Beyond Suspicion

Looks like something Jack would order.

At the corner office, Clara stepped out from behind her desk and shook hands. Cindy had never met her, but the introductions had an uneasy quality that marked any meeting between two people who knew they would never, ever be friends.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” said Clara.

“Likewise.”

She offered Cindy a place at the end of the couch. Cindy seated herself, and Clara sat in the armchair facing her. Clara said, “I wouldn’t say I’m shocked to see you, but it is a surprise.”

“I’m a little surprised myself.”

“Did Jack send you?”

“No. He doesn’t even know I’m here.”

Clara arched an eyebrow, as if the admission interested her. “Would he be unhappy if he knew?”

“That depends on what you tell me.”

“That depends on what you ask.”

Cindy scooted forward to the edge of her seat and looked her in the eye. “I want honest answers.”

“I won’t lie to you. But I do owe a fiduciary obligation to Jessie’s estate. If there’s something I can’t reveal, I’ll tell you I can’t discuss it. Fair enough?”

“I suppose it’s the best I can hope for.”

“It is. So, what is it that you’d like to know?”

Cindy took a breath. “I want to know…”

Clara waited, but Cindy didn’t finish. “Know what?”

“I want to know if my husband has done anything to find the child that Jessie gave up for adoption.”

“Has he done anything? You mean you don’t know?”

“We don’t really talk about it.”

“Have you asked him?”

“I told you: We don’t discuss it.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not here to talk about what goes on between Jack and me. Do you know what Jack has done to find the child?”

“Why would I have that information?”

“You were Jessie’s friend. You drafted her will. If I were looking for a child that Jessie had given up for adoption, you’re the first person I would talk to. Maybe you’d have some leads. At the very least, you’d know which blind alleys your friend Jessie had followed in her own efforts to find her child.”

“I have some insights, yes.”

“Have you shared any of that with Jack?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“He hasn’t asked for it.”

Their eyes locked. “Will you share it with me?”

“Why do you want it?”

“As I understand it, everything Jessie owns goes to Jack if the child isn’t located.”

“That’s correct.”

“Then it’s important that we find the child. As Jack’s wife, the last thing I want is for him to inherit something he doesn’t really deserve.”

“The last thing you want is for him to inherit something from his old girlfriend.”

“Is there some reason I shouldn’t feel that way?”

“No. But the very fact that you’re here underscores the question: Why doesn’t Jack feel that way?”

“He does, I’m sure.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because he’s my husband.”

“Interesting answer.”

Cindy narrowed her eyes, confused. “Why is that interesting?”

“Jessie told me about a conversation she and Jack had right before the jury returned its verdict. She asked him why their reunion, if you will, hadn’t really blossomed into anything. Jack’s answer was like yours. He said, ‘Because I’m married.’”

“So?”

Clara shrugged and said, “A nicer explanation might have been something along the lines of because Jack loves you. At the time, I thought Jessie was being a little harsh in her judgment. But now that I’ve met you, maybe she’s right. Maybe Jack is just a poor, lost soul who’s playing by the rules.”

Cindy struggled not to say what she was thinking. “Are you going to answer my questions about this adopted child or not?”

Clara looked away, as if mulling it over. “I’m not sure I can help you.”

“Why not?”

“It’s awkward. I don’t care to get caught in the middle of whatever’s going on between you and your husband.”

“The only thing going on is that Jack is too shocked by all of this to do anything about it. Somebody has to step up to the plate and find this child, so we can all put it behind us and move on. That’s all I’m here for.”

“No. You’re here because you don’t believe whatever it is your husband is telling you about this child.”

“You’re reading way too much into this.”

“Am I?”

The doubtful expression made Cindy feel small. Finally, Cindy lowered her eyes, rose from the couch, and said, “This was a bad idea. I think I’d better go.”

Clara followed her to the door. “Jack always did like kids.”

“Excuse me?”

“He and Jessie used to double date with my husband and me. Even way back then, he said he wanted kids. He was so good with my son David.”

Cindy blinked, confused.

Clara said, “As I recall, Jack had a pretty rocky relationship with his own father. Guys like that often go the extra mile to keep history from repeating itself. He probably would have made a pretty good dad.”

“I’m sure he would.”

“Seems ironic, then, doesn’t it?”

“What?”

“You never gave Jack a child. Jessie did.”

Cindy didn’t know how to answer, but it didn’t matter. She couldn’t speak. She just stood numbly for a moment, ice-cold, waiting for the pain to pass.

“Thanks a lot for your time,” she said, then closed the door on her way out.

56

•

It was late Friday afternoon, and Jack was at his abuela’s when Rosa phoned him on his cell. Expecting bad news, he ducked out of the kitchen and took the call in the living room, out of his grandmother’s earshot.

“Indictment is down,” said Rosa.

He closed his eyes and slowly opened them, absorbing the blow. “How bad?”

“One count, one defendant.”

“Me?”

“No. Theo.”

The knot in his stomach twisted. A moment of relief for himself, a deep-felt pain for his friend. “No murder for-hire-scheme, like we thought?”

“Not yet.”

“You think it’s coming?”

“Could be like we talked about earlier. The prosecutor will use the indictment as leverage against Theo, try to get him to turn against you.”

“He could have done that even if he’d indicted both of us.”

“He’s being cautious, as he should be. You’re a respected lawyer, the son of a popular former governor. You can bet that the state attorney herself is insisting that the evidence against you be ironclad.”

“Marsh’s testimony obviously wasn’t enough.”

“Or the prosecutor has some reservations about it. I heard a rumor that Marsh refused to take a polygraph.”

“That’s just great. They’re not sure if their star witness is telling the truth, so they can’t indict me. But it’s fine and dandy to indict Theo.”

“Theo’s a former death-row inmate. I don’t care if he was i

“This really pisses me off.”

“Calm down, okay? We don’t know what additional evidence they have against Theo. It could be worse than we think.”

Jack sighed, realizing she was right.

Rosa said, “Right now we have to focus on making sure they don’t convince Theo to flip against you. That would be all the evidence they need to go after you on murder for hire.”

“The only way they can do that is to get Theo to lie. That’ll never happen.”

There was a brief pause, then Rosa shifted gears. “Where are you now?”

“My grandmother’s house. I didn’t want to be home or at the office when the indictment issued. Just can’t deal with the media right now.”

“Where’s Cindy?”

“With her mom.”

“Are you two…”

“I don’t know what’s happening with us.”

“Have you heard anything at all from Theo?”

“Not a word.”

“Well, his arraignment is set for Monday morning at nine. If we don’t hear from him by then, he’ll officially be a fugitive.”

“I’ve been trying to find him ever since his lawyer told me he couldn’t reach him. I called his friends, talked to his partner, the people he works with. No one seems to know anything.”