Mistaken Identity

A cracking sound shattered her driver’s side window. Be

Be

“You fucking bitch!” the cop bellowed. Lenihan grabbed Be

“You’re dead, bitch!” Lenihan dragged her to the edge of the stone wall. A panel of lights at the foot of the wall blinded her. She gasped for breath. She tore at his hands, then his nylon windbreaker.

“Get over there!” Lenihan shouted, then slammed Be

Be

With her last breath, Be

“Aaargh!” Lenihan cried. He dropped his nightstick and it clattered to the asphalt.

Be

They struggled up and onto the wall, their shadows commingling in a grotesque lover’s dance, their silhouettes magnified in the lights. Lenihan’s blood drenched them both. Be

“Hey, you! Hey, cut that out!” came a shout, and Be

Lenihan startled at the sight, then wobbled, losing his balance at the wall’s edge.

“No!” Be

65

Be

“Take a seat, Ms. Rosato,” said one of the detectives, though Be

Be

“Your lawyers are here, Rosato,” the detective said, and Be

Judy and Mary stood in the doorway behind Grady, their expressions strained with fear. Grady rushed forward and gathered Be

“Leave us alone, please. We need five minutes.”

“Five minutes, counselor,” the detective said. He had a ru

“Grady, wait,” Be

“Are you okay?” Mary answered, her voice hushed. “Your lip is all bloody.”

“I’m fine.” Be

“Be

“Carrier, you have no choice. First thing tomorrow, you file a withdrawal of your and Mary’s appearance. I want it as high-profile as possible. Tell Marshall to send a press release about it, too. I want you two off this case and I want everybody to know it.”

“How’s that go

“You can’t worry about what people think. Your safety is more important.”

“Than my reputation as a lawyer? Than my responsibility to you?” Judy shook her head and her hair swung around her ears. “I’m not quitting. I’m showing up tomorrow in court. That’s my choice.”

“No, it isn’t. It’s my law firm, I make the case assignments. We need an associate on the Burkett case. You’re it. Both of you.”

“I won’t do it,” Judy insisted, and Be

“Carrier, just once, could you do what I say? Just once, could you listen?”

“I’m listening, I’m just not obeying. What would my getting off the case solve? What about you? You’re the one they’re after. This cop tried to kill-”

“Yes, what about you, Be