“Benjamin Fletcher, returning your call,” Anna announced on the intercom.
Jeff MacKingsley drew a deep breath and picked up the receiver. “Hello, Ben,” he said warmly. “How are you?”
“Hello, Jeff. Nice to hear from you, but I’m sure you’re not interested in the state of my health, which could be better in case you actually are interested.”
“Of course I’m interested in how you’re doing, but you’re right, that’s not the reason I called. I need your help.”
“I’m not so sure I’m feeling very helpful, Jeff. That viper you call a detective, Walsh, has been pretty busy intimidating my new client.”
“Yes, I realize that and I’m sorry. I apologize.”
“I heard about Walsh making a big fuss because he thinks my client moved fast when she didn’t know if a killer might still be lurking around. I don’t take kindly to that.”
“Ben, I don’t blame you. Listen to me. Do you know that your new client, Celia Nolan, is actually Liza Barton?”
Jeff heard the sharp intake of breath at the other end of the phone and knew that Benjamin Fletcher had not been aware that Celia and Liza were the same person.
“I have absolute proof,” he said. “Fingerprints.”
“You better not have fingerprints from the juvenile case,” Benjamin Fletcher said sharply.
“Ben, for now, never mind where or how I got them. I need to talk to Celia. I won’t ask her one word about the two homicides last week, but there’s something else I do have to talk to her about. Do you remember the name Zach Willet?”
“Sure. He’s the guy who was giving her father riding lessons. Even when she wouldn’t say anything else in the detention center, she kept repeating his name. What about him?”
“Zach was shot while he was in his car sometime last evening. Celia must have had an appointment to meet him. Her fingerprints are on Zach’s car door and on his doorbell. I don’t for one single minute think that she had anything to do with Zach’s death, but I need her help. I need to know why she was meeting him, and why Zach told me on the phone only yesterday that he might be coming in to see me with Celia. Will you let her talk to me? I’m worried that there may be other lives at risk—including hers.”
“I’ll talk to her, then make a decision. Of course, I must be present if she ends up agreeing to meet with you, and at any point, if I say stop, you stop. I’ll call her now and try to get back to you later today,” Fletcher said.
“Please,” Jeff urged. “As soon as you can. Whatever time and place is convenient for her, I’ll be there.”
“Okay, Jeff, and I’ll tell you another thing. With all those people you’ve got working for you, have someone protect her. Make sure nothing happens to that pretty lady.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Jeff said grimly. “But you’ve got to let me talk to her.”