Heartstone

Bobby was different from any man she had ever known; he was handsome, their sex was good, but all these things were parts of love, not love itself. She did not know what love was, or whether she was capable of it, and she did not know if what she felt for Bobby was love.

So, she had cried, but she had not called her parents. Instead, she had drawn three thousand dollars out of her personal savings account and she was sitting in Mark Shaeffer’s office prepared to lie. She could not abandon Bobby, and the three thousand dollars, she was sure, would keep Mr. Shaeffer on the case. But, at this time, before she had confronted Bobby, she did not have the courage to involve her family.

“My father was away on business when I called. He will be back in a week and I can ask him then, but I’m sure that he’ll say it’s okay.”

Mark looked at the three thousand dollar check and missed most of what Sarah had said. He had never had a fee anywhere near this big and it did not even dawn on him that the rest of the ten thousand might not follow.

“That will be fine. This is more than enough to get me started.”

It was after five and Mark’s secretary had left for the evening.

“What did the district attorney tell you?” Sarah asked anxiously. Mark noticed that she seemed less self-confident tonight. The quiet in the office and her presence there alone had made him feel mildly uncomfortable. He wanted to reassure her, but his fantasies of where that could lead made him afraid.

“The district attorney didn’t tell me much that I didn’t know already, except that he says that they have an eye-witness-a girl who was supposedly with Bobby and his brother at the time of the killings.”

“She saw them do it?” Sarah asked in disbelief.

“She says she saw them do it, according to the D.A. That doesn’t mean that she’s telling the truth. There are some fu

“For instance, why didn’t she come forward seven years ago? The prosecutor says she had amnesia caused by seeing the people killed, but why, all of a sudden, does her memory come back?

“Also, why is Heider keeping his key witnesses so quiet? If there wasn’t something wrong with their case, I don’t think he would have done that.”

“Do you…do you think that Bobby did…?”

“That he’s guilty?” Mark said, leaning toward her across his desk. “I have no opinions right now. Bobby said that he didn’t and that’s good enough for me.”

Sarah felt ashamed of herself for having voiced her doubts.

“I’d better go now,” she said, starting to rise.

“Can I give you a lift? I’m leaving too.”

“Oh, I couldn’t put you out.”

“No trouble. I’m going in that direction anyway.”

He smiled and she noticed how handsome he was. She smiled back and accepted his offer.

During the ride to Sarah’s apartment, Mark tried not to mention the case, because he could see how upset Sarah was. When he had maneuvered his car out of the parking lot and into city traffic, he asked her,

“Why did you come to an American school for your education?”

“It seemed adventurous to study in a foreign country,” she said with a smile. The windows were rolled down and the wind tangled and lifted her golden hair.

“Do you enjoy studying among the natives?”

“It’s okay.”

“Are your parents filthy rich?” he asked.

Sarah’s mouth opened in surprise. Then she threw her head back and laughed.

“You are bold.”

Mark shrugged.

“You said you were well off and you live in a ritzy part of town.”

“Yes. We have scads of money,” she answered. She was begi

Mark thought about it.

“I wouldn’t mind being rich. It would solve a lot of problems.”

“Oh, you’ll soon be rolling in the dough. Lawyers make a lot of money.”

“Some do.”

“I have faith in you,” she said, smiling. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have hired you.”

Mark looked at Sarah and their eyes met for a moment. He looked away, feeling very unsure of himself. Was it his imagination or had she meant more than she said?

Mark drove up into the hills. Sarah looked out the window, not wanting to meet Mark’s eyes, because the look he had given her confused her. She was glad when they arrived at her apartment. She didn’t want to come on with Mark, but it would be to her advantage to have him interested in her, because of her indecision about the money. Besides, it wouldn’t be hard to make Mark think she found him attractive, because she did. He had cheered her up on the ride home and, until that moment when she had looked into his eyes, he had made her forget her problems.

She watched Mark’s car disappear over the hill and she suddenly felt guilty. Bobby was her boyfriend and he was in jail charged with murder. The situation was getting too complex for her. Too many things were happening at once. It would be better not to think for a while. She put on a record and sat in the dark, listening to the music.

“Mr. Toller, I’m Albert Caproni and I’m with the district attorney’s office. I understand that you have some information on the Murray-Walters case.”

Toller looked Caproni over and looked past him toward the door of the private interview room.

“Where’s Heidman? Ain’t he tryin’ the case?”

“I’m Mr. Heider’s assistant. Mr. Heider would have come himself, but a matter came up that required his personal attention.”

“Yeah? Well this matter’s go

“What girl?”

“The one you say those Coolidge boys killed. I know it wasn’t them.”

“You mean Elaine Murray?”

“I don’t remember the name, but she’s the right one. I seen her picture in the paper and I knew her right off.”

“If the Coolidge brothers didn’t kill Elaine Murray, who did?”

Toller leaned back in his chair and took a long look at Albert Caproni. Then he started to laugh.

“Jesus, you must think I’m awful stupid. I’m sittin’ here with the evidence on the biggest case that hit this town in years and I’m sittin’ here lookin’ at possibly twenty years and you want me to give you what I know for nothin’. Well, I ain’t givin’ this away. I want to deal, understand?”

“Mr. Toller, I am not authorized to make any ‘deals.’ Mr. Heider has the authority to plea negotiate any case, but he won’t even consider negotiating until he knows what you have to offer.”

“If I tell you everything, what guarantee do I have that you won’t just tell me to screw off?”

“You don’t have any guarantee. On the other hand, if I walk out of here I can guarantee you one thing-no other district attorney is going to come back.”

Toller’s bravado began to dissipate and Caproni could see that he was thinking hard.

“Mr. Toller, why don’t you just tell your attorney what you know and let him handle this?”

Toller waved his hand at Caproni, brushing the suggestion aside.

“He’s some young kid that’s wet behind the ears. I don’t think he has the brains to remember it all. Look, if I tell you, and the information checks out, what can you do for me? I was pla

“Mr. Toller, you really shouldn’t be discussing the facts of your case with me. It’s my office that will be prosecuting you.”

Toller laughed again. Only this time the laughter was bitter.

“Son, there’s no way I can beat this one. I know that. I just want a break for once. I’m desperate. I found this girl, Joyce, for the first time. A real stand-up girl, ya know? Then I went ahead and blew it. I don’t even know if she’ll still stick by me, even if I do get out. But, I’m just gettin’ too old for prison and I know that’s where I’m headed if I don’t make this deal.”