One way to find out, Doggett said.
She pressed the talk button and lifted the phone to her ear. Hello?
Coincidence, huh?
Fiona was looking at Doggett, saw his lips move, but it took her brain a split second to register his voice in her ear. Then her gaze met his, and simultaneously they hung up their phones.
I guess youd better have a look at the body, he said grimly.
She would have anyway, but now Fionas stomach churned in apprehension. If her phone number had been in the victims possession, then she was undoubtedly someone Fiona knew. Maybe a client, maybe just an acquaintance, but someone who had crossed her path. Fiona prayed it was nothing more personal than that.
The body was already being prepped for transport to the morgue, but Doggett waved the attendants aside. As they stepped back, one of them momentarily blocked the light so that Fiona could barely make out the victims features. She didnt recognize her at first, but then the man moved away, and the light hit the dead womans face full on.
Fiona gasped. She took an involuntary step back, straight into Doggett. Rather than moving away to give her some room, he put his hands on her arms to steady her. Easy.
He was strong in spite of his lean physique. Beneath the dark suit he wore, his body was hard and muscular. More than capable of holding Fiona up if she needed him to.
But she didnt need him to. Or want him to. She was still in shock, but she could stand on her own two feet just fine. Shed seen corpses before, only usually, thank God, they werent someone she knew.
She stared down at the victims beautiful face. That beautiful, pale, lifeless face, and Fionas legs began to tremble in spite of her resolve.
Doggetts hands tightened on her arms. Youre not going to faint or anything, are you?
No, Im okay, she insisted.
Do you know her? His deep voice rumbled in her ear and Fiona shivered.
Her name is Alicia Mercer. Her mother is a friend of mine.
Then I assume you know how we can get in touch with her next of kin?
Fiona nodded. Doggetts hands were still on her arms, but for some reason, she didnt seem to mind. She hardly even noticed until he took them away. Her parentsher mother and stepfatherlive in Houston. Lori and Paul Guest. Theyre both attorneys. I have their phone number and address at home. Alicia and her twin sister, Lexi, are students at Hillsboro University. They share an apartment off campus. Or at least...they did.
Doggett jotted down the information in his notebook, then glanced up. You say the victim is a twin? Youre positive about her identity?
Yes, Im positive. Its Alicia. She and Lexi look a great deal alike, but theyre not identical. You can check her fingerprints, but I know its her... Fiona trailed off as she gazed down at the body. She does look different, though.
Different how? Doggett said sharply.
I never saw her dressed this way. And shes changed her hair. I didnt know the girls all that well, but I had the impression Alicia was the conservative one.
What about the mark on her shoulder? Doggett asked. You ever see it before, on either sister?
Fiona shook her head. No. Alicia certainly didnt seem the type who would go in for tattoos. She was so levelheaded She stopped abruptly as something occurred to her. She turned, putting an unconscious hand on Doggetts sleeve. Oh, my God.
What? Something flickered in his eyes, a curious little flame that made Fiona suddenly aware of how close they were standing.
Most of the time she tried very hard to keep herself alooffrom situations and from the people around her. Body contact, even a touch as slight as her hand on a mans arm, was never something she instigated. Ever. It didnt bode well, she decided, that shed done so now quite automatically. She dropped her hand. Alicia called me last week. She left a message on my voice mail. Id forgotten about it until now.
If he noticed her reaction, he didnt let on. Did she say what she wanted?
No.
Did you call her back?
Fiona swallowed. No.
One brow lifted slightly. So how well did you know her?
As I said, I didnt know either of the girls very well. Their mother moved to Houston several years ago after she remarried. Alicia and Lexi were maybe fourteen at the time. I didnt see them again until last year when the girls started the fall semester at Hillsboro. Lori called and asked if she could give them my phone number.
Why?
She said shed feel a lot better if they had someone nearby they could call if they...got into trouble. The irony was devastating. Fiona had to work to keep a tremor from her voice. The guilt, for a moment, was almost overwhelming.
When was the last time you saw Alicia? Doggett asked.
Last winter. She, Lexi, and I had dinner just before they left to go home for the holidays.
Did she mention any problems she might have been having? Trouble with a boyfriend? A professor? Anything like that?
Fiona shook her head. We didnt talk about anything personal. I dont think either of them would have felt comfortable confiding in me about their private lives. Im sure the only reason they agreed to see me at all was to appease their mother.
Did you have dinner with them often?
Only a couple of times.
Did you have the impression that Alicia got along with her parents?
Fiona glanced at him in surprise. As far as I know. I never saw her with her stepfather, but Lori and Alicia were very close.
What about the sisters?
They were inseparable.
But you did say that you didnt know the girls all that well, right? And you hadnt seen much of the mother in recent years?
Fiona hesitated. It was my impression they were all very devoted.
Still, he said, Families have problems. It would be pretty unusual if they didnt tick each other off at least once in awhile.
All I can tell you is that I never saw it, Fiona said a trifle impatiently.
He didnt press the point further. So you havent seen or talked to Alicia since before Christmas.
No.
Tell me about the message you got from her last week.
Fiona closed her eyes briefly. I was in court when she called, and by the time I got her message, I was swamped with meetings and interviews. I completely forgot about it.
She called on your cell phone?
Fiona nodded. I gave them my cell phone number because Im hardly ever at home.
What was the message?
Fiona frowned, trying to recall Alicias exact words. She identified herself and then she asked me to call her back. She said she needed to talk to me.
Did she sound frightened? Anxious?
I dont remember noticing anything out of the ordinary about her tone or the message. I assumed she wanted to set up another dinner before she and Lexi went home for the summer break. I intended to call her back in a day or two when my schedule lightened up.
But you never did.
No.
Behind her, Fiona heard the rasp of the zipper closing on the body bag, but she didnt turn. She didnt want to look. Didnt want to see that face, so rigid and silent but still so beautiful in death.
I have to call Lori, she murmured. But it was a call Fiona dreaded making more than anything in the world.
Dont make that call just yet, Doggett said.
Fiona glanced at him. She has a right to know whats happened to her daughter.
The mother may be a personal friend of yours, but this is still a homicide investigation, he said gruffly. And you know as well as I do that first impressions on hearing this kind of news are important. Id appreciate you letting me get in touch with the parents when I feel the time is right.
Fiona frowned. And when will that time be, detective?
You let me worry about that.
What about Lexi? Someone has to tell her, and I dont think she should hear something like this from a complete stranger.
But Doggett was no longer listening to her. He was staring over her shoulder, scowling deeply. Fiona turned to see what had drawn his attention.
She sucked in a sharp breath. Frank Quinlan had just arrived with a couple of uniformed minions in tow. He stepped under the crime scene tape and bulldozed his way through the alley. Those not in his immediate orbit scurried for cover.
Quinlan was a stockily built man with close-set eyes and a hawkish nose that gave him a mean, predatory look hed perfected to his advantage over the years. He was intimidating, arrogant, and had so many connections in the department, knew so much dirt on city officials, that even his superiors were afraid of him.
Fiona consciously straightened her posture because she knew that in a one-on-one confrontation with Quinlan, her height was her advantage. Men like Quinlan couldnt stand tall women.
He strode past her to Doggett and stabbed a finger in her direction. What the hell is she doing here?
That was like him, not to speak to her directly, Fiona thought. Jerk. She pitied the women under his command.
Commander, this is Fiona Gallagher. Shes an ASA
Quinlan cut off Doggetts introduction with an obscenity. I know who she is, Doggett. I asked what shes doing here.
Deputy Chief Fox asked for an ASA on the scene to advise. Fiona was pleased that her voice sounded smooth and professional, as if his little tirade didnt bother her at all.
He whirled. Let me give you a piece of advice, Gallagher. Stay the hell out of our way. You interfere with this investigation, youll have me to answer to.
And if you screw up my case, youll have me to answer to, she shot back. I expect to be notified the moment you have a suspect in custody. I want to be present for the interrogation.
Her insinuation was crystal clear, and if there had been sufficient light where they stood, Fiona was certain she would have witnessed Quinlans face turn a dark, livid purple. As it was, his rage rendered him incapable of speech for a moment before he sputtered another obscenity, then turned on his heel and stalked off.
Milo materialized beside Fiona. She hadnt even known he was around, but he must have heard the sordid little showdown, because he muttered, Asshole, in a low voice, then said anxiously, Are you okay?
She shrugged. Sure. Why wouldnt I be?
Doggett said behind her, What the hell was that all about?
She turned. Lets just say, Im not one of Commander Quinlans favorite people.
Yeah, I got that, he said dryly. You want to clue me in on whats going on?
Before Fiona could answer, Milo said, You ever hear of the Fullerton Five, detective?
You mean those guys who killed that little girl a few years back? Doggetts expression subtly altered. Wait a minute. He glanced at Fiona. Gallagher. Thats why I know you. Youre the prosecutor who went after Quinlan when one of those guys brought a lawsuit against the department. No wonder hes pissed at you.
I didnt go after him, Fiona argued. Allegations were brought against him and some of the detectives under his command that I believed to be credible. I cooperated with the IAD investigation because I wanted to get at the truth.
He was cleared by Internal Affairs and by the Office of Professional Standards, Doggett said. You still believe he coerced those confessions?
Fiona shrugged. I know I cant prove it. But I learned a long time ago that this is a town built on clout and cronyism. Ive had to accept that justice is sometimes hard to come by.
Yeah, Doggett said with a frown. I guess thats a lesson weve all had to learn. He glanced back down at the body bag, then turned on his heel and disappeared into the darkness.
* * *
FIONA STARED OUT THE CAR window as Milo drove her home a little while later. They were just coming back from Lexi and Alicias apartment on the north side of the city, near the university. Doggett had agreed to let Fiona be present when he broke the news to Alicias sister, but when they arrived at her apartment, no one was home.
Which was very odd and troubling to Fiona. Where could an eighteen-year-old girl be at four oclock on a Tuesday morning? Any number of places, of course, but with her sister lying dead in an alley
Shes okay, Fiona told herself. Wherever Lexi was, she was fine. They couldnt both be gone. Fate wouldnt be that cruel to Lori, but Fiona knew all too well that it could be. Shed seen enough heartbreaking cases in her years as first a defense attorney and now as an ASA to know that fate had nothing to do with fairness.
Fiona? Did you hear what I said?
Milos voice drew her out of her deep reverie. She turned from the window. Sorry. What?
I was asking you about the other twin. Is she He broke off, looking sheepish. I dont want to sound insensitive here.
But you want to know if Alicias twin is as beautiful as she was. Fiona sighed. Even more so, if you can believe it.
Milo shot her an incredulous glance. Youre kidding, right?
Im not kidding. You should see her. Lexi is... Fiona trailed off. I dont know how to explain it exactly. She has this quality about her. Men are...drawn to her.
Like shes always in heat, Milo said under his breath.
What?
He shrugged. Nothing. I was just projecting, I guess.
But you nailed it perfectly, Fiona said with a frown. Thats exactly how men look at Lexi.
Milo was silent for a moment. Were they models or something? Ill have to take your word about Lexi, but lets face it. Alicia was drop-dead gorgeous.
Fiona winced at the description. They had offers to model, but their mother tried to shield them from all that.
Shield them how?
By asking me to look out for them, Fiona thought. But for crying out loud, who was she to supervise teenagers? Shed fallen in love with a killer. Hardly a role model most mothers would welcome, but Fiona and Lori went way back.
She could still remember that day after school when Lori had confided in her that she was pregnant. Fiona had been stunned. She wasnt even allowed to date, and her best friend was pregnant!
Tearfully Lori had explained how shed met this guy at the mall. He was older, more experienced, and claimed he was in love with her. Fiona could believe that. Even so young, Lori was a blond, blue-eyed stunner, the kind of girl that men couldnt take their eyes off.