Dellasandro looked unconvinced. “And what about Wright’s death? How does that tie in?”
McKenna spread his hands. “Look at it this way. Sara Evans may have somehow been duped into helping Fiske. Evans and Wright shared an office. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Wright overheard something or saw something that made him suspicious about those two.”
“But I thought Fiske has an alibi for the time of Wright’s death,” Dellasandro said.
“Yeah, Sara Evans,” McKenna said.
“And all this stuff with this escaped convict Harms and the questions Evans was asking?”
Chandler shrugged. “I can’t claim we have it all figured out, but that could be just another red herring.”
McKenna said, “I don’t think, I know. If there was anything to it, they would’ve told somebody. Evans couldn’t even tell us what was in the appeal. Maybe Michael Fiske took some appeal, so what? John Fiske pops him for the money and he uses this missing appeal as a bunch of mumbo-jumbo to dupe Evans and everybody else.”
“Well, I’m not letting my guard down until we know for sure,” Dellasandro said. “The people in this building are my responsibility and we’ve already lost two of them.” He looked over at McKenna. “I hope you know what you’re doing with Fiske.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing with him.”
* * *
Fiske caught up with Sara in the parking garage. It didn’t take her long to explain what had happened.
“Sara, I hoped I would never have to tell you this, but Chandler boxed me into a corner the other day. I’m sure I’m the reason you just lost your job.”
Sara put the shopping bag in the trunk of her car. “I’m a big girl. I’m responsible for my own actions.”
Fiske leaned up against the car. “Maybe I can go and talk to Ramsey and Knight, try and explain things to them?”
“Explain it how? What they’re alleging I did, I did.” Sara closed the trunk and joined him. “I assume they told you about your gun?”
Fiske nodded. “McKenna’s giving me an armed escort to my office so I can hand it over.” He looked at her closely. “So what are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know. But I’ve suddenly got a lot of free time on my hands. I’ll try to find out about Tremaine and Rayfield.”
“You sure you still want to help?”
“At least I won’t have ruined my career for nothing. What about you?”
“I don’t have any choice in the matter.”
He looked at his watch. “How about I come by your place around seven tonight?”
“I think I can manage dinner. Buy some food, a nice bottle of wine. I might even get real ambitious and dust. We can celebrate my last day at the Court. Maybe go for another sail.” She paused and touched his arm. “And finish it off the same way?”
“I can bag Richmond and stay with you. I know how you must be feeling.”
“But what about Chandler and McKenna?”
“I don’t have to do what they say.”
“If you don’t go, McKenna will probably push for the electric chair. Besides, to tell you the truth, I feel really good.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, John, but thanks.” She stroked his face. “Tonight you can be with me.”
After Fiske left, Sara was about to get in her car when she realized she had left her purse, with her car keys, in the bag in the trunk. She popped the trunk and reached in the bag to get her purse. As she lifted it out, the photo on top caught her eye. She had taken it from Michael Fiske’s office before the police had searched it. It suddenly occurred to her that she did have something very important to take care of. She got in her car and pulled out of the garage.
She had just been fired as a Supreme Court clerk. Oddly, she didn’t feel like bursting into tears, or slipping her head in an oven. She felt like going for a drive. Down to Richmond. She needed to see somebody. And today was as good a day as any.