'Nope, it makes the job that much easier. You're not going through one of those guilt trips because you're successful, are you?'
'No,' she said, but there was a hint of doubt in her tone.
'Janie, in the years you were a prosecutor, did you ever try someone you thought was innocent?'
She was shocked by the question. 'Of course not!' she answered.
'Have you ever defended someone you thought was guilty?'
She hesitated for a long time. 'I never ask,' she said finally.
He held out his hands. 'See, point of view. I rest my case.' He lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. He watched her silently for a while.
'I think it's the Stoddard case,' he said.
'What do you mean?'
'That's what all this yak-yak is about, the Stoddard case. You're having a problem.'
'There's something wrong with the picture. Something doesn't make sense. This woman is forbidding me to defend her and I don't know why.'
'We probably shouldn't even be discussing this. I'm sorry I brought it up.'
'We both want to know what really happened that night in Delaney's penthouse, don't we?' she said.
'We know what happened.'
A silence fell over the table, broken finally when Venable sighed. 'You're right, we shouldn't be talking about it.'
'I'll make a deal with you. When we're together, let's keep the law books on the shelf.'
She smiled and raised her glass. 'Sounds good to me,' she said. She reached out with her other hand and stroked his cheek. He got up and moved to her side of the table and cupped her face in his hands, kissing her softly on the lips.
'How about dessert,' she whispered between kisses.
'Later.'
The phone rang.
'Let it ring,' Jane said, her eyes closed, her tongue tapping his.
The machine came on. Vail recognized the familiar voice.
'Ms Venable, this is Abel Stenner. Please forgive me for bothering you at home, but it's imperative we locate Martin Vail——'
'Oh, Jesus,' he moaned.
'When you get this message, if you know his whereabouts -'
'Talk about bringing the office home with you,' she said.
Vail crossed to the corner of the kitchen counter and answered the portable phone. 'Yes, Abel.' He did not try to hide his exasperation.
'Hate to bother you, Martin, but Flaherty's back. We need to talk.'
'What,
'Yes, sir. And I think it's time to bring Jane Venable into it.'
'Why?'
'You'll understand when we get there. I'd like to bring Harve and Dermott with me. I know it's an imposition, but it's very important.'
'Just a minute.' He held his hand over the mouthpiece. 'I'm sorry to bring my business into your home, Janie, but Abel says he needs to talk to us both immediately.'
'Both of us? What's the problem?'
He hesitated for a moment, then said, 'It concerns Aaron Stampler.'
'Oh my God,' she said, her face registering a combination of curiosity and shock. Then: 'Of course.'
'Come on,' Vail said, and hung up.
'What's this about, Martin?'
Martin told Jane about the Balfour and Missouri murders and their significance. She listened without a word, her eyes growing larger as he slowly described the details of the Balfour murder.
