Mistaken Identity

Lisa Scottoline

Mistaken Identity

The sixth book in the Rosato and Associates series

BOOK ONE

Doctor of Medicine: What is truth?

Doctor of Law: Whatever can be proved by two witnesses.

– August Strindberg, A Dream Play

1

Be

Be

THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE read a metal plaque over the door, and Be

The waiting room, packed with inmates’ families, looked more like day care than prison. Infants in arms rattled plastic keys in primary colors, babies crawled from lap to lap, and a toddler practiced his first steps in the aisle, grabbing a plastic sandal for support as he staggered past. Be

Be

The guards at the front desk, a woman and a man, were on the telephone. Female and male guards worked at the prison because both sexes were incarcerated here, in separate wings. Behind the desk was a panel of smoked glass that looked opaque but concealed the prison’s large, modern control center. Security monitors glowed faintly through the glass, their chalky gray screens ever-changing. A profile moved in front of a lighted screen like a storm cloud in front of the moon.

Be

While Be

“You an attorney?” asked the female guard, hanging up the phone. She was an African-American woman in a jet-black uniform and pi

“Yeah, I’m a lawyer,” Be

“I’ll look it up. Gimme your driver’s license. Fill out the request slip. Sign the OV book for official visitors,” the guard said on autopilot, and pushed a yellow clip ID across the counter.

Be

“What’s in the briefcase?”

“Legal papers.”

“Put your purse in the lockers. No cell phones, cameras, or recording devices. Take a seat. We’ll call you when they bring her down to the interview room.”

“Thanks.” Be

“You’re up, Rosato,” called the guard.

Be

“Go on up, girl.”

“Fine, but next time I expect di