“Character witnesses? You can’t lead with toady testimony!”

“We weren’t planning to lead with toad-I mean-”

“Then what were you planning to lead with?”

Christina cleared her throat. “Well, to tell you the truth, we haven’t decided.”

“What?” She clenched her fists again. “Todd, I begged you to hire DC counsel. I begged you.”

“Even if you had, they’d be telling you the same thing, if they had any sense.” Christina’s cheeks were flushing. “You should just tell the press ‘no comment,’ whether they like it or not. And let us get on with our work.”

“I know what you’re thinking, sweet cheeks,” Amanda said, drawing up to her full and considerable height. “I know what you’re all thinking. Amanda’s just a PR flak. A petty annoyance. Nothing to do with this case. But let me tell you something. I’ve got my finger on the pulse of the people. People just like the sixteen sequestered souls on your jury. If you don’t start listening to me-and if you don’t come up with something better than anything I’ve heard in here today-Senator Todd Glancy of Oklahoma is going to be convicted of murder in the first degree. That’s not a prediction. It’s a guarantee.”

“What the hell did you think you were doing!”

Lieutenant Albertson threw himself down into his desk chair. His office was not large, and with both Dr. Aljuwani and Loving’s considerable bulk in there, they were pressed close enough together to feel each other’s breath.

“He told me he was the girl’s father,” Dr. Aljuwani explained.

“Told me the same thing,” Loving said. “Even showed me his ID.”

Albertson tossed his hands up in the air. “Well let me give you a news flash. Three days ago, a DC traffic cop found a ’97 Jaguar coupe registered to Robert Daily on the side of I-349. It appeared to have been abandoned. Upon inspection, he found Robert Daily stuffed in the trunk. He’d been shot three times in the heart.”

“Jeez Louise.” Loving ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s how the creep got Daily’s wallet.”

“It gets worse. He appears to have been tortured-extensively-before he was killed.”

“The killer must’ve been trying to get information about Amber’s whereabouts,” Loving reasoned. “When he couldn’t get what he wanted from Daily, he killed him, stole his wallet, and masqueraded as his victim.”

“Given what forensics is telling me, he must’ve run into you only an hour or so after he finished killing Daily.”

Loving pounded his forehead. “I saw blood on his shirt. But he told me he’d scraped himself when he clocked me in the alley.”

“And you believed him?”

“I had no reason not to!” Loving rose out of his chair, frustrated by his own stupidity. “He was totally convincing. His eyes teared up every time he talked about Amber.” He paused, lowering himself back into his seat. “And I led him straight to her. Even left him alone with the poor girl.” Loving pounded his fist into his hand. “Damn! What an idiot I’ve been.”

“You’ll get no argument from me.”

“He could not have known,” Dr. Aljuwani said. “I, too, was convinced that this man was a despondent, loving father.”

“That doesn’t cut it with me,” Albertson shot back. “You’re an experienced private investigator, Loving. You should know better. Give me one reason I shouldn’t yank your license or charge you with aiding and abetting a homicide.”

Loving’s broad, square jaw was firmly set. “Because I’m going to find that man for you.”

“How are you going to do that? You know where he is?”

“No. But I know what he wants.” Loving’s focus seemed to turn inward, his forehead creased by determination. “Now that Amber is gone, there’s only one thing he could want. The same thing I want. The last surviving member of the Goth Girls Party of Four. Beatrice.” He paused. “If he doesn’t have her already.”

A few minutes later, the temperature in the conference room had fallen, because most of the players had left. Only Ben and Glancy remained, not counting the federal marshals outside.

Ben checked his watch. “You’re sure Marie understands I meant tonight?”

Glancy appeared calm and worry-free. “If Marie says she’ll be here, she’ll be here. She’s very dependable.” He smiled a little. “But she’s not opposed to making people wait a little. Just to remind them how much they need her. Women.” He shook his head. “Speaking of which.”

Ben looked up from the directed verdict motion he was revising. “What?”

“Why didn’t you stick up for Christina?”

Ben’s head tilted an inch to the side. “What are you talking about?”

“Just now. When Amanda lit into her.”

Ben waved a hand in the air. “Christina can take care of herself.”

“I’m sure she can. But she shouldn’t have to.”

“I… don’t get you.”

“You’re the senior partner in the firm, right? You should protect your associates.”

“From our clients?”

“Amanda is not your client, and the fact that she works for me hasn’t once stopped you from telling her where she can get off.”

“I’m not the smothering kind of boss. I’m not even really the boss.”

“But there’s more to it than that, Ben. Everyone here knows that you and Christina are involved.”

“You do?”

“We do. And moreover, I have to tell you there’s a general feeling that… well, that you’re not doing right by her.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Glancy kicked his legs up on the table. “Well, as I understand it, Ben, Christina has faithfully put up with your other girlfriends, each of them chosen with immense stupidity, a former fiancée who put you off romance for something like a decade, as well as a host of other neuroses and commitment issues.”

Ben raised his hands. “Where are you getting all this?”

“I’m a senator, Ben. I have sources. And I’m telling you, just because we’re old friends, that it’s time you took the next step. Have you asked her to move in with you?”

Ben fidgeted with his legal pad. “Are you crazy? Do you know how small my place is?”

“Not as small as Christina’s, I’ll wager.”

“My mother would never approve.”

“When did you ever do anything your mother wanted? Besides, Christina told me she gets on with your mom very well. Better than you do, actually.”

“Plus I’m a lousy conversationalist, a poor cook, I work all the time, I’m messy, and… and… my cats would be insanely jealous.”

“Uh-huh.” He gave Ben a long look. “You’re afraid she might say no, aren’t you?”

Ben fell quiet for a moment. “Not really. Actually, she’s suggested it several times. I mean, not in so many words, but-”

“Then for God’s sake, man, what are you waiting for?”

Ben fell silent.

“Are you afraid it might damage your working relationship?”

“There’s nothing I could do that’s worse than the stuff she’s already put up with.”

“Then what is it?”

Ben didn’t answer him. He couldn’t. He didn’t have an answer to give. “There’s no rush.”

“You don’t know that. Hell, look at me. One day I’m being touted as a potential presidential candidate, the next I’m practically on death row. None of us knows what the future holds, or how much future we’ll have. But I know this-you and Christina are a good match. And you’re both well into your thirties. She’s been very patient with you, Ben. But if you mess around much longer, you could lose her.”

Ben’s shoulders sagged. “I couldn’t work if Christina left. I couldn’t function without her.”

“Have you told her that?”

“Told her what?”

“What you just said. Your somewhat neurotic way of admitting that you love her.”

“Have I-?” He stared at Glancy, wide-eyed. “Of course not. That would be… that would be…”

“Honest?”

Ben wrung his hands. “No. It would be… it’s just too… I don’t know. I’m not ready.”

Glancy looked at Ben for a long time, then sighed. “Well, I hope you get over that, Ben. I truly do. And soon. Because Christina is a wonderful woman, and very devoted to you. But she’s ready to move forward. And if you’re not-” He shook his head sadly. “She’s going to move on without you.”