‘I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry. Thank you for helping me,’ she said.
Then she leaned forward, looking past me toward Harper.
‘Is she your girlfriend?’ asked Sofia.
At first, I didn’t know what to say. Sofia had a child’s directness – no bullshit – she told you exactly what she was thinking.
‘Ah, no, we’re just friends,’ I said, suddenly feeling my cheeks flood red.
We were friends, but every now and again I caught myself staring into Harper’s eyes or taking a moment to let her scent linger in my nose. When we hugged, as friends, I had a strange feeling as she put her arms around me. My ex-wife, Christine, was in a new relationship and, judging by what little I could pick up from my daughter, Amy, it was going well. Christine was happy with Kevin. She was in a state of contentment that I could never give her.
I was lost in thought, and the sound of the car door opening brought me straight back. Sofia closed the door, walked around the car and Harper stood to greet her. I got out and tried to make introductions, but I was too late.
‘This is—’
‘We already did that part, Eddie,’ said Harper before turning her attention back to Sofia. ‘We’re going to get along just fine. I’ve got Cheetos, candy, frozen pizza and sodas for lunch.’
‘Good thing I’m not exactly on a health kick,’ said Sofia.
‘Oh, that stuff’s just for me. I got you celery and fat-free hummus,’ said Harper, holding back a smile. Initially, Sofia didn’t know how to take that answer. Then she smiled, nervously at first and then more warmly.
At once, Sofia seemed to relax somewhat. Her shoulders fell from a tense, hunched position. Her expression softened, her eyes opening that much wider and brighter.
‘You grab the groceries. We’ll see you upstairs. Just got to do a little business with this guy first,’ said Harper.
Sofia did as she was asked, and together Harper and I watched her go inside.
‘She’s hurting,’ said Harper.
‘She just lost her father.’
‘I’m just going to get her settled for a few hours. Make sure she’s okay. She must be in some kind of emotional pain if she’s self-harming.’
‘A psychiatrist gave her a full evaluation before discharge. They don’t think she’s a danger to herself. I want you to make sure of that too. Don’t go too deep, but try and get a sense of her. We need to know if she’ll be able to hold up during a trial.’
‘I’ll get her to open up as much as I can. Might as well get a head start on this while we’re waiting for the DA to get his shit together.’
‘Agreed, but there’s no rush. NYPD won’t release the crime scene for at least another week. See what you make of her. She says she’s innocent, and right now I believe her.’
Harper cocked an eyebrow. ‘I’m not there yet. I’ll let you know what I think.’
‘Just go easy on her. Have dinner, talk. Settle her for the night then you can leave.’
Harper was one of the brightest agents in the FBI. Too clever, in fact. She left with her partner, Joe Washington, moved into the private sector and now she was my go-to investigator. We’d been through a lot, and I trusted her judgment. Together we made our way inside, and took the elevator to Sofia’s floor. The door to her apartment lay open. Harper knocked as she pushed the door wide.
Inside was a beige and cream themed apartment. A lot bigger than anything I could afford. The grocery bags lay on the kitchen counter. Sofia stood over a coffee table, staring down at a chessboard.
‘I don’t play,’ said Harper.
‘Neither do I, really. Not anymore. Look, I’m not going to do anything stupid.’
‘Good, Harper will want to talk a little. Just some background. If we’re going to defend you, we need to know who you are, so we can show that person to the jury,’ I said.
Sofia nodded, said, ‘I’m a sucker for candy and old black-and-white movies.’
‘That makes two of us,’ said Harper, gently ushering me towards the door.
My phone buzzed in my suit jacket pocket. I checked the number. It was the DA’s office.
‘I’ve got to take this call, sorry. I’ll see you at Harry’s party tomorrow night, but call me later and give me an update.’
Harper said yes, she would call later.
I then turned to Sofia and said, ‘Just try and stay level. This is all going to be okay. The press may come around, or try to call you. Don’t talk to them.’
‘I won’t. I might go out later. I’ll wear a cap and hoodie. Keep my head down. Thanks, Mr. Flynn.’
‘Call me Eddie,’ I said as I left the apartment. I answered the phone.
‘Mr. Flynn?’ said a female voice.
‘Yes, if it’s about those parking tickets—’
‘Excuse me? Um, no, it’s not.’
I knew it wasn’t about parking tickets, but it’s impossible for me not to play with prosecutors. I couldn’t help myself. As a defense attorney I spend a lot of my time chasing prosecutors to discuss my cases. They only called me when there was a serious issue, in a serious case.
The voice on the other end of the line cleared their throat and said, ‘I’m Mr. Dreyer’s secretary, he’d like to see you tomorrow about the Avellino case.’
‘What about the Avellino case, specifically?’
‘He has an offer he wants to discuss with you.’
SEVEN
SHE
After her arraignment, she had posted bail. So had Sister dear.
The rest of that day proved busy.
Very busy.
Every effort had to be made to cover her tracks, and frame her sister. When she eventually flopped into bed at one a.m., exhausted, she realized she had eaten very little the previous day.
She had slept fitfully. Waking at five a.m., she made a peanut butter sandwich, ate it with a glass of milk and then went back to bed. She dozed and woke a few times. Her broken sleep was not due to any worry, or concern. The thought of returning to a cell for the rest of her life didn’t hold any fear.
It wasn’t going to happen.
Not a chance.
The interruption to her sleep was largely due to excitement. She was finally going to be free. Freedom meant money. All of her father’s money. If her sister was convicted, she couldn’t inherit her share of father’s estate because of the Son of Sam laws. She would get everything. Money meant freedom and power. She had thought about killing her sister, and then Father – but two deaths leaving a sole beneficiary to a large fortune looked too suspicious. It would forever tarnish her with the uncertainty of facing a trial for their deaths at some point in her life. This way was better. This was clean. Father dead. Sister in jail for the murder. No loose ends. No suspicion falling on her.
She would be free.
She got out of bed around ten in the morning. In the shower, she scrubbed her skin with a rough, cosmetic stone. The ridges of that stone were a wonder to her. If she did not pay attention, she could spend half an hour touching it, exploring every line on its surface.
She dried herself and tied up her hair. Before completing her task last night, she had done some shopping. Food and essential items – some tools for the job in hand. There were still three shopping bags from a medical supply store and a hardware store by the front door. She was too tired to unpack just yet.