She dialed the phone number to his office, but received no answer. She dialed Information for his home phone number, but it was unlisted. She hung up, thoroughly frustrated. She had to talk to the man. She thought a moment. The timing would be very tight, so there was only one way to do it. A phone directory was on the desk and she used it to look up a number. It took only a few minutes to arrange things. She and Fiske had a couple of hours before they could leave. With any luck they would be back by early tomorrow morning.
As Sara opened the door to the study, Elizabeth Knight was standing there.
“Jordan told me you might be back here.”
“I had to make a phone call.”
“I see.”
“I guess I’ll get back to the party.”
“Sara, I need to talk to you in private for a moment.”
Elizabeth Knight motioned her back into the study and then closed the door behind them. The justice had on a simple white dress, minimal makeup and a tasteful sapphire necklace. The white dress made her skin seem even more pallid. However, she wore her hair down and the dark strands were striking against the white background. When she made the effort, Sara thought, Elizabeth Knight could be a very attractive woman. She apparently picked those moments with great care. At this moment, Elizabeth Knight looked very uncomfortable.
“Is there something wrong?” Sara asked.
“I dislike delving into the personal lives of my clerks, Sara, I really do, but when it reflects on the image of the Court, then I feel that it is my duty to say something.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
Knight collected her thoughts for a moment. Ever since the realization that she had, however unwittingly, condemned Steven Wright to death, her nerves had been in tatters. She felt like lashing out at someone, even if unfairly. It was not her habit to do such a thing, but the fact was she was upset with Sara Evans. And she did care about her. Thus, the young woman was going to feel the justice’s wrath. “You’re a very smart woman. A very attractive and smart young woman.”
“I’m afraid I still don’t — ”
Knight’s tone changed. “I’m talking about you and John Fiske. Richard Perkins reported that he saw you and Fiske leaving your home together this morning.”
“Justice Knight, with all due respect, that is my personal business.”
“It is certainly more than your personal business, Sara, if it reflects negatively on the Court.”
“I don’t see how that could possibly be the case.”
“Let me see if I can make it clearer for you. Do you think it would sully the Court’s reputation if it became known that one of its clerks was sleeping with the brother of her slain colleague on the day after his murder was discovered?”
“I am not sleeping with him,” Sara said forcefully.
“That is quite beside the point. Public opinion is driven by perception rather than by fact, particularly in this town. If a newspaper reporter had seen you and Fiske leave your home this morning, what do you think the headline would’ve read? Even if it just recounted the actual facts of the reporter’s observations, what do you think would be the likely perception of the reading public?” When Sara didn’t answer, Knight continued. “Right now we don’t need any additional adverse complications, Sara. We have quite enough of them to deal with.”
“I guess I never thought that part through.”
“That is exactly what you must do if you want to have anything other than a mediocre legal career.”
“I’m sorry. I won’t repeat the mistake.”
Knight stared hard at her, then she opened the door. “Please see that you don’t.”
As Sara passed her, Knight added, “Oh, Sara, until the identity of the murderer is definitively ascertained, I wouldn’t put your complete faith or trust in anyone. Whether you’re aware of it or not, a large percentage of murders are committed by family members.”
Astonished, Sara turned to face her. “You’re not implying — ”
“I imply nothing,” Knight said sharply. “I’m only conveying a fact. You do with it what you will.”