For someone who’d “had a bad experience that night,” she was uncommonly friendly. But then, Loving had noticed, girls with freckles were always friendly.
As soon as the dragon lady closed the door behind them, he opened his mouth to frame a question-but Lucille stopped him flat.
“Money up front. Two hundred big ones.”
Loving blinked. “Did she explain that I just wanted to talk?”
“So what else is new? Lot of guys just want to talk. Some of them even come in here and sleep. Doesn’t matter. I get paid by the hour, not the act.”
“And you get two hundred bucks an hour?”
“Is that so much? The lawyers in this town charge more. And don’t provide nearly so much service.”
Well, he couldn’t argue with that one. With some regret, he pulled out his wallet and laid the money on the table. He couldn’t wait till he had to explain this expense to Jones.
“Good,” Lucille said, tucking the money into her robe pocket. “Now where’s my girl Amber?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. I’m tryin’ to find her.”
“You a cop?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then what?”
“Do I hafta say?”
“No. And I don’t have to talk, either.”
Loving frowned. “You heard about the Veronica Cooper murder?” He saw a light in her eyes that told him the answer was in the affirmative. “I’m workin’ for an attorney investigatin’ the case.” He opted not to identify which one.
“So what do you want from me?”
“I… I think Amber and Veronica were friends, right?”
Lucille didn’t answer.
“I was hopin’ Amber might be able to tell me somethin’ about Veronica, somethin’ we don’t already know, maybe even about who did it or why she was killed.”
“Why she was killed? Isn’t it obvious?” Lucille looked at him strangely. “You must be working for Glancy.”
“My boss is, yeah. And he doesn’t believe Glancy did the deed.”
“I’m sure he’s being paid good money to believe that.”
Loving shook his head firmly. “If my boss says he thinks someone is innocent, then he thinks someone is innocent. And he’s usually right.”
“So that’s it? You’re just looking to get your guy off?”
Loving hesitated. Obviously, something more was needed to loosen her tongue. “Well, I’m a little concerned. More than a little.”
“About what?”
“About Amber.” He took a shot. “Are you worried, too?”
Lucille slowly crossed the room, sat on the edge of her high-stacked bed, and crossed her legs, revealing a hint of hosiery. “Yeah. I’m real worried. I told the cops I was worried. But since no one’s found a body, no one seems to care.”
“I care,” Loving said, seizing his opportunity. “And if you’ll tell me what you know, I’ll do my best to find Amber. That’s a promise.”
Lucille nodded. “Fair enough. Where do we start?”
“How do you know Amber?”
“Amber works here. Used to, anyway.”
Loving felt his heart skip a beat. No wonder the dragon lady downstairs let him in. “Amber-worked for the escort service?”
“Is that so surprising?”
“Well-if she was runnin’ with a congressional intern…”
“They were kids. Very nonjudgmental. Too stupid to be judgmental, really. I don’t know how they all hooked up, that whole gang, but they had fun together, and that was what mattered to them. They didn’t care what anyone did to earn their bread. In fact, I suspect some of Amber’s friends had the misguided notion that this was a glamorous and exotic line of work.”
“And it ain’t?” Loving said, unable to resist scrutinizing the line of her figure beneath the robe.
“No, it ain’t. What, were you expecting to see Julia Roberts when you walked through the door? You can forget all that Pretty Woman BS. I’ll grant you, this is not the worst way to make a living. We’re in the service industry, that’s how I see it. We provide a service that is apparently much needed. Facilitating a valuable social exchange between two consenting adults.” She paused. “But it isn’t glamorous. And you’re not going to end up with Richard Gere.”
Loving drew her back to the main subject. “So you knew Amber well?”
“We had adjoining rooms. I was like her mother. I’m-a little older than she is.”
“You don’t look older.”
“You flatterer.” She slapped his knee with well-lacquered fingernails. “I knew we’d get along. I can make people, you know? And I liked you from the moment you walked into the room. Trusted you. I can’t say I get that feeling very often. But in my line of work, you get to know what people are like. Develop an instinct for it. You have to, if you’re going to survive long.”
“I’ll bet. So you knew Amber. And she knew Veronica?”
“They were friends. There were four of them, most nights-Veronica, Amber, Colleen, and… oh, what was her name? The mousy one.”
“Beatrice?”
“Yeah, that was it. Anyway, they liked to do the nightlife thing. But toward the end… I don’t know. I think maybe they were getting into something weird. Kinky, maybe.”
And this coming from a woman who worked at an escort service. “Like what?”
“I don’t know. And I asked, more than once. But Amber never gave me any details. Redecorated her room, though.”
“Can I take a look?”
“Sorry. Boss lady had it all cleared out after Amber was AWOL for two weeks. But it was lots of candles and stars and weird symbols. Used a lot of red paint. Wasn’t good for business-creeped the customers out, at least the ones who were sober.”
“What kinda symbols?”
“Oh, I don’t know. The main one was like this.” Using her index finger, she drew a small loop in the air, then crossed the bottom of the loop with two short lines. “I don’t know what that was supposed to mean. And she had this weird statue that she kept over her bed. Told me it was an incubus. You know what that is?”
“Can’t say that I do.”
“Neither did I, till she explained it. An incubus is a demon. Supposedly sneaks up on girls while they’re sleeping and has sex with them.”
“And she wanted this in her room?”
Lucille shrugged. “What can I tell you? Weird. I don’t know what it all meant. She started wearing lots of silver, jewelry and stuff. Dark lipstick. Big hoop earrings with an upside-down cross dangling in the center. And she started dressing in black-nothing but black.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Wish I did. The worst was when-when she told me she didn’t want to be Amber anymore.”
“She was gonna kill herself?”
“No. She was going to change her name. Said from now on I was supposed to call her Lilith. Lady Lilith, actually.”
“Why?”
“She didn’t say. I didn’t ask. And I never followed her when she went out partying with those girls, though now I wish to God I had. I’d go get her myself if I knew where to look. Amber was such a good girl-so bubbly, happy, concerned about others. So full of life. But something happened to her. It’s like someone-or something-sucked all the energy out of her. The light in her eyes faded. She became dull, listless. She didn’t seem to care about anything anymore-including herself. She’d turned into a whole different kind of person.” She brushed her hand across her eyes. “May sound stupid but-I loved that girl. She reminded me of myself when I was a little younger and-you know. A little smaller.”
“Doesn’t sound stupid to me at all.” He reached forward and laid his hand gently on Lucille’s shoulder. To his surprise, she pressed her hand down on his.
“You’re good people.” She looked up, and Loving saw tears in her eyes. “Do you really think you can find my Amber?”
“I can’t promise nothin’. But I’ll do my best. And I’m not too shabby at f
indin’ things. Do you know the names of any of these clubs they frequented?” Lucille was still holding his hand.
“I know one. Found a matchbook in Amber’s room when I helped clean it out. Place called Stigmata. I think I heard her party girls mention it once or twice. I don’t know where it is.”
“I’ll find it.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, you just let me know, understand? And if you do find her-” Loving felt her hand press even tighter. “Would you bring her back here? Or have her call? Even if she’s moved on to some other life, which I wouldn’t blame her if she did. She had so much talent. Not like me. She could do better.”
“I think you’re sellin’ yourself short.”
“And I think you’re way too sweet. So would you do that for me? Make sure I know she’s okay?”
“It’s a promise.”
“Thank you.”
She wasn’t releasing his hand, and just standing there was getting somewhat awkward, so Loving sat beside her on the bed. “Mind if I ask you a question?”
“Depends on what the question is.”
“What happened tonight? Why did you decide… not to work?”
“Oh. It’s nothing that big. Par for the course, really. Tonight’s a big Georgetown party night.”
“Meaning…?”
“You know. Frats. Alumni. Lots of politicos. Come down here for a big whoop-de-do.”
“Sounds awful.”
“Usually it’s okay. And profitable. Lotta the time guys’ll pay for the whole night then fall asleep. They’ll be so drunk or drugged they won’t be able to… you know. Get what they came for. Which is always a pleasant development.”
“I see why you insist on being paid up front.”
“Yeah. But tonight I got some jerk who’d been freebasing. Cocaine. Usually the boss lady spots the druggies and won’t let them through the door. But in all the turmoil and excitement, this guy slipped through the cracks. Started running around the room, screaming that the devil was out to get him. He was gonna die and go to hell. Started breaking things. Hitting me. Nothing serious, but it shook me up pretty bad. Security boys got him out before he did any major damage, but still-”
“Musta scared the bejezus outta you.”
“Well, enough to call it a night.” She smiled. “How come I never get guys like you?”
Loving felt his face turning bright red. “I’m not really a party kinda guy.”
“You’ve got a nice wife at home, don’t you?”
“No. Not anymore.”
“Someone let you go? Big mistake.”
“That was how I saw it, but I guess she disagreed.”
Lucille laughed. She brought a finger to the side of Loving’s face, then slowly traced a line down his neck. “You know, if you really don’t have a girl back home…”
“Yeah?”
She shrugged, creating a cascading ripple beneath her bathrobe that Loving had a hard time looking away from. “Well, I may not be as young as Amber.” She leaned closer to him. “But I’m way more experienced. And you seem like the kind of man who appreciates… experience.”
Loving stiffened. “Oh, well, I-couldn’t-”
“You couldn’t?”
“I mean-not that I couldn’t. I could. You’re darn right I could. If I wanted to.”
She appeared crestfallen. “You don’t want to?”
“I didn’t mean that. I’m just sayin’-” He paused, his head turning to one side. “What am I sayin’, anyway?”
“I’ll make it worth your while,” she said, slowly pulling Loving toward her.
“Of that I have no doubt. But my boss wouldn’t approve.”
“Is that your final answer?”
Loving tumbled onto the bed beside her. “Hell, no. Just makin’ a statement for the record.”
She smiled. “I’m glad. After all, you did pay for the whole hour.” She loosened the terry-cloth tie and let her bathrobe fall. “And I would hate to see all that time go to waste.”
The waiter brought Ben a replacement chair, and he had almost managed to sit in it when he heard a familiar voice. “My, but they’ll let anyone in here, won’t they?”
Ben sprang to his feet. It was Marie Glancy. The senator’s wife.
“Are you referring to the guy they just hauled out of here, or me?”
She laughed, a little. Ben was glad to see it. He’d been talking and working with her on a regular basis these past five months, but this was the first time he recalled seeing her laugh, or even smile. “The former, I assure you.”
“I didn’t know you were here,” Ben said. “Would you like to join us?”
“Thanks, but I know you two have work to do. And I’m here with friends. They’re trying to be supportive. As if there was really anything they could do.”
“I appreciate you being in the courtroom today. As I told you, it’s very important that you be present, sitting in the gallery right behind your husband anytime the jury is around.”
“On the theory that, if I’ve forgiven him, then they should, too?”
Ben craned his neck awkwardly. This was not an easy subject to discuss, especially with the betrayed wife. “More along the lines of, what he did was a private matter, to be dealt with by family. Not by the press. Not by the public.”
“Ah. The Hillary defense.”
“Well…”
“Don’t worry, Ben. I understand. Totally. I won’t do anything to jeopardize Todd’s political ambitions.”
Or yours? Ben had heard whispers at the Senate that Marie-a Georgetown political science grad, top of her class-had aspirations that went beyond being a senator’s wife. Or even a first lady. She was not a naturally attractive woman, but she did the most she could with what she had, and Ben wondered if the ultimate result wasn’t the best, politically speaking. She seemed sturdy and competent, not flighty or self-obsessed. She was from a good, well-to-do, old-money, blueblood East Coast family, the sort of whom Ben’s mother would approve. Reportedly her family’s fortune, combined with the considerable riches of Todd’s own parents, gave Todd the stake he needed to build his career. Her reserved, cool demeanor was also a useful contrast to Todd’s more earthy Oklahoma personality. What was it Christina had said? Partners complete each other.
“How do you think he’s holding up?” Christina asked.
“I think he’s doing admirably, all things considered,” Marie replied. “I saw him before I came here, back in the slammer. I think he has been surprised by the harshness of the personal attacks on his character. He knows this is going to be a blow to his future plans. But he’s dealing.”
Ben nodded politely, but inside he was reeling. Since he’d come to DC, these people had never ceased to amaze him. The man was on trial for capital murder! But they rarely talked about the crime, much less the possible penalty. All they talked about were the political ramifications, as if this was just another scandal-the sort of thing every politician had to deal with at one time or another. Most of Ben’s clients were terrified about the potential effect of the trial on their personal freedom. The Glancys seemed principally concerned with the effect of the trial on their approval ratings.
“And how about you?” Ben rejoined. “How are you doing?”
“I’m dealing, too. This isn’t the first difficulty we’ve had. Probably won’t be the last. You learn to roll with the punches. And come up slugging.”
“I suppose you have to.”
“That’s exactly right. So why complain about it?”
“Still, I know these past few months have been… taxing. I’ve often thought criminal trials are harder on the accused’s families than on the accused.” Just as he had for the previous five months, Ben tried to warm up to the woman, but he found himself unequal to the task. Some things just couldn’t be forced, he supposed. He should admire her resolve, her resilience, her legerity and wit. Many a time he had wished the spouses of his clients had more of those qualities. But he never sensed that
Marie was masterfully containing the emotions seething inside her. More like she was… strategizing.
“You’re doing a fine job taking care of Todd,” she continued, gracefully filling the gap when no one else had spoken. “He really admires you, you know.”
Ben did a double take. “Todd admires me?”
“Oh my, yes. Even before you came to represent him. He’d read about your cases or see you on television and he was so jealous. He’s often said he’d be happier if he’d remained at the DA’s office and stayed out of politics.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Well, frankly, so do I.” She winked. “Todd’s a political animal. Even if he doesn’t want to admit it. But you’re not, Ben. Anyone can see that at a glance. I think that’s what he admires most about you. I think that’s why he insisted that you be lead trial counsel. I’m sure you realize some of his advisers wanted him to go with high-dollar locals. ‘Money talks,’ that’s the shibboleth this town lives by. Everyone wanted him to hire better-known DC big-firm big shots.”
“I gathered as much.”
“But he didn’t. He has faith in you. As do I.” The food arrived. She shook Ben’s hand again, nodded at Christina, then left the room.
“Mind if I ask what you think of her?” Ben asked. Maybe Christina could assuage the uneasy feelings he had by offering a second opinion.
“I think she’s biding her time,” Christina said succinctly.
“Until this trial is over?”
“Until her husband’s political career is over. So she can begin hers.”
“So you believe the rumors.”
“It’s more than rumors, Ben. My sources tell me she’s already bought her comfortable but affordable town house in New York. She’s standing by her man now, because it’s the savvy thing to do. But as soon as he’s done playing politics, she’ll start.”
“Well, I suppose it’s none of our business. I should focus on the task at hand.”
“The opening statement dilemma?”
“Yes. I think I’ve figured out a solution to the problem.”
“Which is?”
“You do it.”
“Ben!”
“Don’t fret, Chris. You’ll be great.”
“Ben, you can’t just-”
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