Echo Of Danger

The ridges on either side were heavily forested, increasing his sense of isolation. Not the sort of place he’d ever imagined himself settling down. How long was he going to be able to take it?

For the moment, he didn’t have much of a choice. If he could hang on here for a few years, rehabilitate his reputation, have something positive on his résumé, he’d stand a chance of making a fresh start in a city more to his liking. Until then, he was stuck.

Just like he was stuck in this tangled situation between the judge and his daughter-in-law.

How much of Morris’s dislike was based on fact and how much on unfair prejudice against his son’s wife? He couldn’t tell. His job at the moment was to protect the kid, nothing more. But the more he saw of the situation, the less he liked it. He was torn between the judge’s opinion of who Deidre was and the woman who sat in agony waiting for the doctor’s verdict on her son.

And what did he do with the lingering thought that the tragic circumstances had brought him into just the sort of relationship with Deidre that the judge had suggested.

Jase walked into the reception area of the office to find a guy about his own age perched on Evelyn’s desk, apparently joking with her, to judge by their smiles. Since he was wearing a coat and tie, Jason deduced that this must be the partner he hadn’t met yet.

They both turned toward him at his entrance, Mrs. Lincoln adjusting her smile subtly. The man slid off the desk and held out his hand. “You must be the new guy. I’m Trey Alter. Welcome.”

Jase had a quick impression of something a little guarded behind the welcoming smile, accompanied by the kind of self-assurance that only came to those born to the position they occupied.

“Jase Glassman.” He shook Alter’s hand, revising his estimate of the man’s age. He was probably a few years older than Jase, fit and solid with an easy smile.

“Sorry I wasn’t around when you got in. I had a case that went to the federal court in Williamsport. I hear you’ve had quite an introduction to our little town.”

Obviously he’d heard all about it. Probably everyone in town had by now.

“Not what I expected, I admit. I’m just glad I happened to be around so that Mrs. Morris didn’t walk into the situation on her own.”

“A lucky coincidence.” Trey’s voice was dry. “I understand the judge asked you to act for Deidre...Mrs. Morris.”

Was he thinking that it should have been him? Most likely he was another person who’d known Deidre Morris her entire life. But he couldn’t have any idea of exactly why the judge had pushed Jase into this position.

“I was on the spot,” he said, careful not to sound defensive to someone who obviously belonged here.

Before Alter could respond, the outside door opened. Chief Carmichaels came in, nodded all around and zeroed in on Jase. “I’d like a word or two, Mr. Glassman.”

“Of course.” He wasn’t sorry to be interrupted. “Come through to my office.”

He led the way, reflecting on the fact that it hadn’t been his office long enough to feel a sense of possession. The wall of bookshelves wasn’t full yet, although it probably would be by the time he unpacked the cartons sitting in front of the shelves. He’d been a lot busier than he’d anticipated.

“Have a seat, won’t you?” Jase gestured to the client’s seat and sat back in the leather desk chair that still seemed molded to its previous occupant’s shape.

But Carmichaels paced to the window instead, staring out for a moment at what he probably considered his town. “This used to be Frank’s office.” His voice was neutral, but Jason wondered if there was implied criticism in the words.

“I know.” What else was there to say? “Frank was a classmate of mine at Dickinson Law.”

Carmichaels grunted, turning to face him. “I figured there had to be some connection. So...you’re representing Deidre Morris’s interests, right?”

Jason nodded. The chief was taking his time getting to the point of this visit. “She doesn’t need an attorney, but the judge wants me to shield her and the boy as much as possible. So far we haven’t had any problems with reporters, but...”

“If you do, you let me know. I’ll give them a quick boot on their way.” The chief came down heavily on Deidre’s side at the mention of the press.

“Good.”

Carmichaels walked to the desk, frowning. The silver hair and slightly thickened body made him look older, but he probably wasn’t much more than in his early fifties. He gave the impression of shrewd intelligence hidden behind a stoic facade.

“So I tried to sound out Kevin’s doctor today. She referred me to you.”

Jase leaned back in the chair. “You didn’t really expect her to tell you anything, did you?”

They seemed to cross swords for an instant, but then Carmichaels gave a shrug and a half smile. “It was worth a try. Look, Judge Morris asked me to cooperate. That’s all very well, but this is murder. I’ll cooperate with you, but not at the cost of my investigation.”

The judge’s power to control events might not be as strong as he apparently thought it was. But Jase still had a client to represent.

“Relax, Chief. I’ve already prepared Mrs. Morris for the fact that you’ll have to talk to Kevin. She understands, but she insists it can’t be until his doctor says so. And not at the cost of the boy’s well-being.” He deliberately echoed Carmichaels’s words.

Apparently deciding he meant it, the chief gave a short nod. “Okay. You’ll let me know as soon as I can question the boy.” It wasn’t a request.

Now it was Jason’s turn to want something. Time to see how far this cooperation extended. “Any progress on the case?”

Chief Carmichaels gave him a long look. “I’d think it a burglary gone wrong, but no one broke in. No evidence of ransacking, everything in perfect order except for the woman lying on the floor. You saw.”

“Was there any evidence that she fought back? You’d expect that, wouldn’t you?”

“None,” he said flatly. “From all we can see, it looks as if the woman was sitting there quietly when someone walked up and hit her. Used the heavy base of the lamp from the end table.”

“So deliberate.” Jase tried to think through what that meant. “No one who got that close could have mistaken Dixie James for Deidre.”

“No. Whoever did this knew who he or she was attacking. I can’t make it fit any other way. But finding out who and proving it are two different things. You know that.”

Was that intended as a barb? Maybe not, since the man was already continuing.

“Dixie James had a bit of a reputation as a partier since she got back to town. There were plenty of boyfriends, and the most likely scenario is that one of them came to the house that night. She let him in, things got out of hand, turned sour.” He shrugged. “If so, we’ll get him.”

“Mrs. Morris says that Dixie would never have let someone into her house when she was babysitting.” He wanted to hear the chief’s reaction.

Carmichaels didn’t speak at once. “I’ve known Deidre Wagner...well, Morris...since she was a kid. A good person. Honest, kindhearted, just like her folks were. Now, with her father gone and her mother remarried and living clear out in Arizona, she doesn’t have anyone to rely on.”

“I didn’t realize she was so alone.” He probably should have, but the subject had never come up.

“She has all her Amish kinfolk. Like them, she doesn’t easily recognize dishonesty in others.” He paused. “That’s a good quality, but it’s dangerous, too.” He focused on Jase, and his expression seemed to hold a warning. “I’d be upset if anyone hurt her.”

Was that warning intended for him? Or was the reference aimed at Dixie James? Carmichaels couldn’t know about the judge’s plans, or the extent of Jase’s involvement in those plans.

“As her attorney, I feel the same,” he said, carefully expressionless.

But he was going over what Carmichaels had said about Deidre in his mind. The man’s opinion of her was as far from Judge Morris’s as possible. Maybe he was right, maybe not.

But one thing he’d said Jason couldn’t buy. In his experience, honest women weren’t just rare—they were an endangered species. And he didn’t suppose he’d found one in Deidre Morris.

* * *

DEIDRE HAD RUSHED home early the next morning to shower and change, leaving Judith with Kevin. She wouldn’t have left without being sure there was someone there he loved, just in case he woke up.