Feeling the tension coil tighter in Cooper’s shoulder, I leaned forward.“It has to be,” I told him in a private voice, “if for no other reason than to line up witnesses who’ll speak on your behalf.”
Staring at me, he spoke nearly as quietly as I had, albeit rigidly.“I didn’t want this.”
“What was the alternative?”
“McHenry.”
“McHenry couldn’t have done it.”I sighed.“Cooper, we’ve been through this before.McHenry got you out on bail in twice the time it should have taken.He would defend you, and you’re right, he wouldn’t ask any questions or make any waves, but neither would he get you an acquittal and that’s what you need.The alternative, Cooper, is jail.”
“I know that,” he growled, but I wasn’t done.Once started, I had trouble stopping.
“You’ve worked too hard.You’ve worked too hard to make a life for yourself.And for Benjie—if you go to prison, where will that leave him?Where will it leave me?”I looked at Peter.“Reasonable doubt.That’s all we have to show.Reasonable doubt.”The phone rang.Ignoring it, I told Cooper, “Peter can do it, but it won’t be easy.You have to cooperate.We’ll all have to cooperate.”
“I’m missing out on good fishing.”
“I’m missing out on good potting, but this is more important than either of those things.It’s yourlife.Cooper.”
“What’s it worth?”he muttered.
The phone rang again.
“A whole lot, damn it,” I cried in an angry whisper, “at least, that’s what you told me after Adam died, when I didn’t care what happened to me.Or was it a line?Were you lying?”I’d reached him.He was looking at me with the kind of dark awareness I knew so well.“Peter knows what he’s doing.All we have to do is to cooperate with him.I’m asking you,beggingyou to do that.”
“He’s expensive, Jill.”
The phone rang again.
“It’s my money.What else am I going to do with it?”
“Buy a condo in the city.”
“What?”
“You heard.”
I was sorry I had.“I don’t want a condo, and I don’t want the city!”
“Not now.Maybe in a year or two.”
“Never.”
“It’s getting time, Jill.”
“Never!”The phone rang again.Swearing, I crossed the room and snatched it up.“Hello!”
“Jill?”
Hanging my head, I took a minute to compose myself.Then I said brightly, “Hi, Samantha.”
“Is he there?”
“Who?”I asked, as if I didn’t know.
“Peter.”
“Oh.”I looked at the floor.“Uh-huh.”
“Is he gorgeous?”she asked.I could just see her eyes.They’d be wide and as eager as her grin.
