the main reasons the man unnerved her, and why shed been studying him on the way to Mountain View Correctional Facility. He showed nothing of his true feelingsnot a single nonverbal clue. His every gesture and facial expression were carefully choreographed to project only what he wanted others to see. In her experience, only sociopaths could disguise their feelings so completely, and only because they didnt have genuine feelings. All of which made Billy both challenging and scary.
Look, Ms. Torres, Billy said, finally breaking his silence, you either have to talk with me here, or this interview is over. Its not Dr. Ellisons decision.
Mary-Francis shot Billy a look of pure venom. Fine. I will talk. She sounded as if she was bestowing upon them a great honor. The other day, my daughter, Angie, came to visit me. She never visits me, so I knew right away something was up.
You and your daughter arent close? Billy asked, smoothly taking over the questioning.
She thought I murdered her father. She wouldnt speak one word to me. Now, suddenly, everything has changed. Eduardo must have contacted her.
Claudia was shockedand disappointed. Eduardo couldnt possibly be alive. Was this simply a last-ditch, desperate effort of a condemned woman to stir something up?
Billy didnt look shocked. So you think your husband is alive? Because your daughter came to visit.
I know he is.
Maybe Angie simply had a change of heart. Billy flashed a charming, completely phony smile. Your execution has been scheduled. It could have made her realize shes about to become an orphan.
Claudia watched for variations in her subjects posture, or telltale gestures that might indicate stress.
But everything remained the same. Mary-Francis faced them squarely, her hands folded on her lap, her shoulders down and relaxed.
Angie asked me about something that was a secret between Eduardo and me. Something we agreed she shouldnt know about. Since I never told Angie, Eduardo must have.
Billy looked confused. Maybe he told Angie this secret before he died.
If he had, Mary-Francis said, Angie would have come to me long before now. I know my daughter. She is an addict, and she would steal anything valuable and sell it for drug money.
So this secret between you and Eduardo, Billy said. It involves money?
It involves something valuable, yes
Ah, now Claudia could see it. Not deception per se, but evasiveness. Mary-Francis was uncomfortable talking about this secret, whatever it was. Claudia made a note of Mary-Franciss tight mouth.
Well, what is it? Billy asked.
Mary-Francis seemed to be weighing her options. Finally she came to a decision. Coins. We had a coin collection worth a good deal of money. After we caught Angie stealing from us, I worried she might discover the coins and try to pawn them. So I gave them to my sister, Theresa, for safekeeping. I told no one, not even Eduardo.
Why not Eduardo? Billy wanted to know. Didnt you trust him?
Of course I trusted him! I was going to tell him, but it slipped my mind. And then he disappeared.
Hand to the neck. Eyes squinting. Shoulders raised. Voice at a slightly higher pitch. Any one of those things could be a sign of deception. Together, Claudia felt absolutely confident they indicated Mary-Francis was lying.