Part 44 (1/2)

Tara breathed and hung her head. A minute later she looked up again.

”Why? She's almost twice your age. What would you want with her?”

”She's cute. She's rich. Not hard to tell where a woman fits in this life.”

”But you haven't taken anything from her. No clothes, no money, no cars. I know that.”

”Those things aren't nothin' compared to what I got from her.” His smile looked almost boyish.

”I got me a slave. I got me a woman who'll stick by me no matter what, and that's worth its weight in gold. She doesn't want to know about the past, and she wouldn't believe you if you told her. She doesn't want to think about the future *cause she might be there alone.” He chuckled and ran a ringer in circles on the table.

”Naw, between the two of you I feel pretty safe. I think you'll get me where I want to go. Sure as the day is long, you'll get me there.” He sighed and clasped his hands.

”If you don't, I'll just stay out in Donna's great big of' house and keep her happy.”

”So it's all a game. All planned out with a winner and a loser,” Tara said.

He put his hand down flat, then lifted it and put it through his hair.

”You can be d.a.m.n wearisome, Tara. I get tired of your questions about why this and why that. I don't know what it is or why it is. Kinin' that woman was just something' that happened. Findin' out about you was something' that happened. I'm on this road and I just gotta walk it. You're walking the same way. Too late to turn back now.”

”I don't think so. Bill. I could walk right out of here and file a complaint about what went on at my house today. You'd be fingerprinted, Woodrow would know enough to cross-check them against that mop. You'd be booked for the Circle K killing so fast it would make your head spin.”

”You won't,” he said, chuckling softly.

”You won't. I've never seen a human being pushed the way I've pushed you and still keep comin' back for more. You'll get me what I need. You can't say a word against me. I'm safe with you, Tara.”

Tara considered how much the wall needed was.h.i.+ng. Woodrow was waiting.

She had a decision to make. Her head swung back to Bill Hamilton.

He sdll lounged in his chair, content and as unconcerned as he could be.

”Safe? That's how I've made you feel?”

”d.a.m.n straight, sweetheart. Safe as a baby in its cradle.”

”Don't bet on it. Bill.”

She stood up, towering over him.

”Don't bet on it.”

Woodrow didn't approach her when she stepped into the hall. Tara thought that was fair. She had a lot to think about during her short walk, and Woodrow needed to stand his ground. Ben was working on a report without doc.u.mentation based on real time with Bill Hamilton. Tara had a practice and a friend to protect. Bill was wondering about her now, not quite as sure of her as he had been. He could bolt as easily as he could stay once he was released, which would be inevitable if Woodrow rebuffed Ben's report. A step away now, it was time to make some choices. Her last-ditch efforts may be nothing but smoke, but Tara would give it her best shot.

”Woodrow.” She planted herself in front of him, her hands in her pockets, her head c.o.c.ked just enough so she didn't look confrontational.

”Let's compromise. Guarantee me he'll receive an immediate psychological evaluation. Guarantee me that Ben sits in and allow his evaluation to be taken into consideration. Find some reason to hold Bill without booking him. I'll get Ben here as soon as you can get your shrink in line. If your independent psychiatrist or psychologist or witch doctor or whatever comes back and corroborates Hamilton's precarious state of mind, you pet.i.tion for hospitalization and out he goes. If there's a question in your expert's mind that Ben agrees with, I back off. You conduct your investigation and see where it gets you. No reporters. No political issues. Just do this as fast as you can and we're headed to some sort of conclusion.”

”I'll see what I can do, Tara,” he said without the flicker of a lash.

Tara grinned. She couldn't believe it. Woodrow cooperating.

”It will solve a lot of problems,” she said quietly and put out her hand. He shook it and smiled.

”I'm sorry for all this, Woodrow.” They said a few more words neither of them paid attention to.

George Amos materialized at Woodrow's elbow as soon as Tara was gone.

”What's the deal?” he asked.

”She'll settle for a fast psych workup with her guy in on it. Don't book Hamilton, just detain him and wait for Ben Crawford. Soon as she gets a prelim on the examination from our man and Ben, she'll either step away, or I'll have to pet.i.tion.”

”Who you going to call this time of night?”

George asked.

”n.o.body. She's this close to surrender; we'll just help her along a little. Tara's left me twisting in the wind on this for weeks. Let's see how she likes it. Anyway, the guy's as sane as you and me. I want a shot at him. I want him to make a mistake.”

Woodrow turned to George and put his hand on the other man's shoulder.

”Cut that guy loose.

He's a citizen. We have no reason to hold him.

Apologize to him for me.”

George laughed. He chuckled. When the district attorney got with the program, he went all the way.

Tara b.u.t.toned her coat, anxious to tell Ben what had been decided. She wondered if she should call him or just wait until she got home to tell him.

She wondered about Woodrow and how he was going to keep Bill Hamilton where he was. She wondered about Donna, and if she was all right. Tara stepped off the curb, her sights on the Jeep. She wondered if she was going to sleep that night. She wondered why she'd made such an empty threat to Bill Hamilton. Then Tara Limey wondered what in the heck that little white Good & Plenty car was doing parked on a street in the middle of the night, next to the police station where Tara had just been and Bill Hamilton still was.

Slowing her step, Tara finally stopped dead in her tracks. d.a.m.n. Woodrow, double d.a.m.n. He had called Martinez. Well, there'd be a story for the morning edition all right. Only it wouldn't be the one Woodrow would be expecting. She crossed the street and stood by the car.

The windows were fogged and Tara could just make out the shadow of a person in the driver's seat. She headed for the pa.s.senger door, grabbed the handle, and threw it open. Instead of flinging herself inside, Tara saw that two people fogged up those windows with their warm breath and one with a cigarette.

”Charlotte!”

”Tara!” Charlotte's initial surprise pa.s.sed quickly.

She seemed more perturbed at the cold air than Tara's dramatic arrival and pulled her coat closer.

She touched her tarn, the cigarette wedged between two fingers so she wouldn't burn the wool.

”Charlotte, what are you doing in there? With him?” Tara leaned low, trying to see the both of them more clearly.

”I'm talking to a friend, Tara. One who has always been very kind to Woodrow in his professional dealings.” She smiled at him.