Mistaken Identity

“Of course. We have no choice. She can work at home if we feed her the information we have.” Mary gestured at the papers on the conference table. “I found out Burden’s still out of the country, I can write her a memo. I can dictate my notes on the neighborhood survey and send her a copy by messenger. Then I could draft a cross-examination of the Commonwealth witnesses.”

“That should help.”

“I’m a fountain of helpfulness. What are you going to do?”

“Correct your work, as always,” Judy said, and reached for the phone to call Be

At home, Be

“Why did he deny it?” Grady asked. He was dressed in jeans and a gray T-shirt, and he’d gotten up early, brewed fresh coffee, and made French toast that Be

“We don’t know. There was no opinion, just the order.”

“He denied the postponement, too? What could he be thinking?”

“God knows.” Be

“No.” Grady folded his arms. “That wouldn’t make the difference. He’s on solid grounds legally, but as a matter of custom, you think at least he’d give you a postponement. It’s common decency.”

“Maybe it was the press coverage. Maybe he wants it over with.”

“That can’t be it. This decision will cause more criticism, won’t it? When it gets out that your mother has passed and he wouldn’t even grant a week’s extension? Hell, everybody’s got a mother. Guthrie’s got to run for reelection some day.”

“He’s getting on, maybe he’s not worried about reelection,” Be

“That’s possible. You’re not the most popular lawyer in town, except with me.”

“Wait a minute,” Be

“In on what?”

“A conspiracy against Co

“A what?”

“Think about it, Grady. Who gets hurt most by this decision? Co

“But a conspiracy, involving Guthrie?”

“It’s not impossible. Somebody’s taking aim, and I’m not the target, she is. Think back. First, somebody leaks to the press that Co

“Be

“It’s possible,” Be

“Co

“Grady, assume the cops killed Della Porta and framed Co

“Co

“We don’t know she lied about any of that, Grady. She agreed to the DNA test, did I tell you that? We both gave blood yesterday. Or the day before that.” Be

“No, you didn’t tell me, but don’t infer so much from the fact she agreed.”

“Why not? You’d infer an awful lot if she refused. So would I.”

Grady cocked his head. “She could have agreed to string you along. Or maybe she believes she’s your twin. Who knows?”

Be

“What? Why?” Grady asked, startled. “You going to work?”

“Not exactly,” she answered, and hurried to shower.

44

“My goodness! Ms. Rosato, you, eh, don’t have an appointment, do you?” The judge’s aged receptionist looked startled behind her bifocals and double-checked the appointment book lying open on her desk. Her slim hand bore an Irish wedding band, and Be

“This is an impromptu visit. Judge Guthrie wasn’t in his courtroom, so I assume he’s in chambers.”

“Why, yes, but one can’t simply visit Judge Guthrie.”

“Oh, he’ll be thrilled to see me.” Be

“Please, no. You can’t go in there. The judge is working.”

“So am I,” Be

“Ms. Rosato,” he said, turning from the bank of cream-colored volumes. The judge made a frail, stooped figure without his judicial robes. “Please accept my condolences in the death of your mother.”

“I got them this morning. ‘It is hereby ordered,’ I think it said.”

“Ah, quite. I thought you might be disappointed.”

“That, too. Puzzled is more apt, Your Honor.”

“Ms. Rosato, please call me Judge. Lawyers who barge into my office always call me Judge.”

Be

“I can understand your predicament,” Judge Guthrie said, his voice calm even as the door behind Be

“Judge,” the secretary interrupted, in a tremulous voice, “I telephoned the sheriffs, and they’re on their way.” She glanced at Be