Part 23 (2/2)

The intimacy implied in Sam's words and touch made Rae uneasy. ”I need to get back to my office. They're expecting me.” Rae wished. Truth be told, she was supposed to be at her home office working on a projection of the GST tax that had been skipped.

She watched more looks pa.s.s between Sam and Morgan, as Morgan shrugged off her moment of weakness. They really don't need words, they've been together so long. Apart yet not apart. They've had to get major mileage out of a glance.

”The check is a dead end, Mrs. Esposito. Fredricka's not going to change her story,” said Sam.

Story? Don't touch that one, Rae.

But, that cat-killer curiosity was honing her senses, making her say it out loud. ”So, it's a lie? You pressured Fredricka into lying?”

”You have no idea what you're talking about.” Sam's voice burst into flames. ”All you have is the GST tax. I'll take whatever blame is due for that.”

All? Isn't that enough? What could be worse?

But she knew now what something so insignificant as the date on a check could really be-not just a theory she only half-believed. One dead Kevin sure didn't need a check. And Sam couldn't leave Morgan out there as the last to see the kid alive. If Kevin was in the office on that Friday afternoon, there had better have been a check written.

Rae dove for the front door and gave the k.n.o.b a mighty twist, then nearly landed on her b.u.t.t as someone on the other side turned the k.n.o.b and pushed inward at the same time.

Rae struggled for balance as Veronica brushed past her with barely a greeting. A stocky young uniformed officer followed her like a puppy without a leash.

”Detective Sanchez,” began Sam, gearing up to make nice, placing himself between Veronica and Morgan.

With a curt nod of her head, Veronica shoved some paperwork at him and then continued on without slowing until she faced Morgan, who had retreated to a point just beyond Freddie's desk. The looks were darting between Sam and Morgan again as Sam glanced up from the paperwork Veronica had given him.

”Morgan Bayfield-Farris,” said Veronica, ”you are under arrest for the murder of Kevin Cantrell.”

Rae watched numbly while Sam wasted no time in hopping behind Freddie's desk, grabbing the phone and hitting speed dial.

”You have the right to remain silent. If you waive that right, anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.”

Rae strained to hear what Sam was saying on the phone, but his hand was cupped around the mouthpiece. Got to be Stan Eisley. Rae felt an unbearable sadness wash over her. She'd wanted justice for Deidre, but justice for Kevin? Did he deserve justice? And wasn't it only a few weeks ago that she'd been asking herself if Deidre was worthy of all their efforts?

I don't want these thoughts. But Rae couldn't shake them as she watched the scene unfold.

Morgan stood impa.s.sively while the young male cop put the cuffs on her. It looked to Rae as if he was trying to be gentle. Morgan Bayfield-Farris didn't look like a criminal. She looked like a trapped animal that had given up.

”You have the right to an attorney.”

”He's on his way,” Sam interrupted. ”Don't say a word,” he instructed Morgan.

Morgan gave Sam a wan smile and a mouthed thank you.

Veronica continued her Mirandising as if Sam didn't exist. ”If you cannot afford an attorney...”

Rae let out an involuntary snort at the idea of an indigent Morgan Bayfield-Farris. Veronica rattled off the rest, all the while eying Rae as if she were a nut case.

Then Veronica plucked Morgan's Brahmin handbag from Freddie's desk. Last Rae remembered, the beautiful leather bag had been in Sam's hands. Veronica plopped it into an evidence bag and headed for the door.

But what about Sam, Rae wondered. Accessory?

With a quick nod of her head, Veronica signaled. When Rae didn't move, Veronica said, ”Let's go.”

”But, what about...” Rae looked at Sam.

”Tell Stan Eisley we'll meet him at the station,” Veronica said to Sam.

Rae hurried out the door, trying to keep up with Veronica. ”I need to talk to you.”

”We'll talk at the station.”

The young cop helped Morgan into the back seat of the squad car, protected her head just like on TV.

”No. We've got to talk now,” insisted Rae.

”What is it?”

”What about Sam Garvin?”

”What about him?” Veronica tapped her foot impatiently as she watched her backup officer climb into the driver's seat of the car. ”My warrant is only for Morgan Farris and her purse.”

”At least you could've given me a heads-up.”

”You weren't supposed to be here. Besides, the informant just came forward. I had to scramble like mad to get the warrant. Now get your b.u.t.t in gear and follow me back to the station.”

While following Veronica back to Lakewood P.D., Rae's mind constructed various scenarios to explain the turn things had taken.

An informant came forward? Did this mean they finally got their hands on JJ Camacho, and he implicated Morgan? Was this whole thing just about money?

No way. Unless Morgan Bayfield-Farris was one award-quality actress. Morgan and Sam, the ill-fated lovers, paired for life like a couple of wild geese-they did not kill their love-child, either directly or through a hit man. Rae would have staked her life on this. Well, not her life. And yesterday she'd have had a different take on it.

But the arrest had been for Kevin's murder. And Kevin seemed like a really bad seed. A loco weed in the pasture.

Would someone of JJ Camacho's ilk lie to save his a.s.s? You bet he would. Stop it, Rae. You'll know soon enough from Veronica. But how in h.e.l.l did Veronica know Morgan would be there? Rae's mental processing had slowed her driving and taken her attention away from Veronica, and now the detective's car was nowhere in sight.

As Rae pulled into guest parking at the Lakewood Civic Complex, she noted Veronica's car parked and empty in the police section.

Not yet eleven in the morning, and heat waves danced along the asphalt parking area. Rae pitched her suit jacket into the back seat, grabbed her briefcase and exited. d.a.m.n skirt always ended up around her thighs by the time she got from the driver's seat of her SUV to the ground. Once she felt established in her new job, she'd go back to jeans. And boots. The d.a.m.n shoes still weren't broken in.

Inside the building, she hurried past security. The guards all knew her by name now.

Still no sign of Veronica. How'd she do that? And with a prisoner in tow. Rae pulled out her key card as she hurried down the corridor, then quickly keyed into the department offices.

When she pa.s.sed the interrogation room, she caught sight of Veronica, Morgan and a youngish guy in a suit. Must be somebody from Stan Eisley's office. But what could Stan be doing that was more important than being at his number one client's side?

More importantly, where was Sam Garvin?

Rae briefly greeted the co-workers she pa.s.sed before holing up in the cubicle that had been a.s.signed as her work s.p.a.ce.

<script>