school within commuting distance of New York. They both felt that they would be together forever.
She was accepted at New York University exactly one week before Larry was fatally stabbed during a mugging. Abbie fled home to the aunt who had raised her.
After Larry's death, Abbie ran away from every man who tried to form a relationship with her, because she was certain she could never survive love's loss a second time. Then she met Robert Griffen, who made her love him and then betrayed her.
Abbie had downed several Jack Daniel's in rapid succession soon after sliding into a deep leather booth well away from the front door of the restaurant. She was through most of a bottle of Chianti and a dinner of linguine con vongole when Tony Rose blocked what little light there was in the booth.
Tony was a cop who had testified in a few of Abbie's cases when she was in the drug unit. He was handsome, well built, and had the testosterone level of a teenager. After two cases, Abbie stopped prepping him for his testimony unless someone else was present. Putting together a good direct examination while trying to fend off a horny cop was too exhausting.
'Hi,' Rose said, flashing a wide smile. 'I thought that was you.'
Alcohol had dulled Abbie's reactions and Rose was sitting across from her before she could tell him to buzz off.
'How you doin'?' Rose asked cheerily.
'Not so good, Tony.'
'What's the problem?' Rose asked with phony concern.
'My son-of-a-bitch husband, the Honorable Robert Hunter Griffen,' Abbie answered with a candor she would never have offered if she was sober.
'Hey, that's right. I forgot. You're married to a Supreme Court justice, aren't you?'
'Not for long.'
'Oh?'
'I walked out on the bastard,' Abbie said, slurring her words.
Rose noticed the half-empty Chianti bottle and the melting ice cubes in Abbie's last glass of Jack Daniel's. He was an old hand at bedding inebriated women and he guessed that Abbie's inhibitions were way out of town by now.
'Hey! Isn't Griffen the judge who let out Charlie Deems?'
'He certainly is. The next time Deems kills somebody, they can thank good old Robert. And I'll tell you something else. I think he reversed the case just to embarrass me. Maybe next time Deems will do us all a favor and blow my asshole soon-to-be-ex to kingdom come.'
Abbie reached for her wineglass and knocked it over. A river of ruby-red Chianti flowed over the edge of the table. Abbie tried to slide away from it, but she was too slow.
'Ah, shit,' she said, dabbing at her lap with a napkin.
'Are you okay?'
'No, Tony. I'm fucked up,' Abbie answered distractedly.
'Look, I was on the way out. Can you use a lift home?'
'i've got a car.'
'You've got to be kidding.' Rose laughed. 'If I saw you driving tonight, I'd have to bust you.'
Abbie slumped down on a dry section of the booth and put her head back.
'What a terrific way to end a rotten day.'
'Leave your car and take a taxi in the morning. Come on. I'll get the check and you can pay me back.'
Abbie was too tired to fight Rose and too drunk to care. She let him take her arm.
'What?' Abbie mumbled.
'I said, watch your head.'
Abbie opened her eyes. She was staring at Tony Rose's chest and she had no idea where she was. Then Rose shifted and she could see her house through the car door.
'Come on,' Rose said, easing her out of the car. Abbie stood unsteadily. Rose wrapped an arm around her waist. Abbie tried to stand up. Her head swam and her vision blurred. She leaned back against Rose's shoulder. He smiled.
'Take it easy. We're almost there. Where's your key?'
Abbie realized she was holding her purse. She fumbled with the clasp and finally got it open, but missed the keyhole on the first try.
'Here,' Rose said, taking the key from her.
Rose helped Abbie into the house and switched on the light.
Abbie shut her eyes against the glare and leaned on the wall. She heard the door close and felt Rose near her. Then she felt Rose's lips. His breath smelled minty. His kiss was gentle. So was his touch when he slipped his arm around Abbie's waist.
'What are you doing?' she asked.
'What you want me to do,' Rose answered confidently.
'Don't,' Abbie said, pushing against Rose. The cop's muscular arm tightened around her and she was crushed against his chest. Abbie strained against Rose's grip, but he was very strong.
She felt his hands on her buttocks. Fear suddenly coursed through her, cutting through her haze. She pulled her head away and Rose pressed his lips against her neck while his right hand groped under her skirt. Abbie shifted until she could get her teeth around Rose's ear, then she bit down hard.
'Hey,' Rose yelped, jumping back and holding a hand to his ear.
Abbie slapped Rose as hard as she could. The policeman looked stunned.
'What's wrong with you?' he asked in a shocked tone.
'Get out, you son of a bitch,' Abbie yelled.
'What's going on here? I was just trying to help you out.'
'Was that what you were doing just now?'
'Look, I thought . . .'
'You thought I'd fall into bed with you because I'm smashed.'
'No. It's not like that. You looked like you needed a friend.'
'And that's what you were doing? Being my friend?'
'Hey,' Rose said angrily, 'when I kissed you, you didn't exactly faint.'
'You bastard. I'm drunk.'
'Man, you are one cold bitch.'
'Cut the shit, Tony. You wanted to get me into bed. Well, it didn't work out.'
Rose looked hurt, like a little boy.
'It could,' he said. 'I mean, we got off on the wrong foot here, but that's not my fault. You're the one who was giving off signals.'
'Tony, haven't you been listening... ?' Abbie started.
Then she stopped herself. Whatever had happened had happened. She just wanted Rose out of her house.
'Look, Tony, this was a major mistake. Let's just forget it.
Okay?'
Rose took his hand away from his ear. It was covered with blood.
'Jesus,' he said. 'You really hurt me.'
'I'm sorry,' Abbie answered, too exhausted to be angry anymore. 'Can you please leave? I want to go to bed.'
'I guess you are as frigid as everyone says,' he snapped, getting in the last word. Abbie let him save face. It was worth it to get him out of her house. He slammed the door and she locked it immediately. The engine of Rose's car started and she heard him drive away.
Abbie turned away from the door. She saw herself in the hall mirror.
Her lipstick was smeared and her hair looked like it had been permed in a washing machine.
'Jesus,' Abbie muttered. She imagined herself in court looking like this. She started to laugh. That would be something. She laughed hirder and could not stop. What a fool she was. How had she let herself get into this
