The limo pulled to a stop, and lots of heads turned to gawk. Cameras swiveled in Daniels direction.
What the hell? If Jamie had engineered this welcome wagon, he would wring her neck. Hadnt he emphasized how important privacy and discretion were? Had she done this to deliberately sabotage his efforts?
Any idea whats going on? Randall asked.
None. He quickly dialed in the internet on his phone and checked the local headlines. Ah. Judge John Harlow was caught in the backseat of his car with a fifteen-year-old. Story broke this morning.
You cant get out here, Randall said firmly. If the press gets wind that youre out and about, itll ruin any chance you have of conducting normal business.
Is it really a front-page story? I mean, come on.
Yes, Daniel. You driving downtown to meet with a prosecutor about Christopher Gables would be front-page material.
Daniel thought he had a pretty good grip on the media and their opinion of him. After all, he watched every news channel all day in his office. Did he have a blind spot where he, personally, was concerned?
More important, what was he going to do now? He wished hed brought Jillian. She could contact Jamie, smooth things over, reschedule the meeting
Hell, what was he thinking? He could call Jamie himself. He had the fanciest cell phone on the planet, which Jillian programmed with any number he might need.
Moments later he was dialing Jamies direct number, and a rush of sweet anticipation coursed through him as he waited for her to answer.
JAMIE WAS AS PREPARED for her meeting with Daniel Logan as she could be. She had reserved the conference room, and had even sprung for a snack tray from the deli around the corner out of her own pocket. Daniel had fed her lavishly, so she felt obligated to at least see that he didnt go hungry while on her turf.
Frankly, she was surprisedand flush with inappropriate pleasurethat he had agreed to her terms. As she assembled her stack of papers she intended to present, she couldnt deny a certain eagerness. But behind it was a dark cloud of impending doom she couldnt shake.
If Daniel succeeded in his quest, her job was in danger. Certainly her chances of rising to any level of prominence in the district attorneys office would be quashed. Winston Chubb had been livid when shed told him what Daniel Logan was up to. Though he feared the man, Chubb had instructed her to neutralize Logan and his do-gooder efforts using any means at her disposal.
Any means.
As she returned to her desk to check messages one last time before the meeting, the phone rang. The number on caller ID was blocked and she considered letting it go to voice mail. But at the last minute she picked it up. If it was Daniel, telling her he was delayed, she would politely remind him she couldnt rearrange her schedulejust as hed done to her.
McNair. Her voice came out a bit sharper than shed intended.
Its Daniel. Im in front of your building now, but Im trapped. Theres a media frenzy going on out here, and if I step out of my car Ill become a part of the uproar.
Oh, for the love of She tried mightily to hold on to her patience as she moved to the window and looked down. From her sixth-floor office she had a perfect view of the front entrance, and it was exactly as Daniel had described.
Its the Judge Harlow thing, I imagine, Daniel said.
Jamie sighed in frustration. She hadnt yet read her newspaper today, but shed heard about the judge. The whole office buzzed with the news. Just what the city needed, another scandal.
Is there a back entrance? Daniel asked.
Im afraid not. With our heightened security, everyone has to come and go through the front doors. Youll just have to cope.
I cant. His voice held a note of panic. Its highly unlikely I would make it into the building unobserved. And I dont think either of us wants to see our business splashed on the front page until were ready.
He did have a point. What do you suggest? My time is extremely limited. Im awaiting a jury verdict, and I could be called back into court at any minute.
We can meet in my car. Theres a big backseatits private, its roomy and very secure.
Jamie didnt like it. Not at all. Was he simply manipulating her, forcing her to abandon her plans and conduct the meeting on his turfagain?
But she couldnt deny that a security problem existed. That crowd outside looked hungry, and if they couldnt get a glimpse of the judge or at least get a statement from someone in Public Relations about the situation, they would take what they could get.
And they would have a heyday with the juicy combination of Daniel Logan trying to free Christopher Gables. They would grab on to the surface similarities between the cases, and she would have to spend all of her time chasing down rumors and denying, denying, denying.
All right, we can meet in your car, she said, barely able to part her jaws to get the words out. Give me a few minutes to gather my materials. And her wits.
She was about to get in the backseat of a car with a man who had the ability to short-circuit her rational mind and possibly tank her whole career.
Thank you, he said, sounding like he meant it. His relief was almost palpable. Its the black Mercedes limo parked near the corner.
Five minutes later, she was wending her way past reporters and cameras on the walkway leading from the criminal justice building to the street. Despite her efforts to appear insignificant and ignorant, one reporter jumped into her path and stuck a microphone in her face.
Ms. McNair, can you comment on the situation with Judge
Even if I knew anything, which I dont, I wouldnt comment. Excuse me. She stepped around the microphone, hoping the reporter holding it would focus on someone else.
A few more steps, and she reached the longest, blackest, shiniest vehicle shed ever seen. A uniformed driver popped out to open the back door and she slid in as quickly as possible, praying no one noticed. The only time shed been at the center of media attentionduring the Christopher Gables trialshe hadnt liked it. It was something she needed to get comfortable with, though, if she wanted to advance in her chosen profession.
Jamie kept her eyes focused down on herself as she smoothed her skirt and gathered her thoughts. Only then did she look up and face Daniel Logan.
At least he had clothes on this time. But the effect of Daniel in a well-tailored gray suit and silk tie was no less devastating to her hormones. Her heart gave a little jump, and she sucked in her breath.
He held out his hand. Jamie. Sorry for the inconvenience.
She took his hand. Daniel. Thank you for coming.
It was the first time shed called him by his given name. Shed been avoiding it, because it seemed a bit too chummy. Too intimate, given their adversarial relationship.
But it seemed positively Victorian to keep calling him Mr. Logan.
As soon as she could do so politely, she eased her hand away from the warmth of his. His handshake absolutely oozed confidence. How did he do that? And what did hers communicate? Shivering nerves?
How was the traffic? she asked, because that was what everyone in Houston asked first thing in any meeting.
I wasnt really paying attention, he admitted. I was going over my notes. But I guess it was okay. We got here quickly.
How was the traffic? she asked, because that was what everyone in Houston asked first thing in any meeting.
I wasnt really paying attention, he admitted. I was going over my notes. But I guess it was okay. We got here quickly.
Of course he didnt have to concern himself with mundane matters like traffic. He had a chauffeur and a limousine the size of a battleship. She tried to imagine living like himhot and cold running servants, mostly hot from what shed seena three-story mansion, polo ponies and tennis courts. She couldnt even wrap her mind around it. She couldnt imagine what it would be like to not work like a dog every day, watch her spending, save for retirement.
She resented the ease of his life. Yeah, six years on death row wouldnt have been a picnic. But hed been convicted of murder. And here he was, flaunting his wealth and dabbling in charitable work, helping others like himself escape retribution for their crimes.
So, she said crisply, imagining a clear shell around her that would make her immune to the handsome billionaires physical proximity. The driver cant hear us, can he? She glanced at the glass partition that separated the driver from the passenger seating.
Not a word. We could scream at the tops of our lungs and he wouldnt hear us.
That thought didnt particularly cheer her.
Yes, well. Since I called this meeting, and we have limited time, lets get started.
All right. Tell me about Theresa.
That was a good place to start. She was credible. Sincere. My investigation leaves me certain she is the same Theresa who made the 9-1-1 call, bringing the police to El Toreador. And her statement about seeing a stranger in the restaurant kitchen sounds plausible.
Only plausible? You dont think it rings with truth?
Plausible, she said firmly.
Daniels eyes almost twinkled as he listened attentively with his whole body. She liked that about him, even if she disapproved of everything else. So many peoplemen especiallymight appear to be listening, but they were actually waiting for their turn to speak.
Im very glad to hear you say that, he said. Can you show her mug shots? Have her work with a sketch artist? I have an artist on call for Project Justice that does excellent work.
Now came the hard part. As Ive explained before, one eyewitness statement, delivered all these years after the crime, will not trump the physical evidence. All Theresa gave me was a vague description. She saw an unfamiliar man in the kitchen talking to the victim. Minutes later, as she was bussing tables, she heard a loud crash in the kitchen and went to investigate. She found the victim dead.
But she gave some description, right? Male Caucasian in his thirties, medium build
Wearing a baseball cap, so she couldnt even get a hair color. Its too general.
But she told you it was positively not Christopher Gables. Correct?
Yes, Jamie admitted. But if we press her for details at this pointwell, its easy for the mind to play tricks. Her subconscious could provide details just to please me.
Daniel opened his mouth to object, but she cut him off.
Not that she would deceive me on purpose, but memory is a strange and unreliable beast. Considering your experience with Project Justice, Im sure you understand that.
Daniel seemed to deflate slightly. Still, it seems likely to me that if this stranger was the last person seen talking to Frank before he died, he is a more probable suspect than Christopher.
Except that his prints werent found on the murder weapon.
Daniel pressed his lips together, and Jamie tasted victory. At last, she just might have convinced him he was on a fools errand.
She tried to press her advantage. I brought the case file with me. Im ready to go step-by-step through the thinking process that led me to prosecute this case.
Id like that.
Jamie opened her briefcase just as her phone rang. It was rude to take a call during a meeting, but she was still waiting for that verdict.
Im sorry, this might be important. She quickly looked at the caller ID. Oh. You may actually be interested in this. It was Eddie, the evidence tech whom shed bullied into taking another look at Frank Sissoms clothing. Yes, Eddie?
I got the results on those stains. Put it through the spectrometer. Its not toner powder at all.
Her stomach sank. Let it be dirt. Charcoal. Cigarette ash. Well, what is it?
Very fine metal filings. Ferrous.
This could not be happening to her. Metal filings? As in exactly what Daniel had predicted she would find?
Thanks, Eddie, Ill get back to you.
Well? Daniel said. Then his face softened. Jamie, whats wrong? Youre pale. Did he say something to upset you?
Her lips felt suddenly cold, and she could barely form the words. You said something about a s-serial killer?
CHAPTER FOUR
WHO WAS THAT ON THE PHONE? Daniel asked sharply. Whoever it was, hed sure said something to shake up Jamie.
My evidence tech, the one reexamining Frank Sissoms clothes. He found something no one else didvery fine metal shavings.
Daniel could hardly believe what he was hearing. His long shot had paid off. Jamie, this is huge. Do you realize what this means? In his exuberance, he threw his arms around the lawyer and hugged her. Finally, someone had listened to him about those damn metal shavings.
Um, do you always get this happy at the prospect of helping a client?
Suddenly self-conscious, he released her and scooted back a few inches on the enormous bench seat. Sorry. Had he been out of the social scene so long, hed forgotten how to behave appropriately with someone he barely knew?
Only, he felt as if he knew her. Over the past twenty-four hours, he had delved deeply into Jamie McNairs background, and his admiration for her had only grown.
Her roots had come from anything but privilege. Her single mother had raised her in a one-bedroom apartment with a series of low-paying jobs. Her father was completely absentDaniel hadnt even been able to learn his identity.
Yet Jamie had gotten herself an education with a lot of hard work, scholarships and student loans. Still not rolling in dough, judging from her off-the-rack plum-colored suit and a pair of slightly scuffed black pumpsrecently polished, but in need of new soles.
Not that she didnt look stunning in that color. She would look stunning in just about anything.
Daniel forced himself to focus. You dont share my optimism, I take it.
Frankly, Im too shocked to know what I feel. The black, powdery substance on Frank Sissoms shirt was written off as copier or printer toner. No one ever questioned it or analyzed it until now. It didnt seem relevant.
Ive learned its those tiny, overlooked elements that can make or break a case. So, are we on the same page now? Same offender?
It warrants looking into, she said with some degree of resignation. One thing I cant help but noticeFrank Sissom was murdered a scant two months after you were released from prison. If we have a serial offender, whos to say it isnt you?
Daniel felt a prickling of fear. Hed never even considered that he could become a suspect. But he grabbed a bottled water and took a sip to relieve his suddenly dry mouth.