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Chapter Seventy-six
Mary walked into the reception area, looking for Judy. She hated being in a fight and she had to set it right. She asked Marshall, “Did you see Judy?”
“Yes. She just went down the elevator with Be
Uh-oh. “Where were they going?”
“I don’t know, I was on the phone. It’s been crazy, between reporters and clients. All I know is I saw Be
“Were they fighting?”
“No, why would they be?” Marshall answered, with a frown. “No reason.” Mary was already heading for the elevator bank and punching the DOWN button. “I’ll be right back.”
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing, really.”
“So where are you going?”
“To get them.” Mary jiggled the button, impatient.
“Sheesh. This is the strangest day ever.” Marshall answered a ringing phone, and Mary gave up on the elevator. She bolted for the exit stairway, pushed open the door, and ran down the stairs, hitting landing after landing. She was out of breath by the time she reached the first floor and pushed through the door that dumped her into the lobby.
“Did you see Be
“Yeah. Be
“Which way did they go?”
“That way.” Steve pointed, and Mary ran for the door and hustled outside the building and onto the crowded sidewalk. Pewter gray clouds cloaked the sun, and humidity thickened the air. Rush hour was starting, and people streamed toward the subway, PATCO, and suburban trains.
She jogged past the Rothman guards, hurrying down the street and threading her way through the crowd, sca
She saw bald heads, fauxhawks, and weaves. Blondes, brunettes, and cornrows, but no Judy. She darted across the street and looked to the right, then spotted a head as red and round as a Tootsie Roll pop. It was Judy, two blocks down the street, waiting at a traffic light as a SEPTA bus rumbled through an intersection. Mary looked one block farther and spied Be
Mary took off. Up ahead, the SEPTA bus passed through the intersection, and Judy started moving, keeping a half a block behind Be
Mary slid her cell phone from its holster and speed-dialed Judy on the fly. The call co
Mary slid the phone back, put on the afterburners, and took off, pumping her arms. Be
Mary ran harder, closing the gap between her and Judy from a full block, then to half. She lost sight of Be
“Judy!” Mary yelled, huffing and puffing.
Judy turned around at the sound, and Mary reached her at speed, falling into her arms and almost sending them sprawling.
“Don’t stalk Be
“I’m sorry, too!” Judy hugged her and set her back on her feet. “But this is the weirdest thing ever!”
“Why are you following Be
“She’s not Be
“She is!”
“No, trust me. This woman ca
“So?”
“What errand can you run in Mellon Center? It’s an office building. There’s no drugstore or anything like that.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. There’s Mellon Bank. Maybe she banks there.”
“No, she’s at USABank. We all are.”
“So maybe she’s meeting a friend. Like you said, there are tons of law firms in there. Ballard, Spahr, and plenty of others. She knows tons of people.”
“That’s not it.” Judy shook her head, her mouth set. “She didn’t say she was meeting a friend. If you’re going to meet a friend, you say that. If you’re going to run an errand, you say that.”
“I don’t know-”
“Think about it, Mare. She never goes out during the business day if it’s not billable. And guess what else? I gave her a test and she blew it. She forgot the Steere case. How could you forget Steere? It was one of our biggest murder cases.”
“She forgot the case?”
“Well, the name of the case.”
“Jude, that’s not the same thing.”
“She also said she doesn’t remember if she reported Marta to the Disciplinary Board.” Judy’s eyes narrowed. “A second test, flunked! If she were Be
Mary could understand how it seemed strange, but still. “When did you ask her?”
“When she was leaving.”
“Oh. Then, of course, she was preoccupied. She’s having a rough day, don’t you think?”
There was a voice behind them, and they both froze.
Parting the foot traffic on the sidewalk, her arms folded, stood a very unhappy Be
Chapter Seventy-seven
Be
“Oh my God!” Kendra’s eyes widened. “It had to be Q.”
“Oh no.” Caitlin shook her head. “I bet he robbed you.”
“Damn it to hell!” Be
Kendra bit her lip. “He was looking for money.”
“Of course he was.” Caitlin was already on her knees, peering under the bed. When she looked up, her expression was resigned. “He found it, too. It’s gone. Ten thousand dollars, and your gun, too.”
My gun. Be
“Told you so.” Caitlin rose, brushing off her knees in disgust. “You take too many chances, Alice. Not only do we have to find another supplier, we only have three grand to buy pills with. He’s trying to put us out of business.”
“She’s right, what were you thinking?” Kendra frowned, and Be
“Quit your whining!” she shouted. “I’m the one who’s a sitting duck here! Q’s trying to kill me, not you!”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it,” Kendra said, instantly putting up her hands.
“Yes, you did.” Be
“Alice, no.” Blood drained from Kendra’s face. “I would never rob you. I would never rob anybody.”
Caitlin interjected, “Alice, come on. It’s not her, it’s Q. You cheated on him with one of his own guys and embarrassed him in front of everyone he knows and everyone who works for him. He’s a thug right, so what did you think was going to happen? You’re lucky to be alive.”
“Screw you!” Be