She could have said much worse, but she’d already lost her cool in front of her daughter. She wouldn’t say what she really thought, not in front of her. Later, she and Mandy would talk. For now, she needed to get Christina to understand the importance of reporting her accident to the proper authorities.
“Seriously, I’m going to call Simon Goldstein. He’ll advise me. Christina, I want to make sure you understand what you need to do. No matter how embarrassing, or scary, you have to do what is right.”
“This sucks, big-time, but yeah, I know what I have to do.” She fell against the pillows, resigned. Anna wished this had never happened, along with a dozen other things she’d experienced in the past few months. Will I ever get my life on an even keel again?
“I’ll leave you with Mandy if that’s okay. Just for a few minutes while I make a phone call.”
Mandy spoke up. “Go do what you have to do. We can finish watching the movie you interrupted.”
“Thanks, I won’t be long.”
Upstairs in her office, Anna called Simon. Explaining what happened was easy enough. He advised her and Christina, and Mandy as well, to keep quiet until he arrived. He would be there within the hour.
Chapter 19
Simon Goldstein had been her personal attorney for five years. He was short, bald, and wore Benjamin Franklin glasses, the epitome of what one imagined for a lawyer. When he spoke, his voice was soft and kind. She valued his advice, and it was agreed that Christina should cooperate with authorities, but she would need a criminal attorney. Daniel Alan Lowande was the best in West Texas, according to Simon.
“I’ve called him. I told him your daughter, Christina, wasn’t able to travel, so he’s agreed to come to your house first thing tomorrow morning. Understand, he’s just here to advise. You’re the victim, not the criminal,” Simon said, directing his words to Christina.
She nodded. “What will happen to her?”
“That’s up to the system. First, we have to establish that a crime was committed.”
“Isn’t the fact that she’s telling what happened enough?” Anna asked. “She’s lying in this bed because she was pushed down the damned stairs!”
“Calm down, Anna. I’m on your side. I’m only telling you what you can expect to happen. Given that she’s a minor, we can keep this quiet, or at least try to. Given your popularity, I can’t promise some kook won’t leak this to the press, but it’s against the law to release Christina’s identity.”
Anna took a sip of coffee. “It won’t be too hard to guess who she is if this gets out. Most people she knows, the school, her friends, their parents, all know who I am. It won’t be hard to put two and two together.”
“Let’s not worry about what may or may not happen. Daniel will advise you tomorrow. Now, if we’re finished, I have a late appointment at the office.” He looked at Christina, still in the hospital bed in the den. “Hang tough, kiddo. You’re a brave girl, just like your mother.”
“Thanks,” she said.
“I’ll walk you out,” Anna said, closing the door behind her.
As soon as they were out of earshot, she spoke. “Do we really need a criminal attorney?”
“Yes. Christina isn’t going to be charged with a crime, though it will be up to her to convince the authorities an actual crime took place. Don’t worry, Anna. I would do the same if I were in your place. Now, I’ve got that appointment. Stay in touch, and I’ll do the same.”
“Thanks, Simon,” she said, and closed the door behind him.
She and Mandy had spent a couple of hours searching for the necklace that Renée felt she had the right to. There was no other explanation for its loss. They hoped the little rat had held on to the necklace, that it hadn’t been burned up in the fire, since finding it in her possession would do a great deal to assure law enforcement that Christina was telling the truth.
Before she returned to the den, Anna went to the kitchen, where she found Mona and Jeb. It was time to tell them what had happened, assuming they didn’t suspect already.
“Can we chat for a minute?”
“Only if’n I can stir this pot of chili while I’m talkin’ to you. I promised Christina this mornin’ I’d make her a pot of chili. I ain’t gonna break a promise. So, what’s up?”
“I suspected somethin’ was going on when I saw Simon’s car,” Jeb