Common Names: Blackberry, dewberry
PEGGY AND HUNTER’S FRIEND, JANICE,another attorney, met Lenore at the downtown precinct. After Keeley’s announcement to the press about her involvement with Mark Warner, she turned herself in to the police. Al and Jonas had been questioning her since then.
“Thank God you could come.” Keeley’s mother ran to Peggy and hugged her. “I haven’t even had a chance to deal with this pregnancy issue. Now this! I feel like I don’t know my own daughter anymore.”
Peggy introduced Janice to Lenore. “What is Keeley telling them?”
Lenore shrugged. “I don’t know. Why did she think she had to do this? Wasn’t the rest of it bad enough?”
“I think I know why she did it,” Peggy said. “It’s my fault. I talked to her about Mr. Cheever going to jail for the rest of his life. I didn’t know she’d do anything like this.”
“You knew what a fragile state of mind she was in.” Lenore moved away from her. “How could you do this? What if they arrest her for murder? Did you want to save your friend and doom my daughter to a lifetime in prison?”
“Lenore,” Peggy tried to reason with her, “you know I think of Keeley as a daughter. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.”
“Then why did you tell her to turn herself in to the police?”
Janice took over, hushing them as a few officers passed coming into the station. “We have to stick together here, ladies. Let’s not assume the worst at this point. I’ll go in there and see what’s going on.”
Lenore nodded, crying.
“Thanks, Janice.” Peggy went to Lenore and put her arms around her. “We’ll wait here until you come out.”
The police parking lot was starting to fill up with vans from the major local news stations. Peggy could see them setting up from the window. The reporters weren’t allowed in the precinct, but they’d be waiting when they came out. Lenore excused herself and went to the rest room. Peggy put her pocketbook on the chair beside her to save her place.
She felt completely responsible for Keeley’s ill-advised confession. She should’ve waited to talk to her until she was out of the hospital. Losing a baby wasn’t an easy thing. She should’ve taken that into consideration. She was so eager to find a way to save Mr. Cheever that she might have done something that would cost Keeley dearly.
“Hi, Peggy.” Mai walked into the station. “How are you? Are you here about the new development in the Warner case?”
Peggy explained what happened. “Are you here because of Keeley?”
“Hardly. Nothing moves that fast around here. I’m working on another case.” Mai held up her digital camera. “It’s a simple breakin over on the north side. I hope you aren’t expecting to see your friend.”
“No. I brought a lawyer for her. And I’m here with her mother.” Peggy introduced Lenore as she joined them. “But if you have any information you can give us, we’d appreciate it.”
Mai nodded, the light shining on her silky black hair. “I’ll see what I can do. Just don’t expect too much. No one is going to like this case blowing up in their face.”
Al and Jonas came out of the side door, passing Mai on her way to her office. The station was crowded with officers and other personnel. Reporters watched anxiously, peeking in every time the outside door opened.
“You!” Jonas focused on Peggy, the frown on his face becoming darker. “Did you have something to do with this?”
“Only minimally,” she answered. “I’m sorry it isn’t going well for you. I think the case is much more complicated than you’re giving it credit for. There’s more involved than just a homeless man looking for new shoes.”
“You know, I really like you, Peggy. On a personal level. But professionally, I wish you’d go home and make some tea or something. Quit messing around with my investigation. I thought Al made it clear. But I guess when it comes to you, Al is fluff.”
“Lieutenant!” Al protested. “I did what you asked. She didn’t tell me she knew about this girl.”
“Well it’s too late now. The whole damned city knows. We have to do some damage control to save our butts.”
“What about Keeley?” Peggy demanded. “What’s going to happen to her?”
Jonas smiled nastily. “Maybe she could take your friend’s place in jail. How would that be?”
Peggy didn’t back down from him. “I think you need a colonic. You sound a little backed up to me. I have just the thing. I could run home and get it for you.”
He looked puzzled for a moment, then shook his head. “Go home. Leave the police work to us. No tonic or witch’s brew is going to help this situation.”
Janice emerged from the inner door. “My client is ready to speak with you again, Lieutenant.”
Lenore grabbed her arm before she could follow the two detectives back to where they were holding her daughter. “Money is no object, Janice. Please save my daughter.”
“I’ll do my best,” Janice promised, not quite disguising the gleam in her eyes at the mention of money. “We
