us, he freaked out.
'I'm not saying anything.' He jumped to his feet, head jerking this way and that, searching for an escape route. His cousin put a hand on his shoulder, squeezed.
'It's okay, Derrick. They're coming here with an offer. Hear them out.'
'I don't want their offer. They tricked me before.'
I sat down, smiled easily. 'You don't have a choice, Derrick.'
Rushlo stared at me. Well, one eye did.
'I'm not talking.'
'You don't have to.' Libby handed him some papers.
'What are these?'
Pludenza looked them over, then broke into a big grin.
'They're dropping the charges, Derrick. You're free.'
Rushlo turned a pasty shade of white.
'No . . .'
'I'll have you out of here by this evening.'
'No . . . you can't let me out.'
Libby winked at him. 'We can, and we just did. Good timing too. Your buddy's trial is almost over. You guys can have a nice little reunion.'
Rushlo began to whimper. I put my hand on his forearm, hiding my revulsion.
'I'd watch your step, Derrick. Fuller is kind of annoyed you didn't cremate the body of Eileen Hutton. I think he'll want to speak to you about that.'
Rushlo went from pale white to bright pink. I thought he was going to pop.
'You have to protect me!'
'We'd like to help you, Derrick, but you haven't helped us at all.'
I nodded to Libby, and we stood up.
'Please, help me!'
'We can put you into the witness protection program, Derrick. Change your name, hide you someplace. Or, if Fuller stays in jail, you'll never have him to worry about again. Either way, you have to help us before we help you.'
His whole body began to shake.
'I . . . I can't!'
'Have a nice life, Derrick. For as long as it lasts.'
We walked away.
'Please! PLEASE!'
Libby and I made it back to the courthouse with enough time to indulge in a vending machine lunch.
'Think he'll crack?' she asked, her mouth around a triangularly cut cheese sandwich.
'I was going to ask you the same thing. I think so. The question is: Will he crack in time?'
'Closing arguments should only take a day. But even if the jury is deliberating, I can motion Judge Taylor to allow a surprise witness, and she can call them back into court. Rushlo's got to come clean before they reach a verdict. If Fuller gets off, we can't retry him. Double jeopardy.'
I had a bite of tuna on wheat. Soggy.
'Can you filibuster?'
'This isn't Congress, Jack. If I try stalling, Taylor will jump all over me.'
'How about trying for some kind of extension or continuance?'
'I've tried, several times. Taylor kept reminding me we had three months to prepare. She'll allow last-minute evidence, but won't postpone the trial so we can get it.'
Libby ate more of her sandwich, and then glanced at her watch. A Movado, with diamonds around the bezel.
'Gotta get back to court. You didn't like your sandwich?'
'It tastes like wet paper towels.'
Libby raised an eyebrow.
'You okay? Seem kind of off today.'
'Got a lot on my mind.'
'No kidding. Hey, all's not lost yet. Rushlo might still spill.'
