Fuck you, Zach,that was all I could think. I got that his situation was a nightmare, but I definitely didn’t ask for any of this.
“Hey, I’m trying to help you, remember?” I sounded even angrier than I’d intended. “Becauseyouasked me to.”
He exhaled loudly. “Uh, I’m sorry, Lizzie.” He seemed genuinely chastened. “That’s not—I am so lucky to have your help. I know that. I’m just starting to lose it in here a bit.”
“That’s understandable,” I said. And Zach was being attacked, literally. Surely it was taking its toll.
“I should have told you about the warrant. Actually, I should have paid the damn ticket in the first place. The whole issue could have been avoided.”
“Adam said you didn’t remember what the warrant was for?”
“I do now,” he said. “I’ve had plenty of time to think in here. It was for loitering, I’m pretty sure.”
“Loitering?”
“Ridiculous, right? Do you remember that new mayor in Philly when we were there?”
“Um, maybe, I don’t know.” I did not.
“Well, he was going after everybody for everything. Like every jaywalker. I remember the one officer making a point that they were doing me a favor by not charging me with a misdemeanor, which supposedly they could have. So, I got the ticket for standing too longon a corner. I objected to it on the moral principle that the mayor was trying to create a police state. Hubris of law school youth, I guess. That’s why I didn’t pay it. Obviously, I should have.”
I would have preferred an explanation that was slightly less belligerent, but at least it sounded truthful.
“Yeah, that might have been better, but it’s okay. We’ll get it resolved.”
“Were you able to reach Case’s camp?” Zach asked.
“Yes, it’s all set. Ashe’s parents will head to the camp this weekend, then bring both of the boys to their house and tell Case there. The camp will make sure Case doesn’t hear anything before then. And Ashe’s parents will let me know if Case wants to talk to you, and we’ll arrange it.”
“Oh, good.” Zach sounded relieved. “I was so afraid that he’d accidentally—”
“That’s not going to happen,” I said. “His camp seems really on top of things. And his friend’s parents were very upset about Amanda, obviously, but they were focused completely on Case by the time I hung up.”
“Thank you, Lizzie, really,” Zach said. “Ashe, huh …”
“We should get some other facts straight, in case they somehow come up at the writ hearing. Also, there’s a good chance I’ll be arguing it without you there. They’re scheduled on short notice. You do have a right to be there, but having you brought up could slow things down. Are you okay waiving your appearance?”
“Sure, yeah, of course. Whatever you think is best,” Zach said, the edge completely gone from his voice.
I glanced down at my list, hoping to start with the easiest things first.
“Did you send flowers to Amanda from Blooms on the Slope?”
“Flowers?” Zach asked. “Sorry, no. Why?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing. She just had a card from some flowers,” I said, hoping now to breeze past the question of who sent them.“What are the names of some of Amanda’s friends? I should go talk to them.”
“Maude was the woman who had the party that night. I know they were friends,” he said. “And her other close friend in the neighborhood is a woman named Sarah. She worked with Amanda at the foundation.”
“Foundation?” I asked.
“Oh, yeah, we just started a scholarship foundation,” he said. “OrIstarted a scholarship foundation. Amanda ran it, because that’s what the wives of successful entrepreneurs do,” he said flatly. He was mocking himself, at least I hoped. “Amanda didn’t complain because she never complained. But I don’t think she enjoyed running the foundation. With her upbringing, she was glad to help needy kids. But she was overwhelmed by the responsibility. She was always worried she was going to mess something up and somebody was going to come after her.”
“Come after her?”
“Not literally,” he said. “If there was something like that, I would tell you, believe me.”
“I found her journals at your—”
