Just Take My Heart

by Mary Higgins Clark

  “That's not what I'm talking about,” Wesley snapped. “Are you telling me that he had his whole story ready to spill to you and that all of the details came from him?”

  “Absolutely,” Billy replied emphatically. “Ted, look at the facts, even if Emily won't. The minute Easton got grabbed coming out of that burglary, he said to the local cops that he had information on the Aldrich case. They called the office and I went right over there. Everything he said later checked out. He met Aldrich at the bar. Al?drich did call him on his phone. He described the interior of the Aldrich apartment. And he even knew about the infamous squeaky drawer.”

  “That's right, he knew about the squeaky drawer,” Emily retorted. "And now Mr. Garcia has come forward to say that he made a deliv?ery with Easton to the Aldrich apartment and that at some point Eas?ton was left alone in the living room. He could have been trying to steal something by pulling out that drawer, then heard the noise.

  “And what about the letter that he supposedly sent, the one you just admitted to helping him explain?” Emily asked him. “Was the entire letter your idea? It made Jimmy look better and it strength?ened his story.”

  Before Billy could answer, Wesley looked at Jake Rosen. “You went out when Easton got arrested. What do you have to say?”

  “Sir, I was there for most of that first meeting with Easton in the Old Tappan police station,” Jake replied. “Billy didn't coach him.” Jake looked at Emily. “Emily, I'm going to be frank. You and Billy have always rubbed each other the wrong way. But I really think that you are being unfair to him now.”

  “That's all I needed to hear, Jake. Thanks. You can go now,” Wes?ley said sharply.

  When the door closed behind Jake, Wesley looked at Emily. “I think it's clear Easton didn't need help putting together his story. He didn't need help because he was telling the truth about what he and Aldrich had done. And now, because of your total lack of judgment in responding to his genuine fear about going back to prison after cooperating, he is dead. Not to mention that Aldrich is out on bail and our case is probably wrecked. Why didn't you just agree to time served as his sentence and all of this could have been avoided?”

  “Because he is a career criminal and he would have just gone back to breaking into people's homes,” Emily replied firmly. “Maybe this time around someone would have gotten hurt.”

  Emily stiffened her back and continued. “And there's something else you apparently haven't considered. The jury heard he was going to get four years. If I had later agreed to time served as his sentence, Moore would file a motion for a new trial and argue that I knew and Jimmy knew all along he would get time served, and that the jury should have known that when they were evaluating his testimony. Moore would further argue that Easton would have said anything if he knew he would be getting out. There's no way the judge wouldn't grant that motion.”

  “Then you should have thought about that when you were nego?tiating with him before trial,” Wesley snapped. “You knew he was a loose cannon and that he could turn on you later on. You should have just given him probation from the beginning. There was a lot of corroboration to his story, no matter what sentence he was going to get. Now the integrity of this office will not only be questioned, but actively maligned. The media is going to annihilate us.”

  Not knowing when she had first come to this meeting whether she would reveal them, Emily had kept the two sketches in a folder. She took them out and placed them in front of Wesley. “Maybe De?tective Tryon can satisfactorily explain this. The sketch that I found yesterday in the New York file on Jamie Evans, the murdered room?mate of Natalie Raines, was not the one that he brought back to this office. It has the same date on it but that's where the similarity ends. It's of an entirely different person.”

  As Wesley and Tryon angrily glared at her, Emily continued. “I know perfectly well Billy will claim that it was just a mix-up. But the detective at the Manhattan DA's office who showed me this file is sure there was only one sketch. I suggest to you that it was a deliber?ate attempt by Billy to keep the right sketch out of the Aldrich file.”

  Emily paused, not immediately knowing if she was going to say what she was thinking. She took a deep breath. “I also want to point out that the original sketch bears a rather obvious resemblance to Billy Tryon, which may be why he desperately wanted it to never reach our file.”

  Ted Wesley took the sketches and studied them. “Emily, you are now making not only serious accusations, but also scurrilous and even hysterical ones. Do I understand correctly that Natalie Raines never even met this man, and that this sketch was drawn from her recollection of a supposed wallet picture she may have seen once?”

  “This is exactly what I expected that you would say,” Emily responded defiantly, “It is my position that not only does this sketch strongly resemble Billy, but that there is no question these sketches were deliberately switched by him to hide something terribly impor?tant. And I'm not going to stop until I find out what that is.”

  “I have had enough of this,” Wesley shouted. "I've had enough of your attempts to vilify my finest detective. I've had enough of your attempts to destroy the Aldrich case, which you have almost cer?tainly accomplished. And did it ever occur to you that the detective in New York could be wrong about there being only one sketch?

  “I am ordering you to leave these files in my office. And don't touch them again! Go home and stay away from this office until I decide the appropriate sanctions for you. If the media calls you at home, you are forbidden to talk to them. Refer the calls directly to my office.”

  Wesley stood up. “Now get out.”

  Emily was surprised that he had not already fired her. “I'll get out, Ted. But just one more thought. Ask around and see if Detec?tive Tryon was ever known by the nickname 'Jess.' And think back yourself if you ever heard that. After all, he is your cousin.”

  For several moments they stared at each other, with no words being spoken. Then, ignoring Billy Tryon, Emily left Ted's office and walked out of the courthouse.

  Just Take My Heart

  79

  Zach decided to wait until midafternoon to take a bus to New York. He knew that the Port Authority was filled with undercover cops scanning the crowds for known criminals whose faces they had locked into their brains. Better to get there during rush hour, he de?cided.

  He had lunch at the motel in the dreary little dump they called a grill. As he was finishing, six people came in. From their loud and excited conversation he gathered that they were going to a five o'clock wedding nearby. They've all checked in here, he thought. It's a good thing I'm getting out. He was sure that a couple of them were looking at him when he was paying the check and then leaving the grill.

  Then outside he saw that their cars were parked on either side of his van. Another worry. One of them might remember having seen it, when the son-in-law calls the police and they start looking for it.

  He was wearing a leather jacket, brown slacks, and a cap. That's the way they would describe him to the police.

  When he left, Zach was carrying his money, his phony identifica?tions, his paid-up cell phones, jeans, a hooded sweatshirt, sneakers, and a gray wig tightly wrapped in a small duffle bag.

  He arrived at the Port Authority at six fifteen. As he'd expected, it was packed with commuters. He went into the men's room and changed clothes in a stall, then made his way to the platform for the bus to Glen Rock. He noticed that rain was now pelting the windows of the terminal. There won't be anyone strolling the streets, he thought. The people who don't get picked up at the bus station will be hurrying to get home. So will I.

  At seven thirty, he got off the bus in Glen Rock. He tightened the hood around his neck. The hair of the gray wig was plastered against his forehead by the rain. It felt good.

  Emily. Emily. Ready or not, here I come.

  Just Take My Heart

  80

  I have got to get some sleep, Emily thought. I feel absolutely worn out. I can barely funct
ion anymore. I've tipped my hand to Billy. I have proof of nothing. And even Jake believes that I have a vendetta against Billy.

  Now that Jimmy Easton has been murdered, Ted is going to have to answer a lot of questions to the media about how we responded to Jimmy's threats in the courtroom. He needs a united front when he's facing the cameras. He certainly doesn't want me around.

  And now it's Jake's reputation on the line, too. He may have missed more of that first meeting with Easton than he admitted to and is afraid to say so now. I understand him being afraid. Billy is his immediate boss and the prosecutor is his employer.

  She arrived home in time to find the locksmith about to pack up. “Between those new locks and that pit bull of yours, you'll be fine,” he said. “Just remember that no lock will do you any good unless you remember to make sure it's turned. And the same goes for that fancy security system those guys are installing. Okay, nice meeting you and good luck.”

  “Thanks. And thanks for coming so quickly.” And thanks for leav?ing, Emily thought, then feeling momentarily guilty because the guy really was trying to be helpful.

  It was quarter past five. As the locksmith was leaving, the alarm system technicians came up from the basement. “We're all set for now,” the older one said. “Tomorrow we'll install your cameras. If you'll come to the kitchen I'll show you how to arm and disarm the system. You can also block off zones if you want to open any win?dows.”

  Her eyes almost closing, Emily walked with him into the kitchen, then listened and tried to absorb the differences between this system and her old one. After he left with the promise to return tomorrow, she let Bess run outside for a minute. The back door again rebolted, she checked her answering machine. She was disappointed to see that Alice Mills had not returned her call.

  She tried again to reach Alice at her home and then at the Al?drich apartment. She left another message at the Aldrich number. “Alice, I would really appreciate it if you would call me back. You may not want to talk to me and I can understand why. I want you to know that the prosecutor has taken me off the case and I expect to be fired.”

  She knew that her voice was cracking but continued. “I honestly feel that if we knew why Natalie was frightened, we could find the person who murdered her.”

  Emily went into the living room, sat in her usual chair, and wrapped an afghan around her. I know that I probably won't stay awake, she thought, but I do want to watch Courtside when it comes on. She set the alarm on her watch for nine o'clock, closed her eyes, and was instantly asleep.

  The alarm did not wake her. It was the persistent ringing of her cell phone that finally dragged her from sleep. When she answered her voice was groggy. “Hello,” she whispered.

  “Emily, are you all right? I've tried you three times in the last half hour. I was getting so worried. You sounded so upset when you left that last message.”

  It was Alice Mills. The genuine concern in her voice brought in?stant tears to Emily's eyes. “No, I'm all right. Alice, I may be crazy, and I know that the prosecutor thinks I am, but I believe that I know who killed Jamie Evans and almost certainly killed Natalie, too.”

  Hearing Alice gasp, Emily continued. “There must be some peo?ple who were close to Natalie, maybe another actor or a makeup person or a wardrobe lady who heard or saw something. Alice, did you think it was unusual for her to rush off to the Cape the way she did?”

  “Natalie was stressed because of the divorce and getting a new agent but I never thought of her as being frightened,” Alice Mills said. “Emily, it's not just for Natalie that it's so necessary to find the person who did this. It's also for Gregg and Katie's sake. Did you watch Courtside tonight?”

  “I intended to but I fell asleep.”

  “Gregg and Katie and I were guests on it. Gregg talked about how horrible it is to live under this cloud, to be the 'person of inter?est.' But of course he is ecstatic to be out of jail. Katie is going back to school tomorrow and I'll be moving home.”

  “To your wonderful little apartment just a few blocks from Lin?coln Center,” Emily said.

  “Did I tell you that?” Alice asked, surprised.

  “You must have.”

  “Emily, there is one person I can call right now who will surely be awake. Jeanette Steele is the wardrobe mistress at the new play that opened at the Barrymore. She of all people might know some?thing. She was with Natalie that last night.”

  “I'd be so grateful. Thank you, Alice.”

  Now somewhat awake, Emily got up and went back to the kitchen. It's too late to eat anything much, she thought. Maybe just some toast and a glass of wine. That should do me in pretty fast.

  Emily looked at the kitchen window that faced the rental house. The shade was only halfway closed. She walked over to it and for a moment looked out. It was raining hard. What a miserable night, she thought as she pulled the shade down. And that place still gives me the creeps.

  Before she put the bread in the toaster, she walked into the living room and looked outside to be reassured by the sight of the police car at the curb.

  Just Take My Heart

  81

  In his familiar perch at the kitchen window of the rental house, Zach was treated to the sight of Emily pulling down the shade. Just as he'd expected, it had been so easy to get in here. He knew that no one had seen him run down the driveway of the house behind the rental. He had vaulted over the low fence and then, key in hand, had been inside in the space of seconds.

  He had the treats ready for Bess. Now that Emily was pulling down the shades, he was pretty certain that she was getting ready to go to bed. She'll let Bess out that one last time. Her alarm will be off. Bess will start barking when she senses me coming, he thought. That shouldn't scare Emily for the first few seconds. Bess barks at squirrels.

  And then I'll be inside. Even if the barking makes the cop check inside the house, it will only take seconds to kill her. If I get away, fine. If I don't, maybe that's okay, too.

  I'm tired of running.

  Just Take My Heart

  82

  Alice Mills called back at quarter of eleven. Emily, I reached my friend Jeanette Steele, the wardrobe mistress. She was with Nata?lie that night. She said that Natalie was radiantly happy about the final show. She received a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes."

  “Was she with Natalie until she left the theatre?” Emily asked.

  “Almost till the end. Jeanette said Natalie changed and was ready to leave. Of course she was exhausted and drained by then. She didn't want any visitors in her dressing room and had said so. But then the producer knocked on her door. A very well-known actor, Tim Moynihan, was there with friends and was terribly anxious to meet her. Jeanette said Natalie wasn't happy about it but she let Moynihan and his friends in. That was when Jeanette left.”

  Moynihan, Emily thought. Tim Moynihan. He's a good friend of Ted's. I wonder how well he knows Billy. “Alice, I met Tim Moyni?han only last week. I swear I think this is the link we need. You don't have his phone number, do you?”

  “No, but I wouldn't be surprised if Gregg has it, or could get it fast. I don't know if he knows Moynihan but I bet he knows some of his friends or the people on his television show. Hold on.”

  A moment later, Alice came back on. “Emily, Gregg is calling someone who can give him Tim Moynihan's number. While we wait for it, I want to tell you that I am worried about you. Please be careful. Please.”

  “You won't believe how many locks and whistles I have protect?ing me. To say nothing of having a patrol car sitting outside my door.”

  “I read about your neighbor being murdered by that serial killer. It's awful to think that he lived on your street.”

  “Well, he's gone now.” Trying not to alarm Alice any more, Emily did her best to sound matter-of-fact.

  “Even so, I worry. Oh, wait a minute, Gregg would like to talk to you.”

  Emily swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.

  “Ms Wallace, this is Gregg A
ldrich.”

  “Mr. Aldrich, I really had no intention of trying to talk to you. I would only do so with your lawyer present or otherwise with his per?mission. I called to talk to Alice.”

  “I know that,” Gregg replied. “But, at the risk of breaking any of the rules, I just wanted to tell you that I hold no animosity toward you. Jimmy Easton was a very convincing witness and it was your job to go after me when I testified. You were just doing your job. And, if I may say so, very well.”

  “Thank you. That's very generous of you.”

  “Do you honestly think that you may have some lead on Natalie's killer?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Will you share that information or hunch or whatever it is with me?”

  “Mr. Aldrich, it's not right for me to say more now but I promise you, if what I hope to learn works out, I will talk to Richard Moore immediately.”

  “Okay. You can't blame me for asking. Here's Tim Moynihan's phone number. It's 212-555-3295.”

  Emily wrote the number down and repeated it. “I promise that you will know soon.”

  “All right. Good night, Ms. Wallace.”

  For a long minute Emily held her hand on the phone before she replaced it in the cradle. It was so odd to feel so close to these two people when she spoke to them. So familiar with them. But of course she had liked Alice from the first time that she had met her.

  And Gregg Aldrich? How many times did I battle myself because I just didn't face the truth? Maybe it's just as Alice said—that in my heart I knew he was innocent from the start.