'I don't understand,' Carrier said. 'What about the D.A.?'
'Forget about the D.A. We'll deal with him later.'
'But Mary could be right. If we knew more about Darning—'
'Forget Darning. Go home.'
Judy plucked Steere's tax returns from the table. 'You didn't get to see these. They show a connection with the bank—'
Marta grabbed the packet and tossed it back on the table. 'Forget the bank. Forget Steere. Go home, Carrier. Both of you, go home.'
Judy stood stock-still. 'Marta, are you on some kind of medication?'
'Do you need us to get you a… professional?' Mary asked.
Marta looked from one to the other and burst into laughter. They were like puppies, these two: dogged in their determination and loyal without reason. They reminded Marta of herself when she was young, protecting two drunks who didn't deserve it from bill collectors and school principals. Instead of making her feel closer to them, the insight distanced her further. 'I said, go home.'
'You can tell us,' Judy said softly. 'There's a lot of stress, and it's okay if you are. The pressure. The media. It would get to anybody.'
'I'm not having a breakdown,' Marta said firmly. 'Go home. You've done very good work, and I… appreciate it. Thank you.'
Thank you? From Erect? With that, Judy realized that Marta wanted them out of the picture for some reason. She was clearly upset about something, maybe even sick. She seemed to be protecting them, but that would be totally out of character. What was going on? Who was that 'driver,' anyway? The guy looked like The Hulk. Judy glanced at Mary, who she knew was thinking the same thing.
But Mary wasn't. Mary was thinking there'd been a miracle. That there really was a God and he'd spoken to Marta Richter. Taken her aside, thrown one white-robed arm around her padded shoulders, and had a Dutch-uncle talk with her in the sky. Warned her that if she didn't stop torturing associates, she'd end up a wealthy but crispy critter. That she'd be cast down to that level of lawyer hell where she'd have to listen to Alan Dershowitz whine for eternity. But even though the boss had apparently converted to a human being, Mary still wanted to stay with the Steere case. She hadn't come this far to get a killer off scot-free. Not with her history. 'Maybe we should go home,' Mary said lightly. She picked her jacket off the back of the chair. 'I'm exhausted. Aren't you?'
'What?' Judy said, wheeling around to stare at her friend. 'Aren't you interested in following up?'
'Nope.' Mary slipped into her blazer. 'Why would I be?'
Judy finally came up to speed. 'Maybe you're right. We can deal with the D.A. when they file, right?'
Marta relaxed inwardly. 'Walk her out, Carrier. That's an order.' She liked the idea of the associates leaving together and she'd make sure Bogosian wouldn't bother them. She opened the conference room door. 'Go!'
'Yes, sir,' Judy said, and saluted.
'It's about time you learned to do that,' Marta said, smiling. Across the hall, Bogosian looked up from his magazine and returned to it when Marta nodded. 'You know, you both have to learn to take orders better.'
Judy grinned, gap-toothed. 'Don't bet on it.' Erect. 'Can we borrow the car to get home?'
Marta paused. The car was still at Steere's town house. She glanced anxiously across the hall at Bogosian, who sat near the doorway. 'I left the rental at the hotel. The driver brought me over.'
'We can walk home,' Mary said as she strolled out the conference room door. 'It's a good thing we live right in town.'
Judy followed Mary into the hall. 'See you, Marta. Call us if you hear from the jury.'
'Don't worry,' Marta said. She stood in the door and watched them walk down the hall to their offices, feeling a tug in her chest which stopped mercifully short of full-blown maternal feelings. It persisted until she noticed Carrier's ski boots making wet footprints on the new carpet.
* * *
The associates waited for the elevator when Judy spotted Erect watching them through the glass wall of the conference room. Judy waved at her, and Erect waved back. 'Say good-bye to Erect, Mare,' Judy said to Mary. 'We have to show her we're leaving.'
Mary waved. 'Good-bye, schizo.'
'She's not a schizo. Something's up.' Judy faced the elevator and shook her head. 'Something happened to Marta.'
'A visitation. Angels and saints. Harps and trumpets.'
Judy was trying to put the pieces together. 'She looked scared.'
'Fear of God. He took long enough. I hate it when he's late.'
They both heard the rattle of the elevator as it zoomed up the shaft. Judy zipped up her parka and gathered her poles and cross-country skis. 'Well, here we go. We have work to do.'
'Agreed.'
'And great snow to do it in.'
'I know what you're thinking—'
'White. Fresh. Virgin.'
'—and you can just forget it.' Mary was swaddled in a heavy coat and Totes boots. She yanked her knit cap on.
