force. 'And there's zero hint or word that Marlin Jones could have met up with someone?'
'Not an echo of a word,' Officer Drummond said. 'Shit, my feet hurt. I think I've walked from one end of the zone to the other a good dozen times. I've spoken to every informant who's ever migrated to Boston or was born here.'
By eight o'clock that evening, Marlin Jones was still at large.
They decided to eat again at the Chinese restaurant on New-bury and walked there.
'I doubt he'll show, Sherlock.'
'I know. At least we're giving him every opportunity to make a move.'
'Okay. We'll keep walking everywhere and when the media catches up to us, we'll wave to our mothers and smile really big. Speaking of mothers, do you think your mother really saw Marlin kissing Belinda in the driveway?'
'No. Actually, I have no idea what she saw or if she even saw anything. I think you're right about the attention bids. My father was there and she wanted him to focus on her. It was an excellent way to go about it.'
'So you don't believe your father would ever try to run her down?'
'I don't know. But I think she loves him. I could be wrong.
It's nuts, isn't it? Maybe she did see someone perhaps speak to Belinda in the driveway, but Marlin?'
'Do you think your father prosecuted Erasmus Jones ten years ago?'
'Oh yes. My father's firmly planted in the here-and-now, no matter how unpleasant it can get. He doesn't make stuff up. If he said Erasmus Jones was in his courtroom, then he was. The question is-Is it possible that Erasmus Jones has anything to do with this?'
Savich said slowly, 'There's a tremendous resemblance between father and son. Is it possible that just maybe your mother saw Erasmus with Belinda, not Marlin?'
'I have no idea. But she didn't have any reaction at all to Erasmus Jones's photograph.' 'No, she didn't.'
Over egg rolls and fried wonton, half with meat and half vegetarian, Savich said, releasing her hand, 'Your fingers are cold.'
'All of me is cold.'
'Next summer we'll go to Louise Lynn Lake with Quinlan and Sally. I want to see you in a bikini. A blue one. I want to buy it for you. I want to put it on you and take it off.'
Next summer, she thought: a lifetime away from a Chinese restaurant in Boston where, she prayed, Marlin Jones was lurking somewhere, waiting for her to come out. Cops were stationed at short intervals all around the restaurant.
She gave Dillon a huge smile. 'Thank you,' she said, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his mouth. Then she sat down again, took a huge forkful of garlic pork, and chewed while Savich just sat there, staring at her, bemused.
Princess prawns and garlic eggplant arrived. While Savich was spooning rice onto his plate, he said, 'What do you think about Douglas?'
'I really don't want to think about him right now. I just want to eat'' She sighed, as she speared a princess prawn on her fork. 'Everyone is accusing everyone else of killing Belinda. We go down one passageway, then another.' She waved her fork, flinging rice onto the table. 'The only thing I am sure about is that Isabelle didn't do it. My money would be on Candice if she'd only been around seven years ago.'
'I find myself still going back and back yet again to your nightmare, to your experiencing exactly what happened to Belinda.'
'I try not to anymore. It's too scary. It makes me sweat. Do you think we could go work out after dinner?'
He grinned at her over a forkful of garlic eggplant, which had been nicely prepared. 'My soul mate,' he said. 'Your delts still need work. Your thighs are really nice, though. Those triceps of yours make me hard.'
'I love it when you talk gym to me.'
They didn't fly back to Washington until the next afternoon. Not a single sign of Marlin Jones. He was still at large.
They stopped off to see Captain Dougherty at the station on their way to Logan International. 'It seems to me that someone has to be helping him,' Savich said.
'Yeah,' said Captain Dougherty. 'Everyone is coming to that conclusion now. There haven't been any murders or robberies that haven't checked out. Since Marlin didn't have any money, he would have to get some if he remained alone. He didn't so far as we know. So, someone must be helping him. Someone's hiding him, a someone who has enough money to keep him out of sight. But who? We've checked with the people at the lumberyard where he worked. He didn't have any close friends that they knew of, at least no one close enough to go out on this long a limb for him.'
Lacey handed Captain Dougherty the eight-by-ten photo of Erasmus Jones. 'This is his father. You might want to distribute this photo.'
'They sure do look alike. You think his old man might really be in on this thing? Do you think he's the ohe helping
Marlin?'
'We have no idea. We don't even know if he's dead or alive. It's just an idea, something we can sink our teeth into.' They rose. 'We're going back home, Captain, Keep us informed and good luck.'
'Douglas told me he's being followed. Damn you, this has got to stop.'
Candice Madigan spoke angrily from behind them as Savich was unlocking his front door.
Lacey's hand was already on her Lady Colt, Savich was already in a crouch. He took a deep breath. 'I suggest you never do anything like that again, ma'am. Sherlock could have shot you and I could have broken your neck. May I inquire what the hell you're doing here?'
'Waiting for you.'
'How did you know I'd be here?' Lacey asked, stepping directly under the porch light.
Savich unlocked the door and shoved it open. 'Everyone might as well come inside. You first, Mrs. Madigan. I'd just as soon keep you in front of me.' He said over his shoulder, 'I hope you have frequent flier miles. What is this? Your second or third trip to Washington?'
'Of course I have frequent flier miles,' she said. 'Do you think I'm a fool?'
If Candice was blown away by the inside of Savich's house, she didn't show it. Her eyes never left Lacey. 'Did you hear me, Lacey? I know it's not the San Francisco cops. Judge Sherlock called in and found that out for me. So it has to be the FBI following him. It's your doing, isn't it? No, you don't have that kind of authority.' She turned on Savich. 'You'd do anything for little miss sweetness, wouldn't you? Even have my husband followed. Are you trying to blame Douglas for Belinda's murder? Stop it, he's going nuts. I won't have it.'
'You know,' Savich said easily, waving Candice into the living room, 'when you pause to think a bit, Douglas had a very good motive for killing Belinda. He wanted out of the marriage but she wouldn't give him a divorce. He knew if he tried to get one that Judge Sherlock would have ruined him. He was trapped. So he used the String Killer's M.O. and killed her. What do you think? Sound good?''
Candice lunged at him.
He caught her wrists and held her away from him. She kicked at him. He quickly turned to the side. Then he began shaking her, saying in his low calm voice, 'Stop it, Mrs. Madigan. For a woman of some sophistication, you're not playing the part.'
'Give her to me,' Lacey said. 'I'm sick of you, Candice. You want to fight, then come here. I'd love to take you down.'
'You'd wreck my living room,' Savich said, looking at a red-faced Sherlock, and smiled. 'Will you try to keep some control, Mrs. Madigan? I'll protect you from Sherlock if you'll mind your manners. Will you?' Slowly, she nodded. Savich let her go. She stood there, rubbing her wrists. Then, slowly, she turned to face Lacey, but she said over her shoulder to Savich, 'Did it ever occur to you that she killed Belinda? Talk about crazy, just look at her family. Every gene coursing through her is nuts, just plain nuts.'
There was dead silence except for Candice's heavy breathing.
'Well? What do you have to say to that?' Lacey smiled, an awesome feat she told Savich later, but she
