Privileged Witness (26 page)

.''Let's take a good look at those divorce papers, Matthew,'' Helen suggested, relaxed and reassured by Matthew's silence and his touch.
''Let's wait,'' Matthew countered. ''If we win the preliminary hearing it won't matter what's in those papers. I'll send Grace packing. People will forget about the both of them. The press will forget.''

''I think you're wrong, Matthew,'' she warned as she patted his hand. ''If Grace is exonerated, people will still wonder why Michelle killed herself and they'll want an answer from you. The press will pick at the scab until they expose the wound and that won't do you one bit of good. Or, worse, Grace will start blabbing.''

''Don't worry about Grace,'' he said.

''Matthew, sometimes you can be so naive,'' Helen chuckled. ''You think because you're a man women will forgive you everything. Well, my dear, you stepped over the line tonight and Grace called you on it. When a woman isn't happy, everyone better watch out.''

Matthew laid both hands heavily on his benefactor's shoulders, leaning on her, closing his eyes as he thought of all the women he had known in his life: his dead wife, his sister. Josie Baylor-Bates. Maybe Josie wasn't as beautiful as Michelle or as dutiful as Grace, but she was the only real woman he'd ever known. An equal who didn't want anything from him because, whatever she wanted, she could get for herself.

Looking down he saw the intricate details of Helen Crane's beautifully coiffed hair and suddenly he realized he didn't miss Josie at all. In fact, Matthew McCreary was just damned tired of women in general. But he knew how necessary they were so he kissed Helen Crane chastely on the cheek.

''Don't worry,'' he whispered. ''Tomorrow we'll know which way the wind blows. Once we do, I'll take care of Grace.''

Helen tipped her head. She smiled up at Matthew McCreary who smiled down at her.

''Your confidence knows no bounds where women are concerned, does it, Matthew?''

''Not women, Helen. Only Grace. Grace, I can handle.''

''Let's hope so, darling.''

CHAPTER 33

''Where is your client, Ms. Bates?''

Judge Belote drummed the fingers of one hand on the arm of his chair, asking his question one more time, turning the room icy with a look. Impatience had evaporated to be replaced with a hard core fury. Three times he directed Josie to track down her client, three times insisted she leave her cell on the defense table. Three times he suggested they would wait with her for the defendant to call back. Spectators squirmed, the press doodled, Josie sat stoically alone at her table while P.J. wrote letters on pink stationery. They were waiting for all hell to break loose. The silence was punctuated by the sound of the judge using his pen like a sword as he jabbed at dots and slashed at cross strokes while he wrote orders.

''If it please the court.'' Josie pushed back her chair. ''My client wasn't well last night and I can only assume that her illness has taken a turn for the worse. I ask the court's indulgence and would like to request a continuance so that I can find out what kind of assistance she needs.''

Josie spoke easily because she spoke the truth – sort of. Grace was sick with anger and nothing else. Now her little grandstanding was going to get them both sanctioned. That made Josie no happier than Judge Belote.

''You're honor,'' P.J. called, barely able to hide her glee at Josie's predicament. ''It is a condition of Ms. McCreary's bail that she be available and visible each day during any court proceedings. I would ask that you direct the defense to either produce the defendant, or a witness to verify Ms. McCreary's illness. In lieu of that, I request the court issue a warrant and bring the defendant here in custody.''

Before the judge could direct anything, the door of the courtroom opened. All heads turned and Josie thought she heard a distinct groan of disappointment when a clerk appeared, handed something to the bailiff who, in turn, passed it up to the bench so that the judge could ignore it. Josie looked back again; hoping against hope the next person through that door would be Grace.

''Ms. Bates? Ms. Bates!'' Judge Belote snapped and there was nothing to do but give him her attention. ''Ms. Bates, do you have an affidavit from the defendant's physician?''

''No, your honor. Again, respectfully, I would like to request we continuance so that I can sort this out. I'm concerned that Ms. McCreary might be sicker than I originally . . .''

''Save it.'' The judge cut her off. ''I've already given you far more leeway than you deserve.''

''Chambers then, your honor,'' Josie asked, trying to stave off the inevitable. ''Last night I became aware of a situation that could result in a change of plea . . .''

''Unless you're going to raise the late Mrs. McCreary from the dead, you're wasting my time. Is the investigating officer here?'' Belote dismissed Josie with a sniff as his eyes swept the courtroom and Babcock identified himself.

''Detective, the court believes that the defendant has voluntarily absented herself from these proceedings. I'm issuing a bench a warrant for her arrest. Defendant will be remanded to custody and I will not entertain any motions to the contrary. Court is recessed and let's pick up the pace when we reconvene. I want that to be soon, detective.''

Judge Belote was already halfway to his chambers when Babcock took off. The spectator's were leaving. Only P.J. lingered, looking for a chat.

''Want to tell me about the change of plea?'' P.J. asked.

''Nope. Gotta run,'' Josie muttered.

''If you change your mind, give me a call,'' P.J. chuckled as Josie pushed past her and hurried after Babcock.

She spied him at the end of the hall and was almost in full sprint when she stopped suddenly. Matthew McCreary was coming through a side door looking like he had slept in his clothes. Josie hurried to meet him, pulling him aside out of Babcock's line of sight.

''Did you find her?'' she demanded.

''No. No. I don't know where she is. I swear,'' Matthew insisted. ''I went to her place last night and again this morning. Tim said he saw her go through the gate. He saw her go into her house and now she's not there.''

''When did Tim leave?''

''I don't know. As soon as he dropped her off. Jesus Josie, where could she have gone in the state she was in? You don't think she really did something to herself, do you? I mean, I wasn't really serious about that or I would have gone with her myself.''

''If she did I'm going to be looking long and hard at you, Matthew. Two women committing suicide in the span of a few months would be a stretch no matter how well I think I know you.''

''Oh, for God's sake! It wouldn't be my fault. . .'' Matthew stuck his hands in his pockets and threw his head back.

''I'm sorry, that was uncalled for.'' Josie shifted her weight, more angry at herself than anyone for not taking responsibility for Grace. ''Just keep out of sight for a few minutes. Go home, clean yourself up. We wouldn't want any of your constituents to see you like that,'' Josie said, trying to lighten the moment.

''The hell with them.''

''Kidding, Matthew. Bad joke.'' Josie squeezed his arm as she poked her head out into the hall. Babcock was on the move again. He was the man of she wanted to see. ''I'll call you when I have something.''

Josie hurried away and burst through the doors of the courthouse. She didn't far to go to catch Babcock. He was sitting in his car with the door was open as he talked into the radio. Josie put one hand on the top of the car, the other on the door.

''How nice do I have to be to get you to wait before you act on that warrant for Grace?''

''No need to put yourself out,'' he said. ''I've got people over at her place now. The house is locked up tight.''

''Her car?'' Josie asked.

''Garage is locked. It might be in there, but we'll assume it isn't.''

''Okay, then, what do I have to do for you to give me a head's up before you take her into custody?'' Josie was ready to bargain with anything she had, which wasn't much.

''It's not going to happen, Ms. Bates. I'm sorry,'' Babcock said and she knew he was.

Josie put her hand on her hip and suddenly realized she shouldn't even be there, talking to Babcock, worried about Grace McCreary, putting Hannah and Archer on the back burner. She should have been on the beach, scoping out the competition on the other side of the volleyball net, wondering if she should go for the winner or play it safe. Straight out was what Babcock would understand. He was getting out of his car and now was the time.

''Look, Babcock, this woman is downright brittle. The night you arrested her was nothing compared with what's going to happen if you send out the troops. Just find her and call me so that I can keep her from doing anything stupid, okay?''

''Tell me what I need to know and I'll think about it.''

''Like what?''

''Is she suicidal? Armed?''

''No to the second. I have concerns about the first. Give me time and I'll get her back together; I'll walk in with her.''

''I am sorry, Ms. Bates,'' Babcock answered simply and stood his ground.

Josie took another step away. She swung her head, turned her face toward the sky and the sun that shined brightly but gave off no heat today. Babcock was waiting and she knew what Babcock was waiting for.

''I don't know where she is. I want you to know that.''

''I believe you. ''

''And she doesn't know how bad this is going to be for her,'' Josie said.

''They never do,'' Babcock agreed.

''And I don't think my heart was really in this from the beginning,'' Josie admitted. ''I don't like politics and rich people. I don't really like my client but I'm going make sure she's okay.''

''As it should be. I admire integrity.''

Josie laughed, ''Is that what you call it?''

''Yes. Otherwise you wouldn't have chased me down. You wouldn't be worried about what happens when we find her. You would have been on to the next thing like any other attorney.''

Josie shrugged self-consciously. Babcock was giving credit where it wasn't due. She was thinking of herself, she was worried about failing, of what Archer and Matthew and Hannah would think of her for abandoning Grace now. It was complicated and would take too long to explain that to Babcock.

''I just want to walk her in. That would make a difference with the judge,'' Josie mumbled.

''Maybe she'll get to you before we get to her.''

''Maybe,'' Josie echoed but she doubted it.

''Just make sure you let me know you've got her,'' Babcock warned.

''Thanks for whatever you can give me.'' Josie nodded and checked her watch. It was late. She had a meeting with Susan O'Connel in three hours. She could get a lot done in three hours so Josie took her leave. It wasn't until she was in her car that Josie dialed Archer. He answered on the first ring.

''I need you,'' she said.

.

CHAPTER 34

''Jo. Hey.''

Josie caught herself mid-stride when Archer hailed her. She stepped onto the curb as he came at her diagonally from across the tree lined street.

''Where's the tank?'' Josie raised her chin in greeting and pushed up her sunglasses as she looked for the Hummer.

''A street over.'' He took the last steps quickly, touched her arm. ''The cops were trolling again. I didn't want to draw attention to myself.''

Josie ruffled her hair. Archer leaned in to kiss her quickly. She touched his face absentmindedly as they fell into step.

''When are you going to get rid of that thing?''

''They're going to have to bury me in that vehicle, babe.'' Archer's laugh was like a rumble. Behind her dark glasses, Josie rolled her eyes. Archer's taxi-yellow car might be great if he was lost in the Sonoran desert but it was a downright pain in the butt in a beach city and a handicap for a PI . Archer walked beside her, checking out the windows in the townhouses, looking back when he heard a door close. ''Want to know what I did while I was waiting for you?''

Josie looked his way as he held the gate for her and they walked into the common area of Grace McCreary's condo complex.

''Tell me you found Grace and I'm all ears.''

''Wish I could, Jo, but you'll like what I've got anyway.'' Archer closed the gate, making sure it latched, careful as if this was his own home. ''I talked to a guy in the building across the street. He says he saw Grace take off in a dark blue car about nine-thirty last night. SUV. Thinks it was a Nissan but he isn't positive. He does know a man was driving.''

''And what was your witness doing out last night?''

''Walking the dog. He didn't get a license plate number and didn't pay enough attention to get a good look at the guy. Just said he had dark hair.''

''Matthew?'' Josie asked, hoping for a negative.

Archer shook his head. ''He was at his campaign headquarters until after ten. He drives a black Escalade. I guess you could mistake it for a Nissan but it would be hard. If he came over here then he missed her by an hour unless she came back and they went out again.''

''Did the dog walker keep an eye out to see if she did come back?''

''No. Just saw her about nine-thirty. He went back in and watched the ten o'clock news. He was in bed by ten-thirty.''

''Okay,'' Josie mused. ''Then I'm thinking there is a boyfriend in the wings and that's just a bitch. Grace never said a word. He didn't come forward to help her. What's up with that? What's he afraid of? Why was she hiding him?''

''There's no boyfriend,'' Archer answered. ''Babcock turned Grace inside out, Jo. We both saw the report. If Babcock didn't dig anyone up then there isn't anyone. This is an acquaintance, someone she called specifically last night. Or she could have called for a car and driver.''

''I don't think so. Grace was too upset last night to call just anyone and Babcock isn't God. He could have missed this guy. Besides, If Grace wanted to go somewhere, she has a car. It has to be personal.'' The pronouncement made, Josie walked ahead of Archer.

They went down the winding stone path. It was fall dark. The garden lights tucked into the ferns and embedded with the impatiens were glowing as evening erased the day in broad strokes. The place was still. Lights shined in two units behind tightly drawn curtains. As she walked, Josie wondered what she should make of the man in the dark car. A cad? A fortune hunter? Married? A man Michelle found so objectionable that the two women fought over him or a man Michelle wanted and Grace would kill to keep? Did he threaten Matthew in some way and Grace couldn't extricate herself? The only thing that seemed a sure bet was that Matthew didn't know about him.