She had to know. “Why didn’t he step up and take my case in the very beginning?” If he is that good, then why did he wait? she wondered.
“Lee’s wife, Jen, was undergoing treatment for breast cancer at the time of your trial. He came to me then, knowing Jamison was about to launch a clinical trial of a new breast-cancer drug that has since proved to be promising. Unfortunately, Jen passed before we could get her into the clinical trials. We became even better friends. With my background in law, we had that in common, plus he was interested in Jamison’s clinical trials, at least the cancer trials.”
That explained all the pink ties he wore. “Poor Lee. I had no idea.”
“He’s been an avid supporter of cancer research since,” Sam explained.
“Whatever the reason, I owe him,” Tessa said.
“We can talk about Lee’s fees later. Your case is the challenge he needs. He’s a powerful man and superb attorney. Wait until you see him in a courtroom. Most jurors hang on his every word.”
Tessa was only half listening to Sam. They had arrived at the dock and driven onto the ferry now. As they made their way across the bay, she viewed the giant royal palms planted by Thomas Edison in the late 1800s lining the shore of the approaching island. They looked about the same as before, maybe just a bit taller. Most of the finest homes in San Maribel were along the shore. Some of the buildings looked to have been restored, some former homes had been turned into coffee shops, cafés, and high-end boutiques. Not much change. She was glad for that, but as the ferry docked on the shore, on the island on which she and her family had lived, her stomach knotted, and her hands began to shake. This was a bad idea.
“Sam, can’t I stay at a hotel? I’m not comfortable returning to you know . . . the scene,” she told him.
He leaned across the front seat and reached for her hand, taking it in his own. “I wish we could, but the judge insisted on your going to your home since you actually own it. I don’t know why. Maybe Chen, who’s district attorney now, put a bug in his ear. He’s a real prize. Still hasn’t learned what deodorant is for, but he’s made a bit of a name for himself. I suspect he’s going to run for governor in the next election.”
Tessa grimaced. “I remember how disgusting he was. I guess some things never change. I just don’t see how he could influence the judge if that’s what happened.”
“I don’t know that he did for sure, but he’s very tight with Judge Crider. Having the conviction in one of his most sensational cases overturned solely on the basis of his own conduct and having to retry the matter are bound to cause the man a great deal of concern. Remember, there was not a shred of forensic evidence to tie you to the murders. Despite the weakness of the case against you, he has used it to promote himself in the local halls of power. I’m guessing he is one major pissed-off DA.”
If Chen’s distress were for any other reason, she might have laughed, but it wasn’t. She had lost her family, and nothing could ever replace them or make it right again, as far as she was concerned. Nothing about what had happened to them or to her as a consequence was at all funny.
“Trust me, Tessa. You’ll be walking into a completely different home. I think you’ll approve of the changes. Since the crime that took place there brought a lot of reporters and just nosy people in general, I took it upon myself to remove the place that seemed to hold so much mystery.”
“Why didn’t you ever give me details?” she asked. It wasn’t his place. Even though he’d had power of attorney over her finances, he had not had her permission to remodel the entire house. Yes, he’d mentioned changes, but at the time she had not cared to ask what they were. Now, however, she couldn’t help but be curious.
“I don’t know. It didn’t seem important at the time. I realize I was wrong not to get your permission for all the remodeling, but as I said, I think you’ll be pleased with the changes made.”
She had been trying to work up enough courage to ask about her daughters’ bedrooms, but she just couldn’t. There would be time for her to see for herself, and she wanted to be alone when she did. Unsure if Sam had remodeled their rooms, she tried not to think about it. She would find out soon enough.
As they approached Tessa’s former neighborhood, it was as Sam had expected. Television vans were parked along the road, news crews paced back and forth, cameramen and -women hovered nearby, all hoping to catch the first glimpse of her.
“Why don’t you drop down so they can’t see you? Since I’m in front with Cal, maybe they’ll focus their attention on me.”
So the driver actually had a name, she thought as she unfastened her seat belt. She folded herself into a fetal-like position on the floorboard, tucking her head between her knees.
“Just stay down until I tell you,” Sam instructed. “We’re about to make the turn.”
“Okay,” she called from her position on the floor in the back.
She could hear the shouts from the reporters, several tapping on the rear window, all trying to get their attention as they slowly drove through the throngs of people. Reporters, gossipmongers, whoever. She was a damned sideshow at the moment.
Is this a mistake? Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to this. I’d already accepted my fate, so why chance it now? Too late, she thought as she heard the shouts.
“Do you think the residents of the island want a child murderer in their neighborhood?”
“Are you afraid for your safety?”
“How much did you pay your new witness?”
Tessa placed her
