Her Best Defense. Jackie/Lori Merritt/Myles

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СКАЧАТЬ time did Mateo get there?”

      “I guess about an hour later.”

      “Without too much detail, can you tell me about the rest of the evening?”

      “After Mateo arrived, we got a bottle of wine and went out to the spa. He liked water sports,” she said with a salacious little grin. Tossing her head, making her fabulous hair bounce a bit, she added, “Then, we went up to my room and spent the rest of the night there.”

      “What time did he leave?”

      Glory shrugged, which Lisa noticed that she did quite beautifully. Watching this woman was more entertaining than watching a movie, she thought with a slight frown. Truth was, she would like to really know Glory Witherington, through and through. Did Glory ever let anyone get that close?

      “I couldn’t say,” Glory said. “I took a pill and went to sleep. I have a hard time sleeping when Chandler is out of town so I always take something that will knock me out.”

      “Was Mateo still there when you did this?”

      “Yes, I suppose he was.”

      “So, you were asleep before he even left?”

      “That’s how I remember it, yes.”

      “And you heard nothing?”

      “Honey, a bomb could go off in that house and I wouldn’t hear it after I’ve taken one of my pills.”

      “This could present a problem if the police decide to go after you, Glory.”

      “I believe that’s why we’re hiring you, dear, to make sure they don’t.”

      Lisa’s intense interest in Glory’s entertainment value came to an abrupt end. In fact, she could stand this woman’s condescending attitude no longer and put pure ice in her voice to respond to such patronization.

      “I don’t think you quite understand, dear, but I don’t have any control over what the police decide to do. My job is to defend you, should it come to that. And from what you’ve given me so far, I wouldn’t be able to do that very well.”

      Glory appeared to be on the verge of another huff when Chandler intervened. “I think what Glory meant,” he said, patting her hand as if to tell her to cool it, “was that we would like you to do whatever is necessary to prevent that from happening. Use your connections, if you have any, to find out what their intentions are and if they have any suspects. We know Glory didn’t murder Mateo, but then I guess that leaves the question of who did. Why don’t you start there?”

      Chandler’s last sentence was more of a directive than a suggestion and Lisa could feel the hair on the back of her neck bristling. Where did these people get off coming in here and ordering her around as if she were simply the hired help? She wasn’t on their personal payroll, and she certainly had other things to do besides catering to them. She would, of course, do absolutely everything in her power to give the Witheringtons the best possible legal advice and, should it come to it, defense. That was her job. But she would not be ordered around and told how to do her job by anyone!

      “Mr. Witherington,” she began. “I assure you I will do everything I can for you and Glory—”

      “That’s all we’re asking,” Chandler said, interrupting her. He then rose from his seat, bringing Glory up with him. “If that’s all, then we’ll be going. Be sure to keep us informed.” And before Lisa could utter another word, the pair was out the door.

      What the hell just happened here? Lisa wondered, dazed by the past few minutes.

      Lisa’s head was still spinning as she rode the elevator back down to the sixteenth floor. She hoped that the police had found some evidence of an intruder and that Glory would be ruled out as a suspect. Otherwise, she wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to do to prevent the woman from being arrested. Perhaps something in Mateo’s background would help find his real killer. Of course, finding out everything she could on Glory and Chandler might help her better understand this strange couple, as well. A stop at Larry’s office was definitely in order.

      “Hey, good morning,” Larry said with a smile as she entered the research department. He was seated at a computer desk, one of several in the department, and he did that thing that men do to show their respect for a lady. He lifted himself about a foot off the chair, lingered a second and then sat again.

      Lisa, still focused on the Witheringtons, barely noticed that he’d moved and only offered a wan smile in recognition of his greeting. “I’ve just spent time with my newest clients, and I don’t mind admitting that I’m confused and unnerved. Larry, I need anything and everything you can dig up on Chandler and Glory Witherington.”

      “I heard their name on the radio this morning while driving to work. Something about a corpse in their front yard? Imagine waking up to that.”

      Lisa was in no mood for humor. Ignoring Larry’s comments, she plopped into the nearest chair and moaned, “It’s already in the news?”

      “The Witherington name is always news. Anyone with money is news. What are Chandler and Glory like in person?”

      “You know I can’t discuss clients. But I don’t think I would be too far out of line by mentioning raw nerve endings and the threat of a massive headache lurking on the fringes of consciousness.”

      “All happening to an unknown person, of course.”

      “Whatever you say. Larry, the dead guy is Mateo Ruiz. From what I’ve gathered so far, he was an odd-jobs yard boy. Look him up, too, would you?”

      Larry wrote the three names on a pad and murmured, “The multimillionaires and the yard boy. Makes for some interesting speculation, don’t you think?”

      Lisa got to her feet. “I’m looking for facts, not speculation. Give me a buzz when you have anything, all right?”

      “Perfectly all right, but don’t try to convince me that a good lawyer—and you are the best—doesn’t do reams of speculation when putting a case together.”

      “Larry, you’re too much for me today. Talk to you later.”

      Lisa was back in her own office for only a few minutes when she got a call from Grant Gowan. It was difficult for her to even take the call, let alone not sound as though she had just been run through a hay bailer, but she did her best.

      “Hello, Grant.”

      “Lisa, how’re tricks?”

      “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

      He chuckled lightly in her ear. “I can take a hint. You’re swamped, right? Okay, we’ll make this short. The party starts at seven. Are you planning to go home first, or what?”

      “No, there isn’t time for that. How about we meet in The Pub and go from there? I should be able to get away by six.”

      “That sounds fine. See you then.”

      As Lisa hung up, she hoped that the conservative three-piece taupe suit she was wearing СКАЧАТЬ