Do you have any tree bark I can chew on?
No, Tony replied with a laugh, but there's a loaf of olive bread sitting on the counter next to a great bottle of Chianti. If you want white, there's a bottle of Orvieto chilling in the fridge. Now, give me your bag.
Tony took Amanda's valise from her and carried it up to the loft. Amanda shucked her coat and wandered across the living room to the kitchen. A cast-iron pot filled with tomato sauce was bubbling on the stove next to a larger pot of boiling water. A fire crackled in the hearth. Amanda poured a glass of Chianti, cut a slice of bread and wandered over to the couch. She remembered curling up with Tony after dinner on their first date, four years ago. That had been a great evening, an evening she had replayed in her mind many times.
What are you daydreaming about? Tony asked as he came down the stairs from the loft.
How nice it is to be with you.
Tony smiled warmly. Me too.
A timer bell went off in the kitchen. He groaned. Duty calls.
Ten minutes later the pasta was ready. When they were through with dinner, Amanda carried the dishes into the kitchen. Then they settled down in front of the fire.
Tell me about Justine Castle, Amanda asked abruptly.
Tony looked surprised. What do you want to know?
What's she like?
I don't know, really. I see her at the hospital, but we aren't intimate anymore, if that's what you're worried about.
I' m not jealous. I just want to get a handle on her.
And you haven't while you've been representing her?
She's very controlled most of the time. And she lies, or at least she withholds information. What was she like when you were close to her?
You want to know what she was like when we were lovers? Tony sounded uncomfortable. Amanda nodded, flushing slightly because she was embarrassed to pry and worried that Tony would think that she was jealous.
I was only with Justine a few times. The sex was okay, but sometimes I wasn't sure if she knew I was there. And she was tough to talk to if we weren't talking shop. She's a brilliant surgeon, but she didn't seem to have any interests outside medicine. I don't know what else to say.
Do you think that Justine is capable of murder?
Tony paused and gave the question some thought.
I guess anyone is under the right circumstances, he answered finally.
I' m talking about something else. I' m talking about ... Cardoni always claimed that Justine was framing him, that she killed the people at the cabin.
Tony shook his head. I just can't see her as a serial killer.
Amanda wanted to tell Tony about the way Justine's first two husbands had died, but her duty to her client sealed her lips.
What makes you think that Cardoni isn't responsible for the killings? Tony asked.
I can't tell you very much. A lot of what I know is confidential.
Have you thought of a way to prove your suspicions?
Vasquez compiled a list of other serial murders with possible similar MOs. I can see if Justine lived in any of these places when the murders were committed.
I' m not a lawyer, but don't you have a duty to Justine? She's your client. Should you be investigating her?
No, I shouldn' t. Amanda sighed. It's just that I feel responsible for what happened to Vasquez and that I should do something.
Tony yawned. Well, I know what to do, he said. We should get to bed. I' m beat and I've got to get up at the crack of dawn.
Let me help you clean up.
Not necessary. Why don't you use the bathroom while I load the dishwasher? It'll only take me a minute.
Amanda walked over to Tony. He took her in his arms, and she leaned her head against his shoulder.
It's nice being here.
He kissed her forehead. It's nice having you.
Tony patted her on the butt. Now let me clean up before I fall asleep.
Amanda gave him a quick kiss and went upstairs to the loft. She heard the disposal run as she started to enter the bathroom. It stopped. She opened her valise and took out her makeup case. She was headed for the bathroom when her cell phone rang. It was in her purse, and it took a moment to find it.
Hello?
Amanda?
Justine?
Amanda heard heavy breathing on the other end.
You have to come to my house, now. We have to talk. It's about Vincent. It's ... it's urgent.
Justine was speaking in gasps. She sounded very upset.
What do you
Please come right away.
Justine, I can't
The phone went dead. Downstairs the dishwasher started. Amanda leaned over the loft wall and yelled down to Tony.
What is it?
Justine just called me on my cell phone.
Tony walked to the bottom of the stairs, a damp dishrag dangling from his hand. Amanda repeated the phone call as she descended.
Should we call the police? she asked when she reached the bottom.
What would you tell them? Wouldn't she have called the cops if she was in danger?
She sounded so upset.
Tony thought for a moment. Let's drive over.
He walked to a drawer in the kitchen and took out a pistol. Amanda's eyes widened.
Do you know how to use that?
Oh, yeah, Tony said. The care and use of handguns is one of the things my father taught me. He was a gun nut. I never liked shooting, but now I' m glad I know how.
Justine's Dutch Colonial looked eerie and deserted. The limbs of the barren shade trees swayed in the chill night air like skeletal hands. There were no lights on in the downstairs rooms, but two of the upstairs dormer windows glowed pale yellow like cat's eyes.
Justine should be expecting us. Why is it dark downstairs?
I don't like this, Tony said as they climbed out of the car.
He rang the doorbell as Amanda glanced nervously over her shoulder and to either side. When Justine did not answer after the second ring, Tony tried the door.
It's locked.
The curtains on the front windows were drawn, but Amanda pointed out a small gap between the sill and the bottom of the curtain. Tony slipped through a row of boxwood hedges and squatted so that he could see into the front room. Amanda started to say something, but Tony put his finger to his lips and hurried back to her.
Go to the car and lock yourself in, he whispered urgently. Call nine-one-one. Justine is in there. She's tied to a chair.
Is she
Go now, he said, pushing her away from him. Ask for an ambulance. Go!
Tony disappeared around the side of the house. Amanda ducked behind the car and called 911 on her cell phone. The dispatcher took the information and told her that help was on the way. As soon as she hung up Amanda reached for the door handle, but she stopped when she realized that Tony had the ignition key. If she locked herself in, she would be trapped with no way to escape if Cardoni came for her.
