“Roy.”
He’d given her a special line to call, apparently for clients who hadn’t fared as well as those on his vauntedWall of Exoneration.
“It’s Cara,” she said, feeling short of breath.
There was a stunned pause. “Oh my God. I’m so relieved! Are you OK? You do realize the entire world is looking for you. Just tell me where you?—?”
“I need help.”
“Anything. I’ll come get you. I’ll?—”
“I need to know everything you’ve found out about the forensic accountant’s testimony.”
“All I know is his testimony was a surprise to everyone.”
“But you didn’t contact him directly to follow up?”
“Not . . . yet.”
Why hadn’t he already jumped on this for an appeal?
Cara had suggested he look into the general contractor Karl hired to build the surgical center. Karl, who rarely badmouthed anyone, had twice told her the general contractor was a pain in the ass.
Roy dismissed her concerns, saying, “Everyone’s general contractor is a pain in the ass.”
“I need to go through your files,” she told him now. “Everything you have about the surgical center Karl was building.”
“OK . . .”
“Also,” she added, “The killer could have been wearing a blond wig and that idiot coroner would never have figured that out.”
“Are you in town? Let’s meet right now.”
“Not—” She stopped herself before sayingyet.“I couldn’t exactly come to your office even if I was.”
“I definitely get that. Can you give me an email or somewhere I can send you information. Or wire you money?”
Cara heard the rattle of a diesel engine. Her bus was turning off the highway and headed toward the stop.
“I have to go. I’ll get back in touch soon.”
She ended the call.
FORTY-ONE
JORDAN
Traffic slowdown on 41 South due to police activity. Expect delays.
—@madera_watchdawg
“Have you seen this woman?”
After striding into the lobby of the Best Western Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn in Oakhurst, Jordan showed his phone to the first person he saw, a man with gray hair and a red face who was perched on a rolling knee walker.Rodkey Reunionwas printed on his sweatshirt. The lobby, an airy atrium with faux rock and plenty of wood, was crowded with tourists.
The man glanced at it and shook his head. “Nice looking, though.”
“Check again,” Jordan urged him. “Her hair has been cut short since this photo. Her appearance is likely to be a lot rougher.”
