didn’t move, didn’t say a word. There was no expression on her face at all, but Savich knew she was hiding a deep black well of rage. She looked down at her fingernails, filed short. Finally she looked back at him. “As I said, Savich, it’s my word against a couple of murderers trying for a lighter sentence, murderers you choose to believe.” She looked at Wilde. “And you, the chief of police of that bum-crap little town, are you all aflutter the FBI is letting you play with them? You’re a fool.”
Wilde sat forward. “I guess you haven’t figured out yet that Savich tracked down the IP address of the person who’s been sending your instructions to the Trumbos. He didn’t cover his tracks well enough. It doesn’t matter you didn’t put your name on them. We’ll connect them to you, probably through your lawyer. You know what else? I can’t tell you how pleased I am you’re going to be in prison for the rest of your life, and how grateful I am for the small part I’ve played in saving all of us from having to deal with you again.”
Sonja Grayson cleared her throat, bringing Marsia’s eyes to her. “I’m here to inform you, Ms. Gay, that in addition to the charges we’ll be bringing against you in the Trumbo case, the court is scheduling your trial for the attempted murder of Mrs. Venus Rasmussen.”
Marsia sneered. “If you believe these FBI yahoos, you’re not as bright as I thought you were. Without Veronica, you don’t have enough evidence to convict me of anything.”
“You’ll be pleased to know your dear friend Veronica Lake is no longer in critical condition. Her condition is guarded, but it’s likely she’ll survive.” Below the table, Sonja crossed her fingers, said a silent prayer.
Marsia Gay froze. She began shaking her head back and forth. Angela had promised her, right in the heart. She heard her mother’s voice, booze-slurred and mean, I told you Ronald was too weak, told you he’d fold, the little loser. But you never listen, and now it’s all over for you, Daughter.
“No, no, it can’t be all over. No!” The drunk bitch was always telling her she was wrong, she was stupid. Marsia caught herself. She’d die before she showed these people any weakness. She looked at each of them in turn and said easily, “That’s a line from a book. Unlike you Nazis, the book is fascinating.”
Sonja rose and flattened her palms on the table. “Oh yes, Ms. Gay. Finally, I’ll see you in court. Enjoy your book.”
Marsia drew a deep breath and gave them a beautiful smile. “I’d like to see my lawyer now.”
63
GEORGETOWN
M STREET
CLYDE’S OF GEORGETOWN
SATURDAY NIGHT
Savich, Sherlock, Pippa, and Wilde sat in a booth, a bit away from the happy laughter and conversation at Clyde’s bar.
Chief Wilde said, waving a barbecue rib in his hand, “I’m asking for probation for Mrs. Trumbo, some community service, along with a stern lecture on her poor judgment in not reporting a death, self-defense or not. Of course, she would have done it if Marsia Gay hadn’t extorted her. I can’t see putting her in jail for helping her son, either, even after he attacked Cinelli. Mrs. Trumbo hugged me, and Ronald pumped my hand even though he knows he’ll have to do some time, no way around it.” He dabbed a bit of barbecue sauce off his chin. “Great ribs. I hear yours are even better, Sherlock, according to your husband.”
Sherlock laughed. “What else could Dillon say? We’ll have you over after New Year’s when we have kitchen appliances again. Our logistics expert said something always goes wrong, in her experience. But Clyde’s is always good. Glad you’re enjoying it.”
Wilde said, “Look at all the bones on my plate. Do you know, when Mrs. Trumbo hugged me, I smelled oatmeal cookies?”
Pippa grinned at him. “She hugged me, too. Alas, no oatmeal cookie smell. After Mrs. Trumbo and Ronald gave Sonja even more details of Marsia’s extortion and blackmail scheme, she was so happy she’d have thrown the Trumbos a parade if she could. But what about us? We deserve a parade, too, don’t you agree, Wilde?”
He laughed, patted her hand. “I gotta admit, Cinelli, when you showed up at my house all banged up, pathetic, really, you perked me right up. I’ve had as much fun these last few days as I ever had in Philadelphia.” He paused a moment, fiddling with the final rib on his plate.