The Innocent Woman

37

Amy Dearborn couldn’t meet Steve Winslow’s eyes. “It’s not like that,” she said.

“Not like what?”

“What he said on the tape. Wanting’ to see me without you. That had nothing to do with it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

“Then look at me.”

“Huh?”

“Look at me.”

Reluctantly, Amy raised her eyes.

“Good,” Steve said. “Tell me something. This whole time you’ve been holding back, not telling me the truth and the whole bit-was it because of this?”

“Huh?”

“Was that the deal? Fletcher tells you to cut your lawyer out. You went to see him, it’s like you’re trying to cut me out of the settlement. That’s how it feels to you, that’s how you think I see it, and that’s why you wouldn’t talk.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Then what is it?”

“Oh, I don’t know.”

“Great.” Steve sighed. “The problem is, once you start lying, it gets to be a habit. In this case, everything looks so bad, you think all you can do is lie. Well, wake up. I’m your lawyer. I’m the one person you don’t have to lie too. You tried to ace me out of a settlement, well frankly I don’t care.”

“I didn’t try to ace you out of a settlement.”

“Who cares?” Steve said. “Do you get the point? Nobody fucking cares.” He ticked them off on his fingers. “You’re on trial for murder. That’s problem number one. You got Tracy on the hook as an accessory. That’s problem number two. I’m risking being disbarred, if I’m not nailed as an accessory myself. That’s problem number three. Do you think the idea that I might have missed out on a chance to share in some penny ante settlement Fletcher might have proposed to you weighs very heavily on my mind? You see it as a big deal, because it means you deceived me. Well, big fucking deal. You deceived me about everything else.”

When Amy started to flare up, Steve put up his hand. “But let’s not get into that now. The point is, we’re going back into court and I don’t need any more body blows. I gotta cross-examine this guy, and if there’s anything he’s gonna throw in my face, I need to know it now.”

Amy shook her head. “There’s nothing.”

“No murder weapon with your fingerprints on it you conveniently neglected to mention?”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“Yes, you would,” Steve said. “If you didn’t, I’m very glad. But don’t try to tell me you wouldn’t.”

Amy glared at him.

“Good,” Steve said. “At least I have you attention. Do you understand if the cops can connect the murder weapon with you, the ball game is over?”

“What murder weapon?”

“The one they can’t find. The one that wasn’t there when they found the body. The one that wasn’t there when I found the body. The one you claim wasn’t there when you found the body.”

“It wasn’t.”

“I’m glad to hear it. But we only have your word for that, and we know how good that’s been.”

“Damn it-”

“You pissed off?”

“You’re damn right.”

“Feel frustrated, helpless as hell?”

“What do you think?”

“Good. Then you see the problem. You’re the little girl who cried wolf. You’ve told so many lies, it’s very frustrating when nobody believes you anymore.”

“I didn’t find the gun.”

“That may be true. I hope it is.”

“It’s true.”

“Oh yeah?” Steve said. He exhaled. “Then I hope it’s enough.”