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About Wasted Justice
The Hunt for Justice series #4

Blurb:
Judge Willa Carson’s mother Kate Austin’s new husband, a hot Italian model, lures Willa into investigating a thirty-year-old murder. When no-nonsense Federal Judge Wilhelmina Carson is presented with the facts of the case she’s convinced that Billie Jo Steam is innocent.
Determined to right the wrongs of a justice system in which she believes, and to please Kate no matter what, Willa pulls out all the stops, including the use of genetic testing and her most distinguished political connections, to give Billie Jo back her family and her freedom.
But there isn’t much time to celebrate…
The deeper Willa delves into this timeworn case and the complex relationships that surround it, the more she realizes that there are still many people in Tampa — from pillars of the community to old hippies, to friends and co-workers — who will do whatever it takes to keep the past buried. Judge Willa stays on the long, cold trail until truth prevails at the very end of the road and Kate makes a killing.

Wasted Justice paperback – The Hunt for Justice Series

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You are listening to wasted Justice by Diane Capri presented by alus books sign up for Diane Capri’s free newsletter and get one free book www. Dian capri.com dear friends welcome to my hunt for justice series featuring one of my most popular and favorite Stars judge Willa

Carson when I set out to create a new series star I want them to be people like you folks I’d enjoy inviting into my home for the evening judge Willa and her husband George certainly fit the mold for me I hope you’ll enjoy spending time with them as much as I do judge

Willa Carson returns in wasted Justice the deeper Willa delves into this timeworn case and the complex relationships that surround it the more she realizes that there are still many people in Tampa from pillars of the community to old hippies to friends and co-workers who will do whatever it takes

To keep the past buried judge Willa stays on the Long Cold Trail until truth prevails at the very end of the road it’s an honor and a pleasure to write for you I hope you’ll love this series of books filled with tense legal drama courtroom overtones twisty plots and

Loads of Florida atmosphere as much as I enjoyed writing them for you prologue Tampa Florida August 1972 she wasn’t quite sleeping when she heard him arguing with someone outside he slammed the front door and came into the small rented house on South pacwood Avenue they’d lived in since their child

Was born he was drunk and angry he stumbled around in the living room and fell a couple of times she heard him curse under his breath loud enough to penetrate the old plaster walls she withdrew into her thin sleep shirt and burrowed Down Deeper under the covers as

If she were the child instead of her her 2-year-old son in the Next Room the third time her husband fell down he knocked an old ceramic lamp off the end table closest to the kitchen she heard the lamp crash to the floor and shatter the light bulb must have been turned on

Because it gave the little poof of an explosion they sometimes make when they break he let out a stream of curses as he rose to his feet and shuffled loudly into the kitchen he was swearing at the pain so he must have hurt himself in that last fall the one that broke the

Lamp she heard him open the refrigerator and heard the beer bottles Clank as he took one out and then set it down hard on the counter he stumbled again and knocked over one of the Chrome kitchen chairs with the red vinyl seats they bought those chairs at a yard sale from one of

The Neighbors when they’d first moved here from the college dorm where they’d met and fallen in love she remembered the day vividly because it was one of the earlier happier times when the chair crashed to the floor he bellowed a loud and fresh out rage jerking her back to

The moment she shook involuntarily with fear she heard him pick up the chair and set it down heavily leaning on it maybe so that it scooted away from him scraping along the floor she could hear his constant stream of angry words but tried not to listen to them she prayed

He’d be quiet that he’d stop cursing pass out or something he stayed in the kitchen for a good long time she heard him get another beer from the refrigerator and her heart sank she knew what was coming soon he’d stumble his way into the bedroom where she lay

Shivering in the cool morning air and the Darkness he would wreak of booze and pot he’d want to have sex and she wouldn’t be able to keep him off her unless she could get away trying to leave while he was in the house would mean she’d have to be quick if he saw

Her he’d never let her go absently she rubbed the fresh bruise on her wrist where he’ grabbed her and held her too tightly before she got up from the bed and slipped into the pair of jeans she’d worn for the gig earlier that night she slid her feet into cheap vinyl thongs

Remembering the glass that would be all over the living room floor from the broken lamp she looked around for a warmer shirt and could only find one of his lying dirty and crumpled in the corner since it was better than nothing against the Chill she slipped the shirt

On her nose wrinkled in disgust at his permeating smell as the shirt engulfed her in his stifling embrace squeezing her breath away now she hastened across the narrow hallway carefully as silently as she could with the flip-flop noise the thongs made every time she took a

Step she crunched up her toes to keep the shoes quiet and made her way into her son’s room miraculously the boy had slept through the noise of the crashing lamp and the sounds coming from the kitchen she was grateful she’d seen too many tears in the sensitive little boy’s

Eyes heard too many of his cries during all the similar evenings that had passed before this one she bundled the baby up in a blanket and carried him into the living room sneaking past the door to the kitchen she picked up her car keys but had to leave her purse the child was

Heavy and awkward she couldn’t carry anything more opening the door quickly holding her breath she made it out to the porch he hadn’t seen her although she’d had to dash right past the open Archway between the kitchen and the small living room she didn’t try to

Closed the door behind her no time she hurried out to the driveway and laid her still sleeping son on the back seat she shouldn’t have returned to the house for her purse if she just left without her purse he would never have seen her at all they wouldn’t have struggled with

The knife he wouldn’t have fallen she hadn’t thought she’d hurt him he was so much bigger than she so much stronger how could she have hurt him but she got out she she quickly returned to the car started the engine and sped away leaving a storm of dust in the dirt driveway

Hours later after she’d wrestled free of her fear and mustered her courage she returned to the house by then the sun was well up over the horizon Clear Blue Sky promised a perfect new day she hoped maybe he’d still be sleeping or awake and hung over but not so terribly angry

In her Daydream he apologized hugged her and held his son he’d maybe take them out to breakfast later the little boy liked to go to the old meeting house and eat pancakes with blueberry syrup and whipped cream he liked the little link sausages and the coffee with cream and sugar that he

Drank just like his daddy they’d be the close loving family she’d always imagined the family they had been for a while before her husband had become so popular with his fans but that never happened instead when she came back to the little house she found him still

Lying on the floor where she’d left him hours before she checked but he wasn’t breathing bewildered without knowing how it happened she stood over her dead husband her clothes covered in his blood her hand holding the knife that killed him she clutched the old shirt closer around her body seeking Comfort now in

The smell of him as if he still hugged her she had only pushed him to get away their struggle couldn’t have hurt him so badly there was so much blood it covered everything blood was everywhere in the small house horrified through her tears she saw her

Son run to his father daddy wake up he said laying his small head on his father’s bloody chest until he too was covered with the gooey mess part one good intentions chapter 1 Tampa Florida Mother’s Day 30 years later where did everything begin to unravel begin at the beginning my mother

Used to tell me but where was that if I could have found that spot the point where it all started maybe I could have changed the outcome maybe they would all still be alive all except Trey I felt better that there was never anything I could have done for Trey what I remember

As the beginning was Mother’s Day the day I met Trey’s son I’d like to claim that I walked into the unexpected party with a sense of tragedy that bellied Tampa’s beautiful spring afternoon but really I was only feeling slightly out of sorts I had envisioned a quiet interlude drinking lemonade and eating

Water Crest sandwiches on Kate Columbo’s Shady garden patio the reality was quite different when I arrived at her home the driveway was full of cars and street parking was as scarce as an innocent felon after circling the block several times I had had finally given up and

Parked six blocks away in the garage on South Rome in Old Hyde Park Village sunshine and temperatures in the low 80s along with the promise of a casual brunch had convinced me to foro my usual comfortable clothes in favor of a sundress and sandals with high heels for

The short drive along the Bayshore and into hiy park act in haste repent at leisure chesti myself at the time only for my wardrobe as I hiked my way back to Kate’s my feet hurt and I begun to Glow by the time I had walked from the

Parking garage in my foolish heels under Sunshine more sweltering with each step the fashionably Big Spring hat I’d set on my head before I left home only made me feel hotter despite my ultra short haircut once back at Kate’s I looked around for a place to stash the beastly

Thing the day continued to surprise me instead of a quiet afternoon I’d blundered into an allout party consisting mostly of Kate’s new husband’s fashionable young friends I saw messy spiked hair in colors Mother Nature never intended tight black leather minis skirts and belly shirts barely covered live bodies standing in

Every corner multiple piercings and tattoos made the guests resemble hip magazine tbls not found in my Social Circle I felt off balance old and oddly out of place in Kate’s home one of the few spots where I usually felt completely welcome and at ease maybe 133

Years after I lost my too young mother to cancer I should have been able to deal with her loss more effectively perhaps I should have developed a personal philosophy about her death that allowed me to go on with my life I was 39 years old but I

Still felt like a gawy and exposed 16-year-old on Mother’s Day a calm afternoon with Kate usually helped but it was not to be as I made my way around Kate’s Crowded House I was thinking a lot about Mom The Familiar Vivid nightmare that reprised the night she

Died had visited me again in the last hours before Dawn that morning lingering unes clung to my body like the smell of lilacs that accompanied the dream I was especially attuned to missing mothers or maybe I only think so now in retrospect as I try to sort out the events that

Followed that’s will helmina Carson the flamboyant judge your brother was raving about last week I heard a short brunette say about me to her companion as I made my way through the crowd around the punch bowl in the dining room I stopped for a cup of the fruity liquid and

Glanced surreptitiously at the speaker raving hum that could be a compliment I used the hydrangea printed co*cktail napkin to wipe my upper lip and dab at my brow threading my way through one pretty young thing after another more males than females I eventually made it

To the back of the house at the patio door I looked for Kate and in a minute spotted her Kate was standing with her new husband Leo Columbo on the backyard patio which was surrounded by her wild English garden she wore a royal blue silk dress that matched her twinkling

Eyes and took years off her age Kate looked relaxed and happy as the two of them talked with some of their guests Leo’s boyish chin was outlined by a ridiculous black goatee I hadn’t seen before dark sultry eyes and wavy black hair were the stock in trade of the

Successful Italian model he had been years before Kate married him and moved him halfway around the world what a hottie he is they look so happy together don’t they the punch bowl brunette lisped to her friend around the stud in her tongue they moved past me at the

Threshold and into the backyard hottie where did these words come from Leo told me that he and Kate are soulmates how romantic her spiky-haired Chum with the nose ring side causing the butterfly tattoo on her cheek to bat its wings I’d seen Kate very little since

She had returned home from Italy a few weeks ago and I missed her we used to talk almost daily before she married Leo now she talked to him instead but Kate had invited me to her home for brunch on Mother’s day as usual I’ve spent every Mother’s Day with Kate since her best

Friend my mother died and Kate became the woman I love like a mother a new husband hotti or not couldn’t change that Kate saw me then and waved me over Willa darling she said as I bent down to receive her kiss on my cheek and allowed her to take

My arm she paused to introduce me to the other man standing with her and Leo this is Leo’s great friend har estem I see now that’s where the real trouble started chapter 2 really your hairem it’s such a pleasure to meet you I said as I pumped his hand trying not to sound

Like an overly enthusiastic admirer even though I was Harris steam was a local pop star who’d had a few hit songs that made it to the top of the charts in the fickle way of the music business he had since faded from the national scene but

That hadn’t made a dent in his local popularity his fans here were rabid and faithful his relaxed style of music combined a little reggae a little folk a little foolishness and a lot of guitars think Jimmy Buffett but with not as much success or national Fame Harris slightly

Taller than my 5′ 11 in was probably in his mid-30s a few years younger than me although his music style appealed to a somewhat older audience he looked like a wave head as they say in North Florida a dimwitted surfer dude from the old beach movies that Rerun sometimes on late night

Television wraparound silver-framed sunglasses with reflective blue lenses hit his eyes which were almost level with mine Harris wore a wrinkled red Hawaiian shirt with the Tails hanging out outside his unpressed green shorts his shoes were the popular tea sandals that resemble a tire tread strapped Loosely to the feet but the smile made

His relaxed appearance irrelevant the display of ivory was a genuine toothpaste commercial complete with sparkles and it was more infectious than a virus I felt it spread to my face and stay there I’ve never met you before but I owe you a debt of gratitude I said as

I told Harris about the Fateful effect he’ had on my decision to become a Tampa resident on the day I resolved to leave my Michigan law practice and move to Florida I was sitting in a blinding snowstorm in the middle of April I’d been practically parked on the

Interstate for over 3 hours moving toward my office at a snail’s pace in the dirty gray snow and snarl traffic I was lost in thought about the choice to be made because my husband had unexpectedly inherited an historic old home down in Tampa should we move not Paradise living one of Harris steam’s

Most popular songs came on the radio at that exact moment warm days hot nights Cool Breeze Bright Lights February Paradise the song and its message penetrated my brain in one of those aha moments that make irrational decisions seemingly easy I remembered there were places in the world where it doesn’t

Snow in April where the sun shines year round and the blue skies beckon where I’d never sit in traffic for 3 hours on the way to work like the song that accompanied my first kiss and the one that played when my husband proposed Paradise living was forever embedded in my psyche the rest

As they say is history we’ve been living in paradise ever since and never looked back I finished the tale to Smiles all around the small group if not for Paradise living we’d be having this conversation in Detroit Kate added causing Leo to shudder at the very idea

Detroit is a great place for hockey teams and ethnic food his wrinkled nose conveyed but not for hottie Italian models Harris removed his sunglasses to reveal hazel eyes and an Earnest expression and focused on me as if I were the only person on the planet right at that moment an artist always hopes

His work will bring pleasure to his fans he said if I can really make a difference improve someone’s life in a meaningful way well then I’ve really succeeded I’ve heard many stories just like yours and it’s good to know that my songs Reach people on such a visceral

Level the words themselves resembled a line he might use to pick up women in a bar but he came off more like a spiritual adviser he continued to talk about how his music had changed the world and he shared his plans for the future although he looked like a punch

Drunk wave head he was a serious man with serious goals I could easily understand how Kate and Leo could have become so attracted to him haris steam was definitely more than just a pretty face with a pleasant voice just meeting him brightened my day and made me want

To listen to his music eventually the four of us walked through the buffet line and moved over to the patio table during a brief Lull in the conversation I had the chance to ask Kate the question that had popped into my mind when I couldn’t find a parking space out

Front why do you have so many people here today Harris answered for her Kate and Leo were kind enough to host a motherless day party for those who have no family to share the day with the unexpected words hit my stomach with a force like a blow

Motherless me too and I didn’t need to be reminded pretty nice of them don’t you think his words were genuine his tone wistful I sensed great sadness in his life but maybe I was projecting a little of my own uneasy feelings knowing my history Kate explained more gently

Just about everyone here is alone today including Leo his kids are with their mom in Italy and he was missing them so we decided to have this party to perk him up another surprise and not a welcome one what kids I thought as I looked over at Leo who nodded at Kate’s

Words to show indeed he needed cheering up suits me perfectly Harris put in turning to take Kate’s hand the one Leo wasn’t holding how so I asked realizing I had to say something and trying to get past the shock of learning that Leo had children of his own in Italy or anywhere else

I’ve been worried for Kate since I first met Leo Columbo and this piece of unwelcome news would only complicate their relationship further I didn’t believe Leo was actually in love with Kate as dear as she is to me she was close to twice his age and if the punch

Bowl brunette was to be believed Leo was such a hottie that he could have any number of women more suitable for him I didn’t believe Leo and I didn’t trust him Harris looked down at the ground a slight red blush creeping up his neck to his cheeks my girls are with my ex-wife

And my mother is in prison he replied quietly as if he was embarrassed to say so but had no choice at the time I thought it odd that he would share such personal information but in less than two seconds Leo cleared that up yes Willa Leo said jumping right in with his characteristic

Impetuosity Kate and I told Harris you’d be willing to help him get his mother out will you do it I was still preoccupied with Leo’s children and not paying as close attention to the conversation as I should have been how could Leo be a parent I thought he was

Childlike himself do what I asked absently you do that kind of stuff all the time look at all that trouble George was in and you fixed it I glared at him to no effect Leo apparently did not know the meaning of the word tacted he’d orchestrated this scenario so that haris

Steam and I would feel some sort of kinship I supposed how like Leo to think that having a loved one wrongly accused of murder would be a bonding experience for Two Perfect Strangers if I hadn’t been so appalled that he would mention George’s unfortunate experience in front

Of Harris Steam I might have been a little quicker to understand what was being asked of me some time ago my husband had been arrested for the murder of a United States Supreme Court nominee because of his political connections to the nominees enemies no one who knew George would seriously consider him a

Murderer but the charges had threatened our marriage and George’s misplaced sense of chivalry had nearly destroyed it George thought he needed to protect me from the Scandal and I thought he needed to particip participate actively in finding the real killer we’ separated for a time over it to save my way of

Life I had taken matters into my own hands and discovered the identity of the killer still it wasn’t the kind of thing I discussed with casual acquaintances at Garden parties and Leo shouldn’t have brought it up after my experience with George I can hardly go to public events

Without being barraged with requests for help of all kinds from people who find themselves caught up in the legal system I get calls and letters all the time too even among my friends and colleagues there are many who urge me to investigate and solve every murder committed in Tampa you must help Harris

Get his mother out of prison Leo repeated you have to do it because she knows how I feel about people pushing their problems on me I was surprised and a little hurt that Kate would allow Leo to do this to me in her home I tried to

Hide the growing anger I felt toward both of them for putting me in such an outrageous predicament Harris I don’t think I can help you I said gently I’m a United States District Court Judge which is more than a full-time job besides I’m prohibited from offering legal or

Financial help in cases now that I’m a judge I’m supposed to avoid any circ*mstance that would even appear to influence my judicial conduct or judgment a federal judge can be criminally prosecuted although even when that happens it doesn’t automatically remove us from Office still just because something can be done doesn’t mean it

Should be done there were ethical rules that judges should live by and I tried to give him the Practical and the ethical excuses together so that he would politely back down I expected him to say of course I understand please forgive me for asking then I’d let Kate

And Leo have the full force of my displeasure another time and it might have worked if Leo had kept quiet chapter 3 oh you do this sort of thing all the time Willa you can free Billy Joe I know you can Leo continued to push me I wanted to throttle him but

I don’t actually keep my nose out of situations where my help is truly needed and both Kate and Leo knew it sometimes I do accept these challenges when I see an injustice that I think is appropriate for me to resolve that’s why everyone keeps asking I

Figure I’m the best Arbiter of what will improperly influence me or my decisions which is not much the truth is that I’m going to get criticized for whatever I do so I might as well do what I think is right what good is being appointed for life if you can’t follow your own

Conscience once in a while so far no one had tried to have me impeached for improper conduct and I didn’t believe I’d done anything to Warrant such an action indeed I’d have fewer problems with my colleagues if I allowed them to chus me but this was the first time I’d ever

Been ask to help free a convicted felon freeing criminals is more than a little bit out of my league and it would require much more time than I could reasonably take away from my work besides the chances that Harris mother was wrongfully convicted were slim despite popular fiction innocent people

Don’t get convicted all that often I began to try to extricate myself from the situation as politely as possible I must have known about his mother’s conviction but until Harris raised it I had forgotten why is your mother in prison I asked thinking that more facts would

Provide me with a legitimate way to politely refuse his request as I do most of the others I receive that are no less deserving she was tried and convicted for killing my father back in 72 he answered but she didn’t kill kill him she was just a convenient

Defendant sure I thought that’s what they all say I’ve rarely met a defendant who admitted guilt the accused strongest defense is deny deny deny even after they’re convicted many inmates continue to protest their innocence and their families try hard to believe them this was nothing new in any case it’s very

Difficult to prove the police have the wrong suspect after he’s arrested most police departments do a good and thorough job of investigating homicide the Tampa Police Department was no different so long after the murder was committed it’s nearly impossible to demonstrate that the entire Judicial System had completely failed especially

When a convicted murderer has already served three decades I for one find some comfort in the knowledge that we’ve all done our jobs most of the time those of us charged with administ in Justice do it right I must have looked as skeptical about his mother’s innocence as I felt

Because Harris put down his fork and leaned closer to me across the table I know what you’re thinking but you’ve never met my mom she wouldn’t kill anyone she certainly couldn’t have killed my father she loved him his desperation was plainly apparent but was he right or was he just a child who

Wanted his mother back that I could understand only too well we’ve got to get her out of prison before she dies there you mean she’s on death row I asked if so I could appropriately refuse his request attempting to free a death row inmate was more than a full-time

Occupation I didn’t have the expertise to do anything that complicated or the time to learn how to do the job even if I had been convinced that I should get involved no Harris shook his head nothing like that but she’s sick mom has terminal cancer delivered deafly on Mother’s day when I

Was already edgy the words landed another hard blow to my stomach my visceral reaction only proved to me that no matter how objective I think I am my emotions are always there to pounce in an unguarded moment my pain must have shown clearly on my face Kate looked at

Me with great concern but Leo took up Harris cause before she could say anything she been locked up almost 30 years isn’t that long enough Leo asked petulant the woman was sentenced to life in prison she’s been there a lifetime hasn’t she hell 30 years is almost longer than I’ve been alive he

Needlessly reminded us I suppressed a groan still trying to calm my churning stomach why are you asking me to do this right now Mom is coming up for parole she’s been up before but she’s been turned down every time time this is her last chance Hara said a long series of

Defeats meant less likelihood of success this time Kate the mother of four lawyers knew this as well as I did I sent a beseeching glance her way she had to know what an imposition this request was how hard it would be to succeed how much I wouldn’t want to become involved

Why was she pushing me this is a good cause Willa Kate insisted rejecting my silent plea to get me out of this these days Billy Joe steam wouldn’t even have been tried let alone convicted no justice was done in this case you might be the only one who can help her after

All this time you need to try Leo piped in again interrupting Kate’s explanation he was as annoying as the kid who always jumps out of his seat in the front row waving his hand so the teacher will call on him she has to get out and she needs you to help her that’s

Simple isn’t it Harris tell Willow what your mom said about her Harris at least had the grace to realize he was asking for more than he had a right to request only the futility of his mother’s struggle seemed to prompt him to continue mom knows you’ve been through

The nightmare of trying to prove your husband was wrongly accused of murder you feel the Injustice of false charges in a way others don’t she said he gave me his sexy smile the one I’m sure he’d use to get everything he’d ever wanted since he was old enough to realize its

Effect on women I could no longer resist the three of them all pressing for a commitment refusing to let me sidestep the question more to end the pleading and cajoling than anything else I considered Harris request seriously this was exactly the kind of project that chief judge Osgood

Richardson who thinks he’s my boss would not want me to get involved in if I helped Harris steam I’d have to figure out what to do about this the CJ maybe that was a reason to take the job right there I smiled to myself tting the CJ

Was always worth the effort but I had another more emotional reason to look into the matter today was Mother’s Day Kate Columbo who had been everything to me that any real daughter could ask for was asking for my help Kate rarely asks me for anything after all the sacrifices she’d

Made for me this was something I could do for Kate something for which she still needed me I’d never refused any request she’d ever made of me and now all she was asking was that I help someone else I wasn’t hard-hearted enough to refuse her the courtesy of at

Least considering the matter of course CJ would say this was no Affair of Kate’s either herem and his problems were far removed from Kate Columbo strains of paradise living wafted out from the stereo speakers in the house floating on the scented Breeze reminding me that I owed Harris something too his

Song was at least partly responsible for the happiness I’ve had living here in Tampa since Paradise living pushed me over the edge of indecision into our Paradise not that CJ would be persuaded by such a frivolous point but it wasn’t frivolous to me and it was just icing on

The cake anyway an excuse that would seem so silly to him that he would never believe it but I didn’t need CJ’s permission to do something Kate wanted so badly as I listened to the back and forth of my internal argument I must have nodded involuntarily because without knowing

What was really going on I felt my arm flailing up and down Harris had grabbed my hand to pump it the same way I’d been pumping his earlier his eyes sparkling to match the smile thank you judge thank you so much I’ll send her file over to

You by messenger tomorrow take a look at it and then tell me you don’t think she should be free Leo and Kate were beaming too as if they just won the lotto Harris I said trying to extract my hand and stop this roller coaster before it kened

Out of control listen to me I don’t know if I can help you or not all I’m willing to do as a favor to you and to Kate and Leo is to look at your mother’s file I’m not making any promises I know but you’ll help us I can

Tell he said refusing to release my hand and until I pulled it away by gentle Force I saw Kate smile her thanks at me and I felt the addictive Warm Glow of her approval how far would I go to keep that approval washing over me chapter 4 Monday morning the

Situation at my office was normal all fouled up I was without an assistant of any kind again usually the new one for the week arrived after lunch my prior secretary AR had retired in the spring since then Uncle Sam through his Emissary and my nemesis the chief judge

Has had a series of floaters sitting in her chair on a hit and miss schedule all the temps were seeking a full-time job and were always on their best behavior yet none had been worth her weight in good top soil I suspected the CJ was taking particular pleasure in tormenting

Me with ineptitude so I hadn’t found a replacement yet the quality of applicants for the job had been steadily declining and I couldn’t hold out this way much longer my dictation was stacked up and the male threatened to bury me alive messages I was desperately waiting

To receive rarely made it to the pink slip stage worse the CJ whom I tried to avoid whenever possible was actually able to reach me because I had no one to properly screen my calls not thinking I picked up the ringing phone Willa CJ said in his raspy whne that graded on my

Last nerve like sucking a sour lemon I have better things to do than finding you a replacement secretary just pick one I held on to my determination to have a good morning but barely I’d be happy to pick one if you could send someone that had half a brain he grunted

Into the phone this is a government job we’re talking about the really good assistants can make a lot more money in the private sector we don’t often get the cream of the crop to choose from you know was he suggesting I wasn’t the cream of the crop the officious jackass

Excuses that’s what the CJ always gave me when I made requests of any kind usually those excuses were related to lack of money CJ played the government game well he was always spending to the top of his budget because he thought that he’d get more money next time if he

Could show the current budget was inadequate for our needs look CJ I tried a little sweetness I know money is short and we’re near the end of the budget year but I need someone who has some experience managing a heavy workload you know how much we have to do over here I

Tried sucking up by appealing to his desire to let everyone know how overburdened the court system for the Middle District of Florida was and particularly our Tampa division he wasn’t buying it you’re no busier than anyone else Willa he snarled at me if you don’t take the next one I send you

You’ll have to make do without an assistant altogether because I’m totally out of money for temps when he slammed down the phone I said something unjudged the telephone receiver the man was impossible somehow in the midst of the chaos the Billy Joe steam file arrived that morning in my office the file

Marked urgent was placed on my chair while I was on the bench after 30 years in prison what could still be urgent for Mrs steam I picked up the heavy green envelope containing the file and put it on top of the stack in my inbox the Heap wobbled threatening to topple over but

Held its leaning tower of pza pose my assistant’s job was to sort the mail and deal with it of course that wasn’t getting done either I glared at the pile which unfortunately didn’t cause it to shrink any and turned my attention to other matters at 12:00 taking note of

The growling tiger in my stomach I picked up my wallet and let myself out the front door of my Chambers in search of a modest lunch waiting impatiently for the ancient elevator to reach the third floor of the old Federal Courthouse where I worked I paced and fidgeted my colleagues had long since

Moved to the new Sam M Gibbons Federal Courthouse down the street the much nicer elevators at the new site were only one of the reasons I coveted the other location but the CJ refused to let me move he claimed he had no money in the budget and if you believe that I’ve

Got some swampland to sell you I told myself eventually the elevator arrived and when it opened there stood Harris steam Gua I was just coming to see you did you get the file I sent over he asked as he stepped out toward me with a hopeful look on his face resisting the

Urge to groan I hesitated a moment in indecision while the heavy old elevator doors began to close ever so slowly at the last minute I stuck my foot inside the frame allowing the doors to mash it when the doors finally registered the obstruction and made their labored

Opening again I said Harris walk with me I need to get a sandwich for lunch and I haven’t got much time as I limped into the elevator we began our slow descent to the first floor did you look at it Harris asked me a second time his eyes

Eager and intent on my face the loud creaking noises the elevator made on our trip down were a little scary but as usual I ignored them no I haven’t had time yet I saw the file on my desk after I came off the bench this morning but I

Didn’t get a chance to read it but you will he insisted I sighed inwardly in resignation I’d relaxed at home last night and got in a good night’s sleep my husband George had returned from his annual Mother’s Day Trek to Gross Point Michigan this morning my world had begun

To settle into its normal Rhythm and I regretted my impulsive agreement to consider helping Billy Joe steam George had told me you don’t have to save the entire world Willa chapter 5 this morning part of me had begun to hope that Harris had simply been Carried Away by the day and the

Moment just as I had been what did Harris really expect me to do for his mother a lot of people can help you better than I can Harris I could recommend someone for you someone who would have the time and the expertise to get your mother out of prison I didn’t

Have time to free Billy Joe steam even if I had the ability to do so my case load is always over 800 cases and growing I’d spent the morning working on pre-trial conferences and I had 25 trials set to start next week believe me at least one would begin and then I’d be

Tethered to my bench all day every day until the trial was over if Kate hadn’t asked me to do this I’d have rejected the request out of hand Harris and Billy Joe were the beneficiaries of my desire to be Kate’s Hero at least I understood that much Harris didn’t answer me right

Away we walked together rather swiftly down Florida Avenue and across Madison to Franklin Street we passed one of Tampa’s oldest and most celebrated power Brokers Prescott Roberts walking South Harris raised his hand and said hi Uncle Prescott as we approached Prescott Roberts nodded in our Direction not stopping his conversation with the mayor

To speak to us but his Steely gray eyes met mine for a moment the look he gave me was piercing causing me to wonder why Prescott Roberts was a formidable man but so far as I knew our paths had rarely crossed there would be no reason

For him to dislike me as we stood in line at the Franklin Street Delhi Harris remained silent lawyers and judges greeted me discussing the weather the devil ray or anything else of no consequence just to have a few seconds of my time being a judge in Tampa makes

One something of a minor celebrity among lawyers no one else knows who I am or cares most people are much more interested in my husband who owns Tampa’s only five-star restaurant he’s a real celebrity here when I’d ordered my tuna sandwich to go and filled up a

Styrofoam cup with ice and tea I stood at the checkout counter with my $10 bill ready having already declined Harris offer to buy no one was bending my ear and Harris steam finally got a chance to talk why don’t we sit down here for a minute I’d like to tell you something

About my mother I I want you to know why you’re the only one I can count on to help us now I followed him to a booth in the back room away from anyone in a business suit where we sat across from each other I opened my sandwich while

Harris opened his wallet and pulled out two pictures these are my sweethearts he said handing them over I wiped the mayonnaise off my fingers and took the photos which were Studio pictures not snapshots both pictures showed two young girls one about a year older than the other

In the first photograph they were maybe three and four years old in the second they were about seven and eight both girls were redheads and blue-eyed they wore frilly dresses gloves and hats their hair fell in natural ringlets down below their shoulders these children looked like elaborately dressed

Porcelain dolls on display in a showcase I handed back the glossies which he continued to look at as he talked the older one is will helmina just like you he said startling me I’d never met another will helmina in my entire life I suppose most of the gyms and Jennifers

Got over this sense of name ownership in preschool but I’d always been the only will helmina I thought I was unique in my little world anyway actually Harris went on looking from the picture to me and back again she kind of looks like you in a way the

Red hair I guess but her eyes are blue not green like yours anyway the younger one is willetta what unusual names you’ve given them I observed perhaps a bit old-fashioned too for kids these days they family names but also sort of superstitious I guess how so I asked

Still munching on my sandwich I had to be back on the bench at 2:00 and I had several things to do before then including walking back to the courthouse have you ever heard of the six bills I shook my head in response well that was the name of the

Band my parents started when they were in college here at the University of Tampa dad was the lead singer mom played keyboard six bills had six members all the guys were named William and Mom is wetta which is how the band got its name really I said what an odd

Coincidence yeah when some Cosmic thing like that happens you have to take notice right he was giving me that grin again the one that drives female fans to scream for 3 hours straight when he’s on stage I mean you moved to Tampa because Paradise living played at the right

Moment on the radio it must have been confusing everyone having the same name I said I had visions of mixed up credit cards misfiled school records wrong number telephone calls once someone called our house to offer someone named Bess Carson a job as an office manager

Now my dog Bess is smart but I think managing a financial services office would probably have been a bit of a stretch for her having a household full of best Carsons would be even worse sometimes mostly it’s been pretty cool haven’t you ever heard of the John

Smith Society all the members are named John Smith I shook my head negative again anyway dad was William Harris steam the third he was called Trey I’m the fourth but they call me Harris and not thank God he smiled again and I had to laugh mom’s always been called Billy

Joe by everyone when the girls were born they had to be bills too okay I guess that made some kind of sense in an in mesed way I’d always enjoyed the special nature of my name I liked being one of a kind which was sort of a trademark for

Me given the choice I’d take Solitude and Independence over crowds and popularity every time which is probably why I would never have become a judge if I’d had to stand for election he looked at the pictures one more time put them back in his wallet and returned the

Wallet to his jacket pocket we called the girls Willie and Billy he saw me wise I guess it takes some getting used to now that I’m divorced I don’t see them as often as I’d like Eva my ex-wife doesn’t think much of me as a father I said nothing about his divorce although

I don’t read fan magazines and I miss out on most of the personal information about celebrities Harris steam’s divorce had made the local papers read like a late night soap opera infidelity allegations and suggestions of abuse were flung by both sides mostly in an effort to secure favorable terms for

Child custody and visitation since Florida is a no fa divorce State I would have had to live on another planet to miss the gossip he dipped his head down again in the Charming shy gesture of an embarrassed young child Eva left me because she said I didn’t care enough

About her and the children if I can show her that’s not true I think we can get back together again I still love her and she knows that I swallowed the tuna with a swig of iced tea is Eva right I questioned did you give her a reason to

Think you didn’t care very much about your family my experience with divorced males is that often they don’t see it coming despite all the obvious signs if the wife leaves them it takes a long time before they get over it Harris seemed like one of those men who never

Recover from divorce or go on with their lives the head dip followed by the sexy smile proceeded his answer maybe I wasn’t as good at showing my feelings as I could have been the divorce has made me more serious about getting my mother out of prison so we can be a family

Again for some reason he believed getting his mother out of jail would fix his marriage too it seemed like a stretch to me but maybe the two problems were related I didn’t know enough about the situation yet to make an assessment because she’s been in prison

Mom has never been able to spend any real time with me or the girls all of us need that relationship maybe Evo would let us all be together again too the girls ask me constantly if that will happen families should shouldn’t be separated by Prison Walls should they I didn’t answer but my

Work has shown me that some families need to be separated by Prison Walls given the damage they do to each other both physically and emotionally how do your grandparents feel about it I asked him William steam Jr had been the president of the University of Central Florida here

Before he retired he was still a very influential man in Tampa his reputation for being rigid and unforgiving was welld deserved he had expelled more seniors just prior to graduation for innocent pranks than any other college President I’d ever heard of he was active in the most conservative of the

Local churches political associations and private clubs no bill steam was not a man who would welcome the release of his son’s killer nor would he take kindly to me if I got in the way of what he viewed as appropriate Justice having Bill steam opposed to her parole would

Make the task of freeing Billy Joe a great deal closer to Impossible than it already was do you think your grandfather will just forgive and forget chapter 6 it’s my father she’s supposed to have killed if I can forgive mom for that shouldn’t Granddad be able

To the way he said it made me think that his grandparents weren’t supporting his efforts to free his mother maybe Bill steam should forgive but his heart is hard I avoided saying in response if Bill steam hadn’t forgiven Billy Joe after 30 years it was unlikely he’d do

So now that was a clue to the Steely glare Prescott Roberts had cast my way when we passed him on our walk to lunch Prescott Roberts was Bill steam’s brother-in-law if they were both opposed to Harris plan to free his mother Billy Joe had better get comfortable right

Where she was I swallowed the last of my sandwich with the last of my tea it’s not not that easy Harris I said as we prepared to leave your mother was tried convicted and sentenced to life in prison she’s been there for 30 years you told me her parole has been denied

Before in this context life in prison means exactly that unless the parole board decides she can be released she won’t go home that’s how the system works Harris tone instantly became hard and angry he raised his voice to an uncomfortable level but how old will my

Girls be then Mom isn’t well Willa she has cancer she’s been sick for quite a while she’ll be dead soon my girls will never have a grandfather they need to have their grandmother at least for as long as she has left surely no one can object to letting mom die with us his

Anger was seething and I suddenly realized he might be dangerous what did I know about him really there were quite a few people around I noticed as I picked up the pace wanting to get closer to the courthouse and all those lovely armed guards we have there Harris kept

Up walking all the way back to the courthouse with me by the time we got there he’d calmed himself down and managed a final plea on the courthouse steps wonk you help us he sounded like himself again the man who had spent the lunch hour discussing his children

Trying to win me over he thought there was something he could say to persuade me but that was wasn’t true Harris steam wouldn’t cool me against my will if Billy Joe steam had been the victim of rough and imperfect Justice she needed rescue that had been Kate’s point

Yesterday a point with which I agreed in principle Kate takes on so many lost causes it’s hard to keep them all straight in my mind but she rarely asks me to help her with anything after all she’d done for me I could not refuse her more importantly had the justice system

Betrayed Billy Joe clearly her son believed so and he was ready to put himself wholeheartedly into the effort to prove he was right whether the powerful men in his family agreed or not much more than that would be required to get his mother released but haris emotional and financial support was a

Pretty good start Justice in this country is a lot easier to come by for those with money sad but true Harris steam had a decent cash flow according to the gossip over for his divorce if I helped him I wouldn’t charge him a fee but we’d have some heavy

Expenses I’m just not sure I can help you Harris let’s do this I’ll study the file you sent me after that I’ll let you know whether I think you have any chance at all of success we’ll go from there how does that sound he grabbed my hand

And held it between both of his as he looked into my eyes and threw to my soul I know you’ll help us Willa you understand what it’s like to lose your mother and you’re a principled woman you’ll do the right thing and I thank

You for that just let me know how I can help he reached into his jacket pocket pulled out a CD and handed it to me this is an advanced release of my new CD I’ve done all of my father’s old songs some of them have been remastered so that it

Sounds like we’re singing together sort of like that Natalie and Nat King Cole C they did a few years ago Paradise living is on here too listen to this I think you’ll like it and maybe you’ll see why my family is so important to me I left

Him on the steps and quickly went back up to my Chambers with just a few minutes before I had to return to the courtroom I carefully pulled the heavy Green Legal siiz envelope labeled Billy Joe steam off the leaning tower of unopened mail I used my silver letter

Opener that had had a pair of Labrador retrievers cast into the handle to Slit the top Edge because we own two Labradors gifts from work friends tend toward every known form of office paraphernalia depicting the dogs anyone who’d spent some time in my Chambers might think he’d wandered into the

American Kennel Club I took the contents out of the green envelope three Manila file folders and a long cover letter addressed to me from Billy Joe herself the letter was my first contact with the woman I scanned the cover letter first it was well written cogently organized and

Straight to the point Billy Joe steam clearly had better assistance than I did or if she’d prepared the letter herself maybe I could hire her my son places great faith in you and I’m praying he’s right the letter began thank you for agreeing to help me overcome my past and

Leave this place for a better life as I read her plea for help I felt the all too familiar personal pressure of an insurmountable challenge placed before me I also felt the pressure to fulfill the hopes of a hopeless woman and reunite a fractured family before another death severed them from each

Other forever bringing Billy Joe steam home would be like bringing a mother and her family back to life I’d often wished someone could do that for me but would it be a good thing should we change the course of the future A tingle course through me from under my scalp to my

Toes leaving me vaguely unsettled as if the choice I made would have tragic unforeseen consequences I believe in premonitions I should have remembered that chapter 7 Billy Joe’s letter contained a recitation of the procedural history of her case probably written for her by a previous lawyer who had tried

And failed to gain her a new trial Guetta Johnson steam had been convicted of the first-degree murder of her husband husband she had been tried in Hillsboro County circuit court before a judge who is now deceased the prosecutor was a man of significant local Renown who had committed suicide last year her

Defense attorney was a public defender whose name I didn’t recognize perhaps he was still around and I could interview him I noted all the names along with the reminder to locate and interview Paul Robbins her public defender her trial had taken place less than a month after the murder

It had lasted only one day and the jury took less than 30 minutes to find Billy Joe guilty of first-degree murder she was sentenced the next day to life in prison in 27 days Billy Joe’s world had gone from Young Bride and mother to life in prison her defense had been simple

She was not guilty now 30 years later that’s what she still said Billy Joe had had two unsuccessful hearings before the parole board seeking her release maybe the third times the charm I used as I put the letter back on top of the three files and placed a large rubber band

Around the entire stack I take a closer look after my hearings this afternoon somehow the justice system was intent on punishing Billy Joe steam to the full extent of the law that so rarely happens it was worth looking into just to see why it was happening I

Thought as I put on my robe and returned to my courtroom 4 hours later my body dragging and my spirit at about the same low level I came back into my Chambers to a cacophony of questions from my law clerks pink phone message slips stacked

3 in high and the constant chirp that my computer uses to tell me I have unanswered email just as I was about to say something completely unjudged tie walk through the door out out everyone out judge Carson’s had a long day come back tomorrow he ushered the law clerks through the door followed

Them out and closed the door behind him I had no idea who he was but at that moment I might have hugged him a few seconds later this kind stranger returned with iced tea in a tall crystal glass a co*cktail napkin and a coaster he put the life-saving refreshment on my

Desk and stood there while I drank a long thirst quenching gulp then in a lilting voice with a pleasant Jamaican accent he said good afternoon judge Carson I’m Augustus Ralph I’ll be filling in as your assistant this week it’s a pleasure to meet you I’m leaving

Now I’ll be here at 8:00 in the morning he might have told me he was about to change my life forever by taking charge of my office henceforth I needed a change the announcement would have been quite welcome it would have given me some hope that my work life would soon

Be back in order and I could return to the job Uncle Sam pays me to do I would certainly have liked to do my own work instead of the job my prior assistant performed so well that I’d hardly known she was doing it ah the truth assistants

Are indispensable if you doubt it try working without one as far as I was concerned Augustus Ralph was already a keeper I wanted to follow Augustus out the door but I thought I should at least take a peek at the pink slips and the list of email mesages on my computer I

Flipped through both quickly finding nothing much of Interest except one phone message from my friend Ursula Westfield marked urgent wondering what wouldn’t be urgent to a television news reporter on a deadline I picked up the phone and returned her call the moment that I said my name the receptionist put

Me right through to Ursula herself maybe I had more clout with the general public than I thought Gua how good of you to call me back can I come over to minet this afternoon I could be there about 5:30 I need some information for a story it’s 5:00 now as usual Ursula’s

Conversation was filled with swift information and inquiry I would have tried to stall her but I’ve attempted to say no to Ursula before there’s no point to it she doesn’t ever hear the word and in any event she didn’t wait for me to respond okay

See you then she said as she hung up I picked up the Billy Joe steam file along with the CD Harris had given me and put them in my briefcase I made a weary trip down to the car where I saw a note under the windshield wiper on the driver’s

Side no one other than Courthouse Personnel parked in this garage so I assumed one of my co-workers had left me a quick message I unfolded the plain white notepaper and read Billy Joe steam belongs in prison leave her there what the hell I said out loud to no one

In particular I looked around but saw no one lurking who would have known that I had any involvement with Billy Joe steam at this point especially someone with access to this garage I stuffed the note in my pocket more puzzled than concerned and drove home 10 minutes later I set my

Briefcase down by the hostess station near the entrance to the restaurant above which I live our flat is on the second floor of the this 19th century home called minet its name comes from the polished steel onion Dome on the top of the Mansion the first floor houses my

Husband George’s Restaurant minet is a grand old building George’s Aunt Minnie married into it and left it to her favorite nephew when she died we opened a restaurant in the building so that we could afford to keep the place inheriting a big old house is a little

Like winning prizes on a game show what they don’t don’t tell you is that prizes come with a hefty price tag because Uncle Sam is right there assessing taxes on your winnings in the case of minet we had not only taxes but improvements and the air conditioning bills alone would

Support a third world country for a decade oh don’t get me wrong we’re not about to start collecting food stamps or anything still we don’t work full-time just because we love our jobs minet was built in the 1890s when Henry plant Tamp equivalent of Donald Trump decided to

Build a family home plant was then constructing the Tampa Bay hotel now the University of Tampa which he believed would be a mecca for the Rich and Famous when his guests came to the hotel he wanted to show off a fabulous home as well he wasn’t going to be outdone by

His rival Henry Flagler who had done such a magnificent job in Palm Beach before he could build his house though plant had to build plant key itself originally Hillsboro Bay was too shallow for navigation and certainly devoid of any land mass when the Port of Tampa channels were being dredged to allow

Passage of Freighters plant persuaded the Army Corps of Engineers to build up enough solid land for plant key at the same time he made his island oval-shaped with the narrow ends facing North and South toward Bayshore and out into the Gulf the key is about a mile wide by 2

Miles long and it sits between Davis Islands and Ballas point in Hillsboro Bay plant also built plant Key Bridge which connects plant key to Bayshore Boulevard just east of Gandy Boulevard marine life ecosystems weren’t a big priority then if you had an island you had to have a

Way to get there didn’t you since the dinner crowd had not yet arrived George’s place was nearly empty I wandered into what was once Aunt Minnie’s side porch but is now the Sunset Bar stopping to get a glass of perer from the bartender here too the tables were all empty except for

One chapter 8 seated with her back to me enjoying the view of Hillsboro Bay was Ursula Westfield her tall slender form reflected the perfect posture she displayed 5 days a week as anchor of the Network’s Morning News her creamy cafeo skin Ultra short hair and luminous brown eyes conveyed the sincerity and

Competence that millions of Americans trusted to deliver the truth of the latest headline story Ursula was more popular nationally than Barbara Walters or Diane Sawyer indeed her ratings put her just slightly below Tom Brokaw with viewers if she kept moving up she’d soon be the national news anchor on the

Evening broadcast No Other Woman hold such a position in network television and Ursula was determined to get the job Ursula was a local girl made good and we were all proud of her she was one of my best friends but I didn’t see her often her job and mine two frequently intruded

On the time we would have otherwise spent together indeed I rarely saw Ursula at all during the month of May because May is a television ratings month one of the time periods when the networks tried to Garner as many viewers as possible to assure the highest advertising rates for the coming season

Ursula often spent the entire month at her flat in New York City where she could be closer to her work now Ursula didn’t have a news crew with with her that meant that her professed deadline wasn’t as impending as she had made it sound after we’d settled in the Sunset

Bar and exchanged life updates since we’d last seen each other Ursula got right to the point another trademark of the style that had catapulted her near the top of the news game I’m doing a story on an innocent woman who’s been in the prison system for about 30 years

She’s coming up for parole I want you to be one of my onair experts Ursula said I asked the question although I already knew the answer what’s the woman’s name WETA Johnson steam Billy Joe they call her her son is Harris steam the singer

Do you know the case yes I said wary she laughed don’t look so worried what I’m looking for from you is the legal angle the reasons why Billy Joe would have been convicted in the first place and how she’d be treated differently today stuff like that I think this will be

About a 20-minute piece on the next news this week episode I’m doing it’s perfect for you why are you asking me to do this I don’t believe in coincidence Ursula’s request wasn’t Serendipity in my pocket my fingers clutched the note that had been left on my windshield if Ursula knew about my

Potential involvement with Billy Joe steam more people were aware of it than I’d suspected who would be bold enough to threaten me Harris steam said you’d agreed to help I want the Inside Story do you think you can get her out Ursula was always focused on her own agenda did you tell

Harris to ask me to help his mother I was feeling manipulated here I just wanted to know who the Chess Master was he asked me about you I told him I thought you’d be perfect for it you could use some positive publicity Willa and freeing an innocent woman will give

It to you she was all Earnest now Ursula wanted something from me but she seemed convinced that this would be a two-way street federal judges don’t need publicity of any kind I said more than a little annoyed at her meddling I don’t know of a single federal judge in any

Jurisdiction who has ever given a comment on television it’s just not done well maybe most of them don’t don’t but you’ve had quite a bit of negative press in the past few months some people think you should be impeached for taking the Law into your own hands over that

Business with George as your friend I’m telling you that a little positive publicity isn’t going to hurt you any only about a dozen federal judges had ever been impeached in the history of the United States Judicial System once appointed to the bench a judge could do just about anything and still keep her

Job still there was the public trust and confidence in the judicial system and the rule of law to consider I’d taken an oath to uphold the law and I intended to keep it Ursula shifted in her seat checking the diamond encrusted gold Rolex on her wrist in the manner of a

Person with a plane to catch seeing I wasn’t convinced she added quietly it’s a lot easier to do nothing but that’s not your style you didn’t take the job to toil safely in obscurity while hoping to make it up the judicial ladder when you accepted your appointment you said

You’d follow your own conscience and make your own choices now’s your chance again I didn’t immediately consent although her words had pricked my conscience just as Ursula intended the president had nominated me late in his last term to fill an empty seat on the federal bench because I was young I’d

Had no judicial experience and these seats were sought after by candidates much more qualified than me there were people who weren’t satisfied with his choice at the time I had been astonished and thrilled in almost equal measure viewing my appointment as a sign from the Universe I took the job vowing to

Use my position to help people Ursula was right that so far I hadn’t been as bold as I could have been in pursuit of my self-defined goals Ursula sounded exasperated with me now you’ve got some powerful enemies Willa they’re looking for an excuse to bring you down

I don’t like to think of myself as a woman with enemies so my tone was harsher than I intended don’t you think getting myself publicly involved in a parole hearing where the attempt is to free a convicted felon will just give these enemies you say I have more

Ammunition this woman is innocent people would love to see her freed if the public is on your side then your opponents will have a harder time getting rid of you Ursula replied look I’m not interested in what my enemies think if I help Harris and Billy Joe

Steam it’ll be because I think it’s the right thing to do not for any other reason maybe I spoke a little too hotly I was tired overworked inconvenienced and not interested in being on television nor was I willing to be bullied by they I am used to making my

Own decisions my friends call me principled independent and passion passate I think they mean it as a compliment when George is angry with me he calls me stubborn and pigheaded which is probably closer to the truth regardless I make my own choices and I take full responsibility for them

Realizing she wasn’t making progress Ursula tried to find a more winning Tac okay then think about Billy Joe steam the woman trusts you everyone who has tried to help her has failed do you want to leave her to someone else someone who won’t care whether she spends the rest

Of her life in prison I already felt the pressure to perform a miracle what if I failed did I need such a public failure One televised to multi-millions worldwide sure winning would help my Public Image but what if I didn’t win putting the case under a spotlight could

Easily backfire on not only me but also Billy Joe herself maybe that’s where she belongs Ursula did that ever occur to you I said softly voicing my own doubts Billy Joe was tried and convicted in one day does that sound like a complicated case it sounds like a railroad job to me

That’s what it sounds like Ursula said with the conviction of the righteous as she set her drink down with a thud for emphasis trouble was that’s what it sounded like to me too after Ursula left I pulled the threatening note out of my pocket crumpled it up and dropped it in

A trash can I wouldn’t be bullied and certainly not by someone too cowardly to sign their name chapter 9 I came wide awake with a jolt at 4:00 in the morning my heart pounded wildly as I tried to catch my breath the nightmare seemed so real that

I didn’t realize I was home in my own bed my husband sleeping beside me in the dream I’d seen Billy Joe Steam on a stretcher a white sheet covering her Dead face as the paramedics carried her out of her prison cell for some reason that I couldn’t dredge up from my

Subconscious Billy Joe’s dream death was my fault and the guilt was overwhelming Her Image was embedded in my eyelids and reappeared every time I closed my eyes I couldn’t shake it sleep was impossible I left George and the dogs in our bed oblivious to my distress and

Patted out to the kitchen to make a cup of my Cuban coffee there’s not much to do at Deep Dark 30 in the morning alone in a quiet house it was too early for the newspapers an early morning television doesn’t interest me I took my mug into the den

Where my gaze fell on my briefcase maybe I could erase the dead woman in my dream if I got started on the job of reviewing Billy Joe steam’s file I pulled out the file materials and closed the door then I settled into one of Aunt Minnie’s

Armchairs put my my feet up on the Ottoman and began to read 2 hours later the file completely finished I stood to stretch my aching back and refill my I hate mornings coffee mug when I opened the door to my study I nearly tripped over our Labradors Harry and Bess who

Were lying as close to the threshold as they could get and still be in the hallway as soon as I writed myself they both begged for attention I quickly changed into the well-worn running clothes I wash and wear every day opened the back door and we all bounded down

The 35 stairs like cage Birds allowed to fly the day was glorious the water blew and flat the sun low in the morning sky and the temperature just perfect May begins to get hot early in the month by month’s end mid morning temperatures would be well above

80° today though a cold front must have been pressing down on us it was only about 72° and the slight breeze wafted the heavy sweet smell of Jasmine my way all all of my senses were alert and I was thrilled to be alive and outside and

Not cooped up in a Florida State Prison my thoughts returned to Billy Joe’s steam as I threw sticks into the water for Harry and best to retrieve fetch the stick was the one game they loved above all others they would play it long after my pitching arm tired and I fell to the

Sand such Simple Pleasures the sunshine on my face the Jasmine perfumed air enjoying my pets all of these Delights had been denied to Billy Joe esteem for 30 years what would such sensory deprivation do to a person how could one survive emotionally why not just give up the

Struggle and let prison kill you yet survived she had her file and her letters to Prior lawyers those who helped her and those who couldn’t or wouldn’t had broken my heart Billy Joe described her tragic life with a voice of quiet dignity that probably hadn’t existed in the 21-year-old girl who was

Tried and convicted of her husband’s murder the girl was the one who tugged at my heartstrings the young Billy Joe Steam not much older than I had been when my mother died young Billy Joe lost her husband to murder and her son to less than loving in-laws she had been

Unable to hold her child to comfort his nightmares or celebrate his victories that girl vanished as she served her time at one Florida State Prison after another the Billy Joe steam of 1972 was nowhere to be found in the materials I’d been reading in the wee hours of the morning except in pictures

Her pictures revealed a Charming but haunted girl with waistlength brown hair at different stages curly and unruly outside her home the night she was arrested tamed by a ribbon at the nape of her neck at the courthouse on the day of her trial and Shor short for easy

Care in the prison photographs ever since the most current picture showed a middle-aged woman still tall a little heavier but she signed her letter Billy Joe with a little circle to dot the eye and a long curly Loop under her name the signature told me that some essence of

The young girl in those early pictures continued to exist even if I couldn’t see that Essence in her prison photos I wanted to meet her I wanted to know how she’d managed to survive I wanted to help her I knew CJ wouldn’t like it and he wouldn’t be

Alone in his displeasure but Kate had been right all along I did need to try when Harry and Bess finally looked as if they might be willing to give up the stick game I sat down on the sand and played with them a while longer I shuddered to think what would happen to

Me if I’d gone like Billy Joe steam into prison Bess nudged my leg waiting for me to throw the stick again I threw it one more time before I called the dogs over to the outdoor shower rinse them off and put them in their kennel to dry as I

Climbed the stairs I I acknowledged that no one was threatening me before I got involved in the Billy Joe steam project although there were the usual nuts out there who didn’t like one thing or another that I done as a judge this anonymous note was the most blatant

Attempt to scare me somebody wanted me to leave the case alone and they wanted me to get the message that I was easy to find and I’d be at risk if I helped Billy Joe Billy Joe steam was a woman with powerful enemies and now her enemies were mine too their sheer

Existence convinced me I was on the right track once upstairs I walked into the shower stall and got ready for work on my way out the door I stopped by the telephone and dialed Ursula it’s Willa I said into the answering machine after the beep I’ve looked at the Billy Joe

Steam file and I’m ready to talk give me a call I plac the receiver down with a solid thump feeling the weight of my decision settle on my should shoulders like stalks on the accused in a Colonial Town Square chapter 10 I found Augustus Ralph straightening up my inbox when I arrived

At my Chambers he was dressed better than I was as usual in a gray conservative suit and a yellow tie his shoes were highly polished cap toes and he wore a small yellow rose in his lapel the rose was so tiny one needed to step up close to identify it as a living

Flower the miniat rose bush from which he clipped this Bud was on the corner of his desk alive and well Augustus was clean shaven with his hair cropped short his nails were neatly trimmed and highly buffed but not polished in short if I had a daughter I’d approve of her dating

Such a fine looking young man so far Augustus Ralph was perfect which the CJ couldn’t have known or he wouldn’t have sent Augustus to me I hoped I could keep him I’ve made fresh coffee judge let me get it for you you he had a large pile

Of mail in his hand to take back to his desk the pile remaining in my inbox was now a manageable size barely peeking over the edge he returned in a moment with perfectly creamed aromatic coffee in a China cup and saucer handing it to me as he said the finest Jamaican Blue

Mountain Coffee I order it from home I tasted the coffee believing I’d landed in the middle of Heaven for sure Augustus sit for a moment moment I requested as we took the two ugly green client chairs on the visitor side of my desk he crossed his legs being careful

To preserve the crease in his trousers and folded his hands over his knee tell me where did you come from and why are you here and how long can you stay I am an American citizen he said in his rhythmic Jamaican accent so pleasurable

To my ear I was born here to a Jamaican mother and an American father and then my parents became Jamaican missionaries they sent me back here to school I’m now in graduate school at night working during the day I can stay as long as you need me judge Carson he

Said and that was all I needed to hear at the noon recess I returned to my Chambers to find my conference table set for lunch complete with my tuna sandwich on a China plate and iced tea with lemon in a crystal glass Augustus had set out a cloth napkin and silver where the

Contrast from yesterday’s lunch was marked I gave quick but heartfelt thanks to the man who had sent this Marvel to me and vowed to be sure Augustus stayed forever I sat down at the conference table with the newspaper and then remembered the quick phone call I needed

To return what made you decide to help if you don’t mind my asking Ursula said when once again she took my call immediately have you looked at the file Harris sent me I asked of course the whole of it just doesn’t pass the smell test Trey steam’s wounds

Were too extensive for the small struggle Billy Joe described that night she was rushed through trial and into prison since then the system with its desire to cross cases off the list has kept her inside I didn’t have time to discuss the matter further at that point

And I wouldn’t tell her about the note not yet anyway so what’s the first step I asked she sped through her plan like a pace car out in front of the race not caring whether the rest of us were following not giving me a chance to interrupt I’ll tell my producer that

You’ll be working with us she’ll be in touch I won’t be involved in the details but I suspect she’ll Begin by putting the story in news teasers making it known that you’re involved just your involvement will make a difference and will get people noticing but I started to say she

Bullied her way right through my protest she simplified the internal processes of the network to keep our conversation short someone may call the Network’s local stations and request a 10-second interview to lead their 6 and 11:00 news programs a reporter and a photographer will come over to your office at some

Point to get some footage then they’ll begin to promote the news this week piece which has been scheduled to air the day of the parole hearing she told me cheerfully that would give the show the immediacy of the story although none of us would know the outcome of the case

That early on then we’ll do follow-ups after the hearing until we get the result with any luck we can do a couple of Victory pieces afterward she had settled the matter before we had even started the process I squirmed a little I remained uncomfortable with the way

I’d resolved the ethical issues the CJ wouldn’t like how I’d Managed IT and he might even be right theoretically Billy Joe might appear in my courtroom someday and if that were to happen I’d have compromise my objectivity by getting involved in her parole hearing now I’m supposed to avoid even the appearance of

Impropriety so such a theoretical possibility should be accepted as probable and I should not get involved in her parole Hearing in any way that was the textbook answer and like most textbook answers it ignored a very real rule of legal construction hard facts make bad law Billy Joe was in real

Trouble and she needed real help if there was any chance that she might actually appear in my courtroom I would have found another way to solve Billy Joe’s dilemma but that would never happen if nothing else she’d be dead by the time such a request could be made

She only had me now there was no valid real world reason for me not to help Billy Joe and there were a thousand Reasons why I should reassuring myself that I’d made the only possible decision under the circ*mstances I still said no I don’t want my participation in this

Publicly known until I absolutely have to make an appearance somewhere and I hope that will never happen I saw no reason to make a public spectacle out of myself or more accurately a bigger Target than I already was nor was I in a big hurry to give the CJ and my other

Enemies the opportunity to skewer me over my decision I have the courage of my convictions but I’m not deliberately foolish I’m willing to work behind the scenes I can’t publicly comment on your story and I won’t be used as a story myself nor will I improperly influence the process for Billy Joe steam’s

Advantage I told her that’s where I draw the line she thought about it for a few minutes trying to reshape her vision okay I can accept that Ursula finally agreed not because she wanted to concede but because I gave her no choice I didn’t ask her what she would do in

Place of her original plan I need to talk to Billy Joe first before we do anything else I have quite a few things I’ll need to know directly from her Ursula hesitated only slightly okay I’m sure she’ll see you anytime I’ll fax over the telephone number and the contact at the prison or

You could ask Harris to bring you to meet his mother she suggested her attention already on the next item on her Personal Agenda I considered how I wanted my first physical contact with Billy Joe to go I’ve seen many many criminal defendants in my courtroom over the years some were defeated some

Defiant the defiant ones had a better chance of surviving our justice system no I said slowly I think I’d rather see Billy Joe alone the first time I meet her I need my own Impressions I need to get a sense of her in my own context when will you go wek start

Working on the promos right after you talk to her Ursula said soon I promised her I’ll go soon I wasn’t exactly looking forward to visiting Billy Joe in prison just reading her files had been hard enough the memory of her death in my nightmare May continued to haunt me

After a couple of days of avoidance I screwed up my courage and prepared myself to enter the physical reality of confinement I scheduled the appointment in the late afternoon after court before I could chicken out I didn’t have any real difficulty getting an interview with Billy Joe steam she’d been

Expecting me being a judge I had no trouble passing through security or getting admitted to the Mariana women’s prison a relatively new minimum security facility not far from Tampa inside the prison though I felt a palpable desire to leave at once even though the prison resembled a college dorm I was instantly

Claustrophobic Billy Joe must have felt this way every day of her life I waited for her in a small conference room a private place where prisoners meet with their lawyers Billy Joe’s file materials proved she was no stranger to such encounters when she had arrived in prison in 1972

She was that rare inmate a college graduate she’d gone to work in the prison law library for a number of years toiling to free herself as well as to assist other inmates with their clemency and parole procceedings sometimes she worked 12 hours a day 7 days a week to

Help others while serving a life sentence for her husband’s murder Billy Joe had seen more than one woman freed in part due to her own heroic efforts indeed she’d been one of the few women honored while in prison for her work with battered spouses but in the case of Billy Joe

Herself she didn’t begin to ask for a new trial for the first few years of her confinement later judges had denied her request for a new trial eight times even in the face of brand new evidence one of her lawyers argued that Trey steam had defensive wounds on his hands and arms

And that he’d bled to death from one of the wounds to his lungs all of this suggested he put up a prolonged fight with his attacker how could the court reasonably assume that Billy Joe herself could have escaped injury in such a fight yet neither photographs nor the jailhouse

Physician who examined her found any such laceration or bruising on her body at the time and she wasn’t gone long enough for Trey to have bled to death from whatever injury she might have caused him nor was anything of that magnitude mentioned in her testimony she admitted that she and Trey had argued

And struggled with the knife and he fell but Billy Joe denied that she had been hurt in the struggle and also denied that she’d injured Trey she said he was fine when she left the house with their son the appell at court said all of that evidence had been available when Billy

Joe was arrested and disregarded it denying her motion for a new trial lawyer after lawyer had tried to help Billy Joe but all had failed now here I was retreading old tires 30 years later looking at the government issue metal table and chairs within the institutional green windowless walls I

Felt Billy Joe’s cause was hopeless how was I ever going to pull this one off chapter 11 Billy Joe was escorted into the room by an armed female guard during the small talk between the guard and me Billy Joe stood quietly to one side hands folded in front of her head

Slightly bowed so that I couldn’t see her eyes when the the guard left Billy Joe looked at me straight on for the first time with piercing blue eyes she smiled that tentative smile I’d seen in the young Billy Joe’s photos hello judge Carson she said in a

Soft voice that hadn’t been hardened by cigarettes another rare thing for a prison inmate what do they have to do after all but smoke the threat that smoking might shorten their lives must seem like a promise of a shorter sentence to lifers like Billy Joe I

Stuck out my hand and felt the small soft finger give mine a light pressure in return hello Mrs steam it’s nice to meet you I’ve heard such wonderful things about you from your son I told her gesturing toward the chairs I’d arranged across the table from one

Another Billy Joe she said as she sat down and folded her hands on the table in front of her she looked like a small child who had been called into the principal’s office and didn’t quite know what to do about it I’m grateful you’re here ma’am thank you for trying to help

Help me please call me Willa your son does I smiled at her trying to relax her somewhat this was the moment to be brutally honest and to give her the disclaimer I wanted to start right out with that so we would have no misunder understandings I hope I’ll be able to

Help you Billy Joe you need to know that I’m not an expert I’ve never tried to win a prisoner’s release before in fact I’m usually the one whose sentences convicted felons to spend time in prison I told her that for starters then I said that I thought she’d be better off with

Someone else this is your life and your choice I added quickly just let me know and I’ll help you find someone who has half a chance of success before I had the words out she was already shaking her head no Billy Joe there are excellent reasons why I’ve

Never been a criminal lawyer for one thing I’m not good at it I got my worst grade in law school in criminal law classes and the few pro bono cases I worked on in school were dismal failures what I didn’t tell her was that I’ve never wanted the responsibility of

Holding someone else’s life in my hands so far I hadn’t been asked to preside over a criminal bench trial and I hoped that would never happen as a judge I apply the law to those the system has already found guilty their lives didn’t depend on my competence as a lawyer no

Not for me I chosen to leave life and death to God where that decision belonged in my view Billy Joe continued to shake her head in the negative she had made up her mind I felt keenly the heavy obligation I was now assuming there would be no turning back I’ve had

The experts judge I’ve lost eight bids for a new trial and countless requests for clemency all handled by experts I don’t need an expert I need someone with some compassion a large dose of personal Integrity would help me a lot and I need someone with clout that’s what Harris

Said you and Ursula have clout that’s what I need she reported this without any hesitation or shyness she’d obviously thought it out thoroughly and had no shame in asking me to use whatever influence she believed I had I was quickly learning how special Billy Joe really was life had not been kind to

Her yet she had kept her balance and her purpose she was determined to free herself from this prison not of her making I had to admire that kind of resolve the law has rules about these matters Billy Joe I’ve taken an oath to uphold the law I can’t bend the rules

For you or anyone else I probably sounded as sanctimonious as I felt she had to know though that I would make my own decisions along the way I wouldn’t do anything for her that I considered unethical even if it meant that she lost her bid for parole although the CJ would

Say I was already bending the rules I disagreed Billy Joe’s case wasn’t before me in my courtroom and would never be there she had exhausted all of her appeals her habous Corpus claims had all been denied she’d been in prison so long that the likelihood of another habus

Corpus petition one that just might be randomly assigned to me was slim to none besides that no one was going to make a legal objection I was slicing the salami pretty thin here and I knew it but the law is decided in thin shavings sort of like the old Price’s right television

Game the goal of the law is to get as close as possible without Stepping Over The Line Billy Joe was Misty eyed now conviction in every word she uttered I know all about the law I didn’t kill my husband but the law doesn’t care about that she focused away from me then was

Suddenly intent on me if anyone were applying the law I’d never have been convicted in the first place or I’d have been let out years ago I didn’t understand that then but I know it now someone has been pulling strings to keep me in here all along you’ve got to help

Me judge this is my last chance I’m sick if I don’t get out of here now I’ll die here I know I will Harris told me you think you have cancer do you have documentation in your medical records to support that Billy Joe it could help us

To get you released early if you really do have a terminal illness she snorted oh I’ve got a terminal illness judge I’ve got colon cancer do you know what that is it’s going to kill me soon right now I don’t have many symptoms but the symptoms I do have are getting worse my

Mother died of it and so did my only sister it runs in my family and I know I’ve got it dying of cancer in prison is not death With Dignity believe me I didn’t see that in your medical chart I said slowly if you have cancer why doesn’t it show up in your

Records why should I tell them anything she asked looking out the small window toward the guard who had treated her ctly when bringing her in to see me give him the satisfaction action they wanted me to spend my life in hell and it looks like I will that should be enough she

Sounded tougher now and I was glad the defiant survived so you haven’t been going to the prison doctors for treatment they might be able to do something for you colon cancer is treatable and you could have something other than terminal cancer you know Billy Joe didn’t seem

Like a hypochondriac to me but I didn’t know her well she could be imagining this illness or subconsciously creating it for convenience sake surely she realized that the parole board wouldn’t release her just because she said she was dying you think not having terminal cancer

Would be a good thing for me why so I could live another 30 years in this place I’m going to die here Willa they’ve made certain of that it’s just a matter of when I’ll die sooner is better than later if if I have to stay in prison her words brought back my

Nightmare when I saw her dead body carried from the prison on a stretcher I shuddered I didn’t think to ask her which they she was referring to I assumed she meant all of society you’ll need to see a doctor Billy Joe get formally diagnosed if you’re right about your

Condition and you want to play with your grandchildren before you die you better get the examination quickly I’ll arrange it I stayed a while longer talking with Billy Joe getting to know her she discussed her son and her grandchildren we stayed away from controversial subjects until I asked about her in-laws

What about Bill and Mary steam do they believe you killed their son I questioned her Billy Joe lowered her head then she took a deep breath and raised her eyes to mine unwavering do you get along with your mother-in-law she asked bluntly she could tell from my reaction that I

Wasn’t my mother-in-law’s favorite person she smiled then turned serious again I haven’t talked to Bill and Mary since I was arrested after they took my son they kept him from me until he was 18 her eyes filled with tears and she stopped to gain some composure Bill and

Mary steam believe I’m not good enough Mary hates me she always has she thinks I trapped Trey into marrying me even though Harris wasn’t born for over a year after we married Bill steam is a very stubborn hard man he and Trey never got along she added that bill and Mary

Had fooled themselves into thinking that Harris loved them more than he loved his mother she saw them as believing they could be the parents to Harris that they had never been to his father I should have used our time to ask her about the facts of her case how her husband died

And who had killed him but I’d already read most of that in her files and she clearly wanted to talk with me about other things I thought we’d have plenty of time to deal with those issues later before I knew it the guard signaled that

Our time was up and I had to leave Bill and Mary think my grandchildren are their personal property they won’t give that up without a fight Billy Joe told me she squared her shoulders nor will I I watched as the guard escorted Billy Joe back to her cell and then gathered

My papers and headed to the parking lot before I reached Greta my beautiful Mercedes CLK convertible I could see something was wrong she was leaning to one side as I got closer I could see that both Right Tires had been slashed and my beloved car was resting on her

Rims outraged I pulled out my cell phone and called for Mercedes 24-hour road service I opened the glove box and removed the disposable camera I kept there I took a few pictures of the car in the tires that I thought would never show anything worthwhile but made me

Feel useful while I waited for the toe to arrive I called our police chief van Hathaway I told him about the note cursing myself for throwing it away I also told him about the tires do you have any idea who’s behind this he asked me really sometimes cops drive me crazy

No Ben I don’t but I don’t like it well then maybe you should try sticking to your day job like that’s any safer I snapped at him before I hung up the phone I believed that my Anonymous Vandal was trying to scare me away from Billy Joe’s case I wasn’t going to be

Deterred by threats from someone too cowardly to show his face the jerk chapter 12 I was somewhat surprised to find myself sitting at the Tampa Club waiting to have lunch with Ursula’s husband W Walter Westfield I had no idea why he’d summoned me I thought for a moment that

He might be the one behind the threats I’d been receiving but the notion strained my imagination Walter was usually more than willing to assert himself in person I arrived a few minutes early and was seated at a small table by the window overlooking the University of Tampa I had a view of our

Home minet sitting serenely on plant key its own private island from this distance I couldn’t see much but knowing My Sanctuary was there was comforting I dressed in the most casual attire appropriate for a judge to dine at the Tampa Club I was wearing a raw silk oatmeal pantsuit with a chocolate

Silk blouse and low heeled Brown pumps this outfit contrasted sharply with my usual khaki slacks polo shirt and deck shoes I generally dress in the most comfortable clothes possible under my robe and seated at the bench who can tell here though there was a dress code the

View from 42 stories at top the Bank of America building was spectacular from here one could see how Hillsboro Bay caressed the Bayshore Tampa’s ribbon of Road along the water with a perfectly calm blue blanket that glimmered in the sunlight this was not the Franklin Street Deli where patrons

Felt free to approach me at their whim in one of my devil be damned moods I’d ordered a glass of chardonnay because I’m a federal court judge some people think I should live more quietly than a cloistered nun that would include never drinking at lunch particularly in public

As if drinking a glass of wine at lunch was worse than drinking a bottle of bourbon every night after work in the privacy of one’s home most judges accept the custom-made straight jacket of propriety as one of the necessary evils of a job that requires public trust at

The same time it promises power and a lifetime appointment public piety seems more like a life sentence without parole to me playing it safe is not in my nature I sipped my wine realizing I could have waited for Walter forever enjoying the view the Solitude and the

Quiet respect all guests get here once you’ve passed the gauntlet of other diners and made it to your table I couldn’t have been farther from Mariana women’s prison if I’d flown to Mars as I waited my thoughts returned to Kate and Leo Kate would make a good mother to Leo’s small boys

Kate’s children are grown and on their own four lawyers if you include me all doing well although Kate isn’t my mother I consider myself a part of her family beyond that Kate has three grandchildren her second son Mark was as big a family man as his brother Jason was a power

Broker one thing Kate didn’t need at her age and station in life was more children Leo had become something of a project for Kate she had discovered him in Italy brought him here on on a Visa found him a job and catered to him as if he were something truly special to be

Fair I hadn’t spent any time trying to befriend Leo or figure out what exactly Kate saw in him she couldn’t realize the situation she’d gotten herself into with Leo Kate was such a sweet Soul she’d never knowingly allow Leo to use her friends or family although Kate would

Put herself at Leo’s disposal if she felt she could help him in any way Leo was a matter I need needed to address soon I put him on my mental to-do list later to be transferred to my palm handheld organizer another of the technology demons George detests and I

Can’t live without a gentle stirring among the gentle women and gentlemen discussing business over Tampa Club chowder interrupted my revery I looked toward the slight noise to see Walter Westfield threading his way over to my table stopping to shake hands and politic with everyone he passed on the

Way he recently announced that he was planning to run for Senator against the Republican incumbent my husband supports and Kate’s son Jason works for Walter’s wiry body was as well toned as that of a man firmly and sconed in middle-age could be about 6 feet tall and 170 lbs

Walter appeared sincere in his $3,000 blue suit and conservative tie his once dark hair was now touched with gray at the temples which made him look more mature and conservative his public person was of someone trustworthy experienced and in glowing Health he portrayed everything the voting public would want on its side in

Washington as Walter made his way slowly toward me I looked around at the other diners and was startled to see Leo Columbo as if my earlier thoughts had conjured Kate’s husband out of thin air Leo was lunching with my new assistant Augustus Ralph at a table to my left and

Slightly behind me they were too far away for me to hear their conversation but both were engaged in a discussion that seemed particularly Earnest neither was smiling how could Leo and Augustus possibly know each other and what use did Leo have for Augustus came my uncharitable next thought because at

Least subconsciously I had decided that Leo was a user he was using all of us whether Kate realized it or not and Augustus would just be the next py on his list neither Leo nor Augustus looked up from their table or met my eye could Leo be the Mastermind behind the car

Vandalism and threatening note I dismissed that idea as quickly as it flitted through my head Leo wanted me involved with Billy Joe he wouldn’t try to warn me off the case a waiter winding between tables toward Walter carrying a heavy tray Laden with several plates of hot food grabbed my attention when

Walter turned abruptly losing his balance he and the waiter nearly collided I caught my breath the waiter’s strong arms and Adroid footwork had barely managed to evade a potentially harmful and noisy Collision as our Collective breathing returned to normal in the dining room I realized that if

I’d only seen the last of the encounter I’d have thought Walter was drunk he seemed so unsteady on his feet both Walter and the waiter recovered quickly and Walter continued to make his way toward me bobbing and weaving like a boxer still stopping at at every table

He took a good 10 minutes to make the 30-foot trip Walter was clearly well known and popular here on his home turf perhaps the senatorial incumbent was in for a bigger challenge than we all had anticipated finally 20 minutes after our arranged meeting time Walter arrived at

Our table I had the impression that all eyes were now focused on Walter Westfield’s lunch and companion a judge whose husband is a highly placed member of the opposition George would be supporting the Republican incumbent with every ounce of his considerable influence Walter wouldn’t be foolish enough to think

Otherwise Walter leaned over and patted my arm a little harder than necessary then when he straightened up he knocked over the salt shaker with his jacket sleeve setting the Shaker right Walter took a pinch of spilled salt threw it over his left shoulder in The age-old

Plea for good luck and sat down the elaborate show of Walter arrival left me to wonder whether he’d staged our lunch to try to suggest a political Rift between my family and me as to the best candidate for Senator I’d known Walter a long time I wouldn’t put it past him to

Say that Walter Westfield is manipulative is like saying makavelli was somewhat controlling Walter had learned manipulation at the knee of the master Prescott Roberts one learns over time not to try to thwart Walter or to even think about it now that I’m on the bench with a lifetime appointment I

Don’t have to worry about Walter anymore I find him an interesting specimen but I still didn’t like being used to serve Walter’s purposes and I wondered whether Walter was one of the powerful enemies Ursula had referred to he was certainly powerful if Walter could serve his own

Ends by discrediting George or me he would perhaps if I failed at getting Billy Joe steam out of prison I’d be handing Walter a weapon he could use politically at the same time quite an entrance Walter I said my mouth was dry but not from the Exquisite Chardonnay it’s like that everywhere I

Go now I’m always campaigning he said smiling his campaign grin once more for the benefit of any Spectators who might be watching how do your partners feel about that for the past 10 years Walter had been the managing partner of Florida best law firm according to their advertisem*nts not the largest firm but

The most influential well-respected firm once known as Jameson du Alton Roberts and Westfield The Firm had recently shortened its name to Jameson to create that all important brand the law firm marketers were selling this season Walters was the law firm with the reputation for excellence and the one

With which other law firms tried to compete Walter had been the handpicked successor for the firm’s top position by his Mentor Prescott Roberts the firm’s prior managing partner like his mentor Walter had been president of the American Bar Association the Florida bar the Hillsboro County Bar Association and

The Chamber of Commerce now Prescott Roberts had assembled a powerful political machine dedicated to putting Walter Westfield in the Senate Walter Shrugged with apathy doesn’t matter I’m ready to move on I knew when I threw my hat into the ring that win or lose I’d have to leave Jameson it’s time for me

To do something else with my life this was a surprise Walter leave Jameson he’d practically become synonymous with the place Walter’s leaving was the kind of Gossip I should have heard nothing is a secret in Tampa for long and certainly not such big news as Walter Westfield leaving Jameson he’d practiced there

More than 20 years and had run the place with an iron hand for 10 the only small burp in Walter’s career was his marriage to Ursula while he was still in law school she told me once that he’d taken a big chance when he married her because she was black and

Walter’s family was not only white but as Old South conservative Democrat as they come but it was the 70s the era of liberalism and they’d fallen in love besides back then they were young and neither of them expected to become the public Force they were today Walter’s family connections to Prescott Roberts

Got him a job at Jameson right out of law school otherwise being married to a black woman would have kept him from employment at any of the prestigious firms back then as Walter moved up in the ranks of his firm and the bar people came to know Ursula and accept her as

His wife until a bigger obstacle arose Ursula’s job as a young copywriter developed into an on aair television spot having a wife who was a member of the media set Walter’s progress back aoup couple of notches because in those days the one thing a successful conservative lawyer couldn’t do was to

Bring unwanted attention to his clients by being too much in the public eye but after a few short years rula’s accomplishments eliminated even that small issue because her success made Walter very visible in the most positive way possible bringing unexpected clients and revenue to Jamon onair television reporters often

Use stage names but Ursula Westfield used her own name and Walter was only too happy to consent to her doing so they traveled in some fairly Elite National circles because of Ursula’s celebrity now Walter and Ursula Westfield were Tampa’s highest profile couple Ursula hadn’t said anything at all to me about Walter leaving

Jameson but maybe she had she told me she expected to be transferred to Washington or New York soon perhaps that was what Walter now planned a failed run for Senator didn’t rule out a move for some other reason as I said Walter is manipulative to him it’s all a game and

Both he and his wife have friends in high places they had lots of options chapter 13 why did you want to see me I asked after we’d ordered our lunch mine was grilled tuna with asparagus here though I had to dress up to eat it and the tuna wouldn’t emerge

From a can Ursula told me about Billy Joe’s steam she said you were working with her to get Billy Joe out of prison I want to ask you to stop Walter lifted his glass to his lips I couldn’t have been more surprised if he’d asked me to

Endorse his Run for the Senate Walter and Ursula always discussed everything with each other they were joined at the hip strategically speaking I hadn’t asked her and not that I cared but I’d assumed she’d cleared the Billy Joe steam project with Walter before she’d taken it on Walter had been helping

Ursula map her own career for almost as long as she’d been helping to map out his the idea that they were not in complete agreement was a new one to me I narrowed my eyes and watched him more carefully you don’t know everything about the Trey steam murder Willa Walter

Continued as the waitress arrived with our food you didn’t live here then I think I’ve learned quite a bit about it lately what does where I lived in 1972 matter I asked him not following his logic you’ve read newspaper accounts and talked to the family you’ve looked at

The story from Billy Joe and her son’s perspective that’s all you didn’t know Trey steam I did believe me Billy Joe killed him and she’s better off in prison his tone was calm matter of fact as if Walter and I were discussing a legal case Cas reported in one of the

Books in my office how did you know Trey steam he looked at me with some Chagrin and a crooked smile the one I remembered from my law practice days that smile said I was wrong although those words would never come out of Walter’s mouth like many powerful men Walter had

Trouble admitting his mistakes what he tried to do was to forget them and hope you would too sometimes that worked when it didn’t he’d give you that grin and count on the Governor’s polite refusal to encourage unpleasantness to allow him to avoid further Discord in Tampa it was

A good strategy such dodging wouldn’t work in Washington what he said with the smile in place was a revelation I was a young man when this all happened but Trey Steam and I were in college together here at the University of Tampa ours was a small class I knew him fairly well he

Took another sip of his iced tea for him it wouldn’t do to be seen drinking anything stronger in the middle of the business day in full view of half the movers and shakers in Tampa when he was campaigning for public office Walter was now a slave to public opinion I took

Another sip of my wine Walter said I was a member of the bills the W in my name stands for William although I’ve never used the name except for that brief time when I was a bill he smiled in Fond re recalling a younger more innocent era I

Was away from home for the first time excited to be in college and to have a solid group of friends like the bills we’d see each other on campus and we’d Point our finger at each other and say hey Bill at the same time it was a great

Game we were a group you know we shared a smile over the small joys of college Life Walter is several years older than I am but we’ both been to college and enjoyed the experience I love the guitar he continued I still play my singing voice isn’t half bad

Either if I do say so myself in another time I might have been a rock singer too look out James Taylor Walter grinned at me expecting appreciation I smiled back why not Walter was a personable man he couldn’t have gotten this far in the world otherwise now his countenance abruptly

Changed horizontal frown lines deepened on his forehead as his carefully trimmed eyebrows came together over a tan complexion and troubled gray eyes he leaned a little closer to me over the table and lowered his voice Trey was stabbed to death with a knife the blood in that apartment covered everything

Within 20 ft of where he lay Trey steam was a father he had Parents family his mother is Prescott Robert’s sister Prescott would never have allowed his nephew used killer to go free his tone broke no argument and Prescott was convinced Billy Joe killed Trey that’s

All anyone needs to know what I thought was poor Billy Joe after being accused of killing not only Bill steam’s son but Prescott Robert’s nephew the young girl of the photographs had never stood a chance of a quitt so you didn’t believe she was innocent even for a moment no

Johnny Tyson was there when she claimed to have found the body he told me how she reacted she just stood there looking at Trey while his son ran over to the body screaming daddy daddy daddy over and over again kneeling down to hug his dad covered in blood she didn’t try to

Comfort her son and she didn’t seem at all surprised he ran his hand though his well styled hair hell Johnny was throwing up out in the yard while Billy Joe just stood there and she’s never shown one ounce of remorse not once because she doesn’t feel any Walter

Spoke with fresh anger as if Trey steam had been murdered yesterday I have this ability to see things in my head like a movie as he described Trey steam’s body the little boy covered in his father’s blood I could visualize the scene the horror of it exactly Walter said when he

Saw me give an involuntary shiver Trey steam was a jerk Willa a class of jerk he treated Billy Joe like a piece of dirt and he treated all the rest of us that way too he was definitely a spoiled little rich kid he shook his head slowly

From side to side but to answer your question no I’ve always had faith in the fact that she killed him Walter told me then that Prescott Roberts himself had examined the facts of the case against Billy Joe and believed her guilty to Walter that was the same as saying God

Himself had made the Judgment Walter had Advanced quite far in the world on Prescott Roberts influential coattails by taking just such a position on every decision Roberts made Prescott is as honest as the day is long if Prescott said Billy Joe was guilty then she was he leaned forward invading my personal

Space you don’t want to be on the wrong side of Prescott Roberts Willa neither do I trust me I straightened up a little my appetite for the tuna now completely gone I took a sip of water to give give me time to consider Walter’s horrible story Billy Joe steam was the one who

Had powerful enemies if I helped her they could become my enemies too that’s what Walter Westfield was telling me to change the subject I asked who is Johnny Tyson it was odd that I hadn’t seen a statement from him in Billy Joe’s files if he’d been a witness at the time of

The murder Walter looked a little surprised at the question Johnny you said Johnny Tyson was there with Billy Joe and little Trey when they found the body I said using the nickname the bills had given Harris as a child who is Johnny Walter fidgeted a bit now in his

Seat pushing back his chair and Crossing his legs he put his napkin over his knee and gestured to the waitress for some coffee he didn’t answer my question until after she cleared the plates poured the coffee and left the table that pause had given him the opportunity to compose his answer precisely

And I wondered why he felt the need to do so John William Tyson he was another of the six bills in those days he played the drums in our band we called him Johnny then and he was with Billy Joe when she found the body I asked where is

He these days I don’t honestly know Willa I haven’t seen him or the other bills in years not since Billy Joe was convicted Walter went on to tell me how after the trial the group had broken up they had all gone their separate ways I think we didn’t want to be together

Anymore after Trey was murdered at least that was the reason for me I didn’t want to be reminded I had nightmares for months afterward where I’d see Trey covered in all that blood little Trey playing in it hell I didn’t even play my guitar again

For years he shook his head as if to clear it of the unwelcome images then he reached across the table and covered my hand with his Willa we’ve known each other a long time you’re one of my wife’s closest friends for your sake and for mine don’t dredge this all up again

Prescott won’t like it I drew away my hand because it wouldn’t be good for your campaign Walter to remind the public that you were once involved in a murder even tangentially do you really think so little of me Trey steam was a jerk but he didn’t deserve to die for it Walter

Seemed completely sincere Billy Joe didn’t have to kill him even back in 1972 one could get a divorce fairly easily in this town let her serve her time tre’s parents have had enough heartache don’t you think he stared at me full in the face and said with deep

Sincerity you of all people should know that criminals don’t stay in our overcrowded prisons unless there’s a good reason to keep them locked up do us all a favor let Billy Joe stay where she is as we walked out of the restaurant I realized I had one more

Thing to cover it’s clear that you don’t want me to help Billy Joe Walter I said how far are you willing to go to keep me off her case I thought I’d just done it I explained everything what more do you need I judged his puzzled tone to be

Sincere but I didn’t trust him someone’s been threatening me first I got an anonymous note when I came out after my visit to Billy Joe the tires on my car were slashed you didn’t do that did you he was angry now oh come on Willa you watched too much

Television so you didn’t threaten me then I said watching his eyes closely a shocked look came over his face that seemed sincere but Walter had a good grip on himself someone’s threatening you have you reported that you’re a federal judge Willa there are a lot of

Nuts out there who might want to do you some harm you’d better take that seriously no kidding I thought but if someone had wanted to harm me they could have done so I believe this was an attempt at intimidation and I just spent an entire lunch hour allowing Walter to

Demonstrate that he was fully capable of that much then again so were a number of other people I’d been spending time with lately chapter 14 I noticed your lunch companion I said to Augustus at the end of the day when we were both wrapping up and preparing for the Madison versus cardio Med

Corporation trial set to start the next day and I yours he replied with his characteristic calm Mr Westfield is not the kind of man a person of your stature should be lunching with judge Carson his comeback surprised me how’s that I’ve been knowing Mr Westfield for many

Years ma’am he’s got a ferocious temper that one I worked over there at Jameson for a time I have friends there best to avoid him for sure he can’t be trusted Augustus was picking up stray file folders mail and cups and saucers he busied himself in my Chambers moving

Back and forth to his desk in the reception area as he spoke why did you work at the Jameson firm oh my uncle helped me get a job there a while ago he said the stories I could tell you if you’re interested sometime I should have

Asked him who his uncle was and what kind of stories he was talking about but I was focused on other things I’d rather talk about Leo Columbo I said a bit more sternly than I meant to do Tales of Walter Westfield’s reputation among the staff at Jameson had reached my ears

Before I hear everything but I don’t encourage my staff to repeat gossip what were you doing having lunch with Leo Augustus stopped momentarily startled by my question why ma’am I can’t tell you that that’s augustus’s own business isn’t it besides you’ll spoil the surprise what surprise that’s all I’m going to say if

You want to know more you should talk to Leo yourself he turned letting himself out closing the door behind him and leaving me with the unsettled feeling that Leo Columbo had invaded every sphere of my life I should have spent the evening preparing for the Madison trial but

Tomorrow’s schedule only called for the last of the settlement conferences on the case and any remaining pre-trial motions I’d heard and denied dispositive motions last week so I had a good working knowledge of the facts and the issues this case wouldn’t settle anyway Madison was the type of case all lawyers

And judges detest very thin proof of liability and high exposure to a sophisticated corporate defendant making a corporate defendant settle a case by writing a multi-million dollar check is hard to do Under the worst of circ*mstances usually the defendant’s point of view is let the jury decide by

Which they mean the jury will never give you that kind of money of course these are the same defendants who when the jury awards multi-millions are the first to decry the jury system in the next session of the legislature they introduce further tort reform laws the cycle is as predictable as tomorrow’s

Sunrise no the Madison Case wouldn’t settle and I was looking at a 3-we trial I’d have plenty of time to learn the case once we got started this is part of a judge’s life most people don’t give a thought to all the time it takes to get

Ready for trials and motions anyone who thinks a judge’s job is 9 to5 doesn’t understand the process oh sure we have judges who work hard and those who don’t but even judges who don’t work hard aren’t nine to FS this is a government job with all the

Pitfalls and few of the benefits judges don’t take these jobs for money or an easy life at least I didn’t I had taken the appointment for the same reason I’d committed to help Billy Joe steam I believe in our justice system with all of its problems and susceptibility to

Manipulation it’s still the best system of justice in the world I can do a good job of making sure Justice happens when I’m allowed to try at least on good days I get to do justice the rest of the time I try to focus on the good days Billy

Joe steam’s case was the kind of situation that gave our justice system a black eye I could fix that one case at a time on the other hand I didn’t have a lot of time I repaired to My Den with coffee for a clear head and open Billy

Joe’s life once more the three manila folders she had sent me were filled with summaries of her case at its various stages trial post-trial motions and requests for parole and clemency I opened the last two folders looking for the arguments and evidence that had been presented and had failed before I combed

The pages with an experienced eye looking for fine distinctions and minua previously missed I saw little to give me any hope of finding the necessary AR new evidence sufficient to get Billy Joe another trial all the arguments good and bad had already been made turning to the

Trial folder I reviewed the list of evidence Witnesses and summaries of testimony the folders did not contain the actual evidence admitted at trial which would have been somewhere in the court files at one time for instance there were no crime scen photographs I found nothing but the underlying support for the information I

Reviewed even back then they did blood typing on the blood found at the scene the reports didn’t suggest that the murderer had left any blood behind but I wasn’t sure how thorough the investigators had been they had a suspect red-handed as it were standing over the body holding the murder weapon

How much further did they really need to look at the end of three more hours of reading I came away with only two new pieces of information that might help us no DNA tests had ever been done on any of the evidence collected at the scene of Trey steam’s murder and Billy Joe’s

Cancer if it existed was a new and additional fact that might support her request for an early release otherwise everything had all been argued before as Billy Joe had said to me when I visited her in prison the system wants to keep a closed case closed in Billy Joe’s

Situation that meant she would die in prison if the system had its way but was that Justice Ursula’s opinion that Billy Joe’s trial had been less than fair could easily be supported by the bare facts the police had apparently considered arrested and charged only one suspect only two prosecution witnesses

Were presented at the trial the medical examiner and the investigating officer Billy Joe was the only defense witness she was forced to admit that she’d been in a tempestuous relationship with Trey Steam for years that they’d fought that night and since he died after she left

The house that she had no alibi for the time of the murder no evidence had been offered to suggest any reasonable doubt as to her guilt Billy Joe’s word that she hadn’t killed her husband wasn’t convincing to the jury except for the prominence of the victim the state’s

Judicial System tries cases exactly like this every day sometimes the trials last a little longer maybe 3 days but just as often they don’t a one-day trial didn’t necessarily mean the trial was unfair Billy Joe might have been the victim of rough Justice that’s what it felt like

But more likely the murder of the son of an influential Tampa family commanded a speedy trial and certain conviction of a defendant where motive means and opportunity combined with no Reasonable Doubt of guilt I reviewed my notes and reconsidered Billy Joe’s options DNA testing didn’t exist in

1972 which in Billy Joe’s case might have been a good thing thing the police found her at the scene with blood all over her clothes Billy Joe’s fingerprints were on the knife determined to be the murder weapon successful DNA analysis usually shows evidence transferred from the perpetrator to the victim during the

Crime evidence that the victim might have left on the perpetrator is usually lost because the perpetrator has destroyed it in this case however Trey steam’s Blood was surely all over Billy Joe she was covered in blood when the police found her standing over the body as was her son tre’s blood on her

Clothes would have supported her conviction not her defense even if DNA testing had been possible back then after an exhaustive review of the file I felt I could offer no help to Billy Joe in continuing to challenge her conviction on the facts the effort had repeatedly proven to be a sure loser a

Terminal cancer diagnosis if it existed would be more likely to get get Billy Joe paroled the prison system isn’t welld designed to care for terminally ill inmates nor is such long-term Healthcare well-funded the Aging prison population promised to be a significant challenge to the system in the next few

Years because more inmates would need long-term Health Care this was a fact of prison life that might help Billy Joe now Billy Joe had been in prison for more than 30 years of a life sentence if she did have terminal cancer she’ need expensive end of life care for several

Months we might have a chance at success by seeking to appeal to the fiscal as well as the humanitarian side of the parole board surely since she paid a large chunk of her debt to society they would want to let her family pay for her last illness it was a much more

Promising tack than anything else I’d seen in the file even if a clemency parole wouldn’t provide the Vindication Billy Joe and Harris wanted but maybe the DNA could help too if we could still find the evidence and get it tested before the parole hearing the likelihood that DNA evidence existed

On such an old crime was to put it politely slim beyond that we’d have to get over the state’s objections that the time limits for Billy Joe to request DNA analysis had long since expired the cost of doing DNA testing at this late date would also be significant

But Harris steam told me he had an unlimited supply of money so I didn’t worry about who would pay for the testing I had been taking copious notes and listing the potential Avenues of pursuit since opening the files hours ago now I stood and stretched my weary muscles refilled my coffee and dictated

My plan of action into an email I sent to myself tomorrow I’d put my plan in motion time was running out for Billy Joe steam literally chapter 15 I wanted to get started on Billy Joe’s case right away but my other work came first I stuffed my impatience behind my judicial countenance and

Looked across my conference table at the plaintiff in the first of 10 settlement conferences I’d scheduled today my courtroom Deputy called the first case the estate of Stanley Madison versus cardio medal Corporation at all would never settle I only held the final settlement conference because the court

Rules required me to do so the hearing was a waste of everyone’s time and we all plan to make it short in this country our policy of open access to the courts means that anyone can file a lawsuit whether or not the case has any legal Merit the Madison Case presented a

Very flimsy claim of product liability for the death of an artificial heart patient that I would have preferred to dismiss unfortunately when a jury trial has been requested my hands are tied I must let the the process run its course whether I feel the plaintiff’s claims are meritorious or not after taking care

Of a few paperwork issues and preliminary matters I told the participants to report to my courtroom tomorrow morning at 9:00 sharp to begin jury selection all of us were relieved when the formal conference was over we’d recited our lines and now they could get on with the main bout the remaining

Lawyers and their clients with legitimate matters on my trial calendar in line behind the Madison Entourage were ushered in for more fruitful attempts to settle their cases a few actually did get resolved the others were returned reordered to the trial calendar and told they were on 24-hour

Call when they learned the names of the lawyers that were ahead of them the attorneys told their clients to go home and relax no one else would be going to trial at all this month surprisingly few of them were outraged at this misuse of resources that caused the justice system

To grind that much more slowly Augustus had opened and printed my email file before I arrived in the office putting the printed pages into a green file folder on my desk awaiting my attention I’d had no opportunity to look at the email before now but I took it over to

My conference table to Lea through during my midday appointment with Charlie tuna most of the emails were of no importance but I scribbled some replies on them that Augustus would send after lunch one of the email messages jumped out at me Billy Joe steam is a killer watch

Yourself it said I looked at the printed message which had none of the computer mumbo jumbo on the bottom that reflected the path it had taken through the Maze of the internet the return address was concerned at messenger.com one of hundreds of free email programs available to anyone with the ability to

Dial a phone number Augustus had gone out so I couldn’t ask him where where this email came from I went over to my computer and searched for the offending note in my email program it wasn’t there I checked for recently deleted messages it wasn’t there either where did this

Note come from and how did it get into my green folder I couldn’t figure that out my office wasn’t open to the public If the message came to me through my computer it should still be there but it wasn’t if it came into my folder in some

Other way then one of the members of the staff or a lawyer or litigant or juror or someone who worked in the building would have to have put it there I didn’t like the idea that someone had breached my inner office and this note made me feel more vulnerable than any of the

Other incidents so far I put the page into another folder and stuck it into my desk drawer intending to give it to Chief Hathaway at the earliest available opportunity I probably should have called called someone else a Federal Officer but I didn’t want to draw the CJ’s attention to the situation if I

Could avoid doing so I didn’t seriously consider that Trey steam’s killer might be behind the attempts to get me off Billy Joe’s case it seemed too farfetched when I’d done all I could think to do about the note for the moment I turned my attention to the

Two-pronged plan I’d made last night for Billy Joe steams parole hearing reviewing my summary and plan again with the benefit of a good night sleep and proper nourishment I could see no other avenues to pursue having taken on this project because I believed in it I was now determined to win Billy Joe’s

Release my competitive Spirit had kicked into high gear the harder it seemed to free Billy Joe the more I wanted to prove I could do it I had to make a decision on tactics and stick with it knowing I could be wrong and accepting the consequences of that choice it was

Hard to accept the consequences of either Choice when I knew those consequences could hurt Billy Joe and her family but this was no time for timidity going over the possible strategies again I decided to pursue what had to be the one sure winner her illness and disregard the other issues

That would only confuse the parole board and weaken our strongest argument if only I knew what the one sure winner was if I could just see the future but predicting the future was one skill I’d never developed I reconsidered whether to further investigate the try steam murder itself whether or not Billy Joe

Had killed try steam had been so thoroughly explored in Prior proceedings that such a focus would result in certain defeat once again our only hope lay in completely ignoring the facts of the murder and focusing on Billy Joe’s medical condition we needed to make a case for humanitarian

Clemency Ursula Westfield and Billy Joe steam wanted to tell the story of the innocent woman wrongly convicted and held until near death in prison but a more tactical approach was the only one I believed would win the day lawyers hope for the best and plan for the worst

So that’s what I did I reconfirmed my decision to follow the compromise I’d reached with myself last night I’d pursue the weaker issue of potential DNA evidence only to appease Billy Joe and Ursula if DNA cleared Billy Joe great if not I’d also prepare the stronger more likely to succeed humanitarian angle

That way we would have a solid argument to present to the parole board regardless of how the DNA issue played out time was running short and I did have a full-time job to do doing one more task that wasn’t in my job description I picked up the telephone

And began making the necessary calls to schedule Billy Joe’s medical examination it took only a brief conversation to hit the very brick wall we were up against after half a dozen more calls and pulling in a few favors I found a colon specialist who would agree to do the

Test next I had to figure out how to get Billy Joe to the doctor the prison system wouldn’t pay for Billy Joe’s exam which wasn’t a big problem since Harris would a bigger problem was that they wouldn’t agree to let Billy Joe out of prison to go to a local hospital for the

Necessary colonoscopy to confirm the diagnosis I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to get a prisoner to an independent medical facility because Prison doctors were already paid by the state to do whatever medical work the state deemed necessary eventually after more telephone calls than I could count

I managed to get the Florida Department of Corrections to agree to the procedure only after a United States District Court Judge promised that Billy Joe steam would be uneventfully returned return to prison immediately afterward after all the permissions were obtained and the test was scheduled I turned my attention to the second less

Probable item on my list DNA evidence it’s frightening really DNA can sometimes prove guilt Beyond A Reasonable Doubt such as proving the identity of a rapist somewhat more easily DNA can prove innocence by excluding a particular suspect because the DNA doesn’t match sometimes when Billy Joe steam was convicted no DNA

Technology had been available she was convicted without DNA the way many defendants are convicted based on circ*mstantial evidence when OJ Simpson was found not guilty which is another thing entirely from innocent a mountain of DNA evidence was not enough to convict him go figure in Billy Joe’s

Case though I thought she might have finally caught a break since her last appeal the State of Florida had recently agreed to consider DNA evidence in the case of every death row inmate where such evidence was available the larger philosophical point of the decision was to free the innocent and stop the

Slaughter of the wrongly convicted over 130 cases so far across the country sadly in some cases where DNA evidence remained available it did prove innocent people had been convicted this was enough to show sh everyone’s faith in our judicial system and for us to continue to bend over backwards to fix

Its flaws even on behalf of those who literally get away with murder chapter 16 the smaller point of the new law was to stop the endless appeals by those who claimed to be innocent but truly were guilty of the crimes for which they had been charged either way making DNA testing available

For evidence that remained in existence could have been a gift for Billy Joe but a lot of ifs had to be resolved first when I reviewed her file I learned that the knife with which TR steam had been stabbed was of course taken into custody it was admitted as physical evidence at

The trial this long after trial all evidence actually admitted would normally have been destroyed while the knife was a potential source of DNA evidence it was probably not still in existence at the time of the investigation the police had collected try steam’s bloody clothes they had taken blood samples from the body and

Compared the blood types to Billy Joe’s the records revealed that try steam had been an organ donor too given the nature of the stab wounds to the middle of his body where his major organs were located and how long the body went undiscovered the only things left to donate must have

Been the eyes for some reason none of that evidence had been admitted at trial although the medical examiner had testified to his findings in one of the quirks of Florida procedure physical evidence not admitted at the trial might still exist I made a note to check to see if the evidence

Existed was currently in storage and if so to get it tested the last item on my email to myself was controversial and I’d wrestled with it since it first occurred to me the reason I’d been chosen was because Ursula Billy Joe and Harris steam felt I had influence that

Could be used toward a positive purpose initially I felt the law should run its course and set Billy Joe free as a matter of justice but after the thorough file review I’d done I now believe that expediency and influence had put Billy Joe behind bars in 1972 and kept her

There the length of her unsuccessful appeal and clemency history told me that legal maneuvering would not get her released under these circ*mstances was it wrong to level the playing field should I use what influence I had to help Billy Joe that was the question I’d asked myself over and over Billy Joe

Steam should be released from prison if she was truly dying of cancer it was the Humane result even if she did kill her husband did she kill him or not although I’d read the file carefully several times now I still wasn’t sure but I felt

That it was no longer in the interest of Justice to keep her incarcerated the courts that had considered her appeals and motions over the years had used the law as a shield to keep Billy Joe from reopening a closed case no appell at court had ever

Said that Billy Joe was guilty to be fair neither had a court ever indicated any doubt about her guilt but the case is read like a textbook on the finality of judgments not like a well-reasoned analysis of the facts and the evidence in an effort to do justice looking under

The rock of influence I’d found some creepy crawly things Billy Joe’s trial was short the witness’s testimony dry and the evidence presented pointed only to the defendant but what was the other evidence what other suspects had been investigated then as now Bill Steam and his brother-in-law Prescott Roberts

Wielded significant cloud in Tampa they could get the state attorney elected or defeated judges too for that matter if steaman Roberts believed Billy Joe killed Trey and they had enhanced the evidence pointing to her guilt could we be sure that Billy Joe had gotten a fair

Trial and yet a new trial wouldn’t do Billy Joe any good now if she was truly dying she didn’t have time for a new trial either beyond that without new evidence the result would be the same even assuming we could find DNA evidence it was unlikely to conclusively establish her

Innocence none of these things Justified bending the law but but who you know and who you are makes a difference if Billy Joe had been the daughter of an influential man would she have even been charged with murder let alone convicted maybe not or at least she would have had a more even

Contest arguing with myself was getting me nowhere I simply didn’t know what to do I put the files aside hoping tomorrow would bring inspiration working long hours and then toiling over Billy Joe steam’s predicament was affecting me in unexpected ways always before when faced with my unending workload I would have

Put my nose to the grindstone shoulder to the wheel burn the Midnight Oil and all those other cliches to dig myself out of whatever hole I’d gotten into since my visit to the prison though and my exposure to Billy Joe’s restricted life I found myself taking every

Possible chance to be outside spend time with my husband and my dogs with nature whenever possible I managed to leave the the office by 6:30 and made it home about half an hour later normally my commute is a 10-minute Drive during which I try usually unsuccessfully to

Leave my cares at the office in the rush home more often I do the drive on autop pilot and arrive in front of my house with no awareness of how I got there today I soldered to Greta new tires in place parked saucily across two spaces in the garage attached to the courthouse

I walked all the way around the car car and assured myself that she was fine people tell me that greet is much too flashy for a judge to drive but how could I give her up for a mere job I put gre’s top down and she and I spent a

While driving the length of the Bayshore Thrice enjoying the wind in my hair the sunshine baking my skin and taking in the fabulous view of my hometown I drive the length of the Bayshore every day but I never see it I pay attention to the

Cars of course but what I mean is until this afternoon I hadn’t noticed the new building that’s gone up at the corner of bay to bay and Bayshore the bank for wealthy customers they’ put there looked prosperous I hadn’t noticed the new metal sculptures in the median or that

Someone had finally moved into that giant home that looked like a Mediterranean hotel at the corner of Albany and Bayshore when had this all happened it could have been years ago for all I knew the realization startled me I drove from downtown west to Gandy and then back East to Franklin Street

Under the convention center and then West again on Boran all the while I looked at everything notice the joggers the cyclists and rollerbladers watch dads push jogging strollers seniors chat and Pairs and 20s somethings flirt with each other I drank it all in smelled it savored The View on

The fourth circle I was about to turn onto the bridge from Gandy Boulevard to plant key when I changed my mind and headed back toward Hyde Park the area of South Tampa that was a little rundown when the bills were in college at UT and is now an upscale historic district I

Turned North onto Rome Avenue and headed toward Old Hyde Park Village but at West Morrison I turned left I passed the renovated Kate Jackson park and turned right onto South pacwood Avenue one of the residential streets that has remained mostly undisturbed by the gentrification of the area I have a yky

Memory for numbers for some reason they stick in my head as if they’d been burned to my internal hard drive I remembered the address South pacwood consisted of a short three blocks from Morrison to swan in the 700 block on the east side of the street the dreary

Little white clapboard house where Trey steam died still stood I parked Greta near the curb and walked over to the sidewalk the house was white with green shutters and a small screened porch on the front three cement steps bordered on each side by a cement block wall painted

Green LED from the sidewalk to the front door it needed a good coat of paint and the yard was mostly dirt in this area where Home Improvement had run a muuk the house looked old-fashioned and worn down at first I didn’t see the elderly woman sitting in the Shadows on the

Screen porch I probably wouldn’t have noticed her at all except that she called out to me hey she said in the quintessential Southern greeting she was Tiny and frail and she had probably been talking to passers by from this porch for most of her life she’d consider

Herself rude to ignore me since I was unwittingly staring right at her hello I called back friendly I’m Willa Carson and I live nearby I told her nice to meet you Miss Carson she said would you like to come up and set a spell she reached over with a gnarled hand and

Picked up a small baby food jar removed its lid and spit a dark stream into it she she wiped her mouth with a lace handkerchief and returned the jar to the table thank you I will I opened the creaky screen door and entered the porch she waved me to another rocker next to

Hers I’m Tura Masters she told me folks call me big tur she was no bigger than a 12-year-old child the years had bent her spine into what must have been a painful S curve and she had trouble looking up thick glasses too big for her small face

Magnified her bright eyes I smiled at her and sat down so that we’d be closer to eye level to one another how long have you lived here Mrs Masters long time I guess my mama owned this house when I was a girl she used to rent it to college students but after my

Husband died I moved back here my daughter will be along in a few minutes to bring my supper I’d offer you some iced tea if you’d go get it out of the refrigerator Tura m ERS was the kind of old woman I didn’t run into very often

She was probably 90 years old and she’d lived in Tampa all her life in her day neighbors dropped by unexpectedly and stayed to visit a Hostess was expected to offer her home and share her food unrestrictedly I’d be glad to I said taking the opportunity to go inside the house chapter

17 there was a time when big tur would have known known everyone who happened to walk by still I thought I’d suggest to her daughter that she keep the old woman from inviting perfect strangers into her house Tampa has a small town feel but it’s a big city bad things can

Happen to old ladies who invite strangers into their homes here the same as everywhere else I would warn her inside the living room was small and dark and looked as if it hadn’t been redecorated since 1972 when Trey steam died here a built-in bookcase was the only separation between the living room

And the old-fashioned kitchen the kitchen sink had a window above it that offered a view to the tiny backyard the pine cabinets were unpainted and the kitchen was nearly as dark as the living room the refrigerator was on the left if Trey had his head in it or was looking

Out the kitchen window Billy Joe could have walked from the hallway through the living room and out the front door without him seeing her just as she testified at her trial I wanted to walk down the hallway and look in the bedrooms but I thought that would be inappropriate so I just craned

My neck in that direction as I carried the glass of iced tea to Mrs Masters she accepted it gratefully and took a big gulp of the sweetened liquid I thought then that she might have had trouble doing the small task for herself which was why she asked me to come inside I

Saw you looking at my house from the street she said to me when she’d swallowed the tea it’s not for sale you know not till I die anyway she spit again into the baby food jar I saw the can of snuff sitting next to the jar and

Figured out she was dipping how she managed to dip snuff and drink iced tea simultaneously was a mystery all these houses along here used to belong to my friends they’re all dead now actually I was interested in the house because of something that happened here a long time

Ago I told her the murder you mean yes ma’am that was sure a tragedy all right I felt sorry for that little boy that’s why I’m living in this house now we couldn’t rent it after that nobody wanted to live in a house where a murder happened couldn’t get the blood stains

Out of the floor either she gave me a pretty sharp glance then she was frail but she seemed to have full possession of her mental faculties why are you so interested so I told her I was trying to help Billy Joe steam the woman accused

Of the murder and I just wanted to get a look at the house go on in and look around then she offered this time I walked down the short narrow hallway and looked into the two bedrooms they were right next to each other their doorways on opposite ends of the hallway and the

Bathroom across I walked into the larger of the two rooms and listened to see if there was anything I could hear the walls were pretty thin and the street noises were audible I heard two men talking as they walked by on the sidewalk outside Billy Joe could have

Heard Trey arguing with someone out in the driveway as she testified I walked quickly from the master bedroom to the even smaller bedroom next to it which would have been the child’s room Billy Joe could have gathered him up quickly and then turned to make her way out the front door once

She worked up the courage to take the chance it wouldn’t have taken her long to make the dash I covered the distance from the master bedroom to Harris room and out to the front door in less than 30 seconds but I was taller than Billy Joe so it probably took her a few

Seconds longer big tur showed no interest in me when I walked out to the screen porch and returned to the living room Trey if he turned from the kitchen window would have had a clear view of Billy Joe when she came back for her purse even intoxicated he could have

Managed the few steps he’d taken to reach her easily she was Nimble and he was drunk but he might have made the connection anyway why he had the knife in his hand and why they’d struggled over it I couldn’t discern but I could see how he might have fallen given his

Intoxication and her desire to be gone quickly an oval braided area rug covered the center of the living room I rolled it up to look at the blood stains that remained on the old pine floor Mrs Masters had mentioned a large dark area covered much of the floor but without

Moving the furniture I couldn’t get a clear picture of whether the blood had been splattered or just pulled in one place I’d never seen any crime- scene photographs so I had to Simply use my imagination based on the testimony this was another one of those instances where

A picture would have been worth a thousand words Billy Joe’s testimony was that she found Trey in the same location as she’d left him when she ran away the knife was on the floor beside him would she have looked to see exactly how and where he landed when he first fell I

Thought not she’d been afraid she had already put her child out in the car no she’d have left quickly after he fell and she couldn’t have known how and where he landed or if he’d gotten up again the kitchen floor was covered with old-fashioned lenium that had been

Cleaned many times in the past three decades worn spots on the floor in front of the sink the stove and the refrigerator reflected its age there was no way to tell now whether Trey steam had moved around or lost blood in the kitchen I looked at the floors in the

Bedrooms but they were covered with wall-to-wall carpet now the other thing I noticed was how dark it was inside the house there were few windows and the walls in all of the rooms were covered in dark paneling there was no overhead lighting Billy Joe said the rooms only

Lamp broke when Trey bumped into it before she tried to leave that night she wouldn’t have been able to see him clearly in the dim light that reached the living room from the kitchen even now the house gave me a creepy feeling I could understand why no one had wanted

To rent it after the murder when I heard big tur talking to someone else out on the porch I thought I had probably learned all that I could for now it helped to get the feel of the place even though much had changed I returned to

The porch and met the daughter I said goodbye to Big tur and thanked her for the view of her house come back anytime she said as I left her I don’t get very many visitors no I thought people who still have elderly relatives are too busy to visit them these days when I

Arrived home at minet cars in the parking lot reflected the dinner hour in full swing I wanted to freshen up as they say in old movies so I took the backstairs two at a time letting myself in the back door I called downstairs and asked the Hostess to let George know

That I had arrived home and would join him for dinner at 8:00 when we’d remodeled Aunt Minnie’s house we replaced the plumbing doubling the size of the old Master bathro but kept her wonderful old claw-footed tub I turned on the water and filled the tub with an aromatic bubble bath Kate had

Assured me would restore peace and Tranquility I put my favorite Bob James CD in the player and lit several candles an inflated bath pillow a glass of sturdy Cabernet and and a quiet soak to wash away the aura of death from my skin an hour later when I joined George

Downstairs I looked and felt like a new woman I had chosen a long slim Emerald silk dress that could be worn without panty hose which I am convinced were the invention of Ivan the Terrible the misogynist on my feet I wore flat strappy sandals simple silver jewelry

Completed the outfit I felt almost human again I waited in the dining room for George to join me my evening had reminded me of a lesson I’d learned when my mother died life is short some people learn this lesson long after the age of 16 but learning early is a gift too if

Billy Joe steam did indeed have terminal cancer she should be released from prison it was as simple as that for her last days on Earth she should be able to do the things I had done this evening I decided not to tell George about the notes or the tires

For now he’d only drive me crazy with overprotectiveness and insist that I give up Billy Joe’s case that I would not do so why even argue about it besides that I needed to butter him up my final deed for the day was to get my politically well-connected husband to do

Me a big favor George is an active and influential Republican he is very close to the chairman of the Republican party here in Florida the fourth largest state in the Union George doesn’t hold any office in the party but only because he doesn’t want to which is to say George

Is a very highly placed Republican even if most voters have never heard of him and that meant I might be able to manage a visit to the governor’s office I would attempt to persuade the governor that Billy Joe steam should be granted clemency or at least I might get George

To invite him to our home for dinner where I could present the ISS issue for discussion chapter 18 when I took the morning recess the next day an Augustus handed me the pink telephone message slips I was shocked to see the one right on the top when did he

Call I asked about an hour ago Augustus repeated to me what he’d already written on the message slip he said he’d be here at the recess he’s waiting now I closed the door to my office so that I could look at myself in the small mirror I

Kept posted there I taken the time this morning to put on lipstick which was now all chewed off but I hadn’t done much else to make myself presentable Comfort was one thing but the grunge look is not the image I try to project nor the armor I needed now I

Rummaged around in my desk drawer for the small Cosmetics case I kept there and hurriedly put on my face I fluffed up my short auburn hair with my hands as best I could and added a quick swipe of lipstick again there wasn’t much I could do about my clothes and I rejected the

Idea of putting my robe back on to cover up my habitual casual attire this was the best I could do on 5 minutes notice I then pushed the intercom button and told Augustus to show Prescott Roberts into my Chambers Prescott Roberts had never ever been to my courtroom before

He had no legitimate reason to be here now Prescott had been a transactional lawyer back in the days when he actually practiced law he was a dealmaker not a litigator Prescott Roberts thought judges and trial lawyers were bit players in the real world of business and not very impressive bit players at

That to Prescott Roberts and men like him we judges were mere public servants which was why he hadn’t interfered with my appointment to the bench he thought it was a position from which I could do no significant harm Augustus ushered in a tall man albeit bent with advancing

Age Prescott Roberts must have been physically imposing in his youth now he was imposing in more dangerous ways he was the kind of man who could get things done for the first time I wondered if he had been behind the attempts to scare me off this case since those attempts

Hadn’t worked was that why he was here now Prescott had been born to an influential family and had had decades to accumulate more power he came from money married money and made money he was not a man to cross we exchanged pleasantries and then I waited for Prescott to make the first move

Prescott examined my dreary Chambers in this second class building and me the judge who presided here as if we were mildly amusing Curiosities eventually he spoke directly to the point Walter tells me that you have decided to ignore your ethical responsibilities to get Billy Joe Ste te out of prison unethical conduct isn’t

The kind of good behavior the Constitution protects he referred to article 3 of the US Constitution which gave me a lifetime appointment only during good behavior in the absence of an opponent with significant political clout that would mean that I could do just about anything

And still keep my job but a man like Prescott Roberts who had put more than half of the elected officials in Florida where they are today had the political pull to get rid of me faster than a bullgator devours a small child I’ve decided to work with a group that’s

Trying to help her I told him holding my hands clasped in front of me on the desk I don’t think there’s a breach of Ethics in my doing so perhaps he said as if I just made the most blatantly stupid statement of my life Prescott Roberts’s

View was that he was the Arbiter of good behavior and if he said my conduct didn’t suffice he’d have no trouble convincing the right people people that he was right and I was wrong I’d like you to stop working on this project the literal words might have been a request

But spoken they were most definitely in order from a man used to being obeyed he wasn’t threatening me he didn’t have to he had the clout to convince the justice department to follow through on his complaints visions of an embarrassing televised impeachment hearing and subsequent trial forced their way into

My head even if he was unsuc successful the entire process would ruin my reputation I’d be forced to resign to avoid the disgrace perhaps I should have been brushing up my resume but he’d gotten my back up with his condescending attitude why I asked knowing that no one had

Dared question Prescott Roberts in more years than I’d been alive I’d already made up my mind I wouldn’t back down now Billy Joe and Harris were depending on me besides Prescott’s mere presence here in my Chambers convinced me that I was on to something just exactly what I was

On to I didn’t know Prescot looked quizzical as if the answer was obvious he’d made the request his look seemed to say what more reason could I possibly need you’re aware that the woman killed my nephew he said by way of Steely response she says she’s innocent I held

My voice steady unlike the CJ if Prescott Roberts wanted me fired and run out of town on a rail he’d have no trouble making that happen he’d been consulted and had agreed to allow my appointment to this position he had the wherewithal to get rid of me he knew it

And so did I loath to explain himself to me he said she’s far from innocent Billy Joe steam was properly convicted and she belongs in jail leave her there this time both of us absolutely understood that he was ordering me to cease and desist my efforts to free Billy Joe and

I considered it seriously while I might not want to be a federal judge forever I preferred to choose my own departure date but the Spectre of Billy Joe dying in prison that had haunted me in my dream was still too real I couldn’t let that happen what about Harris he’s the one

Who asked me to help his mother do you want me to just ignore his request I thought he might have some affection for his Grand nephew that would keep him from squashing me and my career like a tiny bug we’ve been looking after Harris

Since he was a child he said we as if he were the king of England Harris doesn’t know what’s best for him or best for his children nor does he need you to help him with anything and Prescott Roberts not only knew what was best for all of

Us he could take care of whatever needed to be done as well was the ins spoken message Prescott Rose from the ugly green client chair and now towered over me at my desk to even the playing field I Rose to see him out at the door he

Turned to me and said I’ll take it personally if you refuse my request judge Carson fortunately before I could respond he turned and walked out closing the door softly behind him neither one of us was confused by his meaning if I hadn’t had powerful enemies before I was

Certainly in a position to acquire one now what had I gotten myself into I returned to the bench and finished out the trial day replaying Prescot Roberts’s visit in my mind until I had memorized the dialogue I struggled with myself for a while over whether I should bow out of

Billy Joe’s life until the visceral memory of his hulking presence faded who did he think he was anyway washed up old has been threatening a United States District Court Judge the man was wrong wrong that’s all he didn’t know the truth he couldn’t threaten me and get

Away with it I told myself with bravado the plans I’d made for Billy Joe’s hearing would March forward I had been given the chance to change the catastrophic outcome of Billy Joe’s death shown to me in what I now thought of as a vision more than a nightmare it

Was a path I had to take I had set all of the necessary Wheels in Motion and now events had to play themselves out while I turned my attention to my own work and tried to push uneasy thoughts about Prescott Roberts and his agenda to the back of my mind days stretched into

Weeks during which I presided over the Madison versus cardio medical case and attended to the other aspects of my life everything that normally overflowed the boundaries of the 24 hours I’d been allotted each day without the added work of trying to help Billy Joe Augustus was

Working out better than I had ever hoped in the few short weeks since he’d been with me he become indispensable I liked him immensely and I tried not to worry about his relationship with Leo and his inside knowledge of Walter Westfield’s temper or how he’d come to me when the CJ had

Been trying to sabotage my selection for so long I couldn’t really imagine Augustus as Sinister so I tried to expect the best I thought about the upcoming parole hearing frequently and checked on the progress of the work I delegated but things were moving slowly although I tried every day there was

Little I could do to speed them along several snafus had occurred in getting Billy Joe’s medical tests performed I tried to smooth over the problems and work around the red tape to no avail Billy Joe had never mentioned any medical problems of any kind to the prison systems doctors so the

Administration was skeptical of her claimed symptoms now they’d seen inmates try every possible ploy to evade serving prison time and they refused to cooperate with our requests at every juncture working around their objections took too much time and I sense the hand of Prescott Roberts working against me

But maybe I was just being paranoid even using my contacts and Harris money we weren’t coming any closer to what I believed would be the key to opening Billy Joe’s prison cell a positive terminal cancer diagnosis because of the system’s opposition I couldn’t get her examined

To confirm it the irony of hoping Billy Joe had a terminal illness so I could save the rest of her life wasn’t lost on me the search for DNA evidence from Trey steam’s murder was moving slower than a visit to the endodontist Harris had talked with his

Grandparents who told him that none of tre’s personal effects had been returned to them at the time of the original investigation or after Billy Joe’s trial theoretically that meant the evidence should be in the EV evidence room of the Tampa Police Department but 30 years is

A long time to hold on to old blood soaked clothes and tpd had moved more than once in the meantime in addition searching for questionably Relevant 30-year-old evidence wasn’t a high priority with all the tpd had to do every day the short of it was that if

Any evidence that could be tested for DNA still existed no one had been able to find it and our time was running out less than a week before the parole hearing I found myself at square one with Billy Joe’s case George hadn’t been able to arrange a talk with the governor

Billy Joe’s medical exam hadn’t been done because I couldn’t get around the prison systems red tape and no DNA evidence had been found let alone tested I suspected Prescott Roberts was working to thwart me at every turn but I hadn’t seen or heard from him since his visit

To my Chambers weeks before Chief Hathaway had not been able to find a suspect to attach to the threats I’d received nor had I received any more it was almost as if the perpetrator had resigned himself to my activities which made me wonder what he knew that I

Didn’t yet Ursula Westfield had done her part due to her involvement the station had been airing teasers on the Nightly News about Billy Joe’s impending release and the Billy Joe steam story I had made a couple of the system works type sound bites meant to represent the experienced judge angle without publicly revealing

My personal commitment to Billy Joe or involvement in her parole efforts after the first one aired the CJ came down like a ton of bricks on my voicemail I erased his tie raate while crossing my fingers and giving thanks that I hadn’t answered the telephone every day as I

Sat at my desk and looked at my month at a glance calendar I was reminded of the clock ticking and moving us closer to the date set for Billy Joe’s hearing and every day I was more aware that I had absolutely nothing to offer to free Billy Joe that hadn’t been tried and

Failed before too soon I realized I had just 4 days left and my anger and my own impotence kicked in nothing ever got done unless I did it I fumed to myself flush with fear of failure and public humiliation and tired of budding my head against the bureaucratic wall I turned

Purposefully to my telephone and started with the man over whom I have the most influence George when is the governor coming to dinner I challenged abruptly when my husband answered the phone George said the only thing that would get him off the hook tomorrow night shall we have

Squab he named one of my favorite fowl in a further attempt to butter me up I said great and hung up moving on to the next in Cooperative mail on my list I usually avoid calling Tampa police chief Ben Hathaway on business particularly when I’m sticking my nose into his Ben

Is an uneasy friend of ours depending on whether I’m involved in his departmental Affairs or not when I’m trying to get him to do his job my way he gets more than a little bit miffed Ben is a very professional cop and his Department generally does excellent work but

Nobody’s perfect Ben could use a fresh eye once in a while naturally he doesn’t always see my help that way now I had no choice but to cajo Ben to action the new statutes and court rules that governed Billy Joe’s case said that DNA evidence from old crimes had to be analyzed by

Current police procedures once again we were running short on time and long on the Need For What were essentially favors the list of Florida inmates waiting for DNA analysis was longer than the list of Fernandez’s in the Tampa phone book sometimes the wait takes months Billy Joe didn’t have

Months we had 4 days Ben could push the search for physical evidence and Rush the DNA analysis I went to see him personally the distance from my courtroom to the sunrust building or what is colloquially known as The Cop Shop was a few short blocks Ben Hathaway’s office had been relocated

There from the old police station on Tampa Street a longer walk in the other direction the former location had about as much aesthetic appeal as an abandoned warehouse tpd’s new building had been a bank at one time so it had marginally more style except that the bright blue facade was

Startling I took advantage of the brief cold front that kept our temperatures around 75 in the morning hours and walked once or twice I had the creepy feeling that someone was following me but when I looked back I could see nothing unusual my imagination was working overtime chapter 19

The quick ride up to Chief Hathaway’s office in the Express Elevator left my stomach behind somewhere about the third floor I was a little woozy when I stepped off into the lobby of the Tampa Police Department’s Executive offices the receptionist seemed surprised and skeptical when I told her

My name and whom I’d come to visit but she would have considered it impolite to challenge me impolite doesn’t suit in Tampa I haven’t looked but being impolite might actually be a felony here in a few minutes Ben Hathaway himself came out to the lobby his shirt sleeves

Rolled up and with a big smile on his round jows he stuck out his beefy right paw to swallow mine then bellowed his greeting to let everyone within hearing distance realize he was making nice with federal judge Carson this boname lasted about 3 seconds after we went into his

Office then he closed the door and moved his considerable bulk to his desk chair which groaned in protest while he lowered his seventh of a ton into it he kept the smile because we could be seen through the glass walls that surrounded his desk but his tone was wary what can

I do for you Willa he asked coming right to the point holding his clasped paws in front of him on the blotter why do you sound so hostile Ben I chided him you don’t make social calls on the likes of me judge Carson you come here when you

Want something for one of your pet projects that you have no right to ask if you had a right to it youd just call me on the phone when it’s a favor you’re after you count on your considerable charm to get you what you want I didn’t bother to deny the

Obvious okay so we understand each other then I smiled all the same hey I’m a taxpayer I’m entitled to Public Service too he nodded I take it you want something for your favorite project of the moment Billy Joe steam don’t look so surprised Ursula westfields already called me

Grease the way for you said we’d all be heroes when an innocent woman gets set free I’m going to help so you don’t have to sweet talk me you could have just called I’m on it on what the DNA what else he tried to convince me that he was

Still grumpy about the imposition found Trey steam’s clothes and the murder weapon too no small job let me tell you with all the evidence we keep track of around here no missing evidence in my department no chance his countenance dared me to contradict him I’m thrilled

To hear it Ben maybe you could give our FBI some tips H they lose things all the time I smiled trying to coax him into a better mood after all I was asking for a favor and he’d already told me he’d do it I had no need to be

Discourteous ordered the DNA analysis last week and called about it again today I hate to say it but you were right here I got this today he handed me a slim piece of paper with lab results that even I could decipher Trey steam’s bloody clothes had been analyzed his shirt and jeans were

Soaked with a good deal of his own blood but also the blood of someone else not Billy Joe the DNA analysis done on the murder Weapon 2 showed Trey’s own blood of course but also the blood of the same unknown person on the knife handle and blade again not Billy Joe’s blood the

DNA proved the blood belonged to a man Trey steam’s defensive wounds aside he must have had possession of the knife at some time during the fight from the evidence showing the amount of blood that wasn’t his Trey had done considerable damage to his killer the file I had reviewed included the

Investigating officer’s notes Billy Joe had had no cuts on her body anywhere when she was arrested where’ you get the samples to confirm that any of this blood actually belonged to Trey steam I knew enough about DNA evidence to understand that comparisons were made to identified samples Billy Joe had of course donated

Her blood for the test having a sample of bodily fluids from the long since dead Trace steam himself would have also been necessary to reach a definitive conclusion like this Ben smiled his Canary eating grin at me the one he reserves for times when he knows

He is absolutely in the cat bird seat Trey steam was an organ donor when you donate the organ Banks take blood samples and freeze them they keep the samples forever we got a court order for a bit of trays Frozen serum he looked as if he were expecting a Nobel Prize for

This piece of information if I were on the committee I’d have given it to him the only possible conclusion to my way of thinking was that this DNA analysis proved Billy Joe steam had not murdered her husband some people would have thought she was justified in killing

Trey Steam from everything I’d heard and read but she’d spent 30 years in prison for a crime she’d never committed at all I smiled at Ben Hathaway he came around his desk and shook my hand warmly this time giving me a genuine grin of pleasure how does it feel to be on the

Right side Ben I asked him smiling wide enough to show my ecstasy and resisting the urge to hug him I didn’t tell Ben that I had actually been wrong I never believed DNA would prove Billy Joe’s innocence I’d had no faith in the effort I was glad to be wrong though it would

Remain my private Joy I wasn’t going to humble myself to Ben hathway I’d never hear the the end of it we’re doing a good thing here I told him this whole case has been a travesty thankfully they didn’t put her on death row all those years ago otherwise she’d be dead now

True but the evidence against her was strong at the time Willa he said as he walked me out to the lobby very strong too strong I said knowing that to a cop evidence was never too strong his reply was short and startling give my regards to the governor news travels fast in

Tampa although the city itself is lovely dinner in Tallahassee isn’t anything compared to George’s which probably explains why the governor was more than willing to come down on his way to Miami later in the evening to a dinner catered by George’s award-winning chefs this was the first time in years we’d had dinner

In our dining room upstairs George had had the restaurants cleaning people in all day dusting polishing and washing the China One of the waiters was coming up to put the food on the table in many ways I was looking forward to a quiet and private

Meal in our home and I knew it would be edible since I wasn’t cooking it George’s Aunt Minnie had been a kind soul with a more than colorful past minet had been her home until she died and left it to us completely furnished in her will although we loved living

With her beautiful things most of her furniture was as old and uncomfortable as the heating and plumbing had been the only things we still used and not regularly were her table settings tonight the dining room’s Waterford glass chandelier sparkled as it had not done in many months antique

Irish lace Linens and several vases full of flowers decorated the room I was on Cloud9 I felt close to victory for Billy Joe Steam and I was simply thrilled all that was left were the details the governor arrived alone fashionably late and dressed in a business suit I’d understood that he was

On vacation so his attire was somewhat surprising George and I were underdressed but the governor is a kind man more than a little attractive who excelled at putting people at ease in a few short moments he made us feel comfortable as we stood on the veranda with our co*cktails discussing the

Weather and the Devil Rays his height is something I’m not used to not many men Tower over me when we finally sat down to dinner I could look him in the eye well Willa George tells me you have a special request to make he said enjoying the squab in lemon Caper sauce I

Appreciate your willingness to hear about this Governor I’m not used to requesting favors from anyone let alone a highly placed politician I looked over at George who was staying out of the conversation although he found nothing un un usual in having a discussion with the governor

You’re one of my constituents Willa if I can do anything for you that’s what you put me in office for I hear these kinds of requests every day I just don’t usually hear them over fabulous food in wonderful surroundings he smiled and the glint in his eyes was the one displayed on

Television he was bright charismatic and as smooth as well a successful politician thank you Governor I began call me Jake he interjected okay Jake my request isn’t for me I started again I didn’t think it would be what could you possibly want that I would have the ability to give

You I assumed your request was being made on behalf of someone else he was trying to make this easy for me but I’m just not good at asking for favors I’ve always taken care of myself and everyone around me as well people people come to

Me for help not the other way around I put down my Fork placed my hands in my lap and began again I want you to release Billy Joe steam a woman serving a life sentence in prison for murdering her husband she’s up for parole but she should be pardoned the DNA evidence

Proves she didn’t murder her husband she was wrongly convicted in the first place she spent 30 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit and it’s time to release her this was the first time I’d actually said the phrases out loud and I had put my case forth inarticulately I’d need to

Practice he’d also set down his fork and he looked more troubled the longer I spoke past time I’d say if all you tell me is true how sure are you of your facts very sure it’s my job to evaluate evidence and reach conclusions if the evidence used to

Convict Billy Joe steam had come before me in my courtroom I I would have dismissed any indictment brought against her and instructed the federal prosecutors to find the real killer I told him demonstrating even to me just how much conviction I had over Billy Joe’s cause what evidence do you have

Besides the DNA he surprised me by asking next what evidence do you need besides the DNA I responded a little hotly it’s the best evidence that she didn’t commit the crime why is anything else necessary he continued his easy conversational argument he wasn’t emotionally involved with this

Decision I’ve looked at this case a little bit Willa he grinned we get the news up in Tallahassee too you know nobody is interested in keeping innocent people in jail the state attorney might consent to a motion to dismiss based on this evidence if you asked him he

Suggested not if Prescott Roberts got wind of it I knew Pres Scot’s visit to my Chambers and all the trouble I’d had getting her medical exam told me that his influence was one of the things that had kept Billy Joe’s prior attempts at Freedom from succeeding I know he might but if the

Parole board will just do the right thing it’ll be faster and easier to get Billy Joe released I told him her hearing is in 3 days I couldn’t get the state’s attorney on board that quickly again he looked thoughtful even if she didn’t stab her husband to death her

Herself she could have been involved she admitted that she and Trey struggled and he fell while holding the knife that kind of admission muddies the water doesn’t it she could have hired a killer or maybe a quarrel between two men over her where she was the instigator in

Other words she could have been the killer or an accomplice even though she didn’t stab the man to death are you sure she’s innocent that’s all I’m asking the question was a reasonable one I’m sure she wasn’t charged and convicted as a conspirator the theory

That sent her to prison was her hand on the murder weapon we know that wasn’t true whether she might have been guilty of some other crime was never proved but if she wasn’t the actual killer she’d have been given a lighter sentence which she has surely served by now my

Conclusion was equally as reasonable as his and that would be enough to get her released at her upcoming parole hearing I’m not sure it’s enough for a pardon though he looked over at George and then continued to eat his dinner as he changed the subject or seemed to you

Both know I’m going to have a reelection fight on my hands soon I need to watch the decisions I make more closely than ever in the next few months what I’d like to propose to you Willa if it’s acceptable is a compromise he looked to George to intercede but George remained wisely

Silent the governor would be leaving after dinner but George would stay to sleep in my bed George is a very practical man sometimes what compromise did you have in mind I asked what if we let the parole hearing proceed as it normally would he suggested looking at

Me again with all the sincerity that kept him employed you’ll present your newly discovered evidence and I suspect Billy Joe steam will be released especially if you can get the deceased parents to publicly agree to the parole at the hearing the victim’s family is persuasive in these matters you know the

Process can be served the public will feel that everyone gets the same Fair shake and Billy Joe steam will be out of jail in 30 days or less he wrapped it up like a present with a bow on top and if they don’t let her go it won’t help

Anyone if Billy Joe steam becomes another Elvin Edwards I said naming a Florida death row inmate who died of cancer in prison just days before DNA evidence definitively proved his innocence the prosecutors had blocked edwards’s attempts to obtained DNA evidence that would exonerate him this Governor had refused to release him when

The DNA had conclusively proved Edwards was innocent of rape and murder he was already dead the entire Florida justice system was still reeling from the black eye the case had given us no one most of all the governor wanted a repeat of the experience then you have my word that

I’ll step in and take care of it he said looking at George with meaning in his glance I knew the governor was doing me a favor that was being traded for other favors and these favors weren’t my primary consideration my problem was that I had become certain that Billy Joe steam had

Unjustly spent the last 30 years of her life in a place where I couldn’t spend 30 hours it was time for everyone to do the right thing whatever George had to give the governor in return was an insignificant price to pay Chapter 20 The Time passed in a blur

Of activity as we rush toward Billy Joe steam’s parole hearing 3 days hence I adjourned the Madison versus cardio medical trial for a week since the case had started the jurors had been entertained while the lawyers who perceived themselves as Gladiators skewered one another in the ring but no

Real progress was being made I’d originally estimated a 3-we trial thinking the case would be finished before Billy Joe’s hearing now I feared this trial would last much longer a week off would do everyone some good I rationalized no one objected to the idea now with new DNA evidence I felt we

Needed a lawyer to appear at the parole hearing on Billy Joe’s behalf the case was a sure winner the lawyer would have free publicity and Harris would pay him well I suggested that Harris hire Paul Robbins the public defender who had represented Billy Joe at the original

Trial Robbins had been there when Billy Joe was convicted and it appealed to my sense of justice that he should have his victory I’ll be it 30 years later I was mindful of the governor’s caution that the DNA evidence didn’t conclusively assure Victory but I put aside my

Attempts to get Billy Joe’s medical tests done I simply had no time to follow up with that project or get it completed now I put all effort into the DNA argument I plan to attend the hearing but to sit in the gallery with the other Spectators we scripted the arguments

Over long sessions in my Chambers assigning parts to Harris Ben Hathaway the new lawyer and to Billy Joe herself I would have no speaking part until after the hearing I considered meeting with Bill and Mary steam but Harris said to leave that problem in his hands he felt he could convince his

Grandparents not to come to the hearing and not to object to Billy Joe’s parole although they had done both at her two prior parole board hearings my limited knowledge of Bill steam had left me with the view that he was a flinty old bastard who would not likely change his

Mind since Mary steam was Prescott Roberts’s sister I figured I could pretty well predict where Trey steam’s parents would come out on the question of Billy Joe’s parole but I had to rely on Harris for this important piece of Billy Joe’s defense Ursula participated in our meetings although she wasn’t

Substantively helpful she was putting the finishing touches on her story so that she could air it the night of the parole hearing she offered suggestions that were more related to the backstory of Trey steam’s murder reciting aspects of Billy Joe’s trial conviction and earlier attempts at release but Ursula

Was a master at crafting words into catchy sound bites and phrases that would ring with confidence and stay in the minds of listeners for days or weeks to come we used every ounce of that expertise Augustus supplied Refreshments kept the phone and the email quiet and surprised us a few times with solid

Suggestions on strategy he was quickly becoming indispensable to the effective operation of my office and I gave appropriate thanks for him on a daily basis while keeping my fingers crossed that my appreciation wasn’t shortsighted George stayed in the background running his restaurant and offering moral support he had never fully embraced this

Project but that was because his first concern is always for me especially because of Prescott Roberts’s involvement George felt I was putting my career and myself in Jeopardy this time for Unnecessary reasons because he was right on all counts I couldn’t argue with him and I never told him about the

Threats in my defense the only thing I could offer was that saving those who are in over their heads is a compulsion I didn’t really want to control even if I could I’m a night owl but when my alarm woke me at 5:30 that Friday morning I was instantly awake and ready

To go I’d slept little for the past 3 days but my lack of sleep didn’t seem to matter I wasn’t the least bit tired and I felt more energized than I had in a very long time no federal judge I know had ever appeared at a parole hearing

For any reason this trip had the aura of the Forbidden an illicit quality that elevated my excitement whatever I did there was bound to be someone who wouldn’t approve no matter I’d given up trying to please all the people all the time long before sometimes I just had to comply with my

Conscience and let the chips fall where they may this was one of those times I selected a conservative charcoal gray suit and daffodil silk blouse the likes of which which I hadn’t worn since I was sworn in low heeled pumps and Pearls completed the outfit a quick blast of

The blow dryer 5 minutes with my makeup and I was downstairs waiting in the still dark morning under the almost full moon the limousine Harris sent to take me to Peter Oak Knight airport on Davis Islands arrived right after I’d finished my short prayer for Success the driver

Took me to join the rest of the party in the private jet Harris had chartered for the trip while I focused on containing my anxiety Harris had ordered another limousine to meet us at our destination we arrived about a half hour early for the 10:00 hearing an armed

Guard at the front door and police cruisers with lights flashing held back the gaggle of media so many people rushed our car that the driver had to fight to get the doors open at the building entrance the Airing of Ursula’s news teasers over the past few weeks had

Worked the Press into a frenzy Billy Joe’s saw had everything celebrity murder and a beautiful innocent woman the story was too good to resist apparently the reporters didn’t know or didn’t care that Ursula was using them to feed the material she mined from the past Ursula called it investigative reporting some would say

Ursula had impermissibly created the story orchestrating it like a Bach Concerto thankfully Ben Hathaway and Harris steam were with Billy Joe’s for former public defender Paul Robbins and me in the car all three of them were as formally dressed as I was we looked quite a respectable bunch in stark

Contrast to our be draggled and worn appearance during our crunchtime preparation sessions both Ben and Harris had called ahead and arranged security four armed bodyguards surrounded us as we ascended from the street up the stairs and into the boxy uninspired government building that housed the parole board I had had

No experience erience dealing with suffocating crowds since a federal judge doesn’t usually generate much interest I didn’t count on the effect of being seen with a celebrity like Harris steam or the frenzy Ursula had created I was grateful for Ben Hathaway our personal police escort for the first

Time I understood how a crowd of people could crush someone to death by the time we made it to the policeman at the door Ben had his badge out the posted officers held back the reporters and waved us forward into the building we placed our briefcases on the X-ray

Conveyor and walked through the metal detectors empty-handed while Ben allowed the security officers to check his handgun once we were in the lobby we made our way to the 10th floor and into the hearing room honestly if you’ve been in one government building you’ve been in them all I sometimes wonder if the

Local state and federal governments conspire to buy this cheap metal furniture by the grow just to make us all feel either satisfied with their Thrift or relaxed in the familiar presence of nondescript squalor no wonder government buildings are defaced almost as soon as they are completed

They look low rent from the outset the hearing room itself resembled every administrative hearing room I’d ever been in the basic setup was a table at the North End of the room and a second table facing the first one three metal folding chairs waited behind the front

Table and two metal folding chairs sat behind the facing table then two rows of folding chairs on either side of a small aisle were set up theater fashion for spectators in the gallery judging from the 10 or so chairs for the audience few people generally attended a parole

Hearing today all of The Spectator chairs were full I found a seat in the back only after a gentleman Rose to offer me his news media cameras were allowed inside the hearing room although the room was small and not many people would fit I noticed two or three

Photographers in the back I didn’t see Ursula or any reporter I recognized but several of the other Spectators had notepads across the aisle from me sat a non-descript middle-aged man he would have been completely unremarkable except that he was almost the only person in the gallery without a notepad he made me

Nervous the one thing we couldn’t control was who acted as Spectators interested parties could raise objections to Billy Joe’s release I Fred over who the man was and why he was here until I noticed a bigger problem in the front row on the right side of the aisle

Sat Trey’s parents Bill and Mary steam they sat tall and straight eyes facing forward his arm around her shoulders my heart sank they could only be here to oppose Billy Joe’s parole as they had done at every previous parole hearing she’ had Harris had promised to manage his grandparents to keep them away

Obviously he hadn’t concern noted my nerves I half expected Prescott Roberts to walk in any minute Harris the consummate performer went over to his grandparents hugged them and thanked them for coming the Press EES dropped shamelessly and wrote down what they heard Billy Joe’s lawyer approached the

Steams and greeted them too smiling for the reporters I mentally kicked myself for failing to anticipate and resolve this problem if Bill steam opposed Billy Joe’s parole after the governor had told me to gain the family’s support we were sunk delegating never works although I didn’t

Know what I could have said to keep Bill and Mary steam at home but I should have at least tried as it was I felt I’d let Billy Joe down on what might turn out to be the most important issue today Ben hathway went over to a uniform formed

BFF who was standing in the corner and flashed his badge again the baliff soon returned with two more chairs for our team at the prisoner’s Table after a while Billy Joe steam was escorted into the room and led to her seat her hair was Curly wild she was dressed in her

Prison Garb and wore no makeup she looked old tired and sick an appearance Ursula had orchestrated without my knowledge I fumed this entire matter was rapidly escalating out of my control and the uneasy sensation in my stomach spread Billy Joe and Harris hugged quickly as if to avoid making a bigger

Spectacle of themselves than they already were Billy Joe shook hands with her lawyer and then shook hands with Chief Hathaway whom she was meeting for the first time in a moment she turned to look at Bill and Mary steam she didn’t smile Billy Joe had told me earlier that

She was resigned to their hostility and opposition but hoped for the best Billy Joe’s eyes found me in the crowd and gave me a tentative smile that wounded my heart her smile said I had let her down right at the time she needed me most trouble was I agreed with her by

This time I was convinced that bill steam would make sure Billy Joe died in prison there was nothing more I could do Billy Joe’s gaze slid past me and continued to scan the gallery until it froze on the man seated across the aisle when she found him her face lit up like

Those of the Apostles and paintings of the Last Supper The Man returned her gaze with such hope and love that I was again shaken out of my complacency I’d spend a great deal of time with these people put my professional reputation on the line and compromised my safety to help yet

Someone was here about whom I knew absolutely nothing at all who was this man and how was he related to Billy Joe I realized he was important I just didn’t know why I had so much of myself at stake now that this vacuum of knowledge sucked out the last of my

Confidence I’d gone from feelings of euphoria to the depths of anxiety and the hearing hadn’t even started yet the three members of the parole board eventually entered and sat at the head table facing us a court reporter came in next with her steno machine sat unobtrusively at the right hand side of

The head table and prepared to take down down every word that was said in the room the man chairing the parole board read the name of the case which was State of Florida versus WETA Johnson steam into the record and the reason for the hearing he introduced the members of

The board and then asked Billy Joe’s lawyer to present his team of course my name wasn’t mentioned then he asked Billy Joe’s lawyer Robbins to report any matters this board should take into consideration at this time prior to making its decision on the prisoners request for parole Paul Robbins only

Took about 15 minutes to recite the argument we had agreed upon I had asked him to read from a prepared statement but he’d practiced it so many times he knew it by heart he made an impassioned plea doing a good job of demonstrating his conviction and commitment to his

Cause he explained the newly discovered DNA evidence he described the facts from the court files that corroborated the proof of Billy Joe’s innocence he disclosed Billy Joe’s health status even though we had never received any medical support for a diagnosis and as he said we’d been prevented from getting

The medical evidence by the state’s failure to cooperate this was no time to hide whatever we had to offer finally Paul told the board Harris steam Billy Joe’s son and the only living child of the deceased wants his mother released from prison to spend what is left of her

Short life with him and the rest of her family Harris Rose to give the prepared statement we’d worked out for him stressing the wishes of the victim’s family I am try steam’s son I request that my mother be released and my two children who are Trey steam’s only grandchildren are waiting for their

Granny to come home I had a prepared text for Ben Hathaway and one for Billy Joe too they delivered their statements beautifully Ben said he discovered the Lost physical evidence and had it tested tearfully Billy Joe expressed her innocence and desire to be released I felt like a playright I’d

Written the words but I couldn’t open my mouth even once I had to watch the actors in my drama and trust them to play their parts to Perfection I was just beginning to breathe again thinking we’d made it through our planned presentation without a major problem when the board chair asked for comments

From The Spectators I prayed that no one would want to make a comment Bill steam stood yes sir the chairman asked Bill and Mary steam could undo everything we’d put before the board although I had the governor’s word that he would issue a pardon if parole was denied we

Couldn’t rely on that promise should Trey steam’s parents oppose parole Ursula’s story would backfire Billy Joe would stay in prison until her death if public opinion turned against us the governor did as he told me have to stand for election soon he needed public opinion and the votes it represented on

His side I held my breath as I waited for Bill steam to deliver the killing blow to all of our hopes I’m Trey steam’s Father Bill steam this is my wife Mary he said he put his hand on Mary’s shoulder she bowed her head hiding her face in a lace embroidered

Handkerchief for many years I’ve been convinced that Billy Joe killed my boy now I just don’t know I think my boy’s killer might still be out there but my wife and I want to say we’re no longer against letting Billy Joe out of prison if that’s what Harris and you all

Think is right the reporters were writing furiously I almost fainted with relief my faith in Harris was restored he done his job thank you sir the board chair said as Bill steam ret took his seat would anyone else like to speak I looked at the man across the aisle but he said

Nothing I still had no idea aidea who he was if no other matters are to be brought to our attention this hearing is concluded the board will consider WETA Johnson steam’s request for parole and render a decision within 7 days thank you all for coming this hearing is

Adjourned the three members of the board left the room followed by the court reporter and then Billy Joe and her jailers that was it something I’d been working on for weeks was now for all practical purposes over just like that Paul Robbins Harris and chief Hathaway turned around to weave through the

Gauntlet of media and join me at the back of the room for our Retreat to the limousine as planned we stopped at the top of the steps and took a few questions Harris passed out copies of the prepared statements Robbins repeated the sound bite we had all crafted

Justice will be served when Billy Joe steam is released and Trey steam’s real killer is arrested we fought our way to the waiting car returned to the airport and flew home everyone in the plane was quiet spending time with his own thoughts for my part I focused on

Everything that had gone wrong and hoped for the best altogether the entire event had taken the better part of the day I was home in time for dinner and was able to watch the 7:00 evening news I settled into my Den with my Sapphire and tonic a

Fresh partagas both dogs and George if any anything negative was going to be said about the day or me I had armed myself with all the support I could muster on short notice this just in the parole board today granted willetta Johnson steam’s parole request after deliberating for only 2 hours New

Evidence presented at today’s hearing was persuasive and compelling the board’s written opinion stated in a State of Shock a quick and Hearty yes tumbled out of my mouth followed by the release of laughter I saw my face on the screen being interviewed after the hearing giving my prepared sound bites I

Feel confident that the parole board will render a Swift and just decision based on the evidence presented inside Billy Joe steam should be spending time with her grandchildren by this time next week when I said that this afternoon I’d been full of false bravado hoping for

The best and that a swift decision would come in about 7 days that they’d made the announcement today was astounding and very welcome news news I tipped a toast to the newscaster and took another sip George gave me a high five and the dogs realizing something fabulous had

Just occurred began to frolic around on the floor after my statement the news show played quick statements from Paul Robbins Harris and Ben Hathaway the advertisem*nt for Ursula’s news this week report was replayed along with a few of the teasers she’d been running for the past few weeks George’s quick

Flip through the channels revealed the same story on all four of the major networks and the same news was the lead on the cable stations shortly after that the telephone began to ring part two the road to Hell chapter 21 the promise of new beginnings filled everyone with hope weeks ago Harris had

Rented George’s Restaurant for the big Victory celebration he told me then that he was visualizing success in our effort to free Billy Joe now the day had arrived guards were posted at the Bayshore side of the bridge to plant key allowing people to enter only if their

Names were printed on the approved guest list based on the number of guests I concluded that Harris had invited all of Tampa people were everywhere wending my way through the crowds was nearly impossible if Trey ste’s parents were present I didn’t see them nor was tre’s powerful Uncle Prescott Roberts anywhere

To be found thank God for small favors I thought after Billy Joe was released from prison I’d waited for Prescott’s Revenge to surface like waiting for the other shoe to drop whatever form his revenge would take I had no doubt he’d follow through I thought the anticipation was killing me but maybe it

Was the weather the heat that had been slow to arrive in early may now enveloped us like a shroud the flowers were wilted and the partygoers didn’t look a whole whole lot better I felt my makeup sliding off my face like grease off a non-stick skillet but I was

Helpless to stop it I had no other option than to keep a frozen margarita constantly in my hand and a good grip on my sense of humor this twoo shall pass my tranquil side soothe by October my snide self replied George had set up several bars inside minet’s downstairs

Dining rooms and outside on the grounds of plant key buffets with food of all kinds were placed in the various rooms of the restaurant wandering waiters passed bite-sized pieces of everything from artichokes to zesty baked cheese p on Peta points the guests were dressed from grunge to Oat Couture and much in

Between I noticed several rock musicians a few lawyers and judges and others involved in Billy Joe’s release also there as guests were hundreds of people I had never seen before and with any luck would likely never see again a person shy of crowds like Billy Joe

Might have felt a high level of panic turned and run even I felt a little edgy the person who’d been threatening me was probably here and I braced myself for unpleasantness Harris and George had arranged everything about this party I hadn’t been consulted and from the way

She looked Billy Joe hadn’t been either Harris and Billy Joe steam were making the rounds like the bride and groom at a wedding reception she held on to her son’s hand with both of hers and shrank back behind him every time he approached a new conversation group with her and

Toe after a short time Billy Joe would managed to avoid peeking around her son’s back as if she were the same age as her granddaughters then Harris moved to the next group and the pantomim began again regardless of how she felt Billy Joe looked marvelous she wore a simple dress

Long and flowing someone must have selected it for her because it suited her perfectly she’d been locked up for for so long Billy Joe could have no fashion sense one more thing she’d had no chance to do in life was to develop her own style a sophisticated cutter had

Conquered her short fuzzy hair gone was the Practical prison look her hair lay in perfect waves that complimented her wraithlike features the streaks of gray hair now seemed to highlight her lovely face rather than age it the right makeup had been artfully applied to enhance her incredible eyes and delicate features

Billy Joe was a beautiful woman still despite the years of hardship she’d endured I tried to ignore the months of Heartache that would come if she truly had terminal cancer as far as I knew she still hadn’t been tested or formally diagnosed although she was free to do so

These days now that she was out of prison she was much less interested in claiming an illness that would ravage her body and end her life I turned my head to a passing waiter and traded my now melted virgin Margarita for a fresh cold one I wasn’t drinking them I was

Using them to cool my hot face George came by to give me a quick hug Ursula and Walter Westfield soon joined us followed closely by Ursula’s news crew they were shooting footage that would later be edited down for a followup to the news this week’s story more television attention was the last thing

I needed Willa are you out of your mind the CJ had screamed at me when he’d learned after the fact about my part in Billy Joe’s parole our angry confrontation had kept the courthouse staff in Gossip for days Augustus had been the only one with enough nerve to

Say anything directly to me about my shouting match with CJ didn’t I tell you now was his comment followed by it’s not smart to cross Prescott Roberts and Walter Westfield if I’d had a prayer of ever getting another replacement about that time I’d have fired his butt today

Ursula was the only media person on Harris guest list Harris had given her exclusive rights to the party which she deserved Ursula had orchestrated the entire successful Billy Joe steam epic and was now in a position to make the most of it multiple emys were on the

Horizon Ursula put a microphone in my face while Walter and George waited out of camera range knowing i’ just have to get it over with or she’d never leave me alone I lowered the margarita to put it too out of sight judge Carson how do you

Feel being a part of such a huge Victory it must be rare that you have a chance to help set an innocent woman free I’m always interested in Justice Ursula here justice has finally been done I’d learned the lesson of 21st Century television nothing more than 7 seconds

Would make it past the Cutting Room floor short and sweet is how American viewers prefer their TV news Ursula must have liked the sound bite because she put the microphone down and waved the crew away they left us continuing to pan the crowd to pick up comments for later

Editing thanks Willa that was a good line did you practice you could have a great career as a television commentator she laughed maybe in another life I said noticing the look of concern on Walter’s face what’s wrong Walter isn’t this good publicity for your campaign I would

Think you’d be happy to be on this bandwagon look at all these voters I wasn’t kidding when I said it either this was exactly the crowd that Walter would have to persuade to vote against the incumbent otherwise he’d never Prevail in the senatorial election that the governor hadn’t acted

Overtly to free Billy Joe’s steam could be spun to Walter’s Advantage they were on opposing side anything the opposition did wrong could be used to further Walter’s goals I’m not a political strategist but genius wasn’t required to figure out that one Walter was dressed in a trendy Sage

Long- sleeved linen shirt and long well pressed linen trousers a shade or two darker brown accessories including his Todds completed this season’s GQ version of the well-dressed Urban mail good looks had replaced Comfort though the day was much too hot to be wearing long pants Walter lifted his glass the hand that

Held the glass trembled slightly on its way to his mouth the last thing I needed was for him to have heat stroke here on my property it’s a long time since I’ve been in this particular crowd Walter said it’s nice to see Billy Joe steam free but sad how much older she looks

How much she’s lost of her life I keep wondering if I could have changed that somehow Ursula rolled her eyes as I said oh good grief Walter obviously since our lunch he’d been practicing the spin he wanted to put on Billy Joe’s release how many focus groups had Walter tried this version out

On before deciding to run with it getting on the bandwagon long after a successful conclusion to a controversial problem didn’t make him senatorial material in my book but then most people wouldn’t know that he’d had a change of heart made me wonder what I didn’t know about Walter

Westfield however this was a party not a campaign debate so I put on my social mask and asked him why would you think that what could you have done Walter adopted just the right concerned but puzzled countenance if he were a pipe smoker he would have put the pipe in his

Mouth and puffed a few times for contemplative emphasis as it was he rubbed his free hand over the side of his thigh trying to look pained what a ham I don’t know really I didn’t even know Trey had died died until months after the fact and then in case we’d all

Gotten just a little too complacent George said but if Billy Joe didn’t kill Trey steam who did have you thought about that in truth I thought about very little else since Ben shared the DNA evidence that had freed Billy Joe I thought about the fact that I’d made

Prescott Roberts look like a fool in front of those who knew he’d used his influence to get Billy Joe convicted in the first place as well as to keep her in prison all these years he wouldn’t be thinking kind thoughts about me right now either who indeed and

Another question is why the killing could have been random I suppose Walter offered George countered that idea but things were different around here back in 1972 Tampa was still a fairly small town everybody knew each other you didn’t have random Psychopaths stalking citizens like that guy who killed one of

The local doctors a few months back no whoever killed Trey steam must have known him which means you must have known the killer too George said looking in Ursula and Walter’s Direction it’s an unsettling thought Walter responded at this he did his best to look unsettled practicing his lines

We’d hear a version of this delivered on Ursula’s follow-up show and in campaign speeches ad nauseum now that Walter had adopted Billy Joe’s cause as his own he’d play it for all it was worth I wondered what Prescott Roberts would say about that it’s more than unsettling

Walter I told him with very little patience a friend of yours was murdered don’t you want that person brought to Justice well the killer could be dead himself Walter said it’s been a long time since 1972 that much was true but it still bothered me that we didn’t know for sure

Later both Kate and Leo appeared at the buffet table as if by Magic Leo was the one who had introduced me to Harris steam so of course he would be invited to this gig seeing Leo with Kate possessively guiding her with a hand at the small of her back bending over to

Laugh at something she whispered in his ear was as alien to me now as it had been since Kate first brought Leo home would I never get over this I would I said to myself mentally squaring my shoulders and setting my determination fortified by a fresh ice

See cold Margarita and still flush with Billy Joe’s Victory I walked toward the corner where Kate and Leo were now holding their plates and eating peacefully as I wound my way through the mingling crowd not paying attention to my path two little girls ran past me

Chasing each other I had to stop short to avoid being run down I recognized them from the back by their flowing red curls Billy and willly no doubt I said to the tall young woman who followed them swiftly but not as recklessly she smiled I’m sorry they’re just excited

She held out her hand to shake mine I’m Eva rain steam Willa Carson I replied I know the girls thank you for helping their grandmother they haven’t stopped talking about Billy Joe it’s Grandma this and Grandma that every available minute you’d think they didn’t already have a grandmother living right in their

Own home they’ve been so excited the words were positive but Eva’s tone wasn’t she didn’t sound thrilled to have her daughters so focused on Billy Joe’s steam I’d have described her tone as jealous if Eva being jealous of Billy Joe wasn’t such an absurd idea Eva had

On a sleeveless Sunday church dress that left her well-toned muscular arms bare the dress was Buttercup yellow trimmed in white despite the heat she had on panty hose and high heeled shoes her makeup looked as if it had been done by Bobby Brown herself her own long red curly hair was held up

With a gold Barret Eva daughters were miniature versions of her excuse me please I need to attend to my children Eva said it was nice to meet you she followed the small wake of space the girls left in their Rush forward through the crowd Eva and Harris along with the

Two girls made quite a good-looking family they were caring parents what had gone wrong you never know a marriage until you live in it but what had really caused their divorce it seemed a shame to break up such a potentially sweet family maybe Harris was right maybe they would all get back

Together now I continued on my way toward Kate and Leo he was as stunningly attractive as ever he and Kate wore a couple of outfits that made them look like extras in a country music video despite the oppressive heat both of them were dressed in royal blue and white

Western Wear complete with blue 10-gallon hats and royal blue western boots I’d never seen Kate in such ridiculous Garb still holding on to my margarita courage I leaned over and kissed Kate on the cheek Leo kissed me on the mouth and I didn’t Grimace progress hi Willa darling lovely lovely

Party Kate said just perfect Leo added George certainly does have a knack for this sort of thing doesn’t he a knack calling George’s ability to build manage and maintain a five-star restaurant at minet aack was like calling a whale of fish Georgia chefs have won the Golden

Spoon award five times and Florida trend magazine has called his restaurant the best in Florida more than once maack indeed with difficulty I kept up my cordiality which is to say I didn’t hit him yes Leo I said sweetly instead George is quite accomplished thank you for noticing while Leo might have observed

George’s neck he hadn’t realized my distaste for him but Kate had she gave me the look The One all mothers give their children when we’re being rude the look that says that’s enough young lady aren’t you glad now that you decided to help Harris out with his mom Leo asked

Me isn’t this great yes Leo it’s great but don’t volunteer me for this kind of thing again you could have gotten me into a lot of trouble but I didn’t what I got you was a great opportunity to do something really wonderful for some very nice people what’s wrong with that Leo said

Reasonably I didn’t bother to try to explain chapter 22 who is that man holding hands now with Billy Joe Kate asked us both changing the subject before the conversation could take a negative turn turn again I looked where she pointed with her chin and noticed the man I’d

Seen in the back of the room at Billy Joe’s parole hearing why that’s Johnny Johnny Tyson haven’t you met him before Leo answered as I shook my head he continued looks like you’ll get your chance then he and Billy Joe are headed this way today Johnny Tyson was dressed

Much like Harris was comfortably casually and expensively but as I noticed on the day of Billy Joe’s hearing he was average in every way average height ordinary build plain brown hair and unremarkable brown eyes the only thing extraordinary about Johnny Tyson was the Adoration Billy Joe

Showered on him for the entire world to see the Luminosity of their faces when they looked at each other was so bright that it seemed unnatural if Leo and Kate looked like a happy country music video Billy Joe and Johnny seemed like an advertisem*nt for a honeymoon getaway the obvious love

They shared made them both extraordinary in a way their features alone could not Billy Joe let go of Johnny Tyson’s hand to give me a long hard hug then she stepped back and took Johnny’s hand again as if letting go of him for more than a few seconds would make her lose

Him for another 30 Years thank you Willa I know I have you to thank for this I am so grateful you simply cannot imagine what it means to me to be out of that place I’ve been with Harris and my grandkids for a whole week now I just

Love them so much I can be with Johnny now too my life is looking up I just know it she beamed like a small child with a helium balloon holding happiness in her hand basking in the glow of it made me want to find my true love and

Float away too Johnny it’s nice to meet you Kate and I both said as we shook hands with this shy man he looked at me briefly and then looked away how do you know Billy Joe my curiosity just wouldn’t wait any longer Billy Joe herself answered my question

Why Johnny was one of the six Bills Johnny was our drummer a great one too I thought everybody knew that Johnny Tyson was the one who had found Trey steam dead along with Billy Joe I guess Walter had mentioned that to me several weeks before but I’d

Forgotten when I made the decision not to investigate Trey steam’s murder I had partitioned out everything related to his life too working under the tight time pressures we had I saw no reason to learn about the six Bills Johnny was so far the third member of the group I’d

Met after Walter Westfield and Billy Joe besides Trey steam I wondered who were the others what have you been doing with yourself since 1972 I asked asked Johnny he raised his gaze for a few brief seconds as he answered this and that I’ve been teaching at a local high school and

Visiting Billy Joe whenever I could now that she’s out we plan to get married Billy Joe looked at him with a loving expression and he returned the look with longing if Ursula Westfield herself had orchestrated the ending to this story she couldn’t have come up with anything

Better a long lost love a post-release wedding what next I was beginning to feel like a character in a fairy tale that is so romantic Kate said you two have stayed together all these years and you’re still in love how wonderful she held on to Leo’s arm now too unconsciously mirroring Billy Joe’s

Possessive pose with Johnny Johnny’s visited me every Saturday for 30 years and brought me flowers he wanted to marry me while I was in prison but I didn’t think that was fair I thought he might find a free woman someday Billy Joe beamed showing off an old-fashioned wrist corsage of pink sweetheart roses

Like the one she might have worn to her college graduation I’ve got me a free woman now and I plan to keep her Johnny replied patting her hand which lay now on his forearm he reached over and kissed her cheek while she continued to bask in the

Light of his obvious love I noticed the long jagged scar on his right forearm as he brushed away the hair from her face letting his hand linger there just to touch her I spent a short second or two after they wandered away wondering what had caused that Scar and I made a mental

Note to find out haris steam had brought his band to play for the crowd he and his musicians started up on the front parking lot after they played the first song Harris spoke into the microphone welcome everybody the crowd cheered and yelled back just as his audience of fans

Responded at every concert he performed today is a very special day for me as all of you know he waited a few beats for the crowd to cheer and clap my mother is here with me to see me perform for the first time ever he went on and

The crowd went wild this entire concert is for her I love you Mom the band began to play a quiet Love Song and Harris cwed out the lyrics like we’d never heard him sing before from his heart every word this next one is for a very special

Friend of mine she knows who she is haris said as the band went ahead and played Paradise living the song that had made me change my life that fateful snowy April so long ago Harris eyes met mine and we smiled over the heads of the crowd the band played a few more pieces

Making too much noise for anyone to have a conversation Leo and Kate seemed to enjoy the music as much as I did George joined us for the rest of the concert taking some time from his neck to spend a triumphant moment with his wife this

Was truly a special time for all of us and we reveled in it reveled in our success too soon Harris stood before the microphone and thanked the members of his group I have a treat for you all now he said as the band members disconnected their instruments and left the stage

Sensing the concert wasn’t over the crowd perked up again I have asked a special bunch of people to help me with your entertainment today Billy Joe Johnny Tyson and Walter Westfield walked to the front along with two others I couldn’t see Walter and the two men picked up the guitars that had

Been left on the stage as Johnny took a seat behind the drums and Billy Joe stood behind the keyboards ladies and gentlemen I give you the remaining members of Tampa’s best band of 1971 the original six bills the crowd went wild again the hooting Applause cheers and screaming were loud

Enough to wake the dead Ursula’s crew filmed every minute of the concert while Ursula walked closer to the stage to get her own microphone nearer to Harris with your permission Harris continued I will sing the crowd drowned him out until his next words could not be heard six bills

Began to play songs I often hear on the old e stations Bob Seager Mitch Ryder Janice Joplin and the Rolling Stones even a little Jimmy hendris and then a song that I’d never heard before as I watch you out of sight enveloped by the darkness of the night Harris cred I

Turned to Leo who was singing along with every word do you know this one it’s a tune his daddy wrote Leo explained it’s called Billy Joe a chill ran down my spine again as the mournful Love Song continued George held me closer while we listened to Harris husky Voice singing

Trey steam’s poetry after the third Trey Steam song Harris concluded his concert and told the crowd to enjoy the rest of the party I saw Billy Joe and Johnny join hands again and leave the stage together well good I thought it was time for some happiness in Billy Joe’s life

And in Johnny Tyson’s too Harris had gotten his wish his mother would be home near his children and live out the remainder of her days as a happily married woman I love happy endings George always wants the boy to get the girl Girl chapter 23 spending time with my journal the

Next morning I wandered through the mind field of my work on the Billy Joe steam matter thoughts and feelings came out on the fine linen paper while I wrote The Experience away preserving it for later appreciation the longer I live the less I recall about my life now I record as

Much as possible of the essence of it all I’d been journaling and keeping better track of my EXP experiences for the past few months I find it comforting to sit and have conversations with my inner guidance as Kate calls it I had filled several spiral bound notebooks by

Now a new one for each calendar quarter when I’d first started journaling I did it for a specific reason I was in a spot of trouble I couldn’t quite figure my way out of it without writing everything down and looking at the nuances now the Habit was as much a part

Of my day as my morning run and my evening cigar I found deep relaxation in pen paper and Solitude as I sat there still bathing in the glow of success in yesterday’s Victory party my pleasure flowed easily from my pen I wrote about Harris Billy Joe Johnny Ursula Walter and the rest I

Found myself smiling and congratulating myself on a job well done as much as I bristle at George’s teasing over what he calls my Mighty Mouse routine sometimes I have the ability to do what others can’t do for themselves Billy Joe’s case was one of those instances at first page after page of

Self- congratulation flowed forth describing my hard work clever investigation and perceptive analysis in hubris I wrote In detail of my persuasive Powers with Ben Hathaway the governor and the parole board I was still uncomfortable with the public appearance piece of this project that Ursula had brought to my plate since

I’ve never been a natural public speaker but without Ursula I wouldn’t have had the entire experience she gave me a chance to help Billy Joe to do what I was born to do Ursula was thus entitled to her self-interested bit of the result too and I had performed well in front of

An audience of millions I wrote In halting Praise which brought me to George’s observation about Trey steam’s real killer never having been brought to Justice I’d never told him about what I’d come to regard as the intimidation tactics employed against me once i’ considered whether they were actions

Taken by Trey steam’s real killer could that be true as my pen Flew Over the lines writing my thoughts I became more and more troubled who had killed Trey steam after all was said and done would he be a threat to me and others now when

We first found the new DNA evidence I asked Ben Hathaway to run a check in the state’s computer database to see if the DNA on Trey steam’s clothes and the murder weapon matched any known felons but it didn’t Ben ran the fingerprints found at the scene too with the same

Negative result as far as the state was concerned the police had no suspects and no leads the crime was old and no longer a top priority most of the evidence was long since contaminated lost or destroyed Ben said it was unlikely that Trey steam’s killer would ever be

Arrested and tried something about the situation wasn’t settling well with me or at least with my psyche the smug self- congratulation I’d been engaged in just a few minutes earlier felt tarnished now how could this be over with Trey steam’s real killer unexposed I wrote when I finally took a sip of my

Coffee it was Stone Cold I looked up at the clock in my study and saw that it was past noon Trey steam’s murder had been unsolved for more than 30 years I foolishly thought the solution could wait I closed the journal determined to return to my earlier Euphoria and enjoy

The gift of a quiet Sunday at least for today I was going to have some R and R I stood and stretched The Kinks out of my body the dogs and I took our time running around Plant key it was already over 85° out and humid enough to curl

Even my short hair only one lap today I I wouldn’t make it around twice I joged slowly the dogs way ahead of me I watched them run in and out of the water to cool off as we made our way around the island when we arrived back at the

House all three of us splashed into Hillsboro Bay and frolicked a while I don’t Frolic very often relaxing and enjoying the exercise and the company of my dogs I felt nearly Blissful I was grateful for a beautiful day the water George Harry and Beth are home home and

A successful conclusion to a job well done without conscious bition a sigh of contentment escaped my mouth physically exhausted I left the dogs to dry in their kennel and trudged upstairs for a shower and a nap it was after 5:00 when I woke up I found a note from George

Propped on my pillow along with a single red rose the note was written on his personal Ivory note card with his name engraved in Navy ink on the top George’s strong and distinctive script flowed across the page in Blue Fountain ink please allow me the pleasure of your

Company this evening I invite you to dine with me at 8:00 co*cktails at 7 All My Love George I smiled held the card to my nose smelled George’s Old Spice aftershave and kiss the paper how many women after 17 years of marriage got handwritten invitations to dine with their husbands I was

Blessed indeed I glanced over at the clock I had more than enough time to prepare for dinner in the way such an engagement required I drew a hot bath in Aunt Minnie’s claw-footed tub lit the candles put on my music and poured a glass of chardonnay I luxuriated there for an

Hour with a moisturizing mask on my face and joy in my heart I dressed leisurely choosing a simple ivory silk dress that George had bought me on our last trip to Palm Beach I slipped sexy Ivory sandals onto my bare bare feet I couldn’t do much with my short auburn hair which

Falls into the same style every day no matter what my makeup too was minimalist I added a deep purple red lipstick for drama then fastened ant Minnie’s diamond and Amber choker set in Platinum around my neck and clip the matching earrings onto my earlobes I rarely wear Aunt Minnie’s jewelry

Because most of it doesn’t go well with t-shirts but whenever I put on one of her pieces I am reminded that she must have been a flamboyant woman one who ignored public opinion as far as I knew Aunt Minnie was never married where all of her bobles came from was a mystery I

Plan to solve someday last I spritzed my signature scent on my wrists the one I have been wearing for years on very special occasions cardier I turned around to view myself in the full length mirror my eyes widened involuntarily at the person reflected there she was someone I hadn’t

Seen in a very long time she looked relaxed and happy like a woman who had a date with a handsome man at a Posh Restaurant the phone rang and I was tempted to ignore it instead I walked over to the instrument and saw the flashing light on the answering machine

I compromised I picked up the phone but not the messages hi Willa darling Kate said I just wanted to call and congratulate you and George on an excellent party yesterday I felt again the Warm Glow of Kate’s approval surround me I love you I told

Her she laughed I love you too she said I’ve got a hot date tonight can I call you tomorrow sure it’s nothing important just wanted to gossip about Billy Joe and Harris it can wait I signed off returned the phone to its cradle and resisted the urge to light a

Partagas I admire ired Aunt Minnie’s heren Zoo while I waited for George Aunt Minnie had been unconventionally wonderful I think she’d had a Hungarian admirer at one time he gave her the Whimsical horren porcelain figurines painted in the technically difficult fishnet pattern judging from how many she had the relationship must have

Lasted for a while Aunt Minnie gave all the animals names which she itemized in the inventory we received when George inherited the house to the extent that Aunt Minnie’s ghost or Spirit still lives with us she must be pleased that I admire her zoo and that George is adding to her collection

Whenever a particularly special opportunity arises he orders an unusual piece from Lucy Zarin in Beverly Hills Lucy is quite remarkable herself she and Aunt Minnie would have been great friends I picked up the pair of blue bunnies that were joined together sharing a quiet moment these two were

Willa and George according to Aunt Minnie’s inventory forever bonded quietly a pair she had said I considered renaming them Johnny and Billy Joe for the same reason the music continued to play softly in the background and I amused myself with my thoughts for the short 20 minutes before George rang the

Bell when I went to the door I saw my knight in shining armor standing there dressed in his tuxedo ready for our big date won’t you come in I said formally with a smile inviting him to enter his own home George resisted spoiling the mood he had created with his formal

Invitation by my pillow my dear you are beautiful he said as he kissed me would you care to dance we danced around the living room for a little while feeling like characters in a romance movie then we went downstairs to a spectacular dinner in one of his private dining

Rooms and returned to our flat to make love very late or very very early depending on your point of view we decided to have a night cap on the balcony George poured two small appara Dives and I put harest Steam CD on to play when we got settled in with the

Dogs at our feet I lit a cigar we talked of inconsequential things the restaurant a vacation we were planning in the winter to Pleasant Harbor Michigan it was late and the night was quiet downtown Tampa Skyline lit up beautifully in the distance then Sirens abruptly pierc the quiet we heard an

Ambulance leave Tampa General Hospital across the bay from where we sat looking toward Davis Islands another ambulance and two police cars soon followed the rescue helicopter started up its rotary blades further blasting the quiet night air all five vehicles headed in our Direction and continued on pass plant

Key toward Ballas point the noise was loud enough to Wake the Dead looks like another fatality I said said the helicopter is usually a sign of a serious injury and death sometimes occurs before the helicopter arrives maybe not they get there in time fairly often George reminded me

Unwilling to spoil our happy mood we could see the helicopter lighting up the sky not too far away the sirens and the noise from the helicopter blades continued in the distance more Sirens followed but they entered the Bayshore from another Direction and we couldn’t tell whether they were

Police vehicles or fire trucks maybe it was a fire or a different type of catastrophy the helicopter returned a short while later and landed we couldn’t see anyone rushing out to the pad to collect patience but we weren’t sitting at the right angle for a clear view

George asked me should I turn the television on to see if there’s any news I didn’t want to spoil the mood with voyerism I was afraid I’d see bodies on stretchers and I didn’t want to risk a return of my Billy Joe nightmare by the suggestion I shook my head no let’s wait

Until tomorrow they won’t know much tonight anyway we finished our night cap and went to bed we fell asleep without once mentioning Billy Joe steam or Johnny Tyson although their obvious love for each other at the victory party yesterday had joyfully influenced us both my sleep was the peaceful past of

Restful Time unencumbered by any knowledge of the future chapter 24 as it inevitably does the Monday Morning Sun followed Sunday’s Moonlight ending my idyllic respit someday I thought as my alarm’s ocean sounds began roaring at 6:00 I’m going to go to sleep when I’m tired and wake up when I’m ready

Someday but not today I pushed the off button on my alarm got my running clothes out of the dryer and met Harry and Bess in the kitchen they ate their breakfast and then we all went down the backstairs for our morning run before the sun came up the temperature was just

Bearable they started with a splash in the bay as I began my slow warm-up jog East in less than 2 minutes they caught up with me and ran so far ahead I could barely see them in the gloaming once I picked up the pace and made my way

Around the first curve I could see the downtown Tampa Skyline The Early Sunrise reflected off the copper First Union building coloring the morning Sky a pink lemonade Hue One Foot In Front of the other slogging it out my body protested the rich food and wine I’d consumed last

Night just as my mind returned with pleasure to the same event George and I so rarely spent time together alone the evening had been wonderful we promised each other more such evenings we’d agreed once again to a regular Sunday night date both of us tactfully refrained from mentioning that we’d made

This vow and broken it several times before but our marriage had of course recently ridden over a few bumps when George was wrongly accused of murder not many couples have to face a challenge like that and it hadn’t been easy for us either both of us had been making extra

Efforts to get back on track as quickly as possible and speaking of marriages my good angel said loudly over my pained and ragged attempts to breathe didn’t Kate and Leo look like young lovers at the party as soon as the thought crept into my head I tried to

Banish it I didn’t have enough oxygen going to my brain to think about Kate and Leo while I ran this 8mile Trek but I’d need to consider them soon and give myself a strong lecture Kate had found happiness she deserved great joy I needed to get out of the way not that

She was letting me obstruct her in any event I worried about Leo though I knew nothing about him what I did know I didn’t like my reaction was visceral he done nothing but behave well around me and make Kate Sparkle like a 16-year-old in the throws of first lust I put Leo on

My mental checklist as a person to bring up in my journal tonight unable to keep my thoughts on success love and pleasant evenings my oxygen starved mind turned of its own will back to the Madison vers cardiomed case trial would resume at 9:30 this morning we hadn’t gotten very

Far into the plaintiff’s case over the past month and they wanted another 3 weeks to finish up their proofs I saw no reason for the case to continue so long except that the Gladiators couldn’t resist fighting over every square inch of turf although I tried my efforts to

Tactfully limit the scope of their Shenanigans had met with little success today would be different I promised myself I’d get this trial going again and get it over with maybe these lawyers lived for the battle but I didn’t my job is to resolve legitimate disputes and get cases crossed off my docket making

Room for more legitimate claims two months with a single case that was frivolous at best and downright ridiculous at worst would put me seriously behind once home the dogs were rinsed off and I was breathing semi-norm again I made coffee and headed toward the shower I put on my wedding band and

Small gold knot earrings and left the bathroom less than 20 minutes later George says I’m fast for a girl Greta and I drove over our Bridge off plant key away from minet and turned right onto Bayshore heading downtown I reveled in the view thoughts of last night’s Sirens didn’t enter my head Hillsboro

Bay particularly along the Bayshore is truly beautiful the drive down Bayshore over the plat Street Bridge toward the convention center is one of my daily Pleasures I savored my last moment of solitude until the end of a very long and extremely contentious trial Day downtown Tampa once almost a ghost town

Is now bustling and busy the downtown consists primarily of new construction giving Tampa a young vibrant feel our newest hotel is the Marriott Waterside across the street from the Lightning’s new hockey arena hard to believe you’d find hockey fans in Florida but true Garrison Seaport shopping theater and dining District called Channelside had

Recently nestled along the Waterfront between the arena and the Florida aquarium and farther into the city’s Center buildings were being demolished and replaced today’s Tampa would be unrecognizable to Trey steam if he were suddenly resurrected my building though the old federal courthouse is Circa 1920 in 1920

The Middle District of Florida was a much smaller place than it is now the building is old decrepit and much too small for the district’s current needs the CJ hasn’t seen fit to move me to the new federal building yet I’ve been hounding him to let me move over with

The other judges but after our recent fight I doubted he’d be thinking kindly of me for a while I was probably stuck here until the next millennium as the most Junior judge on the bench in terms of seniority age and the CJ’s affection I have the least

Desirable location it’s the rank has its privileges rule I have no Rank and no privileges my courtroom and Chambers are on the third floor in the back getting there from the parking garage helps me keep my school girl figure I pulled into my Reserve spot in the near empty garage

And parked Greta across two parking places I’ve always parked like this and building security has given up attempting to change my ways there’s really plenty of room since everyone but my staff and me moved to the new building months ago if I could move to the new building I’d have a better

Parking spot too with difficulty I managed to keep the wistfulness out of my thinking I had only about an hour to prepare before the Madison trial resumed I picked up my briefcase and walked quickly from the garage to the building’s entrance skipping the creaky old elevator I bounced up the three

Flights of stairs to my office I was pleasantly surprised to see Augustus at his desk a few minutes before 8:00 good morning Augustus I said cheerfully as I barreled on through the reception room he tried to say something to stop me but I was moving quickly and

Didn’t pay attention when I pushed open the door to my hideously decorated Chambers I realized what Augustus had said Ursula Westfield is here to see you Ursula had her back to the door waiting for me she’d taken a seat in one of the ugly green client chairs that face my

Desk she sat quietly not reading or checking her Palm Pilot or doing any of the other fidgety things she normally did whenever she had to wait Ursula wasn’t used to waiting and patience was not her strong suit now she was silently and calmly just sitting there I was

Startled to see her but I greeted her cheerfully you haven’t heard then was the first thing out of her mouth before I could set down my briefcase or turn around to look at her I did so now heard what I sat in the other ugly green

Client chair next to her on her right the little Napoleon who had reigned in this office before me had elevated the desk on a platform I never sat there when I had a welcome visitor at 5T 11 in tall I didn’t need the extra height to Tower over most people Ursula clasped

Her hands together together tightly and brought them up to her bowed head she was trying to gain her composure blinking furiously to keep the tears from spilling over the bottom Lids of her already red and swollen almond-shaped eyes she got up and made her way to the

Television in my office she tuned in to the local all News Channel at first I saw pictures of a house with several police and other emergency vehicles out front obviously taken during the night the next few shots were too graphic a full body bag being hauled out on a

Gurnie appeared on the screen giving me a sense of flashback Ursula had muted the sound I knew what was in the body bag before Ursula said Billy Joe steams been murdered what oh my God I had put the woman back on the street she’d lived peacefully in prison for more than 30

Years she’d been out for less than 2 weeks and she was dead how could I have been so so stupid I should have seen this coming I chastised myself inwardly I knew the real killer was out there at least I could have called Billy Joe warned her I sat there writing in my

Stupid Journal getting all caught up in my life while someone had killed Billy Joe too how could I have let this happen it gets worse Ursula continued barely suppressing a sob how could it be worse I finally worked up the courage to ask but I didn’t really want to know I most

Emphatically didn’t want to know she moved away from the television set so that I could see the rest of the picture a man was seated in the back of a police car then the camera replayed an earlier scene a man in handcuffs head down was walked out to the police car and guided

Into the back seat a man I recognized Harris has been arrested and charged with killing her Ursula finished in a near whisper whisper and now the tears did spill over and run down her smooth Brown cheeks her lovely face with the high cheekbones and beautiful complexion was contorted with grief

Tears streaked her makeup but she made no effort to wipe them away this is my fault Willa she hiccuped I should never have done this Walter warned me but I wouldn’t listen if it wasn’t for me Billy Joe would still be safe in prison Harris would be with his girls this is

Just not right it’s not right it’s not right she repeated over and over I stared at the picture on the television set I grabbed the remote and turned on the sound the voice over was repeating the information Ursula had just given me I had no idea

What to say I didn’t feel any better that Ursula was blaming herself for what was clearly my fault I couldn’t see the irony in both of us taking full responsibility for the deliberately ruthless Act of another nor did I dwell on the obvious that Billy Joe should

Never have been in prison in the first place and that it was a minor miracle she hadn’t been killed there none of it mattered anyway Billy Joe was dead Harris in jail all the smug satisfaction I’d felt at serving Justice by getting Billy Joe released evaporated like ether

I remembered something Ben Hathaway said to me once aware of success and happiness he’ said you let your guard down when you’re successful and happy you feel calm Serene then the bullet slams into your heart and pierces you letting your life leak out with your blood the bullet is both a blessing and

A curse the blessing is that your last minutes hours days were happy ones the curse is that you’re still dead I shook my head to clear the thoughts maybe make it possible to function why did they arrest Harris that’s got to be a mistake he loved

Billy Joe he’d never have killed her I paused my mind was reeling what’s the explanation for that I finally asked when I had gained sufficient composure to speak again I couldn’t drag my gaze from the pictures on the set I might as well have been right there last night when it all

Happened Ursula was shaking her head back and forth before I finished that’s the worst part Willa the very worst part it’s not a mistake it has to be a mistake there’s just no way Harris killed Billy Joe I know people I know him I’m sure I insisted

Ursula kept shaking her head I thought so too but it’s true he confessed at first I couldn’t process what she said Harris confessed to what to loving his mother to spending most of his adult life devoted to getting her out of prison to investing large amounts of

Money in her appeals and her clemency hearings to singing love songs to her in front of half the population of Tampa hell just the cost of the victory party had been staggering why would he bring that much attention to himself and to her only to kill her once she was

Free it made no sense I don’t believe it no not possible I tried not to think about the notes someone had left me Billy Joe belongs in prison leave her there the first one had said why hadn’t I listened I didn’t want to believe it either Ursula responded

But it’s true they called me from The Newsroom they heard the news on the police scanner a reporter from the network is over at the police station now it’s all true Ursula continued to cry while I sat there stunned I listened to the news story as it ran again

Repeating everything Ursula had said but it had to be a mistake it couldn’t be true before I knew it I’d made up my mind haris steam did not kill his mother I did not get Billy Joe steam out of prison at her son’s request just so he

Could kill her I wouldn’t believe it ever I would find Trey steam’s killer whoever he was he must have killed Billy Joe too it had to be the same killer otherwise none of it made any sense Harris did not kill his mother and I would prove it otherwise I might go crazy chapter

25 after Ursula left I picked up the phone and called Ben Hathaway his secretary said he wasn’t available I left my name and number I had a courtroom full of L ANS and jurors waiting I could do nothing but return to work life goes on even when we think the

Earth can’t possibly continue to rotate on its axis because of the gravest devastation Marilyn Madison sat in my courtroom with her lawyer Gladiators in search of Vengeance not truth or Justice she had filed a criminal complaint over her husband’s death but the prosecutor had refused to pursue it now she was

Looking to the Civil courts to extract her pound of FL unfortunately anyone with the filing fee and a typewriter can sue almost anyone else in this country during the pre-trial proceedings my clerks had been calling Madison’s lawyers Frick and Frack because we never saw one without the other their real identities were

Much more intimidating LED Council was Sydney Leman leman’s co-counsel was David Royal regardless of what you called them their firm was at the apex of the handful of lawyers in in Florida who represented survivors in egregious wrongful death cases these suits were ones where the stakes were highest verdicts reached

Multiple millions of dollars and trials turned into public spectacles the kind of cases that made me squirm when other lawyers filed them back when I was in private practice now such cases make me angry because they needlessly consume so much of our judicial time and energy that legitimate litigants get far less

Of our resources than they deserve Phil Sloat on the other hand represented cardio medical Corporation and the corporate officers sued individually Philip SLO believed that all plaintiffs were fraud seeking a way to milk the system surely somewhere between the two extreme positions of these ego-driven lawyers there should be room to

Compromise I once thought after years of exposure to this type of conflict I now realize there is nothing for a hardworking judge to do but bear it all three lawyers were colleagues at the bar but all were warriors with the three of them sitting in my courtroom there was

So much testosterone in the air that I was afraid to breathe I patted my head to be sure my hairline wasn’t receding Marilyn Madison for her part was a NIC looking woman about 60 years old her husband of 35 years had died 6 days after surgery to implant an

Artificial heart cardiomed argued that the death was caused by the doctor’s negligence poor patient select and several other excuses in short the company raised anything and everything as a defense except placing blame on a problem with the device itself unfortunately for cardio medical the doctor was small potatoes in the

Suit his insurance company had already paid a million dollars to settle the case against him Leman and Royal argued that the artificial heart was defectively designed and rushed to Market they said that with a better design Mr Madison would be alive today the lawyers wanted cardio medal and its

Officers to pay multiple millions of dollars in Damages Marilyn Madison said cardio medal had killed her husband intentionally she wanted Revenge truly this was a run-of-the-mill death case if the death of a human being can ever be considered thus the case would not have involved any of these

Lawyers meaning I could have settled it for the one million already paid and marked it off my docket but for one thing the deceased Stanley Madison was the creator of the cartoon comic strip Corgi the strip featured an intelligent bright green Welsh Corgi with an active Fantasy Life corgi’s Creator Stanley

Madison had been a very very wealthy man with the ability to create even more wealth in the future as far as Leman and Royal were concerned wealthy men don’t die due to physician error during during emergency surgery on vacation in the Florida Sunshine no matter what they intended to

Prove that someone must be at fault preferably a large corporate defendant with a very deep pocket whenever she’d had a chance to speak Marilyn Madison had shown me she was a whiny poor me type her motives were no doubt complex and her solution lay in intense Psychotherapy this trial would never

Satisfy her I was sure no matter what the outcome Madison versus cardio medal Corporation my courtroom Deputy called the case as I walked in covered with the black judicial robe from crewneck to loafers I looked out over my domain to see all the litigants in place Sid Leman

And David Royal were at the plaintiff’s table the table closest to the jury box with Marilyn Madison seated between them Philip SLO and his Bey of female assistants sat at the defense table with cardio medals corporate officer defendants the company’s insurance adjuster sat behind the bar in the gallery from

Whence he pulled the strings on his marionet like a master Puppeteer unless you knew what to look for you couldn’t see him working the cords ladies and gentlemen we have been at this trial for 3 weeks I have only two more weeks that I can a lot to your

Case other litigants are waiting for their day in court I ignored the collective gasps from all concerned we are going to have to shorten this trial Mr lhan how many more witnesses do you have to put up Sid stood adjusted himself and folded his hands holding

Them low in front judge I must protest he began somberly save it Mr Leman you have been wasting your time and the courts I’ve been more than lenient with you how many more witnesses do you have and who are they I barely curbed the sharpness I was

Want to deliver they had been taking too long with the their case but much of my discomfort had nothing to do with the way the lawyers had conducted themselves I chafed under the heavy collar of responsibility for Billy Joe’s death and Harris steam’s arrest not the Yoke of

The trial before Leman could answer my question SLO piped in judge I appreciate the Court’s interest in getting the plaintiff to finish her proofs but we have a lengthy defense to offer ourselves we can’t possibly put our defense case on in 2 weeks let alone finished the entire trial in that time

How did I know he was going to say that these lawyers and their clients would stay in this courtroom forever if I allowed them to do so the sparring was what they all lived for and it didn’t hurt that they were speaking at the request of their clients and got paid

For it too all of you know that even after the trial this case will never be over appeals will follow for years now that I’d started my lecture I couldn’t seem to stop myself from continuing you lawyers and your clients are more interested in fighting with each other

Than you are in resolving your disputes no matter how the jury decides a verdict will not bring Mr Madison back to life I had started to wind down but I took one more deep breath and finished the legal fees paid in this case will not only send the lawyer children to college they

Will pay for their early retirement and Mr Madison will still be deceased all of them had the grace to look chagrined except the adjuster he looked horrified of course he was footing the bill for cardio medals legal fees and costs like many adjusters before him he probably

Hoped to save some money off his duty to pay a judgment and costs of Defense he must have just realized that the Widow’s claim would melt through layers and layers of money until now he probably thought the $1 million already paid by the surgeon would be enough as far as

The jury was concerned he wasn’t the first adjuster who hadn’t properly calculated Leman and Royals tenacity David Royal took a turn now judge Mrs Madison is truly bereft she and Stanley were married for over 35 years it is completely untrue that she is just here for the argument what Mrs

Madison is entitled to is a judgment against this defendant for killing her husband his tone was just as piously sanctimonious as that of a crooked preacher at a Revival meeting this was more than cardom medals officers could accept that’s outrageous the president blurted out our product didn’t kill Mr

Madison artificial Hearts don’t kill people we save lives the adjuster nodded in firm agreement as all the others began to talk at once raising their voices ever louder in an attempt to drown out the opposition an onlooker would be hardpressed to tell the difference between my courtroom and a

Bad cable television talk show I held up my hand in the stop position and pounded my gavel no one saw listened or heard when I couldn’t get them to pipe down I just got up from the bench and left the room I could still hear them shouting when I reached my

Chambers Augustus please bring me some of your fabulous coffee and the calendar we need to make some progress I spoke into the intercom as I returned to sit at my desk Augustus brought the coffee along with a sheath of pink telephone message slips a stack of yellow printed

Email messages and the calendar chief judge Richardson has called four times Augustus told me as if I hadn’t seen the message slips for myself I tossed all but the last one in the trash most of the other telephone calls were from various members of the local media which

I threw away also they were looking for comments about Billy Joe and haris steam no doubt and I hadn’t any wisdom to offer them I found no message slip from Ben Hathaway I picked up the phone and placed another call to his office the secretary again told me Ben was

Unavailable I left a second message realizing that he probably treated his pink message slips the same way I did I wasn’t a priority for Ben Hathaway right now he’d call me back when he could I really think HEK come over here to see you if you don’t call him back Augustus

Said who judge Richardson he sounded quite upset the fourth time he called great the CJ was the last thing I needed really he has no power over my life but he doesn’t believe that he thinks that his title chief judge means he’s the boss this is his fantasy one in which my

Colleagues and I refuse to indulge him I am a United States district court judge no one can tell me what to do chief judge Osgood Livingston Richardson oz to his friends who don’t include me is 65 years old going on 95 actually I think the CJ was born old

If he ever laughs it’s politely he’s well-connected and fairly well preserved but he is one major pain in the backside CJ and I play this little game he calls me I ignore him Augustus was simply too new to know the rules after we went over the calendar I thought I might be safe

In returning to my courtroom at least I couldn’t hear any more shouting on the other side of the door I buzzed my deputy and requested that she join me in my Chambers what’s the climate in there I asked her they’re all seated again contemplating the Universe I guess she

Smiled at me I looked down at my watch I’d been in my Chambers for an hour I nodded sending her back to the courtroom I picked up the phone and called Ben hathway again same result chapter 26 I slipped on my robe pushed the buzzer to let the court security officer

Know I was on my way in and heard him say all rise the United States district court for the Middle District of Florida Tampa division is now in session The Honorable will helm Mina Carson presiding once we were all seated I said letun try this again we are going to

Finish this trial in two more weeks that’s 2 weeks longer than we reserved on my calendar based on what you told me you’d need when we set this case for trial Mr Leman how many witnesses do you have left a subdued Sid Leman stood and said quite respectfully I believe we can

Conclude our proofs with two witnesses your honor good Mr SLO that will give you 8 days to put on your case we’ll have closings and instruct the jury on day 10 please bring the jury in the jury filed in slowly they’d been waiting listening to the lawyers shouting for

The last hour I ignored their inquisitive looks Mr Leman you may call your next witness plaintiff calls Marilyn Madison your honor the bereaved Widow was sworn in and took the stand at the noon recess the lawyers informed me that after the plaintiff’s last witness a criminal psychology expert both the

Plaintiff and the defendants would be presenting motions for directed verdict this is a formal motion that asks the judge to Grant judgment in favor of one of the parties on the basis of the evidence already submitted such motions are rarely granted and the few times I granted one

I had to hold my breath until the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals gave me its seal of approval usually granting a motion for directed verdict is a sure way to get reversed and Boomerang a case right back into my courtroom for trial all over again a result that drives CJ

Crazy because he has to fit the cost of another trial into the budget while my calendar would have been quickly cleared if I simply granted one of the Motions I didn’t want the appell at court sending this case back to me or any other judge again it was bad enough that the case

Had consumed the Court’s time in the first instance Augustus had laid out my noon repast pcan tuna salad with dried cherries and a fruit cup he obviously felt I needed a change before I sat down to eat and read the day’s mail I picked up the phone and

Called Ben Hathaway yet again I’m sorry Chief Hathaway is not available his secretary told me one more time thinking I might get lucky twice in a row I dialed the CJ’s extension unfortunately he was eating lunch in his Chambers too good afternoon CJ what can I do for you

I asked him knowing his earlier calls were not social you can start thinking before you jump into a mess that you can’t get yourself out of that’s what you can do for all of us he said snapping it out as if he had the right to give me orders allowing me no

Opportunity to retort he continued to censure me a blind man could have seen this Billy Joe steam situation was going to be a nightmare before you got into it what’s wrong with you Willa you’re a judge for God’s sake when are you going to start acting like one you know o

You’re the chief judge you’re not God and you don’t seem to mind my meddling so much when I’m helping you out I snapped right back at him one can only hold on to judicial temperament for so long then something’s got to blow from the time Ursula had delivered her

Message through the outrageous behavior of the lawyers in my courtroom the pressure had been building now wasn’t the time for the CJ to mess with me we both took a couple of seconds to breathe and consider I didn’t need the justice department slamming down my neck he

Didn’t need me as an enemy nor would it help him out if I made a fool of myself this was still his division to manage and I was still part of it whether he liked it or not CJ was the first to break the silence all right Willa I hope

You’ve learned your lesson with any luck we’ve heard the end of this but Prescott Roberts called me this morning he’s blaming you for what’s happening to Harris steam don’t be surprised if the justice department takes an unhealthy interest in you leave the detecting to the detectives and get back to your own

Job you’ve got a big bottleneck in your courtroom right now turn your attention to that before I could formulate and deliver a suitable retort he’d hung up on me again by the end of the noon recess I was bone weary and depressed I had to return to the Madison trial but I

Was completely uninterested in the case before me I’d rather listen to a senate filibuster then go back in there Augustus I’ve heard some of those Senators judge believe me the Sid David and Phil show is much better more fireworks he grinned and I felt a little cheered and this wasn’t the first time

He had mentioned some experience I wouldn’t have expected the son of Jamaican missionaries to have Augustus how did you come to work for me I’d never asked him how he’d appeared in my Chambers afraid the answer might have been that he’d be leaving soon Augustus

Was a true gift to my office life and I wanted him to work here forever although I understood that he was much too talented for that Leo told me about the job he replied unconcerned Leo Columbo yes he said you needed a good assistant and he knew I was looking for

Something worthwhile to do until I finished my degree now I was sorry I had asked if there was one thing I didn’t want it was a Leo Columbo spy in my office nor did I want to be either indebted or grateful to Leo Columbo how long do you think that will

Take to finish your degree I asked with trepidation should I get rid of Augustus now before I became even more attached to him forever at the rate I’m going I have to earn money to finish school unless you want to adopt me why would I do that I was thinking that being a

Child was a problem but being a parent had to be worse not all families are as messed up as Harris and Billy Joe steam you know what that family has been a mess for years it’s no secret that Harris was a handful his grandparents struggled with him for a long time he

Told me how do you know about that I felt a little like I’d fallen through Alice’s Looking Glass and landed in a totally different world it’s no secret everybody knows knows what didn’t Prescot Roberts tell you when he was here that man try steam was a wild one and his son is a

Chip off the old block this isn’t the first time Harris has been in jail you know at that he smiled on his way out to answer the door to our Chambers leaving me completely astonished before I went back into the courtroom I tried Ben hathway again this

Time I got lucky Ben was finally in his office and the secretary put me straight through Ben sounded tired and despondent when he picked up the phone hello Willa no doubt you’ve heard he had been avoiding me Ben hates to gloat over me almost as much as he hates my doing his

Job even when he’s telling me to keep out of his business he secretly hopes I’m right yes I concurred solemnly what happened not much I can tell you that wasn’t in the news all day that damn Tampa news2 gets to the scene almost as fast as we do and the other stations are

Not far behind I’d ban police scanners if I could I’ve already had three calls from Ursula Westfield today too his tone snapped like a rubber band I’ve talked to Ursula but I’d like to find out the facts from you I told him I could hear his smile over the

Telephone what you think the media maybe Slants things just a little I said nothing I had heard Ben and his colleagues enjoy many a conversation about the commercial nature of the media and the way they report the news Ben’s View is that the medium must sell their

Stories and they make the details as salacious as possible in order to do that what I’ve noticed about these conversations is that people who think ethical journalist is an oxymoron haven’t met very many honest lawyers either they often tell me that doctors are just out to make money all cops are

Crooks and stock Brokers do nothing but churn accounts for fees that is some folks just distrust everyone for reasons that have more to do with the opinion holders than any real misdeeds of the actors arguing the point at the moment wouldn’t get me the information I required however another

Sigh then Ben relented we were called by a neighbor very late last night the neighbor could hear Harris steam screaming inside his house at first they didn’t think much of it when he and Eva were still married Harris screaming was a regular thing since the divorce I

Guess he’s had no one to scream at he stopped stopped for a few seconds anyway this time the screaming kept on for quite a while the neighbor went over to the house and found Harris holding Billy Joe on his lap Keening by the time we got there Billy Joe was long

Past dead his voice was resigned and sad Ben was as upset by Billy Joe’s death and Harris arrest for her murder as I was he had gone out on a limb for them both too he had told the parole board Billy Joe should be released enough

Guilt existed to go around on this one although Ben would never admit those feelings to me how did she die I asked she had two bullet holes in her head death was probably close to instantaneous he answered me she didn’t suffer I shuddered thinking of Billy Joe

Lying there on the floor dead being held by Harris as he cried in grief why did you arrest Harris the gun was right next to him on the floor it was his his gun The Gunshot residue tests on his hands were positive he’d fired the gun no

Question about that Ben paused for a moment in the telling as if to decide whether or not to continue he’s got a History of Violence you know and he did confess Willa he was crying when we got there saying over and over I’m sorry Mom I’m sorry Mom that’s hardly a confession

Is it I was still holding to some hope that this was all a horrible mistake and then he said I didn’t mean to I loved her I didn’t mean to do it I dropped my head and closed my eyes hearing the facts from Ben Hathaway was devastating

I realized I’d been hoping that the media was exaggerating the story just for its Commercial Appeal but Harris truly had confessed to killing his mother why had this happened why Ben responded making me realize I must have spoken my thought aloud again hell Willa I don’t know why anything happens Harris

Has a lawyer so I haven’t been able to ask him benstone was pure disgust we both knew that people confess to crimes they didn’t commit with alarming frequency their reasons were varied and complex some confessed to lesser crimes because they were afraid a jury would find them guilty of more serious

Offenses in the past professions were coerced more than Ben Hathaway would admit but none of that made any sense in Harris case what possible reason could Harris have to kill his mother Ben continued in the same state of bewilderment as I resided he worked so

Hard to get Billy Joe out of prison and he knew she was dying of cancer anyway why kill her why ruin his life he stopped again sighed and then finished his thought some people just live out a Greek tragedy over and over and over I can’t explain it you see that type of

Thing every day just like I do can you explain it of course I couldn’t honestly I didn’t expect Harris to provide any reasonable justification either the whole thing made absolutely no sense my own involvement in the matter still weighed heavily on my mind in no small

Way I had helped to make this possible Billy Joe would have died a natural death in prison but not for a while yet and if she had died there at least her son would have been able to continue the rest of his life in peace now Billy Joe

Was dead and Harris world was shattered the ripple effect to his children his grandparents and everyone affected would be catastrophic not to mention how Prescott Roberts viewed the situation maybe he’d wanted Billy Joe Left Behind Bars to keep her alive maybe I really should be polishing up my

Resume Ben and I commiserated a while longer over human frailties and the multitude of things people can do to mess up their lives before we hung up and I put my head down on my desk chapter 27 Sid Leman called his last witness an expert in criminal psychology what the man could possibly

Offer in this Civil Trial was a puzzle even to me after the psychologist had testified to his qualifications however Sid got right to the point doctor tell me how many violent criminals have you treated in your practice SLO didn’t object to relevance which told me that

He knew what was coming even if I didn’t I’ve interviewed or treated over 1,500 different murderers serial killers and other violent criminals over my 30 years as a forensic psychologist the expert answered I’ve written several books and numerous articles on the subject Sid straightened his tie and fastened his

Coat he walked away from the podium and approached the witness I allow the lawyers to leave the podium although most federal judges require them to stay put the defendants in this case include two corporate officers have you ever examined corporate officers accused of actions that included criminal intent to harm

Consumers yes sir still nothing from Sloat curious have you interviewed these two cardio medal Executives at the table on my right was Sid’s next question no sir I wasn’t allowed to do so but I have read their depositions and reviewed the documents they’ve written in connection with Mr Madison’s death What followed

Was a recitation of all of the documents the expert had reviewed prior to coming to testify a couple of the jurors were nodding off during the dry testimony the law required Ires as Foundation before opinions can be offered unlike cable television courtrooms real courtrooms require some demonstrated expertise

Before Witnesses spout off next Sid ask the important question the one he’d been building up to based on your education training and experience and based on the information that’s been provided to you what if any opinions have you reached about these men sir I looked over at

Sloat but still he did not object perhaps he was just a leap at the switch or maybe he’d made the Tactical decision not to underline this witness’s testimony by objecting sometimes the jury was just bored and not paying any attention at all given that plaintiff’s quasi criminal claims of willful wanting and

Gross negligence had survived sloat’s earlier efforts to get them stricken perhaps he was hoping the jury would doze through this expert’s testimony the strategy was already successful with two of the jurors I dropped dropped a heavy book on the floor to jerk them awake and Sloat flash me an annoyed glance the

Witness cleared his throat well as I mentioned earlier my research has conclusively shown that two of three factors are always present in Killers mental illness neurological damage and some kind of childhood abuse in each of these two corporate officers all three elements are present and what does that

Mean what this means is that humans who have two of these three factors present in their background can’t control their violent impulses as well as they should they express violence under stress or at times of jealousy or anger such as here he finished this seemed pretty

Far-fetched to me so a person with a head injury was in effect a loose cannon firing at will in all directions when under stress surely Sloat wouldn’t let that pass I thought but he did would people who lived or worked around such a person have any warning that violence

Might be coming later Sid asked maybe the expert said the person might have tried to manipulate events to serve their purposes sometimes they will exhibit smaller violent acts that their friends or family believe are just incidents of bad temper but when a bigger stress event happens the violence can escalate

Without warning Sid looked over at the jury when he asked the next question what you’re saying is that based on the evidence you reviewed you came to the conclusion that these two corporate officers deliberately made decisions that they knew would kill patients like Stanley Madison now finally Sloat jumped to his

Feet objection your honor move for an immediate mistrial I dismissed the jury and took arguments on sloat’s motion the idea that criminal charges could be brought against corporate officers was not new presidents and CEOs have gone to jail in Florida and in other states states around the country either for direct

Acts they have committed or for failure to properly supervise their subordinates nor was it unique for plaintiffs to claim that corporate officers were guilty of conduct amounting to manslaughter giving rise to claims for punitive damages Sloat had to have known that argument was coming in this trial the only thing unique in this

Experts testimony was how lhan and Royal were attempting to prove that the actions of the defendants approached criminal conduct behavioral psychology generally isn’t admissible in civil trials to prove Behavior consistent with certain character traits in this argument though Sid Leman wanted the expert to base his opinion on the scientific studies

Coupled with acts and omissions that had already been admitted by these two officers the idea was clever I hadn’t faced it before and very few things remain that I haven’t seen tried in my courtroom arguments on on the motion continued for the next 30 minutes as

Much as a mistrial might be the best solution to this dilemma I certainly didn’t want to start this trial over we were almost finished I wailed internally I decided to strike the witness’s testimony and instructed the jury to disregard it Sid demanded an opportunity to make an offer of proof by putting on

The rest of the testimony outside the presence of the jury I allowed him to do so which meant I had to listen to the expert testify about his work with serial killers the expert retook the stand and testified to administering neuropsychological tests of cortical function and motor and sensory function

On known serial killers such tests had not been performed on these defendants so I felt a little better about my ruling the other point was more troubling to me the expert said that since morality and ethics are also expressed through the brain if something is wrong with the brain

There could very well be a correlating fault in the person’s expression of morality and ethics this was of course the backbone of his opinion that the two cardiomed officers acted criminally in failing to prevent Stanley Madison’s death the implications were staggering this expert was saying that science had proved a connection between

Immoral or unethical behavior and brain injury he wanted us to believe that where a brain injury has occurred stress could trigger criminal conduct there are so many brain injuries in this country every year that almost anyone could be a walking time bomb using this analysis for example football players

Often get several concussions every season anything that caused the brain to move around inside the skull could cause a brain injury that might in effect create a murderer by the time he was done with this mumbo jumbo I had a headache AK a recess was called for I

For one needed a break when we reconvened David Royal took up the argument for a directed verdict in favor of his client Marilyn Madison he opened with the standard language requesting judgment based on the evidence so far presented then he warmed up to his cause I thought Leman and Royal would have

Come up with a better argument in short they argued that people were not necessary to the operation of sophisticated machinery and should not be depended upon that machines were better than people it was a tough sell most people who worked for a living such as our jurors would find little comfort

In that position even if such statements were supported by the evidence which so far they had not been thank you Mr Royal I said I’ll take your motion under advisem*nt Mr SLO would you please present your motion now chapter 28 SLO took the podium he too began with the required language requesting

Judgment in his client’s favor sloat’s argument let me down too and would be equally unpopular with a jury of hardworking people Sloat was essentially saying that well-trained experienced people even in jobs where the stakes were high were not infallable while there is no question that humans make mistakes most potential

Patients such as our jury would not want to believe that doctors who worked in our local hospitals made fatal errors all patients want to believe that doctors are perfect and every surgical result exceeds expectations I hadn’t had an opportunity to review the legal memoranda that had been submitted on both sides of these

Motions as much as I’d have liked to end this case here and now I wanted to make the right decision too not only because my job was to decide matters like this in accord with the law but also because I wanted this case to be off my calendar

Forever once it was over I felt that the jury would be dissatisfied with both positions how they would decide the case remained a mystery Mr SLO I’ll take your client motion under advisem*nt as well letun bring the jury back in plaintiff can rest her case formally and you can present your first

Witness after that the trial droned on until the end of the day I stopped at Publix on bruan and plat to pick up all the late editions of the local newspapers on my way home we don’t have afternoon papers in Tampa but some of the morning editions are printed later

Than others my media friends tell me that the newspapers print yesterday’s news if you want current information they insist you need to watch television where everything is breaking and up to the minute depending on which news teasers you watch I prefer to get my news from the papers

The stories are longer and they contain more information names are usually spelled right and I can keep the pages if I want to even the online versions of the newspapers are more helpful to me than television news is I guess I don’t feel the need to be up to the minute

What I’d rather have is complete information in a hard copy when I got home I went up the backstairs and let the dogs out then I took the papers onto The Veranda joined by a pair of scissors and a Bombay Sapphire and tonic with a

Twist of lemon I lit up my partagas the first of the day I had started smoking cigars long before it was fashionable to do so but I had no interest in seeing my picture with the stoy in my mouth and I assumed most of my friends and

Colleagues didn’t either I smoke only in the privacy of my home and I’m going to stop smoking altogether someday today was not the day Billy Joe’s murder and Harris arrest had made the late additions of both the St Pete Times And The Tampa Tribune most of the information I’d gotten from Ben Hathaway

Was repeated so there were no secrets at this point between the police and the press in a high-profile murder like this one the police rarely Keep information from the public while keeping information back might give the police some useful element of surprise doing so would inevitably result in suggestions

Of a coverup that they simply didn’t want to incur in this situation they had no need for surprises the case was closed the second they opened it still I did get the name of the neighbor who had discovered Billy Joe and Harris together in their last Embrace on the living room

Floor of Harris home I’d seen the woman on television Clips earlier in the day I didn’t recognize her name and didn’t know her I also got the timing details from the papers of course the readers were given the inevitable rehash of the entire Billy Joe steam story or as much of it

As the paper could dig out of archives on such short notice I clipped all of the relevant articles from both papers mostly they reprinted the news of Billy Joe’s parole hearing and the new DNA evidence that had freed her Trey steam’s murder was given very little coverage but would likely fill the

Papers for the next several days until a new story came along to Bounce It Off the front page interviews with Harris other neighbors were printed but again these were short and few and mostly irrelevant these people knew nothing about Harris and even less about Billy Joe the interviews were printed in order

To fill space nothing more I looked at them just to get as clear a picture as possible of the murder and arrest scene at length I placed all the articles in a file envelope and set them on my desk near my journal then I returned to the

Bar for a refill on my Sapphire and picked up another cigar when I returned to the living room the telephone began to ring I let the machine pick up the call Willa dear please call me when you get home I know you’re upset and blaming yourself let’s talk about it it was Kate

I was in no mood to hear her tell me Billy Joe’s death was not my fault the fact was Billy Joe would be alive today if it weren’t for me I wasn’t happy about that but I wouldn’t deny it either to Kate or to myself as had been said in my courtroom

Today since I’d had control over getting Billy Joe out of prison and putting her In Harm’s Way I should take responsibility for her death if I hadn’t bent the rules she’d still be alive standing over the machine I noticed I had several other messages I pushed the

Play button and listen to them Ursula other reporter ERS the message I just heard from Kate and one more I’d never have expected Willa Leo Columbo here I’d like to come by and see you I need to talk to you it’s about 5:00 now I’ll be

At the Sunset Bar at 7 I made a note on my calendar of the date time and location of Billy Joe’s funeral which Ursula had left on my answering machine then I looked at my watch it was 7:15 now Leo was probably downstairs waiting for me it was the first time he’d ever

Called me or tried to see me without Kate it would be unacceptably rude not to go meet him reluctantly I put down the cigar and poured the Gin in the sink I walked slowly down the stairs watching the guests looking again at Aunt Minnie’s Tastefully decorated 19th century foyer when Aunt Minnie lived

Here these were her secretaries break fronts and sideboards even the small Butler’s table between the upholstered Camel Back Sofas in the center were Aunt Minnie’s pieces the soft blue Flur Del wallpaper had been restored to match its former gilded Excellence would Aunt Min be pleased to have her beautiful things

Returned to usefulness or horrified that strangers came into her home for lunch and dinner 7 days a week I walked through the lobby and into the Sunset Bar it took me about a nanc to find Leo Columbo waiting in my favorite booth he was staring straight at the door and saw me

Immediately I stopped by the bar to order the second Bombay Sapphire I hadn’t drunk upstairs Leo got up when I arrived at his table greeting me with the thousand watt smile that if possible made his face even more blindingly handsome than it was at rest Leo kissed me full on the

Lips before I could turn my head I restrained myself from slapping him but just barely the bartender brought my drink and another perier with lime for Leo whom I’d never seen consume alcohol maybe he was a closet drinker this was Leo’s appointment I let him start he began by putting his hand

Over mine on the table I pulled away resting both my hands in my lap to avoid any repeat attempts to touch me I know you don’t like me no he said holding up his hand in the same gesture I’d used in court this morning to stop my polite

Protest don’t bother to deny it I can tell what I don’t know is why you don’t like me I’ve been kind to you I’ve done nothing to make you dislike me what’s wrong his approach had the desired effect of catching me off guard we don’t talk honestly with people in Tampa

People here never tell you what they’re thinking at least not what they’re thinking about you we do a lot of talking about everyone else apparently things were different in Italy I took advantage of his directness it’s not that I don’t like you Leo I don’t know you well enough not

To like you what I don’t like is that you’ve married Kate at least that was part of what I wasn’t happy about he was 35 years old without a job had no money and now I’d found out he had two small children in Italy whom he wants Kate to

Raise Leo was barely raised himself I resented to that he was asking Kate’s son Jason to help him bring his children here to say nothing of whatever his relationship was with Augustus about which I was still uneasy nor did I like him pawing me as if he was a special friend when nothing

Could be further from the truth and all of that was before we got to the fact that I had him to thank for the mess I was in with Billy Joe and Harris steam if Leo hadn’t pressured Kate to get me involved in this she’d never have done

So I took full responsibility for the choice I’d made but I hate it when someone so effectively pushes my buttons but why I love Kate and she loves me we’re soulmates we’re good for each other he pleaded well I thought uncharitably at least Kate has been good

For you without Kate you’d be living in Italy working as a model under who knows what conditions I said none of that don’t you think Kate is happier since we married she doesn’t live alone anymore she has fun doesn’t that count he had leaned toward me with both hands under the

Table giving me his most Earnest expression the Jin the day Billy Joe Harris life everything just came to ahead at that point Leo was in the perfect spot to take the brunt of my emotions what the hell yay Leo it counts Kate’s happiness is the only thing that

Counts as long as she stays happy that’s enough for me but the moment that changes because of you you’d better be long gone from here Leo jumped back as if I’d slapped him in the face he replaced his Earnest expression with shock and then surprise why would you think I’d make

Kate unhappy that will never happen see that it doesn’t I said and got up to leave he grabbed my wrist forcing me to turn back to him now his handsome face was R with anger don’t threaten me Willa no woman threatens me you mind your business and I’ll mind mine we’ll see

Who makes Kate happy at the moment you’re not doing so well in that department yourself I pulled my arm free turned and stocked out who the hell did he think he was chapter 29 my encounter with Leo had the advantage of getting my adrenaline running full speed maybe I couldn’t

Shield Kate from certain heartbreak at the hands of Leo Columbo but I could help haris steam by finding out who had killed his father and his mother as quickly as possible I put on a pot of Cuban coffee for a clear head returned to My Den and closed the door I spent 3

Hours with my journal the newspaper clippings and what I knew about Billy Joe’s murder and Harris steam’s confession was it just yesterday that I decided to find out who had killed Trey steam as a place to start and maybe because Billy Joe had never tried to

Find the real killer I assumed that Trey steam’s murder was related somehow to six bills I hadn’t talked to the band members during the work i’ done for Billy Joe partly because I hadn’t had the time but also because I hadn’t needed to investigate Trey steam’s

Murder to complete the job I was doing for Billy Joe if the two murders were related I needed to know about the group and what between them could have motivated someone to kill I pulled out the CD Harris had given me and located the complete names I needed

Listed on the back I wrote all five of their names one on each page of Journal paper wetta Johnson Billy Joe steam John Johnny William Tyson William Walter Walter Westfield theii William Lincoln link Enrique William Ricky Gutierrez then as an afterthought I added the sixth one William Harris steam

The third Trey looking at the list I added one more William Harris steam the fourth Harris had been there also he might have been too young to remember anything of course but at this stage one didn’t have enough information to reach any conclusions or to rule anyone out I

Spent another hour with my journal listing everything I knew about each member of the six bills for some of them the list was short like Ricky Gutierrez I’d never met him although he must have been at Billy Joe’s Victory party and was one of the most prominent

Men in Tampa his family had owned and operated a cigar manufacturing business here for over 100 years George might know Ricky though and I made a note to ask I also didn’t know much about Johnny Tyson I’d seen his obvious love for Billy Joe love could be a powerful

Motivator for murder and it also might explain the guilt that kept him faithful all those years that Bly Joe was in prison hard to believe Johnny would have let Billy Joe remain in prison when all the time he’d had the key to her release if he had in fact killed her husband but

He did have that scar on his arm which could have been a defensive wound it would have accounted for a lot of blood on Trey’s clothes and the murder weapon too nor had I met William Lincoln the one they called link I had no idea whether he was living in Tampa anymore

Or what had happened to him I would find him if I had to I went through each name listing my knowledge my intuition my questions and my action plan again I assured myself that the plan was sound I simply needed to execute it I spent the

Rest of the evening figuring out how to do just that I didn’t realize when my head fell to my chin I went to sleep in the chair with troubled thoughts about life and death spinning in my head the slow Screech of the French doors that led out to Mom beloved Garden nudged me

In my half sleep I felt a small soft breeze on my cheek as the old door fell open slightly the sweet unmistakable fragrance of mature lilax wandered into the room overpowering the sick room smells I’d become immune to the perfume was early the lilacs already in full

Bloom as if knowing mom wouldn’t be there if they waited another couple of weeks even the lilacs had accepted what I at 16 was unable to accept the cool Cool Breeze and the whiff of lilacs roused me more fully awake I had dozed off a few hours before with my head bent

To my chin now sitting upright in the chair I moved my head back and forth seeking relief from the cck in my neck the quiet rattling breaths coming from my mother on the bed across the room continued to reassure me I lifted my hand to the back of my neck to massage

The minor pain as I got up checked on Mom and felt her shallow breathing her green eyes the on she had passed on to me were closed and easy as they had been for several days now gentle snoring around the oxygen tube in her nose barely audible over the other sick room

Noises was the only sound she made I cherished each one because it meant she was still here mom had been on morphine for several days before we brought her home from the hospital she’d asked to come home to die and Dad honored her request she hadn’t spoken a coherent

Word since we’d placed her in the large four poster bed she slept in alone and she’d never said goodbye despite dad’s urging and the assurance that the nurse would sit by mother’s side unmoving until I returned I refused to leave her room for anything other than to go to

The bathroom I feared I wouldn’t be here if she woke up or worse that she’d leave me when I wasn’t with her the life robbing malignancy had out of fear or denial or both been left to grow too long before she let the doctors find it whatever could be said between us had

Been said the past few months still I wanted to be with her as long as possible I love you mom I said brushing her golden hair back from her lovely forehead allowing my hand to linger while she slept her morphine sleep I was sure she could hear me although she made

No reply she looked at peace reassured that Mom was resting as easily as she could I walked back to the old door I reached for the knob to close out the chill and leave the lilacs alone in the too cool night air just as I pushed the door toward its threshold another small

Whoosh of Breeze gently caressed my face like the cool reassuring hand my mother placed on my feverish child’s brow repeating the gesture I just made for her I closed the door firmly and turned the lock to keep out the darkness when I moved back to the bed mom was gone

Ending her slow dance with death from breast cancer she’d waited until my back was turned to leave me in death as in life she thought only of my comfort that it would be easier for me if I didn’t see her go tears began to stream down my 16-year-old cheeks I finally realized I

Would never share so many things with my mother that daughters want to share my high school graduation my wedding perhaps the birth of my own children the lilacs fragrance was clawing now as hope died in my chest Grace Harper would never be a grandmother or smell the

Flowers in her garden again I began to cry in earnest then great gulping sobs now the dream sobs jerked me awake from my dream world with tears in my adult eyes and a heavy knowing heart I rubbed the ache in my neck trudged to bed I spent a restless night thinking about

Harris and his tragic family about a mother’s life cut short and how that hurt never goes away Harris had hired Paul Robbins as his lawyer again when I asked Paul for permission to visit his client he said I hope you can get more sense out of him than I have so far Paul

Told me they were holding Harris at the new jail on Orient Road Hillsboro County had once used the jail on Morgan Street but the federal government now leased that facility it didn’t take me long to get over to Orient Road early the next morning but finding a place to park was

A problem parking illegally was always an option say in front of a fire hydrant or a driveway but not a smart thing to do right by the jail at actually Tampa cops rarely ride out traffic tickets I once asked Ben Hathaway why he said they tell me they don’t have time to write

Tickets because they’re too busy filling out accident reports the irony of it wasn’t lost on Ben still testing my luck by parking illegally right in front of the Sheriff’s Office seemed fool hearty after I’d circled the block three times I was able to wait for a spot while

Another car pulled out I had spent 10 minutes driving to the station and 20 minutes parking the car chapter 30 before I had gotten involved in the Billy Joe steam case the number of times I’d visited a jail could be counted on one hand with fingers left over jails were unfamiliar territory to

Me I tried to forget them my nose remembered and began to clog itself up before I entered anticipating the pungent odor of unwashed bodies and urine masked only slightly by disinfectant inside the almost pristinely clean building pine scented sprays misted the air at regular intervals from deodorizers that must

Have been replaced every 2 or 3 hours the jail was clean but it was a jail nonetheless I didn’t have any desire to live here I waited for Harris in a room that was almost identical to the one where I’d first met his mother Billy Joe the duplicate government issue metal

Table sat starkly inside the same four govern green Walls the Harris steam who entered the room and sat down across the table from me was barely recognizable he was a distant cousin of the man I’d first met at Kate’s house on Mother’s Day let alone the happier

Harris I’d seen at Billy Joe’s Victory party a three-day growth of beard covered his face the gray in it plainly visible his hair was matted and dirty and his breath smelled like a feral animal had died in his mouth the rest of his body odor made me G grateful for the

Pervasive pine scent that kept me from gagging barely Harris hung his head and wouldn’t meet my eyes gone was the Carefree singer sexy man heroic son and loving father this guy looked like the man accused of crimes you’d see in news footage any given night of the week

Before I saw him I’d been sympathetic to his situation now the sadness of the outcome threatened to crush me I didn’t believe Harris had murdered his mother I couldn’t believe it because that would mean I had killed her I got her out of prison I put her in that house the night

She died I couldn’t live with that which was why I was here Harris was innocent he had to be I had permission from Harris lawyer to meet with him Harris planned to plead guilty which he had an absolute right to do the lawyer was trying to talk Harris out of that

Foolish course of action he hoped I’d make more progress in persuading Harris than he had I got out my tape recorder I didn’t want to take notes but I wanted an accurate record of what we said to each other for later when I proved he was innocent or more cynically when

Someone accused me of improper conduct Harris I had to shout at him to make him hear me he had traveled to a distant place in his mind not caring what went on around him talk to me Harris raised his head slightly and looked at me a couple of

Seconds before he lowered his head again why he said what’s there to say I killed my mother why would you want to talk to me why would anyone want to talk to me just leave me here until they execute me his resignation to his crime and his own

Death was total and totally devastating to me besides that he was starting to piss me off why did you kill her Harris why’ you do it I challenged trying without success to get some emotion out of him any emotion I don’t know he said without inflection in his voice another tack was

Called for if I was going to get any information from him at all I started again tell me about the night your mother died Harris where were you we were at home at my place he answered me like a robot just giving me the information no feeling no life who else was there

Everybody everybody who tell me he said nothing was Billy Joe there yes Johnny yes who else nothing I thought about my list of the six bills the only real starting place I had to name Harris and Billy Joe’s friends link yeah Ricky he hesitated a few seconds I think so

Who else I don’t know were other people there too come on Harris I’ll just ask them all I’ll find out tell me who was at your house Sunday night I was colling him now realizing part of what he was resisting was my angry tone Ricky’s wife was with him Walter and

Ursula I hid my surprise at that one why hadn’t Ursula told me she’d been at Harris house The Night Billy Joe was killed something to check out who else was there I don’t know a whole crowd of people it was a party you know what kind of a party was it

Celebration celebrating what Billy Joe and Johnny got married I was astonished although I shouldn’t have been Billy Joe had said they planned to marry got married when that day they were celebrating a faint memory seemed to enter his mind was Eva there your girls if this was a wedding celebration the

Family was probably all together I figured a vein began to throb in his forehead while his face suffused the color of an overripe tomato he slammed his hands down on the table and leaned toward me making me feel threatened in a way I’d never have believed possible you

Leave Eva out of this leave her alone he said hissing the words with enough Force to more than get his point across okay sure said trying to calm him down he glared at me a while longer and then resumed both his seat and his distracted disinterested pose it was as if two men

Lived in his body the defeated one and the defiant one I remembered thinking the same thing about his mother I changed the subject how long did the party last a while well into the night we drank a lot I smoked a little he meant he had smoked marijuana what I

Figured was he done more than smoked a little I made a mental note to find out if they’d given him a drug test when they brought him in maybe could do something with diminished capacity then what happened I asked him my old deposition techniques resurfacing when questioning someone

About an event of which you have absolutely no knowledge the best thing a lawyer can do is to ask open-ended questions until the picture emerges he Shrugged I don’t know we partied people came and went after a while I passed out and then what he

Started to cry not just to cry but to keen and to rock back and forth in his chair I woke up he said between sobs I woke up and mommy was dead I killed her my mommy is dead he wailed this last part like the frightened 2-year-old he

Was when he had found his father dead Harris was reliving that nightmare a nightmare he probably didn’t consciously remember he was making so much noise that the guard came back in to check on us Harris wouldn’t be able to tell me anything else now I took my tape

Recorder and put it in my pocket said some soothing words to Harris and let the guard return him to his cell I had work to do which was a hell of a lot better than feeling helpless and guilty chapter 31 I made it back to my courtroom just

In time to take the bench at 9:00 the Madison versus cardio medal team was all assembled and I instructed the court security officer to bring in the jury Philip Sloat put on his case for the remainder of the morning session until our break at 11:00 the testimony was moving toward

Introducing evidence to support the motion for directed verdict that SLO presented to me yesterday which the jury had not yet heard SLO put three Witnesses up in two hours so he had taken seriously my admonition to move the case along for their part Leman Royal and Marilyn Madison were alternately bored outraged and

Devastated the three put on quite an entertaining performance unfortunately for the Little Greek chorus no Academy Award is given for trials by 11:30 I was ready for a break from these Jokers from the looks on their faces and the comments the court Personnel overheard while the jurors

Were filing back and forth from the Jury Room the jurors all felt the same way the trial had gone gone on way too long the jurors understood both sides and they wanted to return to their own lives the novelty of sitting as a juror on the Stanley Madison trial regardless of how

Famous Stanley and Corgi were had worn thin Augustus and I went over the day’s activities then I gave him the list of names of the six bills from my journal please look up telephone numbers and addresses for these folks before the lunch break just make your notes right on that sheet

I don’t want that information in the computer and then call over to the Hillsboro County clerk’s office and order the court file from the Trey steam murder trial Augustus looked at the list and then back to me a troubled expression clouded his face these folks should all be listed in the phone book

It won’t take me long to find them I nodded at him over my China cup and saucer with the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee that had quickly become my second favorite great I said turning my attention back to mail requiring a response when I looked up again he was still standing

There what augustus’s troubled frown deepened why are you getting more involved in this thing judge I know these people they’re members of that old band The One Harris steam’s father was the lead singer for and you’ve got Eva Steam on here and her parents what are

You planning to do resisting the urge to tell him to mind his own business I said I know you’re concerned for me concerned isn’t a strong enough word two people involved with that banned are dead the son is in jail accused of killing his own mother these are bad people judge

Carson you should stay away from them all augustus’s Jamaican lilt was more pronounced when he was upset his words were Stern but his voice was melodic almost like a song the effect was in congruous light and dark at the same time like Augustus himself please just do as I ask I

Promise you I won’t put myself in any kind of danger he continued to look at me in mild Rebellion if you won’t do this for me I’ll just do it myself Augustus sighed then and took the list with him out to his desk giving up on making me see it

His way for the time being by now I’d learned augustus’s manner of operating he did what he wanted to do and perpetuated the fiction that I was the boss when that fiction suited his own purposes but we had bonded quickly I felt rather than knew that he totally

Supported me and had my best interests at heart trust your instincts Kate always tells me with Augustus I was the rest of the morning trial session continued as the earlier portion had at lunchtime I returned to my Chambers today we had tuna with pasta a hard roll

And and half a pineapple Augustus was determined to change my life in as many ways as possible next to my plate was the daily green folder containing matters that required my attention before I resumed the afternoon trial session a couple of telephone message slips that required a response were on

Top now followed by a few judicial orders for me to sign invitations to professional meetings and under the pile the list of names addresses and telephone numbers I’d requested scribbled on the bottom in augustus’s nearly indecipherable scroll was the notation steam file and storage ordered

I took a bite of the tuna salad the small deviation from my normal routine was refreshing I thought as I wrote a number by each of the names and circled it I would interview each of these people in an order that made sense to me starting after the trial day I would

Speak to the one I knew absolutely nothing about we was known as the the six bills link told me in a strong draw with bad grammar that bellied his college education he used them both as a badge of Heritage I supposed or out of laziness we’ve gotten settled outside on

The white plastic chairs in the postage stamp siiz lot on which his trailer sat the trailer had seen better days it looked older than the man himself I figured him to be about the same age as Walter Westfield 52 his name was William Lincoln but he’d always been called link even before he

Became a member of the six bills he told me once he’d have been good-looking in the craggy unkempt way that was popular back then his brown hair was wavy a little too long a little too streak with gray he reminded me of the movie actor Sam Elliott they could have been

Brothers link still sported the 1970s big mustache he had a pair of fierce eyebrows that might never have been trimmed his eyes were a non-descript Hazel the skin around them a network of deep lines likely caused by smoking and squinting around it his face was weathered Brown like a man who’d spent

Years on the ocean exposed to unrelenting sunlight the best thing about him was his voice Link’s voice was raspy and deep the kind of voice you’d listen to late at night and feel like you’d found a friend a voice that went well with wine and Candlelight we met in 1968 at UT then

All six of us graduated in the spring of 19 1972 we played around here recorded a couple of singles that never went nowhere naturally we’d want to go to Woodstock we were rock musicians it was sort of like a business convention for us he grinned I’d heard a lot about the

Music Festival held in Woodstock New York in 1969 I was much too young to have gone even if such a thing had crossed my mind which it hadn’t up until now I thought I’d never met met anyone who had been to Woodstock at least if I knew any of the

Participants they’d develop the discretion later in life not to discuss it what was that old joke if you remember Woodstock it’s because you weren’t there the stories of drug use free sex and constant music in the rain and mud were legendary and maybe more than a little exaggerated I’d always

Believed even before the trip we was an uneasy Club link continued talking around his cigarette as he tuned a string on the acoustic guitar he held on his knee Billy Joe was the keyboard player married to Trey Trey had a bad temper and a heavy hand but the voice

Man he had a pack aay Rod Stewart voice long before Stuart you know Trey was six bills lead singer groupies followed him everywhere free love I asked link chuckled caught some of the smoke in his throat and coughed well that was more a figment of media imagination in

1968 we was pretty clean-cut college kids UT wasn’t Berkeley but Trey had his share of girlfriends what about Billy Joe none of us knew why Billy Joe married him maybe it had something to do with how good-looking he was or how he could sing so it made you cry but she married him

In early 69 not that he acted married he sure expected her too though link continued to fiddle with the guitar strings tightening this one changing that one then playing a chord or so as he talked picking out a little Melody and then stopping he kept the cigarette

Perpetually perched in the corner of his mouth ignoring the ashes that fell onto his denim shirt what about Johnny link shook his head I’m not sure when that started Johnny was a quiet one he was shy and alone kind he’d listened to Billy Joe cry over Trey hold her hand

You know offered her a sympathetic shoulder I guess the rest of us just wanted to stay clear of Trey’s temper we’d all had more in one runin with him none of us was trying to repeat the experience know what I mean at some point Johnny must have fallen in love

With her I commented lifting my voice at the end of the sentence to make a question chapter 32 he nodded wasn’t hard to do we were all a little in love with Billy Joe he grinned at me mashing the cigarette out in the sand under his dirty Barefoot

Without flinching link was telling the story now so I kept quiet and let him tell it in his own way by the time we got into the van to go to Woodstock we all figured Johnny and Billy Joe were lovers though Johnny would never say so

Trey Musta known too he acted like he didn’t care about Billy Joe anyhow he’d kiss other girls all the time with all of us including Billy Joe right there even then I didn’t like it Johnny didn’t either link got up and went inside he brought back two long neck bottles of

Rolling Rock and screwed the tops off handing me one then he sat down and picked up the guitar again he lit another cigarette unfiltered but he took them out of a package so I hoped he was smoking tobacco we had us a good time at wood stock boy it made us even closer

Somehow we were inspired when we came home we practiced more played more spent even more time together that’s when we had a couple three hit records local folks knew us even if the national audience hadn’t noticed yet best days I ever spent them times man I love making

Music with them guys smiling he shook his head as if to clear the memories then swigg the beer what about Harris where was he then I asked link oh this was before little Trey was born Billy Joe and Johnny were together a lot when Billy Joe turned up pregnant there was

Some speculating Billy Joe said the baby was tra we believed her hell I don’t think anybody really cared one way or other we loved Billy Joe and we all love little Trey we just all took care of each other he continued staring at the guitar so I couldn’t judge his eyes the

Story confirmed other things I’d read or surmise besides both Billy Joe and Trey were dead now link had no legitimate reason to lie what happened the night Trey died I asked he took a long drag on the cigarette and looked straight at me for the first time since we’d sat down

He seemed to be judging whether he’d answer me or not he knew I was helping Harris and that was why I had come something made up his mind for him what had done so wasn’t obvious to me we had a gig at the front in that night we

Played till late Trey was pretty drunk when they got home Trey and Billy Joe got to fighting he hit her all the time though she denied it if you asked her she’d show up sometimes with bruises on her or wearing a long skirt with long sleeves to hide him he took another

Longer Swig of the beer while mine remained untasted link was back in time now reminiscing quietly to himself that night Billy Joe took the boy and left she just drove for a while and then went to Johnny’s to wait it out that’s what she usually did waited at

Johnny’s till she figured Trey had calmed down or passed out he stopped there and stared off into the distant past when Johnny took her and little Trey home they found him dead she ran over and hugged Trey she got blood all over her she saw the knife she must have

Touched it or something I never knowed what all the evidence was link stood up and put his dirty foot on the chair resting the guitar on his knee and turning his head back down toward his fiddling fingers he played a little neither of us saying anything for a

While when I set my beer bottle down its content still untasted he continued anyway they arrested Billy Joe the other bills all supported her but she was convicted anyway little Trey was sent to live with Trey steam’s Mama and Daddy he finished his story and his beer at the same time holding another

Cigarette in his mouth and strumming the guitar he eyed the bottle I’d been holding and I handed it over to him I wondered how many links there were in this country today old hippies who never quite made it and who never let it go Woodstock was the high point of their

Lives whether they had gone there or not while many of these Woodstock Baby Boomers had turned into card carrying conservatives with stock portfolios and real estate some had fallen through society’s cracks and floated on the edge of Commerce not quite homeless but not firmly ins sconed in the everyday World

Either link played a little tune for me on his guitar and sang a bit too he wasn’t half bad from the way he lived it appeared that no one had paid him much to play and sing in quite a long while but link was a bundle of cont

Predictions like his bad grammar and heavy accent maybe he chose to live modestly for personal reasons I wondered what those reasons were after our first meeting I liked link but I was only too aware that I didn’t know him by the time I got home the day had already gone to

Bed the sunset was over but the Dusky pink sky remained quite a few cars filled the parking lot at minet telling me George’s dinner crowd was in full swing as I’d been doing often of late I avoided the lobby by taking the back stairs I was barely able to push open

The back door when I reached the top because the welcoming committee blocked it once inside Harry and B told me they’d been cooped up for too many hours I let them run out without me knowing they’d be down in the bay until I called them back I went into my den and glanced

At the blinking answering machine but ignored it I poured myself a sapphire and tonic lit partagas flipped through the mail and called the dogs back for a quiet half hour on The Veranda as I sat there staring at the now Dark Water George came out with his Glen fidic I

Thought I’d have to join you here I see you so seldom these days he said as he bent down to kiss me he settled himself into the other Sha’s Lounge it’s been a long week already I told him fully aware that today was just Tuesday care to share he asked grateful for the

Opportunity I related the entire story to him or what I knew of it so far ending with my visit to link tonight when I finished George considered for a while he’s a fabulous strategist I was expecting a brilliant suggestion you sort of stepped in the middle of this one didn’t you he finally

Said which was not what I was looking for seeing I was anticipating something more helpful he continued gently it’s a nowin situation Willa you know that Billy Joe and her husband are both dead regardless of who killed them they will always be dead although he echoed my own thoughts about

The futility of the Stanley Madison Case currently in my courtroom I didn’t take what he said well George tried again what I mean is Harris has had a lot of tragedy in his short life whatever you might feel you owe him or whatever you can do for him you can’t erase that

Tragedy as if it never happened I know that but the cycle has to stop somewhere Harris doesn’t belong in prison his children don’t need to spend their lives the same way he spent his I told George they won’t they have their mother shek be with them he pointed out

Reasonably they’ll have their father too damn it I know he didn’t kill Billy Joe I pounded the table and said this with a great deal of vehement for a person with no evidence then why say he did again a reasonable question but I was in no mood to be

Reasonable that’s one of the things I intend to find out George Rose taking the last sip of his single malt scotch as he did so he said I have to get back to work why don’t you come down and have dinner with me take your mind off all

This I can’t face it tonight send me something up okay he bent down to kiss me again sure Mighty Mouse he said with the affection he always uses when he calls me that no matter how pissed off it makes me I’ll send you up some Gourmet cheese I threw a pillow at his

Retreating back and missed hours later I woke up in a cold sweat I had had the dream again this time Mom and I were not in her sick room we were in Harris steam’s jail cell but her bed was there the acurate hopeless pine scent from the jail replaced the gentle fragrant lilacs

Instead of dying peacefully while my back was turned mom was thrashing on the bed crying out trying to say something I couldn’t make out her words then she died and in my dream I began to sob as before the dream contained sobs were the jerking that awakened me it was

5:00 I got up leaving George and both Labradors snoring the quiet morning was still mostly night out here on plant key we had no traffic and no neighbors little noise came to me in the pre-dawn except the bay washing gently against the beach the air was warm enough to

Take my Cuban coffee outside to spend an hour with my journal I reread everything I’d written last night about Harris and Link and my plans for the next few days today would be a repre of yesterday for the most part I felt like a hamster on a

Wheel I had delayed the Madison trial as much as I could during the Billy Joe parole work I had no choice but to continue to slog through the trial until they finished or their two we trial limit expired whichever came first but I could end the court day at

4:00 then I’d make further progress on my investigation after my coffee I dressed and called quietly to the dogs letting George sleep he hadn’t come upstairs until well after midnight I could see no point in waking him too Harry and Bess inhaled their breakfast and bounded down

The stairs dashed out into the bay and then passed me by as I made my way slowly into my morning run one foot pounding in front of the other I talked to myself about my nightmare mostly I tried to tell my 39-year-old self to let my 16-year-old

Self go in peace Mother’s Day was over I must now return to the present and the living about halfway around Plant key running west now my view toward Ballas point in the Tampa Yacht Club I changed Direction mentally and physically I reviewed what I knew about Trey steam’s

Murder Billy Joe’s murder and six bills I went over in my head what I plan to do after court today I returned to the house washed off the dogs and put them in their kennel then I showered dressed and left for work the plan still made

Sense to me in any event I couldn’t come up with a better one chapter 33 Eva steam’s office was in the professional building near Memorial Hospital at the corner of Swan and Habana I got there a little after 4:30 parking the car in the open lot I walked through the small courtyard to

The back entrance of the three-story building Eva office was on the first floor in the back at the end of a long narrow Corridor with doctor’s offices on both sides Eva Reigns MD neurologist read the sign on her door she had no partner I gave my name to the

Receptionist she told me Evo was with her last appointment of the day and would be free in a few minutes if I wanted to wait the waiting area was typical of a prosperous solo practitioners Medical Practice in the corner were children’s magazines and a small table with crayons and coloring

Books I assumed these were for visitors and not for patients since Eva wasn’t a pediatric neurologist I sat and one of the chairs farthest from the blaring big screen television and picked up this week’s copy of time preparing myself to wait a few minutes in law we estimate how much

Time something should take and then multiply by four to get the amount of life it will actually devour medical waiting was the same I thought as I checked my watch an hour had passed the receptionist seemed to have forgotten about me I was just about to remind her

When the door separating the waiting room from the examination rooms opened and Walter Westfield walked out straightening his tie with his suit coat over his arm Walter I called to him getting up to chat he looked my way and jerked his head quickly shocked to see me Willa he answered rapidly Gathering

His composure and coming over what brings you here he put on his coat losing his balance a little with both arms in the air simultaneously the same thing that brought you I suppose I wanted to chat with Eva for a few minutes but you beat

Me to it I thought your wife was the journalist I teased him by suggesting he was here to interview Eva because of Billy Joe’s death well I offered to do Ursula a favor he said as he raised a shaky hand to looked at his watch the senatorial candidate is not here for

Medical reasons then I asked of course not fit as a horse he thumped himself on the chest with his fist I need to run though I’ve got another appointment my perpetual calendar seems never to have an empty slot we said our goodbyes and he let himself out the receptionist

Beckoned me toward the inner office escorting me to Eva’s private office in the back where she now sat there Eva had a clear view of the courtyard if she’d been looking out the window as I came in Eva would have seen me enter the building not that she had any any reason

To avoid me but I just noticed that she could have if she decided to I watched through Eva window now as Walter Westfield hurried to the parking lot again he seemed unsteady on his feet behind her desk Eva wore her white lab coat and her reading glasses they made

Her look older than I thought her to be and more scientific somehow her hair was held firmly in place by a severe French twist very professional she had a couple of pills in her hand and swallowed them with a glass of water sorry I’ve got a bit of a

Headache been burning the candle at both ends lately she apologized Eva looked as frazzled as I felt her eyes had deep circles under them and her complexion was sow blush stood out on her cheeks like two pink circles on the face of a clown she chewed off her lipstick long ago after

The preliminaries I said I saw Walter Westfield in your waiting room and just sort of left it there for her to fill in the blank no way was his wife letting Walter do her field work nor would he have agreed to do so even before Billy Joe was murdered and certainly not now

That Walter had lied to me as to why he was here meant he had something to lie about Eva shook her head sadly as her mouth formed a tense line I can’t discuss my patience with you without their consent she said rubbing her temples with both hands inadvertently confirming my suspicions something was

Wrong with Walter it could be a minor problem but neurologists don’t often treat patients with minor problems either if yesterday’s expert witness in the Madison trial was to be believed Walter’s medical condition was none of my business except that he was married to my friend and I wished him good

Health I also wondered whether Ursula knew Walter was Consulting a neurologist if she knew she’d never mentioned it to me me Ursula was a woman with many Secrets will it interfere with his being a senator Assuming he’s elected I asked attempting to suggest I knew exactly what Walter’s condition was she didn’t

Answer me instead she replied not to be rude Willa but I do have quite a few things to do here before I can go home to my girls they really need me now is there something I can help you with you know I don’t believe Harris killed Billy

Joe I started as I sat down in one of the chairs across the desk from her she needn’t think that I was going to make this quick there were things I needed to know that’s because you weren’t there if you’d been there you’d believe it she said without venom but with resignation and

Conviction I shook my head no I’m sure I wouldn’t you don’t know him he has a violent temper he’s broken things hurt himself he used to get into bar fights when he was younger that’s how he got that broken nose and the scar over his eye that the groupies think is so Charming

She said the word Charming as if a scar over Harris left eye was the least attractive thing on the planet there’s a difference between the types of behavior you’re describing and murder I told her with a conviction of my own but was there really didn’t violence escalate

I’d heard Tales of it hundreds of times in my courtroom one thing leads to another mixed with drugs and alcohol to lower inhibitions and tragedy often resulted even without knowing the common character traits of a murderer that I’d heard from the expert yesterday in court I saw enough examples to know such

Things happened you weren’t there she said again no I wasn’t which is why I wanted to talk to you when did you get to the party I don’t know sometime around 7 I guess she appeared impatient as if her time was being imposed upon which it was she continued straightening

Her desk moving the pens into the pen cup flipping through a few medical charts making some notes here and there and just generally fidgeting tell me what happened I need someone with some objectivity I said giving her credit that probably wasn’t really deserved it was a party everything

Seemed to be fine then Harris and Billy Joe had some sort of disagreement I think it happened when she told him something he didn’t want to hear the argument escalated into a shouting match Harris stomped off into his room like a child Eva had closed her eyes while she

Told me this a Grimace of either distaste or pain crossed her face what happened after Harris went to his room everyone started to leave they were embarrassed and it’s a little hard to party when your host post has deserted the crowd I tried to smooth things over

Convince people to stay and have a good time I didn’t want my girls to be any more upset than they already were and I felt like in a way I was still the hostess still responsible for him she sighed as if she tired of being responsible for Harris years ago how so

You and Harris are divorced aren’t you we are but neither of us has remarried and we try to cordial because of the girls we had a pretty acrimonious divorce as I’m sure you know she said in a tone acknowledging that everyone in Tampa knew how bitter their divorce had

Been which was true no one keeps secrets in Tampa for long and their divorce had been front page news for several weeks between Harris celebrity and Evis being a Reigns the papers couldn’t leave it alone in the headlines she’d accused Harris of being a spoiled child apparently she still felt that way

So you felt you should at least see everyone out that night does that mean you were the last to leave I prodded trying to get a feel for the party and Eva role in it she shook her head in the negative I tried to go when Ricky and

Janet did Billy Joe was still there she had convinced Johnny to let link drive him home she’d had no luck talking Harris into coming out and speaking with her she didn’t want to leave with that bitterness still between them Billy Joe said she’d sleep at Harris and talk to

Johnny in the morning not much of a wedding night I oberved Eva continued to work at updating her charts closing the folders one at a time and piling them neatly on the corner of her desk as if I was interrupting her no but they’ been apart

For a long time until now Billy Joe figured another night wouldn’t matter and Johnny was pretty drunk himself he was probably going to pass out somewhere anyway she pressed at her forehead at some pain that wouldn’t disappear I could picture the scene everyone quietly breaking up the party

Embarrassed because the host had behaved badly going there separate ways now they all wish they had stayed around when did you leave I asked her after a while I don’t know about 2: or 3: in the morning I guess we’d made some coffee and sat around talking Harris never did come out

Of his room and nobody was especially tired at first she Shrugged as she finished the last chart when Billy Joe seemed to nod off Ricky and I laid her down on the couch then Ricky and Janet helped me put the girls in the car just before they left the girls had gone to

Sleep in one of the bedrooms quite a while earlier I should have left when they got tired of course but I didn’t don’t ask me why she said this with the hindsight of the Monday Morning Quarterback then I drove the girls back home when I got up in the morning I

Heard the same news you heard she finished her narrative the party wasn’t fun sure it was everyone had been having a wonderful time we were all celebrating Billy Joe and Johnny finally getting married everybody living happily ever after it was great under those circ*mstances who would want to leave when a couple of

Kids got sleepy until Harris spoiled it she added sourly and then what happened I asked her when she’d allowed herself to lapse into revery when Harris went to his room Billy Joe was really upset she and I talked for a while she told me about Harris as a little boy what she knew

Anyway Eva stood up and walked over to the coat hook on the back of her office door she took off her white lab coat and hung it there then she turned around plainly suggesting it was time for me to go Eva then told me what I was already

Aware of that Harris had only been 2 years old when his mother was sent to prison since Billy Joe’s parents were deceased she’d had no choice but to leave Harris with Trey steam’s parents they disliked Billy Joe even before they thought she’d killed their son so Billy

Joe didn’t see Harris much until he was old enough to drive himself to visit her then she asked me to let her go home to her kids as she showed me the door I walked thoughtfully to my car even a blind man or a vindictive ex-wife could

See the tragedy in Harris situation a boy deprived of both parents because the justice system had failed when the system finally did the right thing and let the mother go 30 years later the damaged boy just couldn’t lose the mother to marriage and the father’s memory to a different man it was an

Explanation for an otherwise inexplicable reaction I just didn’t believe it chapter 34 Billy Joe’s funeral was held at Hyde Park Presbyterian Church on Thursday afternoon George and I went when we drove up to the front door there were so many cameras and microphones on the scene that a private security firm had

Been hired to keep the walkway to the church open the throng of reporters and photograph ERS reminded me of Television coverage I’ve seen of the Academy Awards the red crowd control ropes you see in airports or at movie theaters held Spectators back security guards were

Posted at intervals of about 6 to 8 ft to be sure that only funeral attendees used the walkway Ben Hathaway had asked the judge to release Harris from jail to attend the funeral strictly speaking Killers aren’t allowed to attend the funerals of their victims Ben had made

An exception for Harris because he felt it was something he could do for Billy Joe the parking lot was full and we couldn’t avoid using the valet we’d come in George’s Bentley which he rarely allows anyone else to drive but we had no choice he handed the keys to one of

The valet and hoped for the best we made our way slowly into the church walking past cameras microphones and MERS at the door we were handed a printed program when we made it into the church itself the pews were full the closed white casket was at the front of the aisle we

Sat down in the back and maintained a respectful silence until the program began I say program because that’s exactly what it was the pastor of the church came out and explained that Billy Joe like Many religious Southerners had prepared her funeral program herself because she had terminal cancer a

Collective gasp went up through the MERS when he said that so Billy Jo ‘s illness must not have been printed in the papers because she knew she didn’t have long to live Billy Joe had made meticulous plans for her funeral according to the small booklet we’d been handed at the church

Entrance the service would begin with the organ and the choir but shortly after the program would segue into rock music from the six bills or at least the four of them who remained alive a song from Billy Joe’s son Harris was listed and I wondered whether he would sing it

Or not the service would close with just a closer walk with thee sung by Harris and the six bills together with the choir as the organ and the choir began I looked around at the crowded church people were standing in the back most of the MERS were unknown to me but I

Recognized some of them from the victory party Harris had hosted at minet when his mother was first released from prison more likely than not Billy Joe steam’s murderer was here not only because murderers often visit the funerals of their victims but also because over 70% of homicides are

Committed by someone known to the deceased everyone Billy Joe had ever known who wasn’t in prison had to be here judging from the size of the crowd I wished I’d had the tarity to bring a camera with me I hadn’t my original plan was to get a copy of Ursula’s news video

Of the MERS as they entered and exited the building fortunately too the program was professionally videotaped I also noticed a guest book at the front of the church I made a mental note to ask Harris for a copy of its Pages along with the professional video the program continued much as any

Christian funeral The Familiar scripture and hymns comforting the MERS the pastor delivered his portion of the eulogy then a few of Billy Joe’s former prison inmates whom she had helped long before stood to tell of her good works while she was incarcerated finally six bills played

Its three big songs the ones that had actually made it to the charts back in the early 1970s I had also heard them at the victory Party The Melodies were familiar to the crowd so that the MERS were humming along Harris got up to sing his father’s love song to Billy Joe today

Harris voice was gra and tender just as his father’s had been according to link the song brought tears to every pair of eyes could see as Harris sang to the closed white casket he seemed unable to carry on at several points in the melody but the band continued to play and

Harris the performer understood that he owed his mother the funeral she had wanted finally I heard the familiar strains of just a closer walk with thee while the remaining members of six bills and Harris steam lifted the casket and carried it down the aisle to the waiting hearse as they sang the pastor

Encouraged the congregation to join in the morning mournful but consoling tune because we were at the back of the church George and I were among the last to follow the casket everyone in the front pews filed bias on the way outside Eva Billy Joe’s two granddaughters and Eva’s parents were

The first to walk by Trey steam’s parents filed past Us Then followed closely by Prescott Roberts who gave me another of his Steely glares if I thought he’d forgotten about my part in this his glare told me that was pure wishful thinking men like Prescott Roberts had long

Memories the wives and Children of the remaining bills came next everyone we knew acknowledged us as they went outside and filled the waiting limousines to travel to the graveside service by the time George and I made it out of the church the media and the public had dispersed filing into their

Cars so they could follow this photo opportunity all the way to Billy Joe’s grave we had considered not going to the gravide but George’s Bentley was part parked first Behind The Limousines and now it would be too awkward not to go we sat in the car waiting in silence for

The procession to begin the long slow funeral ride took us to the cemetery and the steam family plot where Billy Joe would be buried next to Trey steam it’s odd that she’ be buried here don’t you think George asked Johnny Tyson was much more like a devoted husband to Billy Joe

Than Trey steam ever was I told him why she chose to be buried here was another of Billy Joe’s Mysteries perhaps she’d made the decision thinking her death would finally allow Johnny to find another woman to marry after the short graveside service I found little chance

To Mill around and talk to people even if investigating murder at the victim’s funeral were not in exceedingly poor taste George and I walked hand inhand back toward the Bentley without intending to do so we caught up with Mary steam flanked at either elbow by her husband and press Scott Roberts her

Brother both of the steams appeared 10 years older than when I’d seen them a brief while before at Billy Joe’s parole hearing Prescott Roberts seemed to look right through to my soul and I turned away unable to withstand his condemnation George arrived at the parking area first and opened the car

Door for the steams assisting the older couple into their vehicle after Mary steam was seated her husband turned to me and said I hope you’re satisfied now young lady I can’t imagine how you could make our lives any worse but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try I

Stepped back as if he’d assaulted me for good measure Prescott Roberts added I’m sure judge Carson has learned her lesson in a menacing tone of voice both of them entered the car and George closed the door forgive him Willa Eva steam said as she came up behind us with her parents

And her daughters he wouldn’t normally be so rude Bill’s very upset today he’s lost his son and now his grandson and he’s not coping with it well it’s been a great tragedy for your entire family I looked down at Willie and Billy I’m so sorry I said to their tear streak

Freckled faces instantly Eva complexion flushed bright red her eyes widened and her nostrils flared she was enraged at what I was merely trying to be kind to her daughters Eva quickly ushered her children into the waiting Lim Mo her parents followed the girls leaving Eva with George and me for just a few

Moments she controlled her anger at me but it cost her don’t get me wrong Willa I’m not happy with you or with Ursula Westfield either for that matter but circ*mstances killed Billy Joe steam circ*mstances that were put in place long before you ever met her don’t start

Thinking you’re some kind of martyr your part in the drama was just in the final act with that that she stepped into the car and slammed the door behind her leaving me as nonplused as Prescott Roberts had what did she mean by that George asked more than a little annoyed

Himself I don’t know I told him bewildered chapter 35 that evening I was tired emotionally and physically I hadn’t been sleeping well the steam murders were constantly on my mind my workload was piling up while I spent what have been my evening work hours investigating homicide and on top of everything else

Paul Robbins had informed me that Harris would no longer see me I changed into comfortable clothes and took the newspapers out to The Veranda when we got home George went off to his restaurant while I tried to catch up on what was going on in the world as well

As locally the news stories began to run together while I squinted to read them even with my reading glasses on another innocent man had been executed in Texas because a pathologist had lied about evidence that convicted the accused a Russian Diplomat was assassinated the school Mage proposal was rejected again the chislers had

Released a new cookbook with proceeds to support the Henry plant museum at the University of Tampa scientists had studied a family of centenarians and found a potential genetic link to longevity Corgi cartoons continued on the feature Pages the Ann Landers column discussed couples that paired older women with younger men another man on

Death row in a bid for clemency claimed his lawyer was drunk at his trial at some point the news was so gripping that I dozed off George woke me when he came upstairs after midnight and I stumbled into bed too tired for nightmares the next morning all I could

Think of was thank God it’s Friday this would be my last day this week with the Madison trial we were moving right along though we would finish by next Friday only one more week I encouraged myself as I parked Greta and waited for the elevator I dragged through the workday

Sitting down to my lunch of crab salad sparkling water and a chocolate brownie didn’t even provoke a smile by the time we recessed the trial for the week at 4:30 I sorely needed a nap Augustus had packed my briefcase with matters I needed to review over the weekend I

Grabbed it up and trudged home to bed I got up around 8:00 ate dinner from a tray watched a few mindless sitcoms on television and went back to sleep at 11: you would have thought I was 89 not 39 Saturday morning found me well rested

And full of the energy I’d need to get through my list of jobs for the day the first thing on my agenda involved a short drive I didn’t know Enrique Ricky Gutierrez or his wife Janet but Ricky had played guitar for six bills now he and Janet owned a cigar Factory in Tampa

One of the longest continuously operated family-owned businesses in the city Janet was a stay-at-home mother who seemed to have little involvement with law politics golf or charity so no opportunity to meet her had presented itself Ricky was a political conservative as most of the Tampa Cuban Community is so George knew him although

Not well when we met briefly at Billy Joe’s party at minet Ricky and his wife had seemed nice enough but not particularly outgoing or personally remarkable Janet was a flashy dresser but otherwise quiet again they had been there at Billy Joe’s funeral I’d nodded to Ricky at the

Gravide I decided to interview him Saturday morning his name was at the top of the alphabet of characters still on my list and people say I’m not methodical The gutierre Cigar Company was located on 17th Street and 8th Avenue in ebore City the old brick building had no need to be restored

Unlike many of its sister structures in this area the gutier family had kept the factory and Warehouse in excellent condition for the past 100 years the yellow brick three-story facade faced 17th Street majestically inviting customers within I climbed the steps to the covered entrance and twisted the

Metal door knob at the top of the stairs the lead pane door took only a small push to open when I crossed over the threshold I entered another era almost like time travel the lobby was furnished in Spanish antiques dark wood ornately carved with velvet cushions on the

Chairs and heavy gold brocade everywhere the dark wood floors were worn with age but highly polished on the walls sconces that once had burned with gas lights were now equipped with electricity the dim light they provided cast a museum likee Shadow over the entire room a Cuban looking matron occupied a heavy

Dark wood desk off to the side she smiled warmly and asked me to be seated while she told Mr Ricky that I was waiting she was old enough to be his mother but on the phone she treated him with the respect due the boss in an oldw

World way that added to the antiquarian feel of the place Ricky Gutierrez came out into the lobby to greet me both hands extended in a gracious reception judge Carson he Al but exclaimed it’s good to see you welcome to the gutierre Cigar Company welcome please come into

My office he spoke in the formal way of one whose first language is not English he was dressed in a business suit complete with coat and tie on a Saturday Ricky took both my hands in his beamed at me and I actually thought for a minute that he was is going to kiss

Both my cheeks which was interesting since Ricky Gutierrez had been born in the same us of a that I had after I declined his offer of Refreshments we settled in a Cozy Corner of his office at a small round table in two tiny and uncomfortable chairs Ricky Gutierrez

Waited for me to State my business but beginning was awkward although I’d thought this out for days and rehearsed on the way over I wasn’t prepared for the reality of Ricky guti is I looked around his office searching for safe conversational gambits to give myself a little more time to compose my Approach

I saw pictures of what must have been Ricky’s father and grandfather his wife and their five children five children I don’t meet that many large families anymore it’s kind of refreshing actually are these your kids they’re beautiful and they were all five were small dark and handsome like their

Parents parents he fairly beamed in response yes thank you for saying so although my sons wouldn’t be happy to hear you call them beautiful they think they’re so manly you know how old are they I smiled at the proud papa the youngest is 10 and the oldest is 20 he

Was more than happy to say but I’m sure you didn’t come here to talk about my children he prompted gently mentally at least I squared my shoulders no no that’s not why I came I wanted to talk to you about six bills he didn’t seem surprised in the least what would

You like to know he asked actually I’d like to know everything you know but I’ll settle for anything you’d care to tell me he considered my request for a short while then bent down to a humidor on his small table and opened it try one of our finest cigars Willa these are the

Special Reserves we import the tobacco from the Dominican Republic now it’s impossible to get it from Cuba of course but this is the same tobacco my family has used for over 200 years to make cigars whether he was being polite or had heard of my habit I didn’t know I

Told myself I didn’t want to offend him before the interview but really I loved the smell of the cigars when he opened the humidor I’d never tried aer’s Special Reserve if I like them I might consider it patriotic to switch support the local economy and all besides I rationalized a refusal would be

Impolite I selected one of the cigars take another for later he urged so I did smoking a cigar is a delight to all my senses at first I tested the feel of the unlit cigar this one was well rolled firm yet soft and pliable touching it rolling it in my hand and

Between my fingers my expectations built next I savored the aroma of the Rich and spicy tobacco fresh and inviting as it yearned for fire then I allowed Ricky to snip the end for me and offer me a light from his gold lighter as I drew the

Flame to the cigar the fine tobacco was immediately apparent in its full body taste and the aromatic smoke that filled the room once lit the cigars taste and smoke lingered to keep me company like a good friend in the aura of a good cigar come true relaxation and a sense of

Well-being the journey taken to reach the moment of enjoyment adds to the Fine Cigars mystery or maybe I just remember sitting on my grandfather’s knee while he puffed on a cigar the aroma returns my childhood to me in a way that makes me feel happy and young safe and secure

Ricky and I puffed in sociable appreciation for a while without any concern for the passing time he poured two small brandies to go with the cigars and we enjoyed the interlude before we returned to discuss the sorted business of murder I was the first person in my

Family to attend college in this country my parents came here from Cuba and although my father was well educated my mother was not my father insisted that all of his children get an American Education our mother was frantic at the thought that we might move away from

Home now that I’m a parent myself I understand this perhaps a little better than I did at 18 he laughed heartily I’m sure I laughed with him what a Charming Man I thought and yes I would have thought so even if I didn’t like the cigar I hadn’t touched the Brandy but

Ricky had taken a few sips while smoking I’m not fond of Brandy and drinking it this early in the morning was more than I could face even for the sake of politeness he continued so I enrolled at the University of Tampa to study business administration my plan and my father’s

Plan for me was always to remain in Tampa and run the family business this was 1968 and I was as red-blooded as any other American Teenager of the time but I was more conservative than most and my family was much much more conservative than my new friends at UT he smiled

Again I could imagine what that free love time must have been like on a college campus for a sheltered studious young man such as Ricky well my parents allowed me to live on campus but only because freshmen were required to do so then he continued shortly after I

Arrived I found myself in a dorm with four other young men all with the same name as me William he gave a mirthful chuckle the coincidence you see amused us and pulled us together it made us feel special like we belonged in this new environment soon we were walking around campus

Calling each other Bill even though I had never before in my life been called bill before long their classmates started to call them the five bills once Trey steam met Billy Joe of course they became the six bills and they loved it they were a click a group of friends

Something that met a need for the six teenagers away from home in a strange and frivolous time that tie bound them together see Ricky asked me I did see I found the typical story of American teens in college familiar and reassuring how did you get started as a

Band he smiled again then took another sip of his Brandy and more puffs of his cigar I wasn’t talking much so I could enjoy the cigar without interruption Trey Wall-E and Link had known each other in high school and they had a garage band already put together

Ricky explained all kids wanted to play in a rock band in those days if they weren’t jocks and none of the bills were Wall-E I laughed you mean Walter Westfield was called WALL-E that’s hysterical Ricky laughed too yes it is now we were all a lot different then of

Course free fun just enjoying life he stopped again remembering that happy time he described it so vividly that I felt happy too anyway they already had a band and Johnny and I joined it we couldn’t think of a good name at first but about that time Trey began dating

Billy Joe and kid started calling us the six bills so we settled on six bills as the name for the group part of this story I’d already heard from link but getting more than one version was a good idea besides the cigar was wonderful and

I had nowhere special to go just now God knows I’d had plenty of sleep so you became a band I prompted so we became a band he repeated we were friends we loved each other life and everything in it for a while I reminded him his face

Darkened then and he put down the Brandy yes for a while until Trey began to drink too much and take drugs he attracted groupies oh he wasn’t as popular as Harris is now of course but he was getting to be well known the combination of the drinking and the fans caused

Trade to get pretty full of himself he’d started being nasty to Billy Joe and to everyone else whenever we were around even before we went to Woodstock things were starting to get out of hand Ricky was troubled the happy memories giving way to darker ones tell me about that

The trip to Woodstock whose idea was it how’d you get there he wrinkled his brow in concentration he told me that he hadn’t thought about those days in a long time but that the idea of going might have been links link had been the most serious musician in the group The Rest

Realized they’d never make a living with music but link had always believed he would make it big he idolized the great Rock guitaris Ricky said Santana Hendrick and a few others were Link’s Idols a number of them were supposed to play at Woodstock link felt he just had to go

Really what else would six college kids in a to do for a summer vacation Ricky laughed out loud anyway we all started to get excited about it I can tell you my mother nearly had a stroke chapter 36 he shook his head either at the foolishness of their behavior or the

Pleasant memory maybe both we were kids Ricky said we had no idea what we were getting into or what it would take to get there and back but we went Wally had a van and they all had some money since the band was starting to get paid for

Little gigs around town before that Trey and Billy Joe had gotten married you knew that right Ricky asked me looking to be sure I was following along I also heard that Trey steam was already knocking Billy Joe around by that time I told him that he was sleeping with other

Girls and just generally treating Billy Joe like a piece of property he didn’t care about too much I wanted to let him know I wasn’t interested in a Snow Job Ricky nodded solemnly and his tone changed to one of seriousness by the time we got in Wally’s van to go to Woodstock the

Relationship between Trey and Billy Joe was icy to say the least Trey smoked himself into Oblivion and the rest of us were actually relieved Ricky raised his eyebrows to let me know he meant Trey was high on marijuana and who knew what else Ricky told me then about the 3 days

They spent at Woodstock the weather had been mostly miserably cold and wet and the grounds had offered very little in the way of bath or shower facilities all six of them took turns sleeping in the van they brought sleeping bags to Camp outside but the rain made that

Impossible yet they were luckier than one attendee they met who slept in the trunk of his car using his belt to tie down the lid against the elements when Trey stomped off to a tent with some girls he’d found and slept there Joe was heartbroken Johnny consoled her one night they all sat

Around with marijuana and Ricky thought maybe LSD but he couldn’t say for sure alcohol flowed freely someone had a gallon jug of purple Jesus which was wine mixed with vodka and other unknown ingredients in a relatively short time they were all high or drunk or both and

Billy Joe was sad or lonely or both the next day Trey came back and we all drove home Ricky Shrugged I’m embarrassed about it now 30 years later certainly I wouldn’t want my own children to do something like that but even with the todness of the whole experience somehow

It brought us all closer together too it changed us forever how so my cigar was gone he’d finished his Brandy and his story Ricky had dropped the oldw world Cuban facade somewhere in the telling it’s hard to describe real the bills were close before but now we were inseparable we just loved each

Other deeply we felt our trip was probably the single most significant thing six college students had ever done together we all knew Woodstock would never be over for us he leaned forward in his chair closer looking at me intently as if he could Infuse me with understanding until Billy Joe killed

Trey that blew us all to Smither we drifted for a while Johnny went to Vietnam Wally went off to Europe and then on to law school I went to graduate school for an MBA and stayed Lucky in the lottery system until Nixon brought the boys home link went to Canada and

Only came back when President Ford declared amnesty for draft Dodgers the world changed and we all changed too I guess his eyes were mournful we sat together for a while thinking quietly Ricky was the most candid source of information about six bills I’d found so

Far maybe I could try to push him a little further tell me what happened the night try steam died Ricky considered the question for a long time then he shook his head back and forth denying my request that’s ancient history now isn’t it we should let Trey and Billy Joe rest

In peace I can’t do that Ricky Harris is in jail he he’ll not only go to prison he may well get the death penalty I didn’t say how desperate I was to prevent just that result Ricky remained unpersuaded he continued to shake his head back and forth so sad such a sad

Story I took the plunge Harris didn’t kill Billy Joe just like Billy Joe didn’t kill Trey steam Ricky Drew in his breath quickly as if I’d frightened him I pressed on the real killer is still out there you’ve got to help me find out who killed Billy Joe so that we can both

Help Harris Ricky regained his composure but kept shaking his head saying a silent no he put down his Brandy Sniff and returned his cigar butt to the ashay he’d set out the formal Ricky returned he looked at his watch and changed the tone of our meeting completely you must forgive me Willa I

Have another appointment I’ve already kept waiting waiting for half an hour I can’t discuss any more of this today he rose and gestured me to the door indicating that I should stand and leave I tried one last time you can help Harris Ricky do it for your old friends

I urged him I’m sorry Willa I really have another engagement please excuse me he walked me to the door of his inner office my secretary will show you out and give you a box of cigars I hope you enjoy them with my compliments he smiled his friendly smile

But not as broadly as he had when I arrived I’d been given the bums Rush politely but my dismissal was still final I found myself out on the street holding a box of gara’s special reserves and a head full of information I looked down at my own

Watch now and realized why my stomach was growling it was lunchtime and I was in ebore City I knew plenty of places to eat in ebore on a Saturday I drove Greta to the parking garage they’d built for Centro eore the new shopping and entertainment complex over on 15th

Street I collected my briefcase and hoofed it over to a new Brew Pub I’d heard about I planned a thinking lunch my journal my thoughts and me the short walk North on 15th street across 7th Avenue and a quick Sprint up the stairs placed me right right in front of barley

Hoppers at a little after 1:00 the place was busy with both tourists and locals enjoying the sports bar atmosphere and the variety of micro brewed beer the upscale Pub served I guess that the new movie theaters here at Central ebore would provide a respit from the heat

After lunch for many of the other diners judging from the size of the crowd a slew of films must be starting at about 2:00 I asked the hostess to seat me at a table in the back away from the the plasmas screen televisions I could understand the

Sports channels but the other half of the screens were tuned to the Victoria Secret Channel what’s up with that I asked the raven-haired waitress when she came over to take my order she Shrugged her answer after I’d requested a sinful cheeseburger with fries and a salad and

Rejected the server’s offer of beer in favor of iced tea I opened my briefcase I tossed my journal inside before I’d left home for my meeting with Ricky Gutierrez now examining the contents for the first time since I’d left the office yesterday I saw that Augustus had

Enclosed a memo saying he’d ordered the court file on the trial for State of Florida versus wetta Johnson steam the file had been returned from archives and was waiting for me in the clerk’s office for pickup alternatively the clerk would copy the file at my expense and I could

Keep the duplicate the trial had been short and the file was only two volumes it would probably be faster just to run over there and look at it the courthouse was closed for the weekend so I made a note to go over on Monday at lunchtime the waitress came back with my

Tea in a frosty mug and I took a long cool thirst quenching sip I could smell the Heavenly Aroma of grilling burgers my mouth was watering just thinking about mine nothing better than a cheeseburger in Paradise I spent a few minutes recording the high points of my talk with Ricky in

My journal and then reviewing my action plan his description of the trip taken by six bills was more information than I’d gotten from link neither Walter Westfield nor Billy Joe had ever mentioned going to the famous music festival I could understand why Walter wouldn’t want to flaunt his

Participation in what was perhaps the most notorious lovein of the hippie era everybody at Woodstock had inhaled secondhand smoke if nothing else Walter could probably still get elected but a history of drug use even in youthful indiscretion would limit many of his aspirations to hire office but

Why wouldn’t Billy Joe have told me people who attended Woodstock were rather exclusive Club there weren’t that many of them in the whole country here all six of the bills had gone to the festival when I had first started working on this project five of the six

Were still alive the Omission might be insignificant in the long run but it bothered me that the bond they’d forged there seemed so strong to Ricky yet not something Billy Joe or Walter ever mentioned I was unsettled too because Ricky wouldn’t talk about the KN of Trey steam’s murder again his refusal seemed

In congruous with the rest of our conversation what did Ricky know about the murder or maybe what did he suspect Ricky Gutierrez is a well-respected businessman now he wouldn’t be thrilled to have the community know he’d been involved in drugs sex and rock and roll

Even if he had been just a kid at the time if nothing else he had five children to shelter from that knowledge it was curious that he would tell me about going to Woodstock something so personally explosive but would not talk about Trey steam’s murder to which he

Hadn’t even been a witness when the waitress brought my hamburger and fries I set the journal aside I put lettuce tomato a big slice of raw onion and a load of dill pickles on the burger along with a big splash of mustard I’d have added mayonnaise but that would be too

Fattening I dabbed my fries in mustard and ate them with my fingers one at a time heaven when I finished up my lunch I wiped the grease off my chin repacked my briefcase and took a quick look at my watch I had time for one more stop before I headed home chapter

37 John joh Tyson lived in a small Florida ranch house in carolwood Village a suburb built out on Northdale ma Highway in the 50s and 60s Johnny’s yard was seriously underc cared for something The Village undoubtedly frowned upon precious little grass dotted the lawn and what grass remained in the front was

Yellow from lack of rainfall Florida has been going through a cyclical drought for several years and local restrictions would have prevented Johnny from watering the lawn often enough to keep the grass green but I saw no sign of a sprinkling system or a garden hose Johnny’s house didn’t

Look as if a gardener lived there the front door was closed the storm windows were in place some Floridians just turned on the air conditioning and never turned it off no matter what the temperature Johnny Tyson fell into that set I rang the bell stood and waited

After a while I rang the bell again I could hear a chime noise inside the house even with the door and windows closed up tighter than a magnet hugged steel one more try then I’d have to come back another time I pushed the button and held it for a few seconds before I

Moved my hand off the button the door opened what what he ranted angry at the noise or me or maybe the world the man standing behind the screen looked nothing like the Johnny Tyson I’d met before if I hadn’t known Johnny lived alone I’d have thought I had the wrong address

Johnny wore boxer shorts and a tank type t-shirt neither of which had been washed in several days he was barefoot in shaven unwashed and from the smell of him pickled in alcohol it was enough to make me swear off drinking Johnny it’s Willa Carson we had an appointment

Remember can I come in at this point I wasn’t sure I wanted to enter if he looked this bad what would the interior of the house be like he turned around and walked further inside leaving me to open the screen and follow behind sure sure sure he said as he walked away I

Let myself into a small sparsely furnished living room where the floor and every available surface including chair seats were stacked with newspapers books and writing tablets a computer sat on a small desk in the corner the monitor turned on the screen savers flying Windows making a mesmerizing

Pattern the desk chair was the only unoccupied seat in the room Johnny must have been sitting there ignoring the noise when I rang the bell the desk itself was cluttered with papers a large green ashtray resting in the middle of a 5in high teppy of cigarette butts and

Ashes was barely visible the odor of stale cigarettes was overwhelming but it camouflaged the other disgusting odors here a tumbler half full of brown liquid that was likely Bourbon and not iced tea sat next to the Green Ash teppy Johnny walked walked over to the desk picked up

His glass and his smoldering cigarette he stood in the middle of the room looking around presumably for a place to sit finding none he then walked into the kitchen I followed him from a safe distance breathing through my mouth trying to avoid the garbage dump smells

In the kitchen more piles of paper were stacked on the table and all six of the dinette chairs Johnny put the tumbler on a small patch of brown surface that peaked through the piles lifted a stack of papers from one chair and gestured for me to sit then he took the tumbler

And went over to stand in front of the sink looking vaguely in my direction holding the cigarette in one hand and the drink in the other he waited he didn’t offer me anything in fact he didn’t say anything at all Johnny I started I wanted to talk to you about

The night Billy Joe died he still said nothing just took another drag and another sip the contract from the Johnny I’d met at the victory party was so complete I’d almost believed this man was Johnny’s evil twin if I believed in evil twins which I don’t is that okay

Can we talk about that he nodded imperceptibly I thought which gave me the boldness to continue you were at Harris house that night for a party right he nodded again when did you get there he cleared his throat and took a sip from the tumbler and a drag from the

Cigarette he tried his voice but no sound emerged he cleared his throat again then he rasped about 8 where had you been before that Johnny’s eyes started to water as he considered where he and Billy Joe had been before they went to Harris steam’s party he hung his

Head I didn’t try to prod him again feeling maybe this was just going to be impossible maybe I’d come too soon after Billy Joe’s death too soon after he’ buried the love of his life life maybe he just couldn’t talk about it now Johnny cleared his throat again and

Raised his head glancing at me and then darting away his gaze Billy Joe and I went to the county clerk’s office last week Sunday we got a friend to marry us she wanted you to do it he looked at me as if I had let Billy Joe down she never

Asked me to marry the two of you I’d have been pleased to I said officiating at a wedding was one of the few happy things a judge gets to do usually I’d have enjoyed doing so for Billy Joe and Johnny he ignored my protest then we

Went to dinner at Burns he went on he meant Burns Steakhouse a standard for big celebrations in Tampa she was so happy finally Billy Joe didn’t have many happy times in her life but we were both happy that day he’d started to talk now and he didn’t stop he was telling me the

Story of Billy Joe’s death I turned on the tape recorder I’d taken out of my pocket and placed it on the kitchen table Billy Joe wore a Blue Dress the color of her eyes had her hair styled makeup done she looks so beautiful we toasted ourselves with champagne we

Wanted to spend whatever time she had left together he drank more smoked more thought a while then he continued after dinner we took a taxi over to Harris house we were both too high to drive we got there about 8:00 Harris has a studio in the back

He’d set up for the bills to play a few tunes for the guests you know the wives and the kids couple of friends he shook his head back and forth it was just a real nice day a wonderful day for Billy Joe she shouldn’t have told him she’d be

Alive if she hadn’t told him he didn’t know all these years why’ she have to tell him now that I was his daddy at that point Johnny stopped again closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose to keep himself from crying and then he could hold it back no longer

He began the crying Jag of a drunken man who has suffered a terrible loss I reached down and turned off the tape recorder I got up went to him and attempted to comfort him but nothing I did made him feel any better was drunk and Billy Joe was dead I could change neither

Circ*mstance once I had held him for a while I no longer noticed his unwashed stench of booze and cigarettes I helped him back to the bedroom of the small house I moved several mounds of paper off the dirty linens on the bed and helped him lie

Down he was snoring loudly before I left the room I put gre’s top down so that I could stand to be inside the car with myself Johnny’s noxious garbage dump perfume stayed with me the whole trip home in the shower after i’ put my clothes in the washing machine on the

Way through the laundry room I thought about what Johnny had said haris was Johnny’s Child Link had suggested the possibility but how could they know for sure Florida law presumes that a child born in wedlock was fathered by the husband the only way to prove Johnny was Harris biological father was through a

DNA paternity test as far as I knew knew such a test had never been done couldn’t be done without Harris knowledge and even then try steam would still be Harris legal father Trey and Billy Joe were from all accounts constant lovers until his death how could Billy Joe

Really know that Johnny was Harris father and if she didn’t know for sure why Tell Harris something so upsetting maybe Billy Joe wished Johnny was Harris father and maybe Johnny actually was Harris father even so why would that matter to Harris now Trey steam came from a prominent Tampa family as hard

And rigid as Bill and Mary steam were they had raised Harris in the same privileged background they’d given their son Harris identity was the only thing he had that he could call his own also Harris was well known partly because of his father’s tragic death the Romance of

The Dead Singer’s son being a successful singer himself had served Harris career very well Harris had just recorded the duet CD of his dad’s old Tunes which he hoped to sell into double or triple gold numbers would his fans care if Harris wasn’t Tre steam’s child it wasn’t as if

Trey steam was a rock and roll icon he had barely gotten started when Trey died Trey steam wasn’t Ricky Nelson or Jim Morrison or someone else of that stature I suppose there would be some embarrassment if Harris turned out to be Johnny’s child but surely not enough for

Harris to kill Billy Joe it would have made more sense for Harris to kill Johnny if Harris was a killer which he wasn’t I’d already made up my mind about that as I finished my shower I was no closer to forcing these recent pieces to fit my predesigned puzzle I continued to

Wiggle the facts around in my mind moving the pieces from one side of the puzzle to the other as I got dressed and put on Saturday afternoon’s minimal makeup while I was giving my hair a quick blow dry the telephone Hello darling George said busy tonight what did you have in mind I

Thought you might want to join your brother Jason and me for dinner downstairs around 7:00 I looked quickly at the clock it was just 4:00 now that would give me 3 hours to finish my work for today and then get dressed Jason’s in town Jason Austin is the closest thing to a big

Brother I’ve ever had or will ever have his mother Kate took me in when my stepfather couldn’t face life without Mom I had only been 16 then it’s true that I don’t see Jason often and I do enjoy his company but he is just so much work because he’s so brilliant an

Intellectual it’s exhausting Jason also happens to be the chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee so he thinks he knows everything if you’re planning to strategize and discuss politics I’ll pass thanks do you think we can avoid the upcoming Senate race as a topic of conversation over dinner Jason works for

Senator Sheldon Warick Tampa’s Democratic senator the rumor was that Warick was planning to retire Jason expected to be Warwick’s handpicked successor this was the senatorial seat Walter Westfield was already campaigning for so Jason was really here to discuss politics with George for you anything he said I pictured George’s grin really you

Won’t hurt my feelings I just don’t have the energy to deal with Jason’s Ambitions tonight well I thought you might want to talk to Jason about Leo Columbo actually if you don’t that’s okay I can send something up for you you know I’d almost forgotten about Leo yes I would like

That I’ll meet you at 7 I looked at the clock to be sure there was still time for my last appointment before dinner come a little early and we’ll have a quiet half hour before he arrives if you like George invited me and don’t forget our date tomorrow night I’ve hardly seen

You lately Mighty Mouse chapter 38 since she was both a doctor and a single mother I hoped Eva would be at home on that Saturday afternoon instead of working or out with her kids Harris had insisted that I leave Eva alone but he wasn’t the one calling the shots I

Was doing this investigation for my own piece of mind I hoped to prove that I hadn’t gotten Billy Joe killed and ruined Harris Life by helping Billy Joe get out of prison so far I was making little progress after the divorce Eva and the girls had moved back home with Eva’s

Parents Alex and Cindy Reigns I knew of the family of course everyone did they had lived in Tampa forever and owned one of Tampa’s favorite clothing stores they both worked in the store which had moved from its original downtown Florida Avenue location into Old Hyde Park Village about 10 years ago Reigns’s

Carried typical Tampa Weare which is to say fairly conservative clothes for both men and women that were of good quality if a little higher priced trendier shops now offered the designer labels like Tommy Bahama Lauren and NAA that many tampons were wearing in but Rees had been selling clothes for Tampa’s

Semi-tropical climate for over 50 years the faithful patrons who shopped there wanted Replacements that were identical or nearly identical to their favorites when their old clothes were worn out the tag line under the Reign’s label said it all traditional clothing for men and women Alex and Cindy Reigns lived on

Golf View aptly named because of its panoramic view of the Great Oaks Golf Course the course was one of the prettiest views in South Tampa if you didn’t feel the need to see the water I checked the street address again and found the house easily the Reigns house

Was modest by today’s standards for a family with their means it was a ranch style red brick about 3,000 ft and like the Rees themselves traditional I could hear children in the yard when I pulled up in the driveway on Saturday Alex and Cindy would have been at the store until

Noon they kept traditional retail hours too now I was fairly late so they were probably home with Eva and the girls the front door was covered by a screen that let the breezes through the house I could see Eva inside at the kitchen sink I called her name rather than ringing

The bell she picked up a towel and wiped her hands on it as she came toward the door come in Willa what a surprise to see you she said I noticed she didn’t say the surprise was a pleasant one Eva looked the way she always did traditional she had on a sleeveless

White cotton shirt that hugged her slender form and was tucked into green khaki shorts on her feet she wore loafers her curly hair was pulled back into a scrunchie and she wore no makeup I opened the screen door and let myself into the house she had already turned

And walked away from me saying please come back to the kitchen where I can keep an eye on the girls in the pool I followed her through to the large Sunny kitchen where where I could see several children not just Evis girls having the time of their lives in the backyard pool

Was I ever that Carefree I must have been at the age of seven surely I saw Cindy Reigns bent over working in her Rose Garden at the back of the lot Alex was sitting in a lounge chair on the lenai with his newspaper and a glass of

Iced tea Eva and I engaged in strin small talk about the girls the garden and the weather a few minutes of awkward silence followed coffee Eva eventually asked me as she got out the mugs more for something to do with me than because either of us wanted the beverage sure I said letting

Her busy herself with the small task Eva said about the project without conversation and I let her avoid me a while longer as she was pouring the water into the coffee maker she spilled water on the tile and it ran onto the floor I watched in Fascination As Eva

Slammed the Raff down onto the counter it shattered into a thousand pieces splattering water everywhere she shouted damn it I hate this coffee pot I’ve told Mother to buy another one do I have to do everything in this house myself Eva stormed out of the room went

To the back of the house and slammed a distant door so hard it shook the floor underneath my chair the violence she displayed was so disproportionate to the event that I sat there in Frozen silence no one out in the backyard had heard Eva Outburst or seemed to know I was here

Now what after a few minutes not knowing what else to do I cleaned up the glass and the water Eva had spilled I found another caraffe and made the coffee I just turned the coffee maker on the aroma filling the air when Cindy Reigns came into the kitchen oh she said

Startled to see me I’m sorry I didn’t know Eva had company Cindy Reigns was about 65 I guessed and built like her daughter she was tall slender and well cared for in an upper middle class sort of way her skin was smooth her hair stylish and her Pearl

Stud earrings were in place even for a Saturday afternoon in the garden hello Mrs Reigns I said call me Cindy dear have we met she had taken off her gardening gloves and was washing her hands at the sink one of the realities of moving to an old town like Tampa was

That if you’d been here less than 20 years you were still a newcomer I’d met Cindy Reign several times but she honestly had no idea who I was yes ma’am in your store I’m Willa Carson I didn’t want to mention Billy Joe’s funeral too if she recognized my name she gave no

Outward sign of it Cindy kept looking at me as if she couldn’t quite Place me but her training did not desert her well well it’s so nice to see you again dear I see Evas got the coffee brewing would you like a cup I accepted and she took

Up the task Eva had begun before she’d had her tantrum after Cindy poured the coffee she joined me at the table taking a seat to the side of me that allowed her to see the children outside where Eva had been sitting before I arrived I

Had to turn to face her we sipped our coffee together quietly for a few minutes saying nothing both lost in our own thoughts and letting the joyous cackles of the kids in the pool drown all despondency it’s a birthday party Willie is 10 today Cindy said while I finished

My unwanted caffeine fix Eva will be taking the cake out soon I’m sure won’t you stay for a slice no ma’am I really can’t do that I’m afraid I’m going to have to be leaving shortly oh well I can’t imagine where Eva has gone surely she’ll be back in a minute she’s

Forgetful sometimes you know since her car accident she’s never been quite the same one minute she’s just fine and the next she’s upset herself terribly Cindy seemed to have guessed why I was here alone in her kitchen well yes ma’am that’s what happened Eva spilled the

Water when she was making the coffee and it upset her I think she went back to her room Cindy frowned I was afraid of that when she’s under stress like today with the party it’s harder for her Cindy shook her head slowly the doctor said she damaged her brain when her head hit

The windshield most of the time she can control herself with her medication but sometimes she just can’t she doesn’t do it on purpose usually she doesn’t even remember being rude I’m very sorry maybe you’d better come back to visit her another time Cindy rain saw saw me to

The front door as I left she said it might be best to call first we have so many things going on around here with the children and all she let her voice Drift Away George was waiting for me at the door to the Sunset bar when I

Arrived at 6:30 as planned for dinner with him and my brother he had on his Saturday night summer work uniform playing the role of gentleman restor Tor brilliantly tonight he wore a pair of charcoal gray linen trousers his long sleeved gray linen shirt was buttoned at the collar but he wore no

Tie or jacket I noticed he wore no socks with his black Gucci loafers either he looked elegant but casual exactly the way his clientele expected him to dress which wasn’t the reason he dressed this way George actually liked his conservative but Elegant Style he dressed in the same basic clothes when

I’d first met him in college he kissed me then led me over to to our favorite table he’d already placed our order for white wine and we sat in comfortable long married silence while we enjoyed the cool crisp Taste of my favorite Chardonnay so what were you up to today

He asked me I shared my conversations with Ricky Gutierrez and Johnny Tyson you’re saying Harris killed Billy Joe because he didn’t like the idea of Johnny being his father George asked me skepticism Plain on his face I’m not saying that I don’t believe Harris killed Billy Joe at all I’m just telling

You what Johnny Tyson said I explained Feeling Again my impatience over the story I suppose it would be unsettling at least to find out the man you thought was your father wasn’t your father George said following my earlier train of thought especially if your father was from a prominent Tampa family I guess

Harris whole identity would be in question then wouldn’t it yes I agreed but but that doesn’t mean he’d kill his mother over it that makes no sense yet Eva told you that Harris was enraged over the news didn’t she although she didn’t say just what that news was maybe

He just flew off the handle in a fit of passion George suggested I shook my head no that wonk work Billy Joe wasn’t killed until hours after Harris had his temper tantrum you’d have to believe that he waited until everyone left his party came out

And shot Billy Joe In Cold Blood I just don’t believe that you don’t believe it or you won’t believe it George challenged gently chapter 39 okay then I won’t believe it not until I see some proof that it happened that way what kind of proof do you need the police have enough independent

Evidence to convict Harris even if he hadn’t confessed Harris was the only one in the house when Billy Joe was killed now Johnny has supplied you with a motive too what more will it take to convince you the reasonableness of the question burst my bubble completely I don’t know but I just won’t

Believe Harris did this George I can’t he reached over and took my hand holding it on the table between us Billy Joe’s murder isn’t your fault you know you’re not responsible for how these adults behave they’re all responsible for their own choices you were just in the wrong

Place at the wrong time I was miserable I’d like to believe that it would make forgiving myself somewhat easier but you know I took an active part in all this on Harris behalf I put the pieces in play that resulted in Billy Joe’s death the only way I can

Even try to get past this is if I can find her real killer and prove that the murder had nothing to do do with her esteem the man who has been like an older brother to me Jason Austin walked up just then well I thought I might find

You two in here George got up to shake his hand and Jason sat down beside me on the bench giving me a kiss hello George waved over another glass of white wine for Jason along with a small bowl of smoked almonds we watched the end of the

Sunset nibbled the nuts and caught up with each other since Jason’s last visit after we’d moved to the dining room our initial social chatter lagged I asked Jason what brings you here this weekend he allowed a troubled frown to settle on his face I finally had to bring Sheldon

Home he said referring to his boss shaking his head in sorrow Senator Sheldon Warick and I are not friends he is a ruthless politician who would sell out his own mother if it suited him I hadn’t seen him in quite a while by my own choice I avoid Sheldon whenever possible

Still basic compassion demanded that I ask is Sheldon sick how bad is he George asked at the same time Jason looked at me strangely you didn’t know I thought George would have told you or perhaps the news would have leaked out somehow I figured it was why that jackass Walter

Westfield had the nerve to declare his candidacy for Sheldon senate seat now it was my turn to be completely confused what are you talking about I asked sourly the last time I saw Sheldon he was as strong as a horse what I didn’t say was that the last time I’d

Seen Sheldon he’d made a complete fool of me not an experience I’d plan to give him the opportunity to repeat Sheldon has Alzheimer’s disease it will eventually be fatal in a few months he was diagnosed a couple of years ago he’s been carrying on as best he can but he

Never planned to run for re-election Jason said George asked the disease has progressed much faster than expected then yes but I think that’s because they took so long figuring out what he had at first he had symptoms similar to Huntington’s disease his speech was slurred he was clumsy and dropped things

He was having trouble with his balance but when they did the testing the doctors ruled HD out he must have been glad about that George said well HD is a terrible disease and it’s fatal but at least it progresses slowly and the doctors understand how to treat it Sheldon’s condition has progressed very

Quickly now it looks like he’ll be bedridden for the final stages over the next few months Jason said he and Victoria are dealing with it as well as they can but it’s a tragedy thank God they only had one child why wouldn’t children help to comfort them now I

Asked maybe but Alzheimer’s is often hereditary Sheldon could have passed it on to his children what will this mean for your career I asked him for me the worst of it is that people will think I’ve stayed with him watched him die and then tried to fill his shoes all for

Avarice which is absolutely not true Jason vowed no one who knows you will think that Jason George said most of us have known about Sheldon’s condition for quite a while he’s made it known that he wants you to fill his seat if he dies before the election the Senate will

Likely give you the position for the rest of his term as the house did for Mary Bono Sunny Bono’s Widow and a few others George’s typical support for Jason touched me and reminded me why I love them both Jason was visibly affected too thanks I appreciate the vote of

Confidence I know being the incumbent will help me in the election against Westfield Sheldon and I have talked about it quite a bit I think he intends to ask Westfield to drop out of the race but Prescott Roberts won’t let Walter do that even as a personal favor to Sheldon

Jason finished well George said I promis Willow we wouldn’t talk politics all through dinner let’s wait until after our dessert then you and I can talk about it privately this was George’s code for saying that he would help Jason achieve the senate seat in the world of political favors this was probably

Somehow related to the favor I had asked from the governor on Billy Joe’s behalf I suppose the governor didn’t want Walter Westfield in the Senate the governor had pledged to help me and now George would pay back the favor by helping the governor keep Westfield out

Of the senate or maybe family was simply more important to George than politics whatever his reasons I appreciated not being involved in the process one of George’s most experienced waiters had been hovering in the background for a few minutes when George lifted his eyes the man came to take our orders giving

Us an opportunity to segue to a new conversational topic afterward so what’s up with Leo Columbo I asked Jason he laughed same old Willa never beat around the bush when a nosy question will do the trick I Shrugged in the face of his mockery I prefer to think of myself as

Forthright he and George burst out laughing I’m sure you do I’m sure you do said my brother after they’d had their fun I repeated my question seriously Jason what do you know about your mother’s new husband ah The Dashing mysterious Leo Columbo he mocked chapter 40 saved by the food

Jason said when the waiter had brought our appetizers I’d ordered the venison Carpaccio George had the hot and cold fa*gra and Jason was looking at his plate as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks as soon as he could politely do so meaning right after the waiter removed his hand from the plate

To avoid being pierced by a fork Jason consumed the small portion of assorted mushrooms fava beans and summer truffles with Morel sauce and Water Crest kolis in three bites George attacked his fa*gra with equal Gusto I addressed my venison with much more restraint the green beans celery root pickled red

Onions and gala apples were served with thinly sliced raw venison whole grain mustard and rosemary parmesan croutons I only knew the ingredients because they were printed on George’s daily menu the combination something I would never have dreamed up myself was great I tried not to think of Bambi while I ate it and

Instead concentrated on how destructive deer are to The Gardens of my friends in Traverse City Michigan deer cut down flowers and plants with the devouring power of a high-speed lawn mower not to mention that they are more plentiful than cows in some states and twice as

Tasty so what’s up with Leo I asked again the waiter would not return to remove Jason’s plate or serve our second dishes until I finished my venison I ate slowly you never give up do you Jason remarked with affection I think he took a deep breath and recited the facts in a rush

Okay Leo Columbo is exactly what he and Mom say he is he is 35 years old his father is Leonardo Columbo senior who was an old boyfriend of moms back in her Salad Days Leo was working as a male model in Florence when mom went to visit

Leo’s father in a small village nearby she and Leo met fell in love and married then they moved back here he looked at me with an expression that said he had nothing more more to report and would I please hurry up with the damn venison I slowly put my Fork on the side

Of the plate and took an appreciative sip of the Les Fort statur 1997 George had selected the red Bordeaux table wine felt smooth and dry on my tongue as if I hadn’t yet sipped it after it had already left my mouth and and what Jason was

Truculent and what is it that Leo has you investigating about these children not eating the venison would have been much more difficult if I hadn’t had that fabulous cheeseburger for lunch as it was I felt as if I could hold out for quite a while longer Jason on the other

Hand must have skipped breakfast and lunch expecting one of George’s Sumptuous dining experiences how do you live with her he asked George in mock exasperation George smiled and said mostly I just try to stay out of the way he was enjoying the play of Wills between Jason and me but George bets on

The winner Jason turned an exasperated glare toward me if you eat that last bite of venison so we can get on with this meal I’ll tell you a the bribe I put the last of the venison in my mouth and smiled With Victory as the smooth

Cool feel of it slid down to my stomach and lodged there to my complete Joy almost instantaneously the waiter appeared and removed the plates I sipped my wine and waited okay Le was never married before Mom Jason said again reciting as if I held a gun to his head

However he did have at least one long-term Affair that produced two children the woman left Leo and took the children with her she moved to Rome and he lost track of her he wants me to help him find the mother prove the children are his and arrange for him to have

Visitation rights I wasn’t sure whether Leo having no ex-wife was better or worse than his having one what’s this about bringing the kids here to live with him and Kate I asked Jason turned to George and said can’t you keep anything to yourself you’ve tried it George said in mock seriousness how well

Did that work the waiter appeared again this time with our salads Jason and I had ordered the asparagus and videlia onion salad while George had opted for the other one something the chef called composed salad to me it just looked like a tossed salad but at these prices he

Had to name the food something that didn’t sound like you could get it at a fast food restaurant once he makes a deal Jason will stick by it I didn’t have to prompt him to continue mom insists that the children’s mother is not fit to raise the boys some

Evidence exists to support that theory and you know Mom she’s wanted grandchildren for ages and my brother is the only one who’s come up with any mom’s ready to have youngsters around again he smiled his Indulgence of his mother’s idiosyncrasies he’d slowed down now taking his time to enjoy the food and my

Discomfort if you want to prevent mom from helping Leo the best way to do it would be to have a couple of kids and give them to her Jason teased me I shuddered so Leo is using Kate then just as I thought well I’d say it’s more of a

Case of you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours I’ve talked to Mom about it quite a bit I don’t think she’s agreed to help without full knowledge of the facts if your idea is that Leo is making a fool out of her I have to honestly say that I don’t see any

Evidence of any such thing Jason made his report with all the objectivity I hadn’t been able to muster how can this possibly be in Kate’s best interest once Leo gets what he wants he’s just going to leave her for someone closer to his own age I protested expressing my

Deepest fears for Kate she deserved unfettered happiness I didn’t want her heartbroken by Leo Columbo the ins files were filled with foreign Nationals who married American citizens just to get a life in this country I wanted to Shield Kate from the Heartbreak I won’t tell you the thought

Hasn’t crossed my mind or hers but I think you should discuss your concerns with her Willa mom is a lot savier about the ways of the world than you give her credit for she’s a senior citizen but she’s not scile Jason said far from it in fact mom knows what she’s doing even

If she doesn’t fully realize the implications of it all the waiter had removed our salad plates and now approached with what he called our principal dishes all three of us had ordered the roasted Colorado lamb loin served with spring peas Chantels and pearl onions with Dijon sauce the food

Was too good to fuss through so we spent our time giving it due appreciation while drinking a a second bottle of the dry red wine there was no more talk about Kate and Leo as we finished our delightful repast and elected to defer the cheese course as the dishes were

Cleared I left Jason and George to discuss politics while I went back to our flat to have an after dinner espresso in my sweats keeping company with my thoughts Sunday morning dawned clear and sunny with the temperatures already in the high’ 7s George was in the kitchen with his coffee The

Washington Post and and the two Tampa papers when I awoke Harry and Bess were lying on the floor at his feet I patted all three heads gathered my own coffee and returned to The Veranda for my journal hour I don’t run on Sunday even God rested one day a week since we had

Several hours before our Sunday night date George had scheduled a few personal errands I found myself with time on my hands that I should have spent working but I had no desire to work today I idled a while with the newspapers passed an hour exercising the dogs in

The water and got ready to face the day after that I could come up with no further excuses I had to go talk with Kate Jason’s Story last night about Leo was meant to reassure me and it did somewhat but Kate is a loving woman charitable in the extreme and somewhat

Naive about the ways of the world she is easily used and Leo is a user all I cared about was that Kate would end up none the worse for the experience when Leo got what he’d come for and then moved on to a younger woman talking with

Kate about that was a difficult matter I’d been trying to decide on the best approach since I’d left Jason last night I hadn’t come up with anything yet in response to my stomach I decided to get a sandwich before I started out I picked up my minuscule purse and the key to

Greta closed the door door and bounc down the stairs to the Sunset Bar I’d have made a tuna sandwich for lunch if we’d had any groceries in the flat which we never do my pantry is filled with wine microwave popcorn and coffee the gin and cigars are always plentiful but

Supply little nourishment I hurried into the Sunset Bar intending to order my sandwich there saving the lone Bartender the energy to serve me at a table when I walked in the door however Ursula Westfield was sitting in my favorite Booth facing the entrance as if she’d

Been waiting for me to appear Ursula had a tall cold drink in front of her that looked like a strawberry margarita on the rocks with salt I looked at my watch sure enough the time was afternoon sweeps were over now that it was June and Ursula had taken the time to come

Home for a while at her position in the hierarchy she could take several weeks off at a time as long as they weren’t during the television ratings season I joined her when she beckoned me over to the table but skipped the booze what’s up with that I gestured to the

Margarita it’s Sunday join me you’re way too stodgy to be the free willing young judge the papers describe don’t believe everything you read I told her smiling too I’ve always liked Ursula she’s a likable person which is what all of America enjoys about her as well well

Back when her husband Walter was ruling his firm with an iron hand and he and I were budding heads on a regular basis Ursula would take me to lunch the euphemism for a conference in which intelligent argumentative people of Goodwill try to work out their differences in a public setting where

Neither would risk an act of violence in those days Ursula was Kissinger to Walters Nixon he’d tick people off she’d smooth the ruffled feathers she was taking Partners to lunch to two or three times a week I’d long suspected that she was the glue behind the throne even before she became

So blindingly famous and well respected by millions of viewers no wonder Walter wanted to run for the Senate being eclipsed by his beautiful wife was something a limelight Hound Like Walter could never tolerate Walter wants me to give up this story you know Ursula told me sounds like a good idea don’t you

Think she was shaking her head even before I finished the sentence aren’t you just a little too close to this to be able to cover it now anyway she laughed again look who’s talking like you’re not playing Nancy Drew because you feel responsible okay she had a point but I

Am responsible Ursula Billy Joe would still be in prison if it weren’t for me and she’d be alive yes and I can say the same what gives you a corner on the guilt Market we were at a standoff here and we both knew it so what are you going to do I

Ask credibility with viewers is my only asset I have to see this thing through or give up my career she looked straight at me then I’m not prepared to retire no matter where this story leads chapter 41 no matter where leads I took a deep breath I done a lot

Of journaling since Billy Joe died I had quite a few questions I needed answered Ursula knew more than she’d shared with me or with the public now was the time to find out how deep her commitment to helping Harris went and how much guilt she actually felt for Billy Joe’s death

Tell me why you were at Harris house The Night Billy Joe died I asked her starting right out with the important things someone else could clear up the details later now it was Ursula’s turn to take a deep breath it was the reunion party I didn’t know six bills had

Reunions how long have they been doing that I gave her a quizzical look well I can’t say for sure but quite a while as long as Walter and I have been married they’ve been getting together maybe 15 years or more she sipped at her drink all of the bills come to these reunions

Harris too well except Billy Joe and Trey steam of course this information shocked me because I’d thought the bills were no longer in touch with each other when was the last reunion last June the get togethers are always in June because that was when the bills played its last gig the reunion

Memorializes the last time they were all together and happy the night TR steam died I didn’t have my notes so perhaps I was mistaken or maybe no one ever actually told me the bills had been out of touch all these years maybe I just assumed as much

Making an ass out of me for sure I have more and more senior moments but I usually remember the big stuff so that Sunday night was the anniversary of Trey steam’s murder and the six bills reunion sounds a little morbid don’t you think my sandwich arrived and I tried not to

Wolf it down as if I hadn’t eaten in a week for some reason I was starving perhaps at first replied Ursula thoughtfully playing with the straw in her drink you know tra steams been dead a long time I think the bills just wanted to reminisce about the good old

Days maybe play together a little Woodstock was a sort of a kneeling experience for them you know it’s not something any of them have ever taken lightly or wanted to forget when Trey died she pointed out the message delivered to the surviving bills was was that opportunities to form lifelong

Friendships like the ones they had were finite they were smart enough to figure out they wanted to keep their special feelings for each other alive she told me I chewed my tuna sandwich thoughtfully sipping iced tea between the bites what you know about the night try steam was murdered not a lot

Answered Ursula I’ve read the court files I talked to Billy Joe and Johnny while we were working on the news this week’s Story the facts are old and cold now Walter won’t talk about it she said Insight when it hits me slaps me silly did you start all of this to find out

Your husband’s deep dark secrets Ursula is that why we’re here this made me more than mildly annoyed I’m not in the domestic Bliss business Ursula had the grace to recognize my irritation and accept its cause partly the rest is that I’m worried about Walter’s Run for the Senate

Why how is Trey steam’s murder related to Walter’s ambition if I still sounded annoyed it’s because I was calm down Willa I’m sorry I never actually lied to you you know Billy Joe was innocent I was doing the news this week’s story Harris did need and want your help she

Was trying to Plate me but you didn’t tell me the whole truth did you you had a private agenda here and you suckered me into helping you with it the least you can do now that we’re in this mess is to tell me why you owe me that much

Ursula I scolded she had the decency to look apologetic she Shrugged a political campaign is a vicious thing you and Prescott Roberts know that a good deal better than Walter does he’s never run for office before George and the entire Republican party will oppose him that much he thinks he understands but Jason

Sheldon Warick and a large number of Democrats will oppose him too politics is a dirty game I didn’t want Walter to get hurt he’s not as strong as people think she was pleading with me now again the flash of insight you thought something in the trey steam story might

Hurt Walter and you wanted to prove otherwise before his political enemies killed him with inuendo I tried to keep the anger out of my voice but with difficulty if there’s one thing I hate it’s being used especially by people I consider to be my friends and most especially for political reasons that

She attempted to use me against my own family without my knowledge boiled my anger to the surface Ursula nodded and I knew you’d never help me do that I know you hate politics you’re not Walter’s biggest fan either nor would you oppose George or Jason so I got Harris to ask

Leo to persuade you my anger exploded like a white hot volcanic eruption you used me Ursula you deliberately set out to use me to do something you knew I would never do voluntarily how could you be so calculating how could you I stood up now threw down my napkin gathered my purse

And turned toward the door but I wanted to jolt her one last thing you should no Ursula Walter’s not out of the woods on this Billy Joe didn’t kill Trey Steam and that leaves Walter as one of the Prime suspects then Ursula delivered her Cuda gross what you don’t know is that Walter

Left right after the gig that night for a flight to Europe he was backpacking for weeks he told you he didn’t even know Trey had been murdered until he got back Walter’s not involved in Trey steam’s death I made sure of that before we eat even started obviously she was a

Smart woman youd better pray your right Ursula I seeed before I left her holding her Empty Glass I stomped my way out to Greta quickly lowered the convertible top and sped out of the parking lot taking out my anger on gre’s German engineering I felt the need for speed so

I turned left from our drive onto the Bayshore and made a quick right taking Gandy I kept gretto within the 35 M hour speed limit with difficulty until I passed Westshore and opened her up on the Gandy Bridge halfway across I looked down at the speedometer which

Registered 100 m an hour Greta wasn’t even breathing hard but I still was I backed off the accelerator slightly as we came to the end of the bridge the wind that blew through my hair had not blown away my anger even now I realized I was mostly furious with myself Ursula

Hadn’t forced me to help Billy Joe I had stepped into it with my usual spontaneity because I decided what the facts were before I investigated I had cast Billy Joe in the role of victim and Harris in the role of devoted son long before I knew whether

Those descriptions fit I alone had put myself in a compromised position and I was pissed off at myself for doing so my desire to outrun my own stupidity hadn’t deated by the time I got to the toll booth at the Sunshine Skyway bridge I paid the toll and drove on toward

Sarasota my thoughts were a tumble my mind wasn’t on the driving several times I caught myself passing every other vehicle on the road and slowed my speed back to 80 when I once again became conscious of my surroundings I was almost to Naples normally more than a

3-hour trip I’d been driving a little more than 2 hours I needed a break realizing I was getting farther from home but not far farther from my troubles I dropped Greta at the valet parking entrance to the Naples Ritz Carlton where I walked through the hotel

And onto the beach I knew I’d be alone here with nothing but nature to confront me I continued to stroll with my thoughts until I realized I’d actually gone quite a distance finally my emotional energy would Propel me no farther and I turned with a heavy tread to make my way back

To the hotel that had been made in the image of the larger world-renowned Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach then I sat in one of the lounge chairs on the sand allowing an attendant to bring me lemonade and an umbrella and stared out toward Mexico eventually I found some

Forgiveness for myself in the sparkling water of the Gulf of Mexico my biggest mistake here was the one I make over and over not trusting my instincts there are two things I know for sure the first is that you can’t make anyone do something he doesn’t want to do I know that

Because I’ve spent my career trying to make people do things they don’t want to do it never works oh we can take their money threaten convict people put them in prison and even kill them but in the end all humans do just what they choose all of us me Harris Ursula even Billy

Joe had done exactly what we wanted to do whether we were willing to admit that or not the second thing I know is that nothing in the world is ever certain what seemed true yesterday is often proved false tomorrow and that assumes everyone believed in the truth of it

Yesterday plentiful are those who lie and distort the facts at the outset honesty is as old-fashioned and scarce as gold coins even in my friends what rankled the most was that I had been duped I’d allowed myself to be used because I hadn’t thought this thing through I’d like the idea of helping

Harris and his mother I’d have been better off just dealing with my own issues like why do I always need to be the hero maybe I wanted to blame Ursula for sucking me into this mess but there was really no one to blame but me now I

Had to find Trey steam’s murderer and figure out who’d killed Billy Joe I had no choice I stealed my resolve to prove my own infallibility to myself for today I’d have to be satisfied with that I trudged back to the valet collected Greta and made my way home chapter

42 George and I love to watch movies we rarely watch television but movies are another matter we belong to the Tampa Theater Film Society and I sit on the board there we see new films at least once a week when we can art films comedies dramas even cartoons interest

Us both we’ve always talked about going to the can film festival or at least to Sundance but somehow such a trip had never made it into our schedule so spending our Sunday night date at Channelside Cinemas was perfect for both of us we would watch the film and

Dissect it later maybe this one would provide us with enough conversation to last several days as luck would have it Ricky and Janet Gutierrez were in line ahead of us at the box office when we arrived Channel Side is an open air entertainment shopping and dining

Destination it was built as part of the water front development that has been revitalizing downtown Tampa we liked Channelside because of its waterfront dining and its theater show The Independent films we enjoy George approached Janet and Ricky chatting for a few minutes while I stood in line for

The movie tickets they were going to the same small art film we’d chosen a Sundance Film Festival winner the theater was already crowded we walked in together but they were meeting friends and they left us just inside the darkened Auditorium during the previews I ducked out to the lady’s room I hate missing

Even part of a movie when Nature Calls my Early Childhood training was to go whenever the opportunity presented itself because you never know when you’d have another chance while I was washing my hands Janet Gutierrez exited one of the Stalls behind me she gave a nervous fancy meeting you here laugh as she

Joined me at the sink Janet a petite woman was dressed in a bright red designer pantsuit that reminded me of a flashy sports car her look was right out of a 1980s issue of Cosmopolitan magazine she sported a football helmet of Shaggy dark hair and her face was

Sharply defined by Dramatic Makeup she wore large obviously expensive jewelry and carried a $1,000 Prada handbag her red shoes were of the pointed toe stiletto heel variety I felt like a giant sloppy poor relation standing next next to her looking at our side by-side Reflections I thought we might have seen

You at the six bills reunion she said fluffing the wispy football helmet hair with her long manicured red nails as soon as the statement was out of her mouth she looked as if she wished she could take it back I often felt that way myself Billy Joe had been killed the

Night of the reunion but Janet wasn’t a vicious gossip Janet Gutierrez was harmless she was a very nice wife and mother who was just trying to be friendly to a woman she didn’t know at all in the bathroom at the movies I skipped over the unpleasantness and

Attempted to put her at ease how was the party I understand everyone had a good time early in the evening she seemed relieved that I had let her off the hook oh yes the bills reunions are always fun they play in Harris studio just like their last gig then they get together

Around the kitchen table and tell tales about how they used to celebrate at Billy Joe and Trey’s after every performance the children love to see Ricky happy playing his guitar and acting like a kid again and Harris has such a wonderful voice you never knew

His father then oh no I met Ricky when he came home from graduate school and his rock and roll days were already over but Ricky’s always been devoted to the bills he treats Harris just like our own children she applied a Fresh coat of Chanel red lipstick to her already

Bright red mouth really I had the impression Ricky rarely saw Harris or the other bills I said not at all Harris comes to the house every week his girls and our youngest kids are great friends Harris and Eva are like part of the family she gushed why Eva our doctor too

I mean she’s a neurologist but she just does the general stuff for us you know cold shots for the kids stuff like that this was new information when I’d seen Walter Westfield in Eva’s office I’d assumed he was Ill maybe Eva treated all of the bills and Walters was

Just a wellness visit I had been thinking about Eva treating Walter and the more I thought about it the less sense it made but if she was the doctor for all the bills then maybe Walter’s condition wasn’t as serious as I’d feared Harris and Eva still come over together even since the

Divorce sometimes she looked troubled again you know Eva just hasn’t been the same since her accident in what way I already knew Eva had suffered a head injury but I didn’t know how she behaved before her accident well she’s irritable she flies off the handle at the smallest

Thing Janet realized she was giving me the wrong impression oh I don’t mean she’s mean or anything and she she’s just as good a doctor as she ever was some of her patients deserted her after she got hurt but none of the bills did we all still see her like always

Unwittingly she confirmed my earlier thoughts Janet finished her primping and said to me Eva blamed Harris and Billy Joe for a lot of the problems in her marriage but it takes two you know Harris was so heartbroken when they divorced I think they might be getting back together she finished hopefully

Were you still at the party when Billy Joe and Johnny announced their marriage I asked as we made our way back to the theater she nodded enthusiastically it was so romantic don’t you think him waiting for her all those years they were so in love she said this like a woman who reads

Romances regularly in her world love conquered all Harris and Eva Billy Joe and Johnny Janet would be disappointed in the movie tonight which was the story of a tragic love a modern-day version of Romeo and Juliet four more days I promised myself silently as I walked quickly over to the Hillsboro County

Clerk’s office at lunchtime on Monday only four more days and I’d be finished with what I’d come to call the case from Hell AKA Madison versus cardiomed I’d arrived at the office early taken care of as much of my real workload as possible and then returned

To the den of inequity that had become the defense case at the lunch recess I had reminded all parties that we would be sending the case to the jury on Friday morning I tried unsuccessfully to hide my relief at the prospect Hillsboro County Circuit Court is located on Pier

Street like everything else in downtown Tampa it was just a few short blocks from my courtroom this Courthouse was much newer than mine but had very little character the building is three stories of plain vanilla construction that look even worse on the inside the county renovated the structure a few years ago

But it was only marginally improved the Hillsboro County Courthouse is one of the least impressive in the state a new courthouse is under construction and should be finished soon thankfully the staff in the clerk’s office was at lunch when I arrived but Augustus had called

Ahead and the file was waiting for me I took both volumes over to yet another government issue metal table and chair and sat there to eat my tuna sandwich and look through the file there wasn’t much to look at that I hadn’t already seen most of what the pleadings in the

Case reflected was contained in the summaries Harris had given me initially one of the things I was looking for wasn’t there I found no order entered for the destruction of the trial evidence routinely at some point after trial an administrative order would be entered requiring the destruction of

Evidence until that order is entered the evidence is stored in the court clerk’s office I saw no such order here I flipped through each page of both volumes one at a time just to be sure the order wasn’t misfiled it wasn’t for once someone’s failure to follow up on

The details of their job might benefit me without an order requiring the destruction of the trial evidence that evidence should still be available somewhere I hadn’t pushed Ben hathway when he came up with Trey steam’s old clothes and the murder weapon I’d been happy to have the evidence found and

Tested for DNA but now I saw a real chance of all that old evidence still being around both what was admitted at trial and what wasn’t admitted the admitted evidence should be somewhere here in the clerk’s office forensic techniques today are significantly Advanced over what they were in

1972 if I could find the physical evid evidence from the crime scene and have it re-examined it could tell me things the witnesses could not things the scientists might not have known when Trey steam was killed maybe even identify his killer it was a long shot

But at the moment the only shot I had I found the list of evidence admitted at the trial and put a Post-It note on that page for good measure I selected the witness and exhibit lists for copying two more than just the three Witnesses who had actually testified at the trial

Were listed some of the names I recognized some I didn’t I asked the desk attendant to make me a copy of the tagged pleadings paid her the $1 fee per page and slid the pages into my file folder when she handed them to me then I

Quickly made my way back to my courtroom just in time to retake the bench for more unexciting testimony in the Madison Case again when I recessed at 4:30 I quickly left the bench grabbed up my briefcase and my my small purse and exited the building I had to rush to

Make my next appointment but I arrived promptly at 4:45 chapter 43 the next interview on my list was with Walter Westfield or Wall-E as they called him back then I smiled to myself as I repeated the childish nickname out loud what a hoot William Walter Westfield the third being called Wall-E

Walter’s office was in one of the a buildings in downtown Tampa 200 North Tampa the same one that housed Southern Bank the Jameson firm had been in one of the older buildings but had moved to Southern several years ago a big firm jumping from one large office

Building to another was seldom seen here the move had made news in all the business Pages for several months before it actually happened shaking up the real estate business in town managers of the big buildings believe they have a captive tenant once they’ve leased several floors of space

But Walter Westfield didn’t think like that Walter looked at the old building and concluded it didn’t project the image he wanted for Jameson as its new leader he’d leased the first large chunk of space available at the recently constructed 200 North Tampa address and sold the idea to his Partners later on

Walter is not a detail man he’s a concept thinker Walter couldn’t be bothered with how such a move would be accomplished he was more interested in making things happen driving around and around and around the circular driveway to the 14th floor of Southern’s parking garage for a space made me dizzy I took

Two elevator rides one from the parking garage and then dodging the exercisers on their way to the gym in the basem*nt a second elevator to the office suites I spent almost as much time reaching Walter’s office as I had parking the car the second elevator opened onto a

Spacious lobby with views to the Southwest and southeast of Tampa farther from the water than the Tampa Club and several stories higher this view was more panoramic and less obstructed Walter’s offices were on the 49th floor of the tallest building in town his firm might not be the largest or the oldest

He wanted the offices to say but it was the best the decor delivered the message Walter’s personal office was in the southwest corner next to the boardroom and taking up the rest of the south side of the office office space on the top floor the Furnishings were classic

Walter but not classic Law Firm elegant expensive and extravagant were the descriptions most often employed by magazines such as Florida Today architectural digest and Fortune when they photographed stories here about Walter and his firm when Walter was profiled in the American lawyer as the most influential lawyer in Florida last

Year the prestigious newspaper for the legal industry devoted a full two columns to a description of his offices and the art objects he displayed while I waited for Walter to finish a telephone conversation with the president of his largest client company I spent the time appreciating the new painting that

Adorned the north wall of his personal office the canvas was 6 ft high and 10 ft wide beyond that I had no idea what it was supposed to represent the colors were vibrant Blues Reds and yellows I recognized the name of the artist as one of the latest Darlings of the New York

Art crowd like it Walter asked me when he’d hung up the phone I don’t know am I supposed to like it he laughed that’s how I feel but Ursula says it’s the latest thing so of course she had to buy it sometimes I think my life would be

Easier if I’d married the quiet debutant my parents wanted me to don’t you but he was kidding one thing Walter loved at at least as much as being the managing partner of the best law firm in Florida was being the husband of Ursula Westfield the circles they traveled in

Were far wider than Florida alone Ursula’s popularity and celebrity might just make it possible for Walter to win the next senatorial election like Ricky Gutierrez Walter had several sitting areas in his office the one we moved to was set up like a small formal living

Room Walter sat on one end of the sofa and I took a seat in the adjacent antique chair he’d had iced tea delivered to the small co*cktail table and he sat back with his legs crossed and His Hands folded his fingers tapped on his knee and his foot swung from

Front to back while I feared Walter wouldn’t be willing to talk to me at all after my recent argument with his wife he adopted a look of earnest interest as he posed to listen to my queries and chat Walter carefully arranged his handsome face with its classic features

In sincere Repose he must have practiced this position in front of a mirror I found it hard not to laugh I’m trying to figure out what happened at Harris steam’s house The Night Billy Joe steam was killed you were there I was hoping you’d tell me I got right to the point

Why do you want to know Willa isn’t it time you got out of this whole mess it isn’t doing you or your reputation any good to keep going with this I know you became involved because Ursula asked you to help Billy Joe but we’re way beyond that now aren’t we this

Was the Walter I remembered trying to deal with when I was a practicing lawyer the Walter who was used to getting what he wanted and to having his suggestions obeyed like The Not So subtle orders they were I appreciate your concern for me Walter truly I do but just tell me

What happened at the party okay I already told Ben Hathaway all about about it he said as his face twitched a little on the left side I hadn’t noticed that twitch before and thought at first I imagined it until he raised his left hand to his eye to make it stop humor me

Please I requested he relented well I guess you’re asking about later in the evening after the six bills performed a few musical numbers for the crowd alas no one was inviting us to make a new CD he said in his self-deprecating way meant to convey that he thought he was pretty damn good

In fact I’ve heard you play I said twice referring to Billy Joe’s Victory party and her funeral he cleared his throat and went on yes well anyway we played a few tunes and then just had the usual party food and drink and conversation Ursula and I left about 10:00 it’s not

The kind of crowd we travel in these days except for Ricky and Janet Gutierrez of course when we left everyone was still there and Billy Joe was very much alive that’s it what about Johnny’s and Billy Joe’s marriage were you there when they announced that Walter looked a little discomforted by

This question his fingers tap tap tapped on his cross knee we all toasted the bride and groom it was high time they married actually they’ been in love for years everyone was very happy for them both each time he finished a sentence he acted as if he were saying and That’s

All folks but it most assuredly wasn’t all so I pressed him and Were You There When Billy Joe told Harris that Johnny was really Harris father now Walter narrowed his eyes at me flattening out The Tick again with his left hand his patience was evaporating where are you going with

This Willa the woman is dead killed by her own son what possible good can it do to bring down Johnny Tyson as well Were You There When Billy Joe said Johnny was Harris father or not yes I was there he said exasperated with me how did everybody take it actually I don’t think

Most of us were surprised as I said Billy Joe and Johnny had been lovers for a long time what about Harris how did he take it not well what do you mean Walter sigh you’re going to make me spell it out for you Harris blew up he raged in

Front of everyone calling Billy Joe and Johnny names I won’t repeat he said Johnny would screw his best friend’s wife when he wasn’t looking well I’d wanted to hear it is that all I asked hoping that the answer would be an emphatic affirmative no that’s not all he threw

Things a glass I believe that broke and cut Janet gutierrez’s hand a guitar and a few other things that I don’t really remember weekly I pressed on anything else yes Willa one more thing but you’re not going to like it Harris hit Billy Joe across the face and knocked her to

The ground then he stomped out of the room and went somewhere else in the house we left Ricky and Janet left at the same time I can’t tell you what happened after that I don’t know why didn’t Ursula tell me all of this I wondered shaken Youk have to ask her

That he rose he’d served his own agenda and now he was finished with me now if you’ll excuse me I have another meeting he walked to the door and held it open for me give this up Willa stop before you hurt someone else maybe even yourself chapter

44 when I when I got home I called Ben Hathaway miraculously he was still in his office and his secretary put me straight through hey Ben I said in greeting he sighed hugely figing to be terribly put out at having to answer yet another of my telephone calls I figured

I might be hearing from you today truly puzzled I said why the autopsy report came in on Billy Joe’s steam isn’t that why you’re calling he sounded we now I improvise quickly partly when can I pick it up tonight if you want to come by I’ve already given a copy to Harris

And his lawyer and they left one here for you or I can drop it off on my way home I wouldn’t mind dinner at George’s he hinted strongly I have some work to do but if you want to come by around 9 we can have a late sandwich I told him

Making my request in person would be better anyway if I bought him a hamburger he’d be more likely to help the way to bend Hathaway’s heart is definitely through his exceptionally large stomach he agreed and we rang off I pulled out my journal my Sapphire and my thoughts

Planning to review what I knew and add what Janet had inadvertently told me I found the notes I’d made when I first got involved with Billy Joe and reread my interview with Walter I think better with music usually piano nocturns or something quiet I found the disc Harris

Had given me the early release of his new CD that contained the remastered duets with his father I turned on the player and slid in the disc carrying the plastic CD case back to my chair the printed insert listed the new songs as well as the Duets Harris and his father

Sang together I pulled out the booklet included in the case and thumb through it the pictures of Trey were reprints of photos taken back in the early 1970s the photographer had mimicked the poses with the members of Harris band and printed the pictures of the two bands

Side by side on the same page all the members of the six bills looked very young and happy link was a handsome man then from what I could see of his face under the shoulder length hair huge mustache and chin length sideburns that almost touched in the front to form a

Full beard Walter looked comical as a hippie and Ricky was cute in a smish way Johnny sat behind the drums with a SP expression on his face when I compared the father and son I found Trey and Harris were much alike although Harris was and appeared older than the ancient

Photographs of his father Trey would remain Forever Young in his pictures and our memories a paradox of early death was that one’s Visage remained eternally youthful and attractive Billy Joe though was spectacular in a Joanie Mitchell Mary Traverse kind of way her hair was long and blonde albeit not smooth

She’d not ironed it in those days as so many young girls did she had a thin braid pulled back on each side of her center part anchored in the back in the style of the time Billy Joe’s dress was shapeless her bare feet long and narrow

Bird thin arms poked out of the sleeves of her shift still she was luminous despite the old grainy quality of the pictures even without movement and speech it was easy to see how the bills could all have loved her she looked like a sweet child with a hint of sexuality

Just beneath the surface Harris band was almost the same configuration but with no female member I’d seen both bands perform at Billy Joe’s Victory party but the crowd was thick and I’d paid no attention to the individuals in the band I held the booklet up to the light to be

Sure pictured on the far right of Harris band with an acoustic guitar was the link of today he had the same long hair now stre with gray and the same long lanky build the face was worn but still sporting that mustache unmistakably link if link played in Harris band the two

Men must have been in regular contact for years maybe they’d even seen each other every day the bills had given me the impression that they’d lost touch had no contact for three decades even when I learned about the annual reunions Harris relationship with Janet and Ricky and Evis medical treatment I still

Believed the bills had been leading essentially separate lives yet now I knew that Johnny and Billy Joe had maintained regular contact all the time she was in prison link and Harris worked together why had Walter lied to me about this what difference could it possibly have made to know that

They’d all stayed in touch what other lies had they told me and why I took a quick look at my watch it was only 7:00 not too late I grabbed up my things and hurried down down to Greta we drove quickly over to the small trailer park

Link was home when I got there sitting on the same white plastic chair again fooling around with his guitar in the Twilight he had a cigarette in his mouth and The Identical overflowing ashray on the table that probably hadn’t been emptied since long before the last time

I was here hey link I said as I approached hey Willa he replied as if he’d seen me every day of his life forever he made no effort to stop fussing with the guitar or whatever musicians called the Mindless strumming I sat down in the same chair I’d

Occupied before link I said to get his attention he said hum and continued to play can I talk to you sure he said still fiddling with and looking down at his guitar his braided gray stre hair was gathered in a leather thong at the base of his neck making it possible for

Me to see his face he seemed sober and focused on on his guitar he wasn’t rude but he wasn’t particularly interested in me either how long have you been playing guitar with Harris always what does that mean since Harris was born I’ve been jamming with him I

Played my guitar for him when he was in his crib I thought we’d have to stop when Trey’s parents took Harris but they let us spend time with him by the time he was four he was singing along about 6 he started to play too we’ve been jamming together forever he smiled with

Memory why I asked link looked truly puzzled at my question as he kept his face turned down toward the guitar still picking the strings still focused he made no effort to answer why did you keep in touch with Harris all these years now link looked up at me

Continuing to strum adjust his strings pick a small Melody I recognized from the CD well he finally said nobody ever asked me that question before but I guess that’s because everybody else who’d be interested already knows the reason he Shrugged which is what how old were you in’

69 I could see no relevance to the question but I answered him anyway and he looked at me through narrowed eyes too young then to know or understand us or Woodstock tell me what I need to know to understand it then he shook his head

And gave a small chuckle not sure I can oh we were all so smart we were going to change the world we knew World Peace was possible and we could make that happen peace love and understanding you mean give peace a chance I said quoting a

John lenon title from the era kind of he agreed nodding kind of we were kids we lived away from home we found a bond in our music we were a family it was just the thing to do at Woodstock we had this incredible experience of love and peace

And kindness it stayed with us all our lives I struggled to understand his meaning so you’re saying that you’ve kept in touch with Harris and the other bills all these years because of the bonding experience you had at Woodstock partly but there’s something else too isn’t there I asked him running on instinct

He looked at me again measuring me coming to his own conclusions about whether he could trust me or whether he wanted to finally he made some decision Harris could be my own boy he couldn’t have shocked me more if he’d said he was an alien from another planet indeed I

Might have believed that sooner than this Billy Joe and Link what do you mean a be past two we sort of had what we called in the those days of Love Fest but then Billy Joe turned up pregnant shortly after Woodstock little Trey became a part of our family we all felt

Responsible for him maybe we weren’t legally we weren’t but we felt we were no one ever told Trey steam about this I asked him incredulous he thought he was Harris father all that time and no one ever said otherwise well link seemed more than a bit chagrined now you see we never knew

For sure Trey could have been Harris Daddy he for certain looked like Trey much more than he looked like Billy Joe or any of the rest of us and we all loved him and took care of him but it’s possible that Trey steam wasn’t Harris father I

Persisted after Trey was killed we never wanted to find out for sure it seemed better for little Trey to have four daddies so that’s how we left it while Billy Joe was in prison little Trey needed us to be his family we’ve all kept in touch with him he’s our boy the

Only boy I’m ever likely to have link turned back to his tune changing the melody a little playing a riff here and there I pressed him are you sure Trey never knew about Your Love Fest or about Harris questionable paternity I couldn’t reasonably believe that Trey steam had

Been so oblivious to his own family none of us ever told him far as I know link said mindful of the time I switched gears tell me what happened the night Trey died he continued to play while he smoked one cigarette after another why don’t you get us a beer bring me two

This is a thirsty story he gestured with his head toward the inside of the trailer I walked up the two metal steps and entered the low dark space with no lights on inside and not enough daylight left I could just make out the kitchen sink and figured the refrigerator had to

Be nearby after groping a bit I found the small round appliance that had probably been running since 1950 or so which appeared to be the Vintage of the trailers’s Furnishings what I could see of them anyway the small light inside the refrigerator illuminated the same type of green long neck bottles of

Rolling Rock weed shared the last time I was here and little else I pulled out three and stood there letting my eyes adjust to the dim again after I closed the refrigerator I fumbled my way back to the door took the bottles outside handed two to link and kept the other for

Myself he stopped long enough to twist off the top and take a healthy Swig of the beer I sipped mine more slowly while he returned to the Melody and I waited it was Sunday we’ve been hired to play out at the Fronton like I told you

Before it was a big gig for us we were getting paid pretty regular by this time we’d had a couple of Records the college kids knew us even the high school kids came around whenever we played weekends link strummed and talked with a break

Now and then to Swig the beer or light a new cigarette when the one in his mouth burned down to his lips so we all started out at Billy Joe’s and Trey’s place we went to the front end together in Wally’s van like we always did little

Trey was with us like usual we set up played our sets and we having a good time he stopped stopped there to finish the first bottle and threw it off to the ground under the trailer I heard the bottle hit a piece of glass and figured he must have quite a collection down

There he lit another cigarette and stuck it back into the corner of his mouth after he had it going he returned to the playing and the telling chapter 45 Trey had been flirting with some girls in the audience he was high like always they were screaming his his name

About to faint over him at the end of the set it came backstage Trey was fooling around with them and Billy Joe saw him she’d sure seen this sort of thing before but this time it made her mad so she went right up to Johnny and

Started kissing him in front of Trey and everybody link shook his head played a while letting me use my imagination to reconstruct the scene I did see it all clearly in my mind the noise the heat a Sunday night in June outside at the high Ali Fronton loud music added to drugs

And alcohol and Trey steam’s explosive personality the spontaneous combustion was waiting to happen even if Billy Joe hadn’t lit the sparkk by kissing Johnny Trey just exploded he hit Johnny and Johnny punched Trey in the face broke tre’s nose Trey was bleeding like a stuck pig the three of them got into a

Big screaming match Wall-E tried to calm everybody down Wally had known Trey the longest and he usually had more luck getting Trey to be reasonable than the rest of us did but this time Trey pushed Wall-E back and Wall-E fell off the platform and cut up his leg pretty bad

That pissed Wall-E off too so he quit trying to deal with Trey link finished the second beer and threw the bottle down with the first one at that point link told me Trey took off with the girls who must have had a car leaving the others there Wally got a cried from

Someone link didn’t know who it was to the hospital for stitches in his bleeding leg the rest of the band went on for their final numbers I don’t know if you know how it works but if we didn’t play till the end we didn’t get paid link looked at me to

See if I understood his point I nodded what happened after you finished the final set I asked him we picked up our equipment got our check and drove Wally’s van back to Billy Joe’s Place link and answered Billy Joe was still crying and upset Johnny was trying to

Calm her down was Trey there when you arrived nope the place was empty Ricky and I left but Johnny helped Billy Joe and little Trey get inside and get to bed before he went home so Trey never came back link shook his head back and forth I never saw him alive again next

Thing I knew Trey was dead Billy Joe in jail and everything all he looked at me for a second checking his language fouled up ain’t never been right since link ended his story with a sorrowful look and a blues cord or two to emphasize his point then he got up and went

Inside while he was gone I planned our last set of questions he brought out two more long necks and offered me one when I told him I had another appointment tonight he Shrugged chugged half the first beer and went back to his guitar link what did you think about Billy Joe

Being in prison she’d be alive today if you’d left her there now wouldn’t she he said by the time I returned to minet Ben Hathaway’s unmarked car was already there I sat with Greta and jotted down the main points of Link story for later reflection something about it didn’t fit

With the other facts I had learned but I hadn’t brought my tape recorder and I didn’t have my journal the sense of something being out of place niggled me floating around in my brain and one of those thoughts or tip of the tongue memory losses the experts say we all

Have every day the secret to remembering is to stop trying I recorded the main points of what link had told me counting on my notes to jog my memory when I got back to my journal George’s Hostess told me George and Ben Hathaway were in the

Sunset bar so I went directly there Ben must have arrived first because they weren’t sitting at my favorite table instead they were at a booth in the back Hello darling George greeted me I’m glad you’re here I have a large party I need to check on if I can leave you two alone

See you later George Ben said as I nodded my consent here Ben told me sliding a thin envelope toward me with the Tampa Police Department logo on it it’s a copy of Billy Joe’s autopsy report when can we eat I’m starving I laughed out loud Ben

Always gets right to the point he’s even more forthright than I am maybe that’s why we’re often at loggerheads even though we like and respect each other too much honesty does that sometimes how’s Harris doing I asked him picking up the envelope and putting it in my

Pocket I haven’t seen him the state attorney’s office told me Harris still planned to plead guilty of course there’s no bail so he’s still sitting over in the Orient Road jail right now Ben answered me while quaffing beer from a frosty mug under Florida law granting a defendant charged with a capital crime

Pre-trial release was unusual because Harris had confessed and seemed determined to plead guilty no reason to make an exception to normal procedure existed do you know why Harris won’t see me I asked Ben gave me his best none of your B stare like I said I haven’t seen

Harris my guess is that he doesn’t want you pestering him to prove didn’t kill his mother the man wants to plead guilty Willa I know that’s unusual nobody wants to take responsibility for his own actions anymore but that’s between him and his maker you should stay out of it

I said nothing I wasn’t going to argue the merits of my behavior with Ben Hathaway when his Burger was delivered the Hungry Bear across the table began his feeding thanks for the report Ben but that wasn’t why I called earlier I started no kidding he mumbled around the

Food in his mouth some of which fell out when he talked I didn’t feel quite so hungry after all watching mastication isn’t particularly appetizing maybe I could write a best-selling diet book on the subject right I want to have all of the forensic evidence from the TR steam murder

Re-evaluated I told him now his full mouth literally gaped open I looked away from the site after he closed it again chewed some more and swallowed he said what on Earth do you want to do that for it’s just a hunch I have come on Ben you’ve already found DNA evidence we

Didn’t know existed what if there’s something else shouldn’t we look we know Billy Joe didn’t kill Trey steam maybe we can find out who did I coaxed what you’re thinking is that whoever killed Trey steam also killed his wife is that it Ben stated more than a little Snidely

And maybe threateningly too I thought it’s a theory worth exploring isn’t it I said so defensively that I insulted him do you honestly think we’re a bunch of idiots Willa of course it’s worth looking at we’ve been looking at the idea our job is to solve murders you

Know we try to do it every once in a while whether you high and mighty judges think so or not Ben apparently was more than a little put out it was the situation that had him so frustrated he chomped on his hamburger and ate every one of his french fries before I said

Anything else on the theory that he’d be better on a full stomach dessert I asked him he glared at me but ordered a hot fudge Sunday made with the chef’s golden vanilla ice cream and smothered in the Sanders milk chocolate topping George imports from Michigan again no coffeee

He growled raising his beer mug for a refill instead my stomach recoiled at the idea of beer and ice cream but hey I wasn’t eating it why not review the physical evidence too Ben mistakes could have been made you weren’t running the department then or maybe you just have

Better forensic tools now what can it hurt what makes you think there is any physical evidence left to look at he asked me belligerent still I eyed him I didn’t find a court order scheduling the trial evidence for Destruction and other evidence was collected at the scene and not admitted

At the trial you found the murder weapon and Trace steam’s clothes I never asked you where they were he started to protest and I held up my hand I’m not saying anything about that I don’t care where you found them but there’s more evidence why not let your guys look at

All over or send it to the crime lab a man’s life hangs in the balance here I reminded him I don’t know if the ice cream sweetened him up or if he still felt guilty just like I did in any event this time giving me a view of melting

Ice cream mixed liberally with chocolate and beer he asked me what is it you’re looking for exactly I’m not sure I told him trying not to heave anything that would help prove Harris didn’t kill Billy Joe he eyed me again as I sipped my water and tried to breathe through my

Mouth at the same time and if we could find out who did Kill Trey steam that would be a bonus too as Ben finished up his desert I made up my mind have you considered link as a suspect appeased by a full stomach of food he didn’t have to

Pay for Ben was a little friendlier as far as I’m concerned they’re all suspects chapter 46 I saw Ben to the door retrieve my brief case and preoccupied with the murders trudged up the stairs lost in the past I opened the door to let myself into the flat intending to relax for a

Short half hour and then call it a night hello Willa I dropped my briefcase on the floor and jumped almost completely out of my skin without thinking I snapped you just took 10 years off my life I glared at Harry and Bess both sitting quietly at Kate’s feet fine

Watchdogs if someone breaks in you just lick them to death is that the idea I collapsed onto the sofa I’m sorry I didn’t mean to startle you I saw you downstairs with Ben Hathaway so I asked George if I could come up and wait I thought he told you I was here Kate

Apologized no I said still trying to slow my pounding heart I didn’t see him before I came up it’s okay I’m sorry I’m just tired and preoccupied I I fixed us a cup of tea she said leaning over the teapot on the highly polished mahogany Butler’s table

Let me pour you a cup hot tea is Kate’s cure for all that ails you she had taken out my mother’s Royal Albert tea service the one I use when I need a calming ritual it’s late for you to be here isn’t it I asked her after I’d taken a

Few sips of the heavily sweetened tea with cream and felt a little fortified yes it’s late here I should have been here weeks ago she deliberately twisted my meaning I should have come when I first returned from Italy with Leo but I thought you’d make

The time to talk to me about it when you were ready I finally figured out that Muhammad must come to the mountain Leo told you about our argument I accused of course he didn’t tell me she shook her head with a smile Jason then no not Jason either actually it was

Augustus and he meant well Augustus how do you know of Augustus are you just accumulating good-looking younger men like charms for your bracelet now I asked her regretting my hostility the instant it slipped out of my mouth I wasn’t angry with Kate I was scared for her and my concern made me

Harsher than I intended Kate was unperturbed why not she smiled they’re fun to have around don’t you think young men are good for us old Dames they keep the juices flowing okay I get it you’re teasing me but really what is up with you and Leo I

Sincerely wanted to know how a woman as self- assured and collected as Kate could have such a serious lapse in judgment I have always looked to her for guidance now our roles were inexplicably reversed is it so hard for you to believe I found love with Leo she looked

At me straight on her body language relaxed and easy apparently she felt she had no reason to be defensive he’s 35 years old younger than me he’s not much older than Carly I mentioned Kate’s notoriously flighty Wayward younger daughter whom we hadn’t seen in months Kate set her teacup down on the silver

Tray holding the tea service do you think I did this to hurt Carly or any of my children do you think I would see my children any more often if I hadn’t married Leo I rarely saw my children before I married him Carly’s off God knows where Jason is too busy in

Washington to bother with his mother and both you and Mark live right here in town but I rarely see you do you want me to be lonely all my days Willa do you think that’s fair her tone was gentle I was properly chagrined I thought you were busy with your life happy she

Reached over and took my hand and patted it I am happy I was happy before Leo and I’m happier now we have fun Willa do you know how important it is to have fun at my age and how rare it is when someone comes along who shares my

Interests Kate sounded like an elderly woman instead of the sexy 60s something she was like square dancing I asked remembering the cowand outfits she and Leo had worn to the victory party I’ve never known you to square dance in my life before Leo well it’s time I started

To do some things like that I won’t always be young you know a time will come when I can’t go dancing until then I plan to spend as much of my life with Leo as he’s interested in spending with me she looked at me with the stern countenance that meant she would broke

No further argument and raise his children too without my consent my voice expressed disapproval if we can yes I think that would put the spring back in my step Don’t You her blue eyes sparkled and her lips smiled in the outward manifestation of the joy she felt inside one didn’t

Need a Ouija board to Divine how happy Kate truly felt I Shrugged I couldn’t bring myself to say what I was thinking what if Leo left her for a younger woman someone more his own age she’d be heartbroken and even more so if she’d brought his children into her home and

He took them with him when he left I wasn’t just jealous and distrustful of Leo although that was part of it I was genuinely concerned for Kate’s long-term happiness Kate might be a Mystic she is telepathic often enough the biggest obstacle to my long-term happiness is the judgmental opinions of my friends

And family she said reading my thoughts for btim the way medical science is going I may live to be a 100 I found a man who wants to be with me we have a wonderful time when we’re together we like talking walking going to the movies

We laugh a lot Leo makes me laugh every day we watch football go to hockey games can you imagine she smiled and went on I I’m enjoying my life Willa when I’m with Leo I feel like I’m 35 again right along with him like I’ve made a killing at

Blackjack or something you don’t want to take care of me you have your own life to live you should be grateful that I found Leo to make me happy I mentally braced myself and attempted to raise my most serious concern okay but what if relationships don’t come with guarantees

Dear I could marry a man my own age and be divorced or widowed in 6 months or less similar ages don’t necessarily mean happiness she left me alone to wrestle with my thoughts while she took the tea things into the kitchen to wash up when

She came back she had on her jacket and was carrying her handbag I stood still concerned and she gave me a kiss and a small hug you’ve worn me down Kate I wish you and Leo the best go and be happy that’s all I want for you I told

Her with all the grace I could muster hiding my fear behind a mask of support thank you dear don’t be a stranger she said on her way out a killing at Blackjack really Kate had never as far as I knew played blackjack at all something else Leo introduced her to she

Had certainly taken a big gamble on him I still didn’t trust Leo and I didn’t like him but I would try to keep my feelings on the subject to myself and he better never give Kate a moment’s reason to be sorry she asked me to bless this

Relationship or he’d have me to answer to I promised myself silently Kate was already out the door before I remembered that she hadn’t told me why she’d been discussing me with Augustus it’s only Tuesday my brain groaned as I dragged myself out of bed at 5:00 Dawn had not yet even approached

The Horizon George was snoring softly and both dogs were snoring too none of them even wiggled an eyebrow as I extracted myself from under all three and pulled my body out of bed in the kitchen I put an extra scoop into the Italian espresso maker I use for my

Cuban coffee while it brewed the cream Heating in the microwave I dress for my run once the coffee smells drifted into the bedroom Harry and Bess decided to join me for their 2cond breakfast we were out the door and into our Run in less than 15 minutes

Pounding the sand one foot in front of the other and breathing heavy I felt my mind slowly begin to clear by the end of the first mile I was back to thinking about the six bills so many Loose Ends remained because I hadn’t been able to

Write my thoughts down in my journal for a couple of days now I have a good memory but I’ve learned not to rely on it the details of a case the little things that can slip past recall have solved more crimes than the easily retained big picture

One of the reasons I had gotten up so early today was to put my thinking cap on and try to see what was in plain sight around me I saw gaping holes in the facts I had accumulated the timeline wasn’t clear possible motives for killing Trey abounded jealousy and anger

Being at the top of the list for all of the remaining bills why someone would kill Billy Joe still escaped me each of the bills had both the opportunity and the means to kill both Billy Joe and Trey Steam and that assumed that the killer was one of the bills which wasn’t

Necessarily the case just the most likely answer regardless of what George had to say on the subject random violence had always existed in Tampa granted homicides are usually committed by someone who knows the victim still that didn’t rule out a killer who only knew the victim tangentially say a gas

Station attendant a cashier at the grocery store or a fan the possib ilities were endless but a random act of violence was beyond my ability to resolve I could only consider the people who were closest to the victims as potential suspects I listed them out loud repeating the names into my small

Recorder between ragged breaths as I ran visualizing the pages in my journal where I’d written their names I reported everything I could remember about the potential aliis of all five of the other bills at the time Trace steam was Mur murdered Harris couldn’t have been his father’s killer of course but I listed

Him for completeness I also listed his grandparents Bill and Mary Steam for the same reason there was no real chance that either of them had killed their son only frustration insisted on my including them too Trey steam was murdered sometime between 2:00 and 5:00 in the morning according to the story

Link told me the last time he saw Trey alive was about midnight at High live Fronton on Dale ma when Trey left with the two female fans while blaming the fans would be helpful and easy I had found no information about them in any of the file materials I’d received if

They hadn’t been identified and interviewed at the time of Trey’s death I had no chance of ever finding them now Ricky too had left Trey’s house long before Trey was killed Walter was at the hospital having stitches put in his thigh so he wasn’t at try’s after the

Gig according to Ursula Walter left for a trip to Europe a trip that lasted the whole summer he said he hadn’t known that Trey died until the fall after Billy Joe had already been tried convicted and sentenced to prison but both Johnny and Billy Joe were at the

House when link and Ricky left they both could have still been there when Trey came home they could have killed him together still would Johnny have let Billy Joe take full responsibility for killing Trey it seemed unlike ly Johnny was protective of Billy Joe he loved her

He had stuck with her through 30 years of prison time when I saw him on Saturday he was literally prostrate with grief the idea that he and Billy Joe had agreed to keep Johnny’s involvement in tre’s Murder a secret made no sense if Johnny had been the one tried and

Convicted I’d believe they killed Trey together and Johnny was protecting her but that’s not what had happened so maybe maybe Billy Joe did Kill Trey herself she was home alone with Harris after Johnny left maybe when Trey came home they continued their argument maybe the fight turned physical as the

Argument between Trey Johnny and Walter had turned physical earlier maybe Billy Joe did Kill Trey in self-defense or out of fear or rage but if that was so what about the new DNA evidence that I used to free Billy Joe in the first place chapter

47 if Billy Joe had killed Trey with his defensive wounds and all the blood on him surely some of Billy Joe’s blood would have been on either the murder weapon or Trey’s clothes and none was found simultaneously I returned to the house and back to the idea that maybe

One of the bills hadn’t killed Trey at all maybe the perpetrator was someone else altogether I needed more facts as soon as I could breathe again I’d make an effort to obtain them after I’d showered and dressed for court I still had an hour before having to be

Back on the bench for the Madison trial I sat down at my home computer and quickly transcribed my dictation and the taped interviews I printed out the transcripts and tossed them in my briefcase along with my journal and Billy Joe’s autopsy report and zipped over to the courthouse once again I entered my

Chambers picked up my robe and walked immediately out to the bench all the members of the Greek Cor that had become this trial were in place Philip Sloat had only two more days to finish up his proofs on behalf of cardi medical I reminded everyone else and myself no one objected to the

Reminder everyone in the room now knew what I had realized from the outset the end of the trial would not mean a satisfactory resolution to this case all we were doing at this point was making a good app pellet record so that the parties could live on to fight another

Day in another for we brought in the jury and I gave the floor over to SLO SLO recalled his expert witness to the stand the one who had been testifying when we had recessed yesterday the large Ruddy complexioned man looked uncomfortable in his suit and tie he was

A surgeon by training and a medical school professor at John’s Hopkins he spent his days in surgical scrubs and his nights in blue jeans I imagined he had been hired by the defense to blame Stanley Madison’s surgeon for his death the man’s testimony was long on self- congratulation for the length of his

Resume and short on explanations as to why Stanley Madison had died without such testimony in the record I would have no choice but to Grant Marilyn Madison’s motion for directed verdict once Sloat finished his proofs every lawyer in the room understood the significance of the experts testimony

But the jury was clueless as to the drama going going on the action here was akin to a soccer match in which one team was constantly trying to kick the ball into the net while the other team kept attempting to block the effort every time Sloat would ask the multi-million

Dollar question either Leman or Royal would object each objection was a good one and I had no choice but to sustain them all Sloat was blocked at every question from getting in his vital proofs his frustration was showing in his face his body language and and finally the way he was handling his

Witness of course the expert had been thoroughly prepared before he took the stand and slow had thought he knew the testimony in advance a trial lawyer’s nightmare is the Rogue witness the one who doesn’t testify as he is expected to frustrated SLO requested a recess to confer with his witness Leman and Royal

Objected to any conversations with the witness during the recess I denied the objection creating yet another appealable issue if SLO got his witness to testify against the doctor the case would go to the jury the decision would be out of my hands if the witness wouldn’t testify against the Doctor Who

Had already settled the claims against him and paid a million dollar then I’d have no choice but to Grant the plaintiff’s motion for directed verdict either way blessedly the case would be over when SLO rested on Thursday or after the jury returned on Friday afternoon during the recess I had no

Time to do anything but flip through my pink telephone message slips today the stack was so tall that Augustus had placed a paper weight on it to keep it from toppling over I moved the brass Labrador to one side and picked up all of the slips I found mostly business

Calls from colleagues a few social invitations to professional functions two calls yesterday and two more today from the CJ and at the bottom of the stack a call from Ben Hathaway and one from Johnny Tyson I tried halfway first he answered his own phone on the second ring Ben Willa

Carson here returning your call I’m a little rushed right now Willa just wanted to let you know that we’re looking for the rest of the evidence we have most of it and I’ve sent it all to the lab we should have the results in a

Few days now that Ben had agreed with my desire to review the physical evidence he’d adopted the plan as his own it was nice of him to keep me up to speed and I appreciated it a few days for an open investigation I protested this investigation isn’t

Urgent Willa we have a confessed inmate for one killing and the other case is 30 years old a few days is the best I can do I tried Johnny Tyson next he never picked up the phone but his answering machine kicked on after about six rings Johnny this is Willa Carson returning

Your call I’m in court today but I’ll be through around 4:30 I’ll come by to see you then I had no idea whether Johnny was requesting I visit him again but that was what I intended to do anyway Augustus came in with a glass of passion fruit tea as I

Was disconnecting do you know who Benedict Arnold was Augustus I asked him without looking up from my task the brilliant Revolutionary War General who saved Washington’s butt more than once and might have single-handedly defeated the British he replied sweetly I was thinking more of later in history when he was convicted of treason

I countered in a Stern voice but he had good motives even then Augustus countered apparently he was a better student of American History than most Jamaicans too for example he tried to warn Washington several times but Washington wouldn’t listen Arnold sent Washington several letters which Washington ignored tired of the

Game I said so it was you then you left the note on my car and the email on my desk warning me against freeing Billy Joe Steam from prison Augustus didn’t look at all shrined it was wise advice wasn’t it since he was right I ignored him no matter what your motives are

Conversations that you and I have in these Chambers are private they are not to be disclosed not to anyone that includes Kate Austin and it most definitely means Leo Columbo Agustus looked like he wanted to argue the point then thought the better of it yes judge he said instead but Leo and

Kate were worried about you they thought I interrupted him I don’t care what they thought or what you thought or what anybody thinks our conversations are confidential always that’s that’s all yes judge he said again letting himself out of my Chambers and closing the door softly behind him Augustus seemed to

Have my best interests at heart and loyalty is a quality I prize over almost everything else still I mauled over the connection between Augustus and Leo I didn’t understand it and I liked it even less back in the courtroom we called in the jury and Sloat had the expert on the

Stand again three or four more times SLO asked him whether the operating surgeon was grossly negligent and had acted below the standard of care during Stanley Madison’s surgery the expert refused to give Sloat the answer he was looking for even after I overruled leman’s appropriate objections to the leading questions SLO eventually

Resorted to asking finally defeated SLO passed the witness and returned to council table unless he could pull a rabbit out of his hat with his final Witnesses tomorrow and Thursday I’d be forced to enter judgment for Marilyn Madison on Friday morning sometimes our decisions are inevitable no matter how improbable they

Seem at the outset I dismissed the jury picked up my robe my briefcase and went to the car Greta and I were on our way to Johnny Tyson’s before anyone else had even left the courtroom Johnny’s house didn’t look any better today than it had on Saturday the grass was the same dry

Brown the windows were still closed up tight and no one answered the doorbell when I rang it an older model Honda sat in the driveway since nothing else had changed here since Saturday that probably meant Johnny was still inside too I leaned on the doorbell again this

Time holding it down as I had before in a while Johnny opened the door he had on the same clothes he’d worn on Saturday he looked and smelled worse how long could a man survive on Bourbon alone he said nothing to me just turned turned and walked back into the house I opened

The screen and followed him directly to the kitchen I avoided gagging on the garbage smell only by sheer willpower why did you call me Johnny I asked him just wanted to thank you for helping me on Saturday and for helping Billy Joe if it wasn’t for you we wouldn’t ever have

Been married I just wanted to put my Affairs in order that’s all as before he looked everywhere but at me mumbling down into his filthy undershirt for most of the speech you’re very welcome Johnny now you can do something for me to repay me for helping you and Billy Joe I said

I knew he wouldn’t do anything unless he felt he owed it to Billy Joe Johnny wasn’t capable of much besides pouring the rest of the bourbon down his throat he thought about it for a while but finally he said what is it you want I pulled my quarter out of my pocket and

Put it on the table in plain sight I turned it on tell me what happened the night try steam was murdered after link and Ricky left you and Billy Joe at her house that night what happened Johnny looked at a point above my head and saw

Into his past decades ago he began to talk as if repeating a roote memory one he’d repeated to himself many times over the years link and Ricky left Billy Joe and I took little Trey in the house and put him to bed big Trey wasn’t there we

Sat around for a while thinking he might come home but he didn’t Billy Joe was just tired and rung out she went to bed too I waited a while longer then I closed the door and went outside to walk home walk home he nodded none of us had

A car except Trey had the one his daddy gave him for college graduation and Wall-E had his van Wally’s van was still there in the yard but I didn’t live far away besides I needed the air so Wall-E must have gotten to and from the hospital some other way then I guess so

Why didn’t one of you drive the van to pick Wall-E up he sighed I don’t know anymore it was a long time ago I’m sure there was some reason for it then what happened I walked home went inside went to bed there had to be more to this

Story I knew Walter had said Johnny was with Billy Joe when they found Trey steam’s body if Trey wasn’t dead inside the house when link and Ricky left Johnny had to have gone back to the house later on and then what I guess I slept a couple of hours until Billy Joe

Came in and woke me up none of us locked our doors in those days he gave a Wheezy laugh we didn’t have anything worth stealing anyway she said Trey had come home still drunk or high or both she heard him banging around in the kitchen cussing away slamming stuff all over she was

Afraid of him you understand I nodded so she picked up Little try and snuck away in tre’s car she drove around a while and stopped at a park to sleep in the car then she came to get me to see if I’d go home with her in case Trey was

Still awake when we got there we both thought he’d have passed out and then he’d be better in the morning is that how it normally worked would Trey be better the next day I asked Johnny moved his head up and down slowly usually Trey did this sort of thing once

In a while he’d be better the next day apologize you know I did know I heard the same story from every battered woman I’d ever talked to he’d be fine he drank he was violent then he’d sleep it off the next day he was apologetic the pattern was predictable Johnny refilled his glass

And offered me the bottle I declined what happened when you got back to Billy Joe’s house some of this I knew from the court testimony the summaries I had read and what I’d already heard but Johnny hadn’t testified at the trial and he had been there at least for some of it Trey

Was on the floor blood all over his clothes all over him he wasn’t moving I thought he was just passed out at first so did Billy Joe little Trey ran over to Trey in the darkness and started saying Daddy wake up Trey didn’t move when little Trey turned back to us he had

Blood all over him too Johnny shuddered a little bit took a big gulp of the bourbon and continued I was pretty shaken up I couldn’t really do anything Billy Joe ran over over to both of them picked up Little try and gave him to me

She told me to take him outside I took little try and put him in the car and then I spent about 10 minutes puking my guts out Johnny was living it over now he was there he held his stomach with his free arm the way he must have then

In a little while the cops came they arrested Billy Joe I took little Trey to his grandparents he looked at me straight on for the first time the rest you know did you ever believe that Billy Joe killed Trey I summoned the nerve to ask him no but he deserved

It always knocking her around disrespecting her in little Trey if she’d killed him it wouldn’t have mattered to me I loved Billy Joe she should have been my wife in the first place little Trey was my son he said as he thumped himself on the chest all Trey

Steam did was to ruin my family he acted like Billy Joe wasn’t good enough for him his parents hated her I don’t know why he married her in the first place Trey never loved Billy Joe like I did never he glared his conviction directly at me and now I

Don’t even have Harris anymore he hates me now Trey won in the end didn’t he then Johnny began to cry chapter 48 I had so many facts churning around in my memory that I needed to bring some order to the chaos I went straight home let the dogs out

And made a large pot of very strong coffee when it finished Brewing I collected my briefcase and settled in My Den with a cup I turned on the computer and transcribed tonight’s interview with Johnny first I printed out the pages and added them to my stack of transcription

From the morning then I settled in my favorite chair with my journal and recorded everything I’d learned since my last opportunity to write things down I reviewed Billy Joe’s autopsy report the cause of death was listed as two gunshot wounds to the brain but the secondary diagnosis was Advanced colon cancer so

Billy Joe’s intuition and self- diagnosis had been right after all she did have terminal cancer and would likely have died within 6 months so again why kill her now and why shoot her twice one of the gunshot wounds to the head would have killed her instantly the second one was

Unnecessary I took more than 2 hours just recording what I knew even so I wrote my notes cryptically and quickly the penmanship was much worse than my sixth grade teacher would have allowed but I thought I’d be able to decipher it when the time came I refilled my coffee

Cup three times before I finished writing after hours of working my neck was cramped my back hurt and my head was a jumbled mess of jitters I had to take a break I stood up stretching each of my aching limbs in turn when I twisted my

Trunk to the right I noticed the clock it was already 9:00 my stomach had been growling for a while but I’d ignored it wanting to finish my project first now I wandered into the kitchen looking for something I could munch on as usual the cupboard was Bare of everything except microwave

Popcorn I took out a bag stripped off the cellophane with my teeth and stuck the bag in the microwave pushing the popcorn button as it popped I opened a bottle of Cabernet and poured it into the balloon wine glass I was willing to carry all over the house when the

Popcorn finished I poured it into a small bowl and took the bowl the wine and my thoughts back to the den there I flipped the journal pages to the plan I’d originally made for investigating Trey steam’s murder looking at my list which had been put together long before

Before I knew anything at all about his murder I saw that I had failed to follow through on my intention to talk to Billy Joe about the night Trey died Billy Joe was the one with the most information about the time immediately before Trey’s murder but I’d never been able to

Discuss that with her after chastising myself for failing to have such a basic conversation I thumped my brain for an acceptable substitute after a few tries a thought came to me I rifled through my files and folders to find the transcript of the interview done by the investigating officer when the police

Were called to the scene I had read the summary of the officer statements while working on Billy Joe’s parole hearing but never the full testimony I didn’t have a copy of his tape recorded interview with Billy Joe if one existed hearing the story from her point of view

Might have given me some additional Insight but all I had was the initial interview transcript and officer Benson’s trial testimony which was better than nothing I took the pages over to the chair along with my popcorn and wine put my feet up and began to read officer Benson’s testimony

Was succinct the way police officers are taught to testify to just the facts he said he had been sent to trace steam’s home after the dispatcher received a call from Billy Joe reporting an accident when he arrived he saw a man and a young boy standing near a 1974

Mustang in the driveway that would have been Johnny and little Trey officer Benson entered the house and found Billy Joe holding a large knife her clothes covered with blood the officer saw a man on the floor also covered in bloody clothes when he examined the man Benson

Found he was not breathing the victim had sustained several stab wounds and appeared to be dead officer Benson called an ambulance and then requested backup when he asked her what had happened Billy Joe said Trey is dead I can’t believe Trey is dead she said nothing else officer Benson placed Billy

Joe under arrest and took her from the scene to the police department where she was questioned charged and placed in a jail cell other Police Department Personnel took over the crime scene although the testimony went on for several more pages little additional information was revealed about Billy Joe’s activities that night after Johnny

Left the house so I pulled out the original trial transcript of Billy Joe’s testimony now too as with all of the trial documents I’d only reviewed the summary earlier Billy Joe testified that Johnny had helped her to get little Trey into bed and then went home she said she

Waited for Trey for a while but when he didn’t return she went to bed too sometime later Billy Joe heard Trey as he was coming into the house she heard him in an argument with someone else outside another man she didn’t recognize the voice which wasn’t as loud as tre’s then

Trey came inside still drunk and cursing the testimony was flat and uninspired on the page Billy Joe had testified with so little enthusiasm it’s no wonder she was convicted the jury wouldn’t have believed her story too many holes seemed to be left Billy Joe offered no theories

As to how Trey might have died not that she was required to but a jury likes to hear the accused explain the death after I read the rest of her description I closed my eyes and imagined the scene she wasn’t quite sleeping when she heard him arguing with someone outside he

Slammed the front door and came into the small rented house they’d lived in since their child was born he was drunk and angry when I’d gotten to the end of Billy Joe’s story I shook myself out of my self-induced trance and returned to the cold transcript I was so surprised

To feel myself alive with adrenaline how must she have felt Billy Joe said she took little Trey out to the car and sped away she testified that she and little Trey slept in the car until morning when they went to Johnny’s House Johnny rode back to Billy Joe’s home with her in

Trey’s car where she and Johnny discovered Trey dead in the living room Billy Joe’s defense was solely that the state hadn’t proved its case sometimes that approach works but where the Young son of a prominent citizen is killed in his home Tampa jurors of the time would

Have wanted to put the matter firmly behind them convicting the wife who was from a questionable background and offered no excuse for herself was the easy way out my eyes were feeling heavy and Scratchy I stood up flexed again and refilled my wine glass I found the gutier Special Reserve cigars Ricky had

Given me and lit one pacing the floor waving the cigar sipping the wine I tried to weave a narrative from the disjointed facts I’d learned about Trey steam’s murder the pieces just wouldn’t fit cohesively all six of the bills had been together from about 7:00 that evening

Until the end of the penultimate set at the Fronton then all hell broke loose between the members of the group The Storm had begun years before but built just like a tropical storm builds from a small Squall into a ferocious hurricane when Trey saw Billy Joe and Johnny

Kissing that last night at the gig Trey lost control and started a fist fight like many philanderers Trey was intensely jealous and possessive yet Billy Joe had to know Trey was capable of such a reaction did she kiss Johnny on purpose was she trying to get try to

Fight with the others some of these battered spouse situations are a morass of complicated psychology she knew Trey was insecure maybe on some level Billy Joe thought tre’s violent reaction would Pro prove he loved her or maybe she just didn’t care about him anymore and wanted to

Push him over the edge in public to make sure the rest of the bills would be on her side in the divorce or to exact Revenge whatever her motives and I doubted I’d ever learn what they were at this point Billy Joe’s Behavior lit the fuse that had blown the group into

Smither except that it hadn’t what happened was that the remaining five bills stayed together after Trey’s death they kept in touch they took care of each other it was as if they were truly related by blood instead of Woodstock was their loyalty due solely to their shared secret about

Little tre’s paternity and what about that I asked myself as I poured the last of the wine into my glass I continued to wander in a big circle through the halls of our flat talking this throughout loud her esteem could have been fed by any one of the five bills although the

Likelihood that that his father was someone other than Trey steam was remote it was still possible paternity can be determined definitively now with DNA evidence the law hasn’t caught up with the science though and still presumes a child born in wedlock is fed by the husband yet the bills could have settled

Harris paternity with relative certainty Years Ago by the testing methods then available they hadn’t done so out of some sense of loyalty to Trey to Billy Joe to Woodstock and to their own lost youth it seemed it was a decision that still affected them all which left me

With the question did it matter for a little boy whose parents were taken from him by death and the state having four remaining dads must have been preferable to living his life solely with the daer and unforgiving grandparents I’d met at Billy Joe’s funeral still did Harris

Ever know prior to the last six bills reunion that his paternity was in question did Eva and how did they feel about it and what about Billy Joe the wine asked me in my voice what if Billy Joe knew who killed Trey why would she keep quiet about it serve all those

Years in prison Billy Joe didn’t kill her husband but she’d had a long time to think about who had did she think Johnny had killed Trey is that why she never pursued the real killer was she as protective of Johnny as he was of her by

The time I’d finished the wine and the cigar my mind was going around in circles I was tired sleepy and fresh out of ideas I let the dogs upstairs and called it a night maybe my subconscious could sort out this tangle chapter 49 Eva agreed to meet me for a quick

Late lunch at Cafe BT my favorite French Vietnamese beastro located on Gandy Boulevard I’d recess the Madison trial for an hour and a half knowing we’d be finished in one more day I pushed my workload aside yet again to follow my thoughts about Trey steam’s murder I arrived a few minutes after

1:00 and was rewarded with a small table in the back where I sat facing the door so I could see when Eva arrived she soon made her way through the narrow aisle stopping to talk to a couple of women I didn’t know after our Vietnamese tea had

Been served and we’d ordered fresh rolls hot and sour soup and warm noodle salads Eva and I shared a few moments of companionship with while we waited she was a truly beautiful woman in a fresh scrubbed way devoid of makeup her dark lashes framed her eyes and her dark

Brows accented them the unruly curls were again tied back leaving delicate earlobes exposed to display two tiny diamond studs in each her physical resemblance to the young Billy Joe was probably what had attracted Harris to her initially the plain white shirt fitted her slender form flaring slightly

Over a denim skirt that stopped midaf her feet were shot in Birkenstocks her toenails buffed but unpolished the entire outfit probably came from her parents store all in all she looked like an Ivy League back toschool College Catalog Eva acted as if her Outburst of

Temper the last time I saw her had never happened and so did I women share their secrets with other women of all the possibilities I figured that Billy Joe would have confided in Eva if she had confided in anyone Eva I’m hoping you’ll tell me about your relationship with Billy Joe steam I

Opened when our lunches had been served what relationship she asked bitterly her easy casual manner disappearing faster than a speeding bullet well she was your mother-in-law surely you had some contact with her I spoke softly without accusation or much intensity Eva seemed too fragile contact with her she was in

Prison when I met and married Harris she was still there when we divorced I didn’t visit her there if that’s what you’re suggesting Evas ey escalated I tried again you didn’t know her at all I had the impression she was close to you close to Harris and your

Children she was close to them not that I was happy about it the level of hostility Eva demonstrated approached hot hatred she contained herself with difficult ulty look Willa Billy Joe was a problem in our marriage from the beginning Harris woried her he visited her every chance he got he loved her

Beyond all reason she bit her lip exhaled heavily but continued when the girls were born he insisted on taking them to see Billy Joe whenever he could he spent every spare dime and extra minute he had trying to get Billy Joe out of prison it was probably the biggest single factor in our

Divorce how so Harris had no time for me or his daughters he spent all his time on her how could we be a family ah Eva was jealous of Harris Mother a woman destined to spend all her days in prison and Eva an only child had probably

Married Harris thinking she would be a woman who never had to deal with an interfering mother-in-law she wasn’t interested in Sharing him at all Eva’s temper was still hot don’t look at me with that judgmental expression on your face you may think mine were Petty grievances but you didn’t have to live

With the two of them do you know he actually wanted to get married in that place just so she could attend our wedding did you get married there I mean I schooled my features into a flat appearance she scowled of course not we we had a normal wedding it might have

Been the only normal thing we ever did was Harris okay with that Harris was never okay with anything related to Billy Joe never you want to know the truth it doesn’t surprise me that he killed her his attachment to that woman was unnatural she shocked me with that one

You’re a mother Eva wouldn’t you want your children to be as devoted to you I didn’t kill their father that should count for something she snapped back at me her nostrils flaring as the hot color rose in her face and a vein pulsed in the middle of her

Forehead well of course it mattered that Eva hadn’t killed Willie and Billy’s father but I didn’t point out that Billy Joe hadn’t killed Trey steam either instead I deemed it prudent to change the subject slightly Janet Gutierrez told me that you’re the general practice physician for all the bills and their families

You must have quite a few opportunities to talk to them all Janet said the bills had remained loyal to Eva being treated by her despite the frontal lobe damage that caused her to have such poor impulse control and memory lapses nor was her judgment what it should have

Been of course the car accident wouldn’t have necessarily affected her skill as a physician if the frontal lobe damage was mild most people want to be treated by a doctor whom they know and respect someone they like and someone who makes that treatment easy Eva probably fit all those requirements for her husband’s

Friends Janet said they come to you for all their routine care I said she accepted the change of topic easily right colds flu hypertension high cholesterol infections routine things like that she told me disclosing nothing confidential about their healthare they a pretty healthy bunch she said that

Much was a little hard for me to believe given all that the heavy drinking I’d seen link and Johnny engage in but I now knew better than to challenge her she was talking normally again sure of herself on the ground of her profession and her medical expertise her color had

Returned to normal and she’d taken a few more bites of her lunch were you surprised when Billy Joe told Harris that Johnny was his father that seemed to be the Catalyst that set Harris off on his Rampage the night of the reunion again I tried to set my query before her

In a tempered tone Eva considered the question for just a second before she answered I guess I was surprised to hear her say that at the time especially since it was just wishful thinking on Billy Joe’s part what do you mean she looked at me carefully weighing her

Decisions while she ate her lunch I’d like to discuss this with you Willa but I can’t why not because it concerns my patience you’ll need to get there consent first consent to what to any discussion about their medical treatment she looked at me as if she felt particularly clever or lack thereof are

You saying that no paternity test was done before Billy Joe told Harris that Johnny was his father I asked her I’m not saying one way or the other she replied while I was thinking this through Eva continued I’ll tell you this much though it would kill Harris to know

That Trey steam wasn’t his father why here was a point I’d had trouble understanding Harris idolized the man Harris has built his whole life around replacing his father in the abstract the edus complex doesn’t make a lot of sense to me but until Billy Joe died I was

Living at firsthand she said with obvious distaste evil went on to suggest that she might have expected Harris to kill Johnny instead of his mother she said Harris desire to replace Trey in his mother’s life was motive enough for Harris to kill Johnny simply because Billy Joe had married him besides that

She said Harris always thought Johnny had killed Trey really why would Harris think that I asked her because Billy Joe was in love with Johnny she wouldn’t ever allow anyone to say anything against him Harris always figured that Billy Joe was protecting Johnny Harris thought that was why Billy Joe would

Never say who she believed had been her husband’s killer Eva explained this as if Harris views were the most logical explanation for Billy Joe’s behavior and perhaps she was right then adding to the bonfire was Billy Joe’s claimed that Johnny was hara’s father Eva saw a disaster waiting to happen you think she

Would have found out for sure before she destroyed everything her son believed in that was Billy Joe always is thinking about herself the Raging Fire of jealousy returned to Eva eyes as she inadvertently disclosed to me what she had earlier refused to say she knew that Johnny wasn’t Harris father but how a

Definitive paternity test would have required blood work when would that have been done trying to puzzle it all out I asked were you Billy Joe’s doctor too as soon as the question was out of my mouth I wished I could take it back instantly Eva glared at me and her face flushed

Again redder this time she slammed down her fork against the plate clanging loud enough to startle nearby diners I told you I had nothing to do with the woman she was dead to me a long time ago I’m only sorry she wasn’t dead to Harris too

We might have had a life together the Venom against a woman who had died violently just a few short days ago was vicious Eva threw down her napkin put pushed back her chair and stormed out of the restaurant well I thought to myself please let me get the check SLO was more

Demoralized every time we reconvened his case this afternoon he was putting the last of his batting order on the witness stand as each witness testified I perceived with greater Clarity that Sloat wasn’t going to be able to introduce the necessary proofs to get the case to the jury Leman and Royal

Smelling blood in the water approached me at the afternoon recess Sid Leman was the first to speak judge I think under the circ*mstances another settlement conference on this case might be productive I wonder if the court would give us the afternoon to discuss the possibility among ourselves I don’t intend to extend this

Trial Beyond Thursday at 4:30 gentlemen I turn to Philip Sloat council do you wish to devote some of your time this afternoon to discussing settlement with Mrs Madison and her her lawyers SLO looked like one of those actors on an Alka Seltzer commercial after he’s taken the antacid positively relieved his face

All but said I thought you’d never ask what SLO actually said was Judge Mr Leman approached me with this suggestion during the lunch recess my clients are interested in discussing the matter this afternoon we know that will mean less time to put on the remainder of our

Evidence if we don’t settle but we think we should take this one last chance to reach some Accord here I looked at the cardio medal Representatives is that what you want yes your honor they said as if I just removed their heads from the guillotine I turned to the insurance adjuster who

Looked even more reliev than Sloat yes judge he replied too weak in the knees to say more all right letun recess today for the rest of the afternoon we’ll reconvene in the morning for the last of your proofs Mr Mr Sloat if you reach a settlement before then please advise my

Office I restrained myself from dancing a little jig on my way back to my Chambers I felt like a freed slave a pardoned death row inmate a Woman released from indenture a well a very lucky person the possibility that this case could be over today and I could

Return to the more meritorious cases assigned to me was just about the best present I could think of better than a cruise around the world or making a killing at blackjack or well I felt really really good chapter 50 your brother called Augustus told me holding out one of the

Hated pink message slips when I returned to my Chambers he left a number he said it was important Jason greeted me on the second ring thanks for calling me back so quickly he said I’ve got a thousand things to do here but I wanted to let

You know that Sheldon War died a few hours hours ago the media will have it in the next few minutes he had a heart attack oh Jason I’m sorry to hear that I replied Sheldon had been a jerk and I didn’t care for him but Jason was

Genuinely fond of his boss such a sad death too Jason said the senator had been sick for quite a while but we didn’t realize he might die so quickly Jason sounded honestly distraught something he would hide from everyone but me he was being treated here by Eva Reigns

When she told him he had a more serious form of Alzheimer’s disease we were all pretty upset Eva said the disease usually doesn’t progress so quickly his symptoms had increased and he was seriously depressed Jason finished we discussed the Senator’s declining health over the past couple of years Jason told

Me that the senator had become almost Reckless since his diagnosis he’d become convinced he had only a limited time to live and he needed to accomplish everything he wanted to do quickly then Jason said this information isn’t being released to the Press Willa the cause of death we’ve

Reported is heart attack there’s no reason to get into the rest of it now that he’s dead of course the cause of his death is of no concern to anyone but his family I agreed will you want to stay with us for a few days while this sorts itself out actually

I’ll need to stay over at the warwicks his wife isn’t taking Sheldon’s death very well her alcoholism has gotten worse since his diagnosis and she shouldn’t be alone but I hope to see you after the funeral tomorrow we rang off with expressions of affection death certainly does have a

Way of reminding us of our mortality and I’d been getting that message loud and clear for several weeks now Kate was right we should all grab whatever happiness we could wherever we can get it I sat at my desk thinking about the relatively mild symptoms Senator War

Started out with and how they had eventually killed him problems with his balance a short temper Jason had said later he developed memory lapses a few Tremors and some erratic conversational patterns that they thought was Huntington’s disease at first then after his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s he’ become convinced he should follow his dreams

Until he inevitably declined into full dementia in a way he was lucky that his heart attack had gotten him first only a few symptoms a couple of ticks mental instability lack of balance why all of us have that kind of thing some of the time how could we know whether we were

On the verge of some terrible Calamity and just not yet diagnosed take me for example I have more and more senior moments times when I can’t remember things at the tip of my tongue that’s why I’ve come to rely on my journals or consider Kate until she

Talked to me about her reasons I thought Kate had lost her mind by marrying Leo even after we spoke I wasn’t so sure she was entirely stable and Walter Westfield had that tick on his face those shaking hands that trouble with his balance and his temper I sat bolt upright in my

Chair I remembered my last few encounters with him I played the video over in my head my hypothesis had to be true Walter Westfield had Huntington’s disease that’s why he was being treated by Eva Reigns a neurologist and Ursula had to know that had to be it after my trip to Naples I

Wasn’t going to make the same mistakes I’d made before this time I would trust my instincts my first thoughts were about how tragic the situation was if it was true Huntington’s disease is a fatal neurological disorder which can be diagnosed but not cured one of the big questions that would have surfaced if

They’d had children was whether or not to have those children tested if an incurable disease was in my future would I want to know poor Walter and poor Ursula my friend was in for a rough time over the next few years Walter’s Health would steadily decline until he would

Need 24-hour care how long would his deterioration take in Senator Warwick’s case not that long but he didn’t have huntingtons which caused another light bulb to go off in my head how could Walter think of running for Senator without disclosing his illness how could Ursula think of letting him do so this

Amounted to a fraud on the voters it was one thing not to disclose Senator Warwick’s cause of death but quite another to run for public office knowing one had a fatal neurological disease that would impair one’s judgment as well as one’s physical ability to do the job

And that brought my thoughts to Prescott Roberts did Walter’s desire not to disappoint Prescott run all the way to fraud wouldn’t Prescott understand that Walter couldn’t hold public office for very long even if he got elected now that I had this piece of information

What was I going to do with it I wanted to give back my observations and conjecture tuck my deduction under the edge of my brain and leave it there to gather dust I wanted my surmise to be untrue and if it had to be true I wanted

Not to know what I knew if Walter’s diagnosis was confirmed and I told George would his dedication to the political process lead him to disclose Walter’s private medical history Jason would disclose it although Jason’s motives would be less altruistic I played with my pencil thumping its eraser on the desk as I

Considered my options what should I do I made an interim decision I picked up the telephone and dialed Ursula’s cell phone number she didn’t answer I left her a message to meet me at minet at 5:30 this afternoon I told her it was an urgent matter extremely important to her and to Walter

By then I would have figured out what to do Senator Warwick’s death would be announced soon if it hadn’t been already Walter would be making his candidacy more and more obvious in the next few hours I had to stop him from campaigning until we could talk as soon as I hung up

Augustus called me on the intercom the CJ is on the phone judge what shall I tell him I picked up my briefcase my purse and stood up quickly I hoofed it out to augustus’s desk and opened the door smiling at the bewildered look on his face tell him you’re sorry but I

Just left and I hurried through the exit down down the stairs and out to Greta before the CJ could get over here to stop me I didn’t know what to do with myself once Greta and I were out of the garage I’d had no time to consider my

Next steps I found myself with an unexpected few free hours I thought it likely that the Madison versus cardio medal case would be over soon but even if the case continued tomorrow I couldn’t work on those motions now my mind wouldn’t concentrate on Madison when I had more important issues to

Consider I sat literally at the crossroads until a car came up behind me and blew its horn I needed to move almost of her own accord Greta turned toward Great Oaks Country Club I hadn’t played golf in weeks hitting a couple of buckets of balls was a great meditative

Relaxer maybe sending a few dozen balls into the stratosphere would give me some badly needed answers to my questions or at least a constructive vent for my frustrations the easiest way to get anywhere in South Tampa is to travel on Bayshore Boulevard and then turn onto

The South Tampa streets Greta and I were traveling across Cass to South Boulevard and then to the Bayshore as we crossed Swan an address on the left side of Boulevard caught my eye my odd memory for numbers kicked in again sometimes numbers just stick in my subconscious

When other forms of information can be easily forgotten where did I know this address from who lived there Greta continued to the Bayshore and turned right when I decided to go back for another pass in front of the house I turned right again on Willow another

Right on Swan and then right again onto Boulevard I drove by the house a second time and went around the block again this time I parked on the street directly across from the curbside house numbers like many of the homes in Hyde Park this one was a turn of the century Victorian

Painted yellow with white trim the two-story structure had black shingles a wraparound porch and a modern driveway ending at a two-car garage chapter 51 the home was well-kept with strict flower beds and neat rows on either side of the walk the driveway and around the house the front door was teal green with

Highly polished brass trim everything was neat and orderly I’d never been here before but felt I knew the place I got out of the car and walked up the steps to the entrance where I rang the bell although I could plainly see through the glass on the top half of the door that

No one was inside the window and the door gave a clear view of the entire interior of the first floor the open living and dining area was tidily arranged and traditionally furnished who lived here no one answered the Bell so I walked down the driveway around to the

Back of the house the backyard was as neatly kept and well-managed manured as the front with a white picket fence that separated the driveway from the flower garden and a brick walkway to the back door I opened the gate and walked along the bricks to the back door where I rang

The doorbell as I had in the front again no one answered I turned around to leave and that’s when I saw it parked on a cement pad near the back of the garage a 1968 Volkswagen bus the bus had been beige on the top and orange on the

Bottom at one time although now it was faded a sickly cooked carrot color the artwork on the van sides was faint now too after spending years in the sunlight with no protection from the elements an ancient piece symbol was still visible on the cargo door could it be this was

The van that Wall-E had owned the one six bills had taken to Woodstock I’d seen it in the pictures reproduced inside Harris new CD only back in 1968 when Wall-E got the van for his high school grad graduation and later when the bills used it for transportation to

Woodstock and to their gigs it had been in much better condition I couldn’t believe I’d found Wall’s van how could something so patently ridiculous be true I poked around the van for a while checking all the doors which were locked up tight except the door in the rear

Over the 1972 Florida license plate the lock was broken I gripped the handle and tried to open it the old van was rusted almost into powder and the doors were firmly shut I couldn’t budge the handle I looked in the back windows which were covered with Gauzy curtains enough

Natural light dimly illuminated the interior however and I could see inside the van all over everything in the front seats was something brown as if someone had spilled chocolate syrup the kind you used to make a chocolate sunde in the cargo area the old seats were bursting

At the seams boxes and other debris lay on the flooor I tried again to open each of the doors not one would budge I had no doubt in my mind that this was Walter Westfield’s van but why was it here when I’d seen all I could I went back to the

Driveway and walked toward the street just as I got to the front of the house A car pulled into the driveway I stepped aside and let Mary steam Harris grandmother Park her small Cadillac in the garage hello she said tentatively walking toward me can I help you Mrs

Steam I’m Willa Carson we met at Billy Joe’s funeral I reminded her I didn’t offer to shake hands Southern ladies of a certain age don’t shake hands if they know you well they’ll give you a hug otherwise a gentle smile is thought to be the best well-bred greeting of course

Mrs Carson so nice to see you again did you need something I was just looking at Walter westfields van out back I said letting my voice Trail off she seemed a little flustered really why would you be interested in that old thing I guess I just didn’t realize it still

Existed well Bill and I just didn’t have the heart to get rid of it it’s been back there for so many years I forget about it sometimes Trey had so many happy days in that van her voice drifted downward in revery where did you get it

Oh I think Wally brought it over here before he went to Europe then he just never came back for it so much was going on then she let her voice Trail away then shook herself back to the present afterward we kept it because of Trey Prescott offered to destroy it but I

Couldn’t bear to lose any more of my son do you have the keys she looked at me blankly to open the doors the doors are locked I explained oh oh goodness no I don’t know where those might be you could ask my husband he’ll be home soon

If you’d like to come in and wait for him she invited I could think of nothing I’d like less I’d already talked with Bill steam more than I’d ever have freely chosen to I could show you tre’s room while you wait she offered hopefully as if showing tre’s room was

One of her great joys in life Trey’s room yes it’s just the way he left it when he went off to college colge she said as if College were where Trey had gone last week come let me show you she turned and took me into the house up the

Stairs I had seen through the front window and into a bedroom on the front she talked the whole time about her son Trey was such a good boy smart too he was a baseball player did you know that no ma’am oh yes all state in high school

Like many parents who had lost a child Mary steam had created a shrine to tray in his former room the Furnishings here included a twin bed a small desk and chair for schoolwork and a couple of bookcases a shelf ran the full circumference of the room about 16 in

From the ceiling memorabilia Trey had collected when he lived here decorated the ledge the walls were covered with pictures of Trey playing baseball in the Plant High School band collecting his high school diploma and many others almost every picture from the time he was about 8 years old showed Trey steam

Standing next to Wally Westfield their arms around each other’s shoulders big grins on their faces a number of the pictures showed Trey and Wall-E in front of Wally’s van so Trey and Walter were good friends then I asked her more for something to say than any other reason

Oh yes Wally lived next door they were best buddies since childhood why those two were inseparable she began to reminisce about the adventures of Trey and Wall-E telling me one tale after another of Boyhood pranks Mary steam was making me uncomfortable now she didn’t seem quite normal mentally and I was

Getting a tingling feeling across my scalp Mrs steam tre’s room is just lovely I do need to get going though I said gently of course dear we turned to retreat down the stairs Harris spent hours in tre’s room as a boy just looking at everything talking to

His father I was so sad to see it she told me as we reached the first floor the tingling hadn’t stopped since it began up in tre’s room I felt as if I was in the presence of Madness the poor woman had certainly gone through hell in

Her life who could blame her if she was just a little out of touch and who could blame the men in her life her brother Prescott Roberts and her husband Bill Steam for trying to protect her I was already walking back toward my car

It was nice to see you again I said by way of a social parting remark come and visit soon dear bring your husband next time she called to me as I got into Greta and started her engine Mary steam waved to me as I pulled away I waved

Back while I punched Ben Hathway’s number into my cell phone just tell him will helmina Carson called and ask him to call me at home I told the secretary giving her my telephone number why is it you can never find a cop when you need one chapter

52 so Walter had dropped his van at the home of Trey steam’s parents before he left for Europe the night their son was killed when did he pick up the van at Trey’s house why leave it here that Mary steam’s Madness caused her to keep the

Van all these years was a great stroke of luck for me if the van hadn’t been used since the night of the Bill’s last gig it might might be hiding forensic evidence all thoughts of the golf course vanished as I began again to Think Through the try and Billy Joe steam

Murders as soon as I got home I let the dogs out and checked the answering machine for a return call from Ben Hathaway I had four messages one was from Ursula saying she’d be here at 5:30 but I had gotten no call from Ben I mixed myself a sapphire and tonic with

Lemon even if it was a might early to begin the co*cktail hour I wouldn’t be driving anywhere else tonight I rationalized and I do think better on a relaxed brain an hour on The Veranda with the gin and a cigar brought me no good answers I would simply have

To tell Ursula what I knew then she and Walter could decide what to do George had gone to Miami overnight so the two of them had a reprieve until tomorrow when George returned I intended to tell him what I suspected about Walter’s illness George would know how to handle

It politics was his Arena not mine and I knew I could count on his discretion until we made a joint decision as to how to handle the situation while I waited for Ursula I gathered my journal and my wits about me and sat down in my Den I started by

Recording my last conversation with Eva and what I had learned about Walter Westfield something was nagging at me still but the more I chased the little Gremlin the more it hid behind the corners in my brain to coax whatever it was out into the daylight I turned to a

New project I began to review and update my notes and interviews on the steam murders several holes in parts of the story I had woven didn’t fit any of my theories the night Trey steam was killed I’d originally been told that Billy Joe and Trey left the high alive Fronton

Together with little Trey after the gig at about 2:00 in the morning at the trial the testimony was that Billy Joe and Trey fought Billy Joe left with little Trey and when she returned with Johnny Tyson Trey was dead now I knew both of these versions of the facts were

Fantasies that had never happened yet the bills allowed this version to be put before the world and an innocent woman to go to prison why what would make four Southern gentlemen or at least four young hippies in love with Billy Joe let her go to prison on facts they knew were

False Trey and Billy Joe had argued but that was before they left the Fronton Trey took off with the fans Walter went alone to the hospital and the other bills along with little Trey all returned to the steam home together in the van owned by Walter Trey came home

Sometime later after the group left Billy Joe heard him arguing with the man outside then Trey came into the house still cursing and angry who was he talking to Billy Joe soon left the house with little Trey and had several hours un unaccounted for before she went to

Johnny’s what had happened in those hours she didn’t kill Trey because the DNA suggested her innocence but someone did in those crucial hours where was everyone else Ricky and Link had left together link told me he never saw Trey again I hadn’t asked Ricky that question

And I made a note to do so Walter had gone to the hospital and later that night his van was dropped off at Bill and Mary steam’s garage when did that happen Walter said he didn’t know Trey had been killed until he returned from the plan trip to Europe so did he move

The van before Trey came home the DNA and circ*mstantial evidence Ben had uncovered proved that Billy Joe although she certainly had motive in tre’s physical and emotional abuse as well as opportunity hadn’t killed him someone else had killed Trey the odds were that that someone was a person known to bet

Tray it seemed likely to me the killer was one of the five remaining bills which one I thumb through all the papers I’d accumulated thus far the police file the old appeals files the trial transcript everything was now a complete jumble of documents having been sorted

And put away haphazardly so many times I couldn’t find my copy of the DNA file as I shuffled through until I looked down and saw it under my desk with a group of files I’d set there the last time I’d done this exercise as I got on my knees to

Retrieve the file my subconscious slapped me silly or maybe that was how I felt with my head hitting the underside of the desk when I shot upright in amazement in any event the DNA file was staring me right in the face as was the obvious solution chapter

53 Billy Joe steam didn’t kill her husband but she knew or thought she knew who had and she’ kept it quiet all all these years the killer must have worried about her silence enduring years of imprisonment for something she hadn’t done would be hard but Billy Joe had

Been loyal and true she’d never disclosed the identity of her husband’s real killer maybe she’d be alive now if she had I thought sourly why kill her now Billy Joe had believed that one of the bills killed Trey she also knew that one of the five Trey or one of the

Others was Harris steam’s father at the time did she think Harris father was Johnny Walter link Ricky Billy Joe was young and naive she must have believed the judicial system would work the way it was supposed to and she would be set free because she knew she didn’t

Kill Trey yet even as she realized she would be convicted she wouldn’t disclose the ambiguity of Harris paternity nor would she name the real killer if she knew it her guilty conscience had led her to accept a far harsher punishment than she deserved worse though at least

One of the bills had reached the same conclusions they all suspected that one of them fathered Harris did all four of the remaining bills believe Billy Joe had killed Trey or did they know who had killed him Billy Joe was convicted and all five of them had lived with the

Guilty knowledge of Harris paternity for 30 years what could possibly have made any one of them feel he needed to kill Billy Joe after everything they had all been through I could imagine nothing of sufficient magnitude to do so but my imagination was firmly grounded in logic

Maybe The Killers was not Ben Hathaway could get DNA from the other four bills the DNA reports that had freed Billy Joe would prove my theory conclusively the other Blood on the murder weapon and Trey steam’s clothes belonged to one of the other bills the one who had really killed Trey Steam

But as for who killed Billy Joe that was another issue altogether while I believed one of the bills killed Trey it seemed unlikely to me now that one of them had killed Billy Joe none of them had a reason to kill her over the old news of Trey’s death if Billy Joe was

Going to name Trey’s killer she would have done it long ago no it made no logical sense to me that one of the bills had killed Billy Joe which left Harris his confession and his gun he had gunshot residue on his hands he’ fired the gun yet I still would not accept

Harris as his mother’s killer the little boy who spent hours in his father’s room worshiping his parents spending every spare minute and every spare dollar to free his mother would not have killed his dream such a conclusion made no sense there had to be another answer I

Looked at my watch 10 minutes before Ursula arrived I straightened myself up com my hair with my fingers and headed downstairs before I got to the door the telephone rang I picked it up Willa Carson here Ben hathway here he mimicked your personal public servant what can I

Do for you now I was so focused on Ursula and Walter at that moment remembering why I called him took me a couple of seconds I was tired and in no mood to argue then I found out today that Walter Westfield’s van the one the bills used the night tray steam was

Murdered still exists Mary steam said no one has touched it since the night tray died my serious tone penetrated his teasing you’re kidding no where is it it’s parked in back of Bill steam’s garage you’d better get a warrant I think you’ll find evidence inside what kind of

Evidence I’m not sure but I think there’s blood on both of the front bucket seats I told him about the brown stains that look like dried chocolate syrup the stain could have been anything even the remains of an actual hot fudge Sunday but I didn’t think so I thought

The van was the murder scene Ben was in a hurry to hang up now and get over to the judge for his warrant one more thing Ben I said before we signed off while you’re getting warrants you should get one for DNA samples from Walter Westfield Johnny Tyson William Lincoln and Ricky Gutierrez

Why he asked me unless I miss my guess I think you’ll find a match with one of them for the DNA on the murder weapon and Trey steam’s clothes and the van I believed I already knew whose blood would be there but I didn’t want to

Falsely accuse him I could wait for Ben I was pretty sure that what he found would confirm my hunch Ursula I know about Walter’s illness I told her without Preamble when she’d settled across from me in my favorite Booth she stck in her breath her eyes widened and

Her lips pursed to let the air out slowly what illness she tried to Bluff me I saw him in Eva Reigns’s office Eva wouldn’t tell me why he was there but he wasn’t in for a checkup he has Huntington’s disease doesn’t he she instantly seemed to age by 10 years her

Already weak smile faded completely and she slumped lower in the booth folding in on herself like a deflated balloon have you told anyone not yet but I’m going to have to tell George I was unequivocal he’ll ruin Walter’s chances of getting elected with that knowledge Willa Prescott will be furious you can’t

Tell George I was already shaking my head I can’t not tell him you know that and Walter can’t run for public office without disclosing his health history to the people before they vote for him he might as well withdraw HEK never do that Prescott wouldn’t allow it she said they

Might vote for him anyway give the voters a little credit it’s happened before but I doubted the truth of what I just said given the Huntington’s diagnosis Janet Reno ran for governor with Parkinson’s disease and voters had reelected politicians after a diagnosis of cancer but Huntington’s was different eventually it would affect Walter’s

Mental capacity and shorten his life the likelihood of his election was slim Ursula hung her head refusing to consider the possibility knowing Walter he’d probably already submitted the question to more than one focus group he probably understood for sure that his illness would deny him the victory he

Badly wanted or maybe just Prescott Roberts wanted Victory and Walter was unable once again to thwart him either way Walter must have known his election was a long shot if his illness was made public I’m so sorry Ursula but Walter must either disclose his condition or

Withdraw from the race I can’t keep this knowledge to myself Prescott Roberts wouldn’t like it but there was nothing else I could do I’d already made an enemy of the man and at every turn I seemed to be digging myself in deeper she sighed and raised herself slowly

From the booth let me discuss it with him the decision should be his Willa not yours or mine give me 24 hours to let him think it over and make up his mind George wouldn’t be home until tomorrow anyway it wouldn’t hurt to give them

Both a little time to think call me by this time tomorrow I conceded if I don’t hear from you I’ll discuss it with George and we’ll decide our next step will you tell me what you’ve decided she begged I’m hoping I won’t have to I’m hoping that you and Walter will do

The right thing I told her and I was hoping Prescott Roberts would never find out that I’d played any role in Walter’s decision I spent the next hour wrestling with my conscience marveling at the power of denial Walter and Ursula were intelligent people they had to know that Walter’s condition would surface when

His symptoms became worse why put him through the public humiliation after I thought about it the answer became obvious of course they knew chapter 54 and Walter wanted to withdraw from the race but Prescott Roberts wouldn’t allow it as she’d done on the Billy Joe parole hearing Ursula used me to get the

Evidence needed to persuade Prescott Roberts to let Walter withdraw Ursula knew me she knew I’d figure everything out and that she could count on my discretion once I discovered the truth as long as the right thing was done in other words she knew I wouldn’t publicly humiliate her husband unnecessarily for

My sake as well as his this time I couldn’t dredge up the energy to be angry with her I fully expected Walter to withdraw from the senate race but my issues were all about what I’d do if my guess was wrong lawyers are always hoping for the best while planning for

The worst it’s impossible to avoid that aspect of my training believe me I’ve tried I was still sitting in the Sunset Bar an hour later when the bartender told me I had a telephone call he brought over the cordless it was Walter Westfield he asked me to meet him at the Tampa

Country Club in 30 minutes for dinner it hadn’t taken Ursula long to apprise him of the situation apparently I made another phone call after that I trudged upstairs to change clothes then I took a cab over there one of the safest places to confront a killer is in a federal

Courthouse since the Oklahoma City bombing Federal cour houses were about the safest location on the planet although no building in America is truly safe these days but Killers usually won’t accept an informal invitation to my office so the next best place is a public location with Witnesses should something go

Arai I found Walter at the Tampa Club where he’d asked me to meet him this time he was already seated before I walked into the main dining room and over to his table don’t get up Walter I said to him my hand resting lightly on his shoulder I saw Ben Hathaway seated a

Few tables behind Walter which was the way I’d planned it after I talked with Walter I intended to tell Ben everything I knew or had surmised that was why I’d asked him to meet me here in another hour knowing Ben would feel the need to come early and eat on my tab

Beforehand that’s one of the things that surprised surprised me at first I said to Walter after I’d sat down you’ve always seemed to me to be such a chivalrous man that you would let a woman take the blame for something you had done didn’t really occur to me what

Are you talking about I thought you were hear about my Huntington believe me if I could get someone else to take it from me even a woman I’d let her have it he joked weakly as he stroked his thigh as if he was in pain I’m very sorry about your disease Walter

Truly I am but I’m talking about murder specifically that you killed Trey Steam and let Billy Joe take the blame for it how could you do that come on Willa you think I would kill my best friend and then hide behind his wife I didn’t

Realize you had such a low opinion of me Walter’s indignation seemed genuine he picked up his glass raised a trembling hand to his mouth and knocked back a shot of scotch neat it was one of of the few times I’d seen him drink alcohol over the past few weeks I

Didn’t what have such a low opinion of you that’s why it took me so long to figure it out I gave you more credit than you deserved I had promised myself to trust my instincts and I wasn’t going to be put off by Walter’s tactics any longer Ursula said you were holding me

Hostage over my Huntington that’s a pretty low blow even for you now you want to accuse me of murder of my best friend too he kept his voice down but his face demonstrated his anger was I wrong no it had to have been Walter but I’d known him and Ursula for

Years did I think he was so coldblooded I don’t think you murdered Trey no I’m pretty sure you didn’t mean to kill him I waited a beat or two and then allowed him to see me wave to Chief Hathaway to imply that I was going to

Take my guesses to the police but that’s what happened wasn’t it I thought he would keep up his denials maybe he considered it but the scotch or the years seemed to have loosened him up he appeared less controlled having a terminal illness coupled with the lifetime of Lies he told about Trey

Steam’s death had finally overcome him I imagined as a younger healthier man he had been stronger he would have bluffed his way out of this confrontation now he appeared resigned to his fate at the hands of the karma he’d created with his own ax it was as

If he felt the fight was over and he didn’t have the energy for it anymore he looked down at the table not meeting my steady gaze I didn’t want Billy Joe to be convicted I didn’t even know she’d been arrested until I got back from Europe months later oh I’ll admit I was

Scared and I didn’t want to go to jail and I was maybe a little too anxious to get out of the entire mess no kidding I thought as he continued I’ve gotten older and wiser I probably could have avoided being convicted if I just told the truth about

What had happened it was self-defense you know he said finally admitting what I’d guessed as the truth I waited Walter frowned and met my eyes searching for the words that could describe what had occurred that night Trey was high and drunk and pissed off at me he was the

One who came to the hospital to pick me up he drove over in my van Walter shook his head as if he still had trouble believing what came next as if a different ride home from the hospital would have changed his life Trey was so pissed off at me for sleeping with Billy

Joe he screamed at me and called me every imaginable name the more he yelled the more his anger escalated he was driving crazy swerving all over the Road Walter stopped for another Swig of his drink he took a deep breath and made one last stab at convincing me that he had

Been the victim and then he just lunged at me with that knife sure I thought I’d heard stories like this a thousand times in my courtroom the instigator rarely took responsibility for starting a fight what did you say to him to set him off again Walter snorted like he’d been the

Stupidest jerk on Earth I said Billy Joe was a good lay and every one of the bills agreed with me and then what happened I asked him when it looked like he wouldn’t continue we just kept arguing he cut my leg open again the one

I just had stitched up at the hospital I was bleeding like a stuck pig and he was too we struggled the van nearly went over the median at one point it was so late there weren’t many cars on the road or we’d probably have hit someone Walter shuddered then perhaps realizing

How much more damage could have been done how did you ever make it back to Trey’s home Walter seemed bewildered and his eyes were glassy as if he was Far Away back in the moment his tone softened I don’t know it wasn’t far to the Little House On pacwood from Tampa

General hospital somehow we just made it back there how did you get the knife away from him Walter pursed his lips thinking was he trying to remember or trying to make up a story for me I couldn’t tell I guess as we struggled inside the van

Since he was driving he’d had to pay some attention to the road I managed to get the knife away from him then at some point I must have stabbed him then when we got to the house Walter stopped again and took another swallow of the scotch

When we got to the house I was panting out of breath I was bleeding scared he was too Trey just reached over and grabbed at the knife again he lunged at me with it one last time but I opened the door and got out he chased me but I

Was able to evade him and make it over to the driver’s side I jumped in and just got the hell out of there he was screaming at me as I got in the van and drove away it’s all pretty hazy now he looked my way surely you realize I’ve

Tried to forget I didn’t for a second believe he’d forgotten any of the details of their fight he had killed his best friend and been cut up pretty badly himself there was no way he’d been able to Simply let those memories go he must have been pretty angry at the time or

Maybe he was just scared and hurt himself Trey’s death wasn’t quick but the autopsy was clear that an earlier puncture to his lung was what finally did him in he drowned in his own blood Billy Joe didn’t kill him in their brief struggle in the little house before she

Ran out that night Trey had already been weakened by his fight with Walter and his loss of blood the bad luck had been when Trey knocked off the room’s only lamp breaking the bulb and reducing the light in that room to the point that Billy Joe couldn’t see how badly he’d

Been hurt if she’d known she would have taken him to the hospital and he might have lived all that followed might have been avoided what about Billy Joe how’d she get stuck for your crime chapter 55 by the time I figured out that I had a valid claim of self-defense it was too

Late to help Billy Joe by telling the truth even if she would have let me which she refused to do Walter’s version of this part of the story was so sanitized I didn’t believe it for an instant you mean she was willing to give up her own son just to help you Billy

Joe would give up her own life that I believed but from what I’d seen she loved Harris too deeply to abandon him she knew she couldn’t take care of Harris she knew tre’s parents would never have allowed that even if Billy Joe had wanted to try Billy Joe thought

Of herself as a nobody from nowhere she believed it was best for Harris that he have the background he become comfortable with Walter explained how nice for you if I live to be a 100 I thought I’ll never understand what motivates some people she was as strong

Willed and Gallant a woman as I’ve ever met he said as if he was delivering his own Mother’s eulogy Trey had made it into the house and stumbled around a while before Billy Joe tussled with him maybe she felt guilty when she was first arrested thinking she had injured try

When he fell with the knife maybe that’s why she didn’t put up much of a defense to the murder charge in the beginning but Walter must have known that wasn’t true even then Walter had capitalized on Billy Joe’s innocence he was Despicable whether he realized it

Or not Walter shook his head with that little smile he wore which always got him whatever he wanted the one I now recognized he had passed on to Harris his son the smile didn’t work this time Billy Joe was dead and Harris was in jail this had gone on long enough I

Changed my tech when did you take the van over to the steam’s house I asked him I’d surprised him he started and the tick over his left eye got going he took a few moments to Comal it with a shaky hand that same night after I dropped

Trey off at home I didn’t realize how badly he was hurt come on Walter Trey had multiple stab wounds to his torso he bled to death for God’s sake how could that happen without you realizing it although tre’s wounds were not instantly fatal he must have been bleeding enough

For Walter to realize he was badly hurt if Walter had cared you didn’t know him Willa he was a mean son of a we used to fight when we were kids and he wouldn’t quit until he had me bloody on the ground I was already hurt my leg

Bleeding all over the place and he just kept coming at me Walter shuddered I had to make him stop and somehow he ended up worse off than me I guess he finished weakly Walter raised the scotch glass to his mouth again signaling to the waiter for another round when he realized it

Was empty dropping the van at Trey’s parents doesn’t seem like the act of an innocent man to me Walter I really was on my way to Europe and I never wanted to have anything to do with the damn van again the night Trey and I fought over

My sleeping with Billy Joe was the worst of my life I really thought Trey’s dad would burn the van but then his mother got so attached to anything related to Trey that Prescot OT couldn’t bear to take the van away from her did he know you’d killed his nephew in that van

Prescott wasn’t the kind of man who would allow such incriminating evidence to linger for emotional reasons of course not do you think all of this was some Grand conspiracy or something the waiter brought the scotch and Walter ordered an immediate refill as he took another big gulp that was

Exactly what I thought Prescott Roberts wanted to give his sister back a substitute child to replace her dead son Walter wanted his success and not to face the possibility of prison Billy Joe was easy to stow away and forget about since she had no clout just as she told

Me that long ago afternoon when I visited her in prison and the rest of the bills didn’t really know what happened but made no real effort to find out either oh yes it was a conspiracy even if all the players didn’t know all the facts I couldn’t tell Prescott at

First and then later I tried to forget it all Trey was already dead there was nothing I could do to bring him back I never wanted to even think about that night I can’t believe that damn van has been there all these years he drained the glass again you never see the bullet

That gets you I told him he looked at me crookedly is that how you figured it out if I just had the thing crushed you’d never have known I didn’t answer him on some level I believe that Walter wanted to be caught that he had what the psychiatrists call Survivor guilt

Otherwise such a smart man would have taken care of so obvious a Smoking Gun long before now despite his rather weak protests to the contrary you know I have to tell Ben Hathaway about this don’t you I asked quietly nodding in Ben’s Direction it’s not always a good thing

To write old wrongs Willa Walter objected as his gaze followed mine to Chief Hathway’s table Walter said that Billy Joe had made the choice not to blame him after she was convicted and he’d eventually confess to her because she wanted him to watch over Harris to the extent he could given the careful

Scrutiny of the steams Walter told me that Billy Joe knew Walter and Trey had been close friends and that Trey’s parents would welcome Walter into her son’s life in a way they would never have allowed Billy Joe herself she felt guilty for sleeping with all of us and

For setting Trey off that night she felt she should pay for that and she thought she’d be released someday he said did she know you were Harris biological father he shook his head she thought Johnny was but she knew Johnny couldn’t take care of Harris he took a deep

Breath and exhaled slowly I didn’t know I was Harris biological father for sure myself until recently like the other bills and because of my promise to Billy Joe I tried to be a good role model for Harris once I found out I was his biological father I thought it was best

To just keep that information to myself I never told Harris or Billy Joe I was a hell of a lot better role model for him than Trey would have been but telling Harris all this now wouldn’t be the right thing to do Walter said because Harris idolized Trey Harris had thought

His father was a God he’ wanted to grow up just like Trey the tragedy was that he accomplished that dream Walter smiled Harris knew Billy Joe was his mother and he still killed her I’m concerned about what he would do to me or to himself if

We sprung it on him now that I was his real father he shook his head in regret and confusion as he finished the scotch and signaled for yet another round he’d be drunk before long if he wasn’t already as much as I understood the skunk was just trying to save his own

Skin once again I had to agree that he could be right he was not going to live more than a few years and those years would be hellish ones as his disease progressed maybe it was better for Harris to be left with some Illusions than to have knowledge that would

Destroy him further in any case it wasn’t my decision to make besides that I’m going to die soon Walter continued echoing my own thoughts why give Harris another father to mourn why send me to prison now Billy Joe already paid for this crime does the state need another

Sacrificial lamb what he didn’t say was how Prescott Roberts would view his role In Trey steam’s murder Prescott had been Walter’s protector and Mentor for all of Walter’s adult life letting Prescott down was something Walter never intended to do and being on the wrong side of Prescott’s wrath would be far from

Pleasant Prescott was planning on putting Walter in the Senate now that would never happen Walter needed some time to figure out out how he wanted to handle it what I wanted was to keep my name out of the discussions Prescott Roberts was a man used to exacting

Revenge and I’d already given him enough reason to add me to his list I’ll think about it Walter and I expect to see you announce on the Morning News if not before that you’re withdrawing from the senate race I stood and excused myself from the table I could see that Walter

Had suffered over his role in what I’d come to think of as the bill mess but he hadn’t suffered as much as Billy Joe or Harris or even Trey’s parents Walter had lived a pretty good life with a wife who loved him and a great deal of material

Success he didn’t deserve to be let totally off the hook just because Billy Joe had already served her sentence I don’t believe Harris killed Billy Joe either that’s something you should think about I said in parting before I joined Chief Hathaway I let Walter see who my companion was and and

Allowed him to squirm but Ben and I only discussed how his case against Harris was shaping up the rest could wait until tomorrow when I stepped out of the shower in the morning I caught Walter’s picture inset into the screen above the newscasters talking head the volume was

Turned low so I couldn’t hear the voice over I breathed a sigh of relief Walters withdrawing from the senate race on the day of the incumbent’s funeral would be big news on all the local stations he’d cite family commitment and say that he decided to face the challenges

Presented to the manager of the state’s best law firm as his reason I figured I’d listen to The Story Once right now and then I could ignore it the rest of the day I reached over and press the volume button again senatorial candidate William Walter Westfield the third has

Been killed Westfield was found by a neighbor on the street near his palmaia home early this morning Westfield had been hit by a car during his Routine Morning Jog and died instantly evidence of the impact found at the scene includes paint from a white vehicle police found pieces of a headlight

Assembly at the scene police are looking for a late model Lexus SUV at this time neither the driver nor the car has been found we’ll have more details for you on this story as the day progresses idiot I screamed at myself as the gremlin I couldn’t find now jump out

To bite me how could you be so stupid but all my Screaming made no difference Walter was still dead chapter 56 Eva’s parents were not home when I pulled up in front of their house this time the front door was closed the better to keep that precious air

Conditioning from flowing out the garage door was open and Eva Lexus SUV was running I rang the bell and waited Eva answered the door dressed in travel clothes what’s up Willie I’m just on my way out the girls are already in the car and it’s stifling hot she wasn’t rude

Exactly but not warm and welcoming either I need to talk to you and I’m afraid it can’t wait what do you want to talk to me about I’m really late already and we have a long way to drive today I needed to go right to the point to get

Her to let me inside Walter Westfield has Huntington’s disease but you already knew that didn’t you that’s what you’ve been treating him for all this time that’s really between Walter and me he’s my patient I can’t discuss his condition with you maybe not but when did you

Figure out that Walter was Harris real father Eva when did you know that Harris and your girls might carry the HD Gene I was pushing her now she had killed Walter Westfield I was sure of it it wasn’t just a coincidence that the elementary school her daughters attended

Was on the same street where Walter was jogging and he was killed about the time Eva would have been taking the girls to school I thought I knew why she’ done it she was going to confess to me and then to Ben Hathaway I’d seen enough killing

Among the members of this messed up Woodstock family they were all so in meshed with each other they had no idea where one of them ended and the other began I don’t know what you’re talking about she tried that won’t work Eva you do know you were the only one who had

Access to Walter’s DNA you tested his blood all the time to monitor the progress of his disease when you did the paternity test on Johnny Tyson and Harris you recognized Walter’s DNA patterns were similar to Harris you figured out Walter was Harris father didn’t you that’s insane really she was

Beginning to get the wild look on her face that I’d seen twice before once in the kitchen of this house when she had spilled water on the floor the other time was at Cafe BT when we had lunched Eva might well be incapable of controlling her impulses I backed off the pressure

Changed my tone why don’t you go get the kids out of the car and I’ll wait in the living room Eva we need to talk you can’t go anywhere right now I told her because she could so easily take off with the children she looked uncertain but apparently decided I wasn’t going to

Leave without talking this through all right come on in she unlatched and opened the screen door waved me into the living room and closing both the screen and the door followed after me sit down and I’ll go get the girls it’ll take a minute because they’re all set up with

Their coloring books and games and have their seat bels on she was already walking toward the kitchen as she gave me these instructions I should have followed her but I didn’t want to upset the children and I’d seen how volatile Eva could be I was too anxious to sit so I wandered

Around the room looking at the family photographs I hadn’t paid attention to before Eva as a child a young lady a graduate from high school college Medical School Portraits of Eva and Harris on their wedding day larger versions of the studio shots of Willie and Billy that Harris carried in his

Wallet not one picture of Billy Joe or Trey adorned the walls I didn’t realize what I heard until it was too late I looked out the large front window and saw the back of Evis white Lexus SUV headed South toward the Bayshore while at the same time I heard the garage door

Closing I ran to the door and attempted to turn the doorknob to let myself out but Eva had locked the door behind me and thrown the deadbolt I spent a few seconds figuring that out turning the deadbolt back and yanking the door open as soon as I did

That the house alarm began to sound Eva must have turned it on remotely as she was leaving in the car the noise was deafening but I had no time to try to turn it off the alarm would bring the police as well which I counted as a good

Thing at the moment I reached for the screen door and hit the lever handle to open it with the palm of my hand while my body’s momentum was already moving forward only the door didn’t open I ran right into the screen bumping my head on the wire mesh Eva had thrown the small

Latch on it as well after she let me inside as hard as I banged into the screen amazingly the door held fast again I fumbled with the small latch which had stuck hard when I hit the handle precious seconds were lost but I finally was able to open the lever and

Swing the door wide I loped down the small stoop and ran the short distance to my car out of habit I’d locked Greta too I had to rumage around in my pockets for the key press the keyless entry button and finally let myself in my car

Was facing north so I pulled into the driveway and turned around by the time I headed toward the Bayshore Eva had about a 3 to 4 minute Head Start If I could guess which way they’d gone gre’s powerful engine could overtake Evis SUV quickly when I reached the intersection

At Bayshore I looked toward Howard thinking it was the quickest route to the interstate but I didn’t see Evis SUV surely she hadn’t had time to make it to Howard and turn north indecision gripped me should I take Howard betting that Eva had taken the fastest route I turned my

Head in the opposite direction toward Gandy Boulevard and saw Evis SUV speeding and weaving through traffic Greta and I raced down Bayshore Boulevard following Eva as closely as the heavy traffic would would allow we were gaining ground Greta and I when the traffic started to back up at the signal

Eva was ahead of the traffic light and speeding up getting away from me pounding my palm impatiently on gre’s steering wheel I said come on come on willing the light to change to Green just as the light changed I heard a loud horn blowing then a crash the sound of

Metal striking metal at High Velocity smoke billowed out ahead with a Sinking Feeling I sped toward the smoke as quickly as I could maneuver in the traffic when I reached the intersection I could see the two vehicles that had collided a rental moving truck had been knocked across the

Intersection and two lanes of traffic it rested facing the opposite direction from oncoming traffic on the other side of the boulevard Evis SUV had rolled over onto its roof the driver’s side door open pedestrians already running toward the car the SUV was turned sideways giving me a clear view of the smashed right

Front headlight and crumpled Fender that had killed Walter Wescott I pulled Greta up onto the grassy median opened the door and sprinted to the crash site Willie and Billy crying were hanging from their seat belts their heads parallel to the ground the SUV’s roof held the bottom of

The vehicle up in the air passers by were already opening the doors to get the girls out of the car I looked around for Eva she had been thrown from the car and lay in the traveled portion of the roadway on the eastbound side I reached Eva shortly after a couple of joggers

Did they were giving her first aid while another stood nearby with a cell phone talking to the police I knelt down beside her take care of my girls the young mother said just before she stopped breathing I bent down to administer CPR I kept breathing for Eva as long as

I could until I was exhausted then one of the other pedestrians took over I sat back on my heels on the ground watching him try to make Eva Breathe Again emergency vehicles arrived shortly after that two paramedics jumped out and took over they worked frantically at first

But then seemed to slow down their efforts they put Eva on a gurnie and loaded her into the ambulance as the rest of us stood around helpless the ambulance took off for Tampa General hospital but it wasn’t moving very fast and didn’t use its siren chapter 57 Augustus came into my Chambers

Holding a motion as if it were a python with fangs emergency motion judge he said as he set it down on my desk I picked up the offending Pages the caption read estate of Stanley Madison versus cardio medal Corporation I groaned it gets worse Augustus said to

Me look what what they want I glanced further down the first page we have a procedural rule here in the United States district court for the Middle District of Florida whatever a formal Court Document concerns must be plainly stated in its title I could not mistake

The nature of this motion the title was cardio Med corporation’s motion to set aside settlement procured by fraud and for new trial I put my head down on the desk tempted to cry or pound the table and frustration I had been so happy when they settled now this would the damn

Case never leave me alone but before I could shed a tear Augustus buzzed me on the intercom Ursula Westfield is here to see you he said quietly I got up from my desk went to the door and motioned her inside she hugged me tight and I returned her hug the stress the fatigue

And the awful outcome of Walter’s murder and Evis death threatened to overwhelm us both Ursula pulled back from me and went over to sit in one of my ugly green client chairs I poured us a cup of strong black coffee and sat in the other horrid seat

Thanks for seeing me Willa she started quietly Ursula thank you for coming I thought you might never speak to me again I told her truthfully if it weren’t for me well she started to laugh don’t let start that again it wasn’t your fault Willa really it was mine I

Used you just as you accused me of doing I used Leo too and Harris for that matter this is totally my doing and I take full responsibility why how can it be your fault she sighed a long exhausted sound she shook her head ruul I had the best of

Intentions truly I did all I wanted was to get an innocent woman out of jail with without sending my husband to prison I figured out that Walter had killed Trey and I knew what it had cost him to keep that secret to himself all those years Walter was dying Willa I

Thought I could do this for him and ease the last years of his life as a motive it was better than most what I didn’t count on she said was the intensity of Eva reaction I never thought she would kill Billy Joe or Walter but I probably should have known it

The road to hell is paved with good intentions Harris had known Eva killed Billy Joe he’d found Eva with the gun still in her hand that night after Billy Joe had died he took the gun and fired the second shot into his mother’s head to cover up the crime to prove his

Loyalty to Eva that’s why he confessed why he told me to leave Eva alone and why he wasn’t talking to me now Harris blamed me for killing Eva as unfair as that was I shuddered to think how Prescott Roberts would look at my involvement in Evis death to a man like

Prescott blood was thicker than water I only hoped learning that Harris wasn’t his Grand nephew would distract him from exacting any type of Revenge on me I pushed those thoughts aside as unproductive at the moment how could you possibly have predicted Eva Behavior she was irrational she couldn’t control

Herself it’s foolish to think someone else could have controlled her I soothed although I too felt someone should have watched Eva more closely that night they all knew that she was unreliable at best and Harris had created quite a scene they should never have left Eva alone

With Billy Joe it was more likely than not that something terrible would happen yet I couldn’t blame them for not believing Eva would kill Billy Joe the murder was in the eyes of the law premeditated but I wasn’t willing to hold the other bills and their wives responsible for Eva intentional acts

Well I knew about Eva car accident we all did she had pretty severe frontal lobe damage and developed all the usual symptoms of that she was all right cognitively but she developed poor impulse control poor memory I’d seen her acting out under stress and I knew she had epilepsy I just didn’t understand

The extent of her jealousy if I’d thought it through I might have realized the impact all of this would have had on her Ursula shook her head in defeat I didn’t count on Eva figuring out that Walter was hara’s father and I didn’t realize what that knowledge would

Do to her I shook my head there had been enough denial here even I was willing to go only so far no Eva was a neurologist Ursula she knew that Huntington’s disease was hereditary she had the ability to test Harris and her children for the gene did you think she wouldn’t

Do that just considering the possibility that her children carried a time bomb in their jeans would have severely stressed her you had to know that normally patients who undergo those Gene tests have psychological counseling for months both before and after and Eva didn’t have so much as someone she could

Discuss her children’s potential condition with how could Eva ever have expected to handle that and why would you think she could I felt sorry for all of us but I wasn’t going to let us pretend that we had no control over our actions and judgments I believe we

Create our own lives I have to believe that otherwise I couldn’t do the job I do I’d go crazy slow tears escaped Ursula’s eyes then Willie and Billy don’t carry the Jean that we know neither does Harris if Eva had just waited for the test results before she

Killed Billy Joe she would have known that too this could all have been avoided she said she let her fear lead her to murder with her frontal lobe damage Eva couldn’t handle the pressure that’s all her mother told me that even small stresses would send Eva into fits

Of Rage that she completely forgot after she recovered from them I imagine the fury Eva must have felt toward Billy Joe Billy Joe had had a frivolous affair with Walter that Affair had put Eva’s husband and her children at risk for a fatal and terrible hereditary disease

Had Eva been in possession of all of her faculties she might have been able to reason a solution to her fear I could also picture the anger Eva had at Harris for getting Billy Joe out of prison where Eva must have felt Billy Joe belonged killing Billy Joe and blaming

Harris for it probably resoled olved all of her moral outrage and Harris felt she was entitled to that outrage his guilt and a desire to spare his children his own motherless childhood convinced him to help Eva and to confess to killing his mother until Eva died and there was

No longer any point in doing so had the other bills known Eva had killed Billy Joe I didn’t think so surely their loyalty to Harris would have made the other bills disclose Eva as the killer if they’d known but maybe not the bills had been keeping secrets from the rest

Of the world for a long time killing Secrets Ursula and I sat with that knowledge for a while without speaking before Ursula had the strength to continue have you seen haris since they let him out of jail he’s got the girls with him they miss their mother tears

Leaked from the corners of her eyes again I shook my head no I don’t expect I will see him either I don’t think he’s very happy with me right now the entire Foundation of his life has been shaken I’m just a reminder of that she nodded me too we sipped our

Coffee for a while then Ursula gathered her giant-sized carry all that she used for a purse and prepared to leave Walter was going to withdraw from the senate race she said before Rising we had planned to retire leave the country we were thinking about t

We loved it there I might still go she stood and I walked her to the door be careful I laughed when Kate Went to Tuscany she came home with a young hottie Ursula laughed with me I think it’s a little too early for me to be interested in hotties but you should

Forgive Kate for her choice Leo may leave Kate someday but until then let her enjoy him she can’t do that if you keep resisting Leo she put her hand on my arm Kate needs you to be on her side she’s always been on your side jealousy destroys love Willa look at the Chain

Reaction Billy Joe’s jealousy started with the six bills Kate deserves your loyalty my intercom buzzed Augustus said chief judge Richardson is on the phone he says he knows you’re in there and if you don’t talk to him he’ll be right over put him through I responded as

Ursula let herself out the door I picked up the phone and braced myself for the news that Prescott Roberts had filed a complaint against me with the justice department I still hadn’t figured out who slash greet his tires that day it didn’t seem like Prescott Robert’s style and Augustus had denied any involvement

Although I couldn’t actually imagine him doing such a thing it seemed that only Walter would have stooped so low trying to keep the weariness out of my voice I said will a Carson here I thought maybe you could use some good news today Willa CJ said I finally been

Able to get enough money to move you over to the new courthouse we’ve got you scheduled for Mid July will that give you enough time I was dumbfounded what had made him give in there had to be a catch maybe he was tired of not being able to keep better

Tabs on me and thought that this way I’d be more controllable whatever his reasons I accepted immediately mid July will be perfect Oz we’ll get everything ready to go before then never mind that mid July was the absolute Pinnacle of Tampa’s hellish Heat and the workmen would sweat

Enough to water a small village while relocating us great I’ll put you down he said ringing off what was that about Augustus asked me we’re finally getting to move we’ll get a new courtroom Yes I jumped up giving Augustus a high five he smiled at me shaking his head as he

Walked back into his office I heard they’d condemned this building last month I guess they’d move us out before they closed it asbest don’t you know probably been poisoning you for years Sunday George surprised me with a trip to Key West he woke me up early saying

Get dressed Willa I have a big surprise we drove over to Peter Oak Knight airport on Davis Islands where we met a friend of ours with a private plane A short 1-hour flight to Key West in the early morning sunshine was more picturesque than a travel video we Flew

Over the Dry Tortugas and were low enough to see Fort Jefferson under the clear morning Sky by 10:30 we were breakfasting at the reach sitting outside enjoying the Sun the surf and most especially the Solitude what a perfect Sunday date I told him as we sipped our morning orange juice

We ate sinful pastries and read the morning papers I had on the big Straw Hat I’d worn to Kate’s on Mother’s Day and dark sunglasses to keep out the ocean’s glare George reached over and kissed the jam off my mouth glad you like it I thought we needed a

Getaway um was my total contented reply someone came up behind me and put his hands over my eyes guess who said a voice I recalled only too clearly restraining a grown I said Leo Columbo when he removed his hands I saw Kate sitting across from me at the table

Right she exclaimed isn’t this a fabulous Place Leo kissed me on the cheek and sat across from George I had been ambushed and a great surprise Leo said sounding like the child he was his beautiful smile stretched across his face from one ear to the other before I

Could answer Kate said we staying here for a couple of weeks Leo’s kids are joining us tomorrow Leo called Augustus and told him to get George to bring you down I’m so glad you could come isn’t life wonderful so another mystery solve this was the surprise Augustus had been

Working on with Leo if there’s anything I detest it’s a conspiracy I told her smiling with all the genuine affection and loyalty I felt how do you know Augustus anyway I asked Leo oh I met him years ago on a trip to Jamaica he said did you know he’s Prescott Roberts’s

Nephew I nearly choked on my orange juice and George had to slap me on the back to get my breath going again later as we dress for the sunset festivities on mallerie Square I thought about all I had been involved in during the past few weeks all the death and needless

Suffering I’d witnessed the foolishness going on in my courtroom between people who should have known better nothing that had happened to the steam family or to Walter had been my fault the bill story was put in motion Long Ago by actions that were still Rippling

Out from the center of a rock band at Woodstock was I the Catalyst for the conclusion maybe but if she hadn’t died Eva would have been in prison for the murders of Billy Joe Steam and Walter Westfield her girls would have been visiting her there all their lives the

Cycle would have begun again living in prison would have been better than dying I had thought bitterly for a long time but maybe not maybe all that life should be is Sun surf pastries Paradise living and young hotties George had better be careful I laughed at the

Thought thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed my book next up in this series is the short novel C Justice judge Willa Carson and her husband George head north to Pleasant Harbor Michigan and slam into murder can Willa find the killer before he strikes again I hope you’ll love

It and if you enjoy the hunt for justice series you may also like my light-hearted Park Hotel Mysteries Andy steel loved her career as a lawyer and she was good at it until she got caught in the Fallout when her boss embezzled Millions from clients now all she wants

To do is lie low while she waits for the Scandal to blow over so she can get her life back on track again then she finds the first dead body find out more about the Park Hotel in reservation with death if you love this book please leave

A review at the retailer where you bought the book and anywhere else you think readers might see it leaving reviews is like giving an author a hug and we love hugs and your reviews really help other readers to decide whether or not to give my books a chance now sit

Back in your easy chair with with your favorite beverage close at hand for me that means coffee or red wine depending on the time of day and dive in while I get back to work on more new books especially for you the best readers in

The world one of these days I hope to meet you and say thank you in person until then caffeinate and carry on P.S I hope you’re on my reader group email list where we let you know about new books opportunities contests giveaways and well everything first and excl

Exclusively I certainly don’t want to leave you out and don’t worry I’ll never ever send you any spam if it’s email from me you can be sure it’s got something terrific to offer about the author Diane Capri is an award-winning New York Times USA Today and worldwide best-selling author she

Writes several series including the Park Hotel Mysteries the Hunt For Justice hunt for Jack Reacher and Air Hunter series and the Jess Kimble Thrillers she’s a recovering lawyer and snowbird who divides her time between Florida and Michigan an active member of mystery writers of America author’s Guild International Thriller writers Alliance

Of independent authors and sisters in crime she loves to hear from readers and is hard at work on her next novel please connect with Diane online www. Dian capri.com