Dead Ringer

“About eight-thirty,” Abrams answered, begi

“Did you all leave together? You, Bill, and your controller?”

“No, I left with my controller. Our car was in valet, and Bill had to go back to the office, so he walked.” Abrams was looking at Be

Linette had left alone. “Not really,” she answered quickly. She didn’t want Abrams to go blabbing to Linette that she knew about him being at the Palm. “I’m asking because I read in the newspaper that Robert might have had di

“Everybody eats there. Most businessmen I know, anyway. It’s the best steakhouse in Center City.”

“I know, it’s just a coincidence, but I was just wondering if you or Bill ran into him there.”

“No, I didn’t even see him, and I have no idea if Bill did.”

But Robert and Mayer were sitting in the window. “It’s odd that you didn’t see Robert when you first went in. He was sitting in one of the windows in front, right near the main entrance.”

“How do you know that?”

Indeed. “I think I read it, or somebody told me.”

“Oh well, we didn’t go in through the main entrance. We drove into the valet, and that’s on the side. We went in the side door, and through the Hyatt.”

My God. So it was possible. Linette could have done it, even himself. He had the motive, the opportunity, and the knife. And who knew what his dark side was like? “Oh well, let’s not dwell on it. How can I help you make your representation decision? Feel free to ask me anything about our firm.”

“I’m wondering if you currently have any clients in the class, since Robert’s death.”

“No, I don’t.” Be

“I was concerned that since FitCo isn’t as big a company as some of the others, it might not get much attention if we went with one of the other firms, like Bill’s, for example. I think he’d be too wrapped up with Herman Mayer’s company to take us seriously. Herman can be a squeaky wheel, and Linette has lots of other matters, too.”

“I see. That wouldn’t be a problem here.” We have no other clients. Then Be

“I do, and that’s part of my concern.” Abrams’s face darkened. “Can’t say I’m a fan.”

Who is? “Do I need to know why?”

“It’s probably silly,” Abrams said with a sigh. “It might even be prejudice. But my background is Jewish. We lost my aunt and uncle during the Holocaust, in Theresienstadt. Herman’s company was founded during the war, and I have a problem with that. My parents still won’t buy a BMW or a Volkswagen.”

“So you don’t necessarily want to be at the same firm that Mayer is,” Be

“I think we would too,” Abrams said, rising. He took a second to brush down his neat pleated pants. “I’d like to think it over, if I may. Take a look at the other firms, too.”

“That makes sense.” Be

“I will,” Abrams said. He bid the associates good-bye, then let Be

And hoping that he didn’t tell Linette.

“I told you! I told you it was Linette!” Judy was standing at the head of the table, her eyes dark with anger. “That guy is a sleaze. Sleaze!”

“Calm yourself, Carrier,” Be

“What?” Carrier asked, and Be

“Yep. Sharp enough.”

“What do you want me to do, boss?”

“Go down to the medical examiner’s office. Tell him who you are and show him that knife. See if it could have been the type used to kill Robert.”

Murphy edged her tiny knit butt onto the conference table. “Shouldn’t we also get a copy of the autopsy report? I bet we can finagle it. I have friends in the DA’s office.”

“It may not be ready yet,” Be

“You think Linette did it? Himself, even?” Murphy asked.

“I just want to follow up,” Be

“Even if it isn’t the same knife, it doesn’t eliminate Linette as a suspect, or Mayer for that matter. He could have used another knife. Lots of people carry penknives, and they’re way easier to get than guns.”

Murphy snorted. “Guns aren’t that hard to get, either.”

Be

“Sure, why wouldn’t I be? What do you have?”

“First thing, you have some experience with restraining orders, I know.” Be

“Done.”

“Thanks. Second, you heard Abrams say that Linette told him he was going back to work after di

“You mean like a sign-in log? It’s not superreliable.”

“No, but it’s a start. Think you can get the guard to show it to you?”

“In this dress? You have to ask?” Murphy smiled broadly, for the first time today. “Where are you going, Be

She checked her watch. She hoped David was waiting out there, ready to go. She’d tell him about Linette on the cell, and she wasn’t completely surprised to find herself looking forward to the call.

“Someplace sad,” Be

26

Situated at the southwestern corner of Rittenhouse Square, the lovely block-square Victorian garden designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the Manchester was the most exclusive address in Philadelphia. Still, Be

“Excuse me, I’m Micheline St. Amien,” said a young, beautiful blonde, gliding from the crowd in a black tweed suit that had little flares at the cuffs, a flared skirt to match, and a cinched-in waist so narrow it made Be