They all knew the answer to that question, Sara realized, or at least they thought they did. However, she wasn’t providing any clarification. Summoning a reserve of strength she was unaware she possessed, she rose slowly. “I think I’ve answered enough questions, Mr. Chief Justice.”
Ramsey looked over at Perkins and then at Elizabeth Knight. Sara thought she could see a slight nod pass among all of them.
“Then, Sara, I have to ask you to voluntarily resign your clerkship, effective immediately,” Knight said, her voice breaking as she made this announcement.
Sara looked at her with very little surprise. “I understand, Justice Knight. I’m sorry it’s come to this.”
“Not nearly as sorry as I am. Mr. Perkins will escort you out. You may gather your personal belongings from your office.” Knight abruptly looked away.
As Sara turned to go, Ramsey’s voice boomed out again. “Ms. Evans, be advised that if your actions cause this institution any harm whatsoever, all appropriate action will be taken against you and any other responsible parties. However, if I am reading the situation correctly, I think the harm has already come to pass, and may well be irreversible.” His voice rose dramatically. “If so, then may your conscience haunt you with that damnable fact for the rest of your natural life!”
Ramsey’s face was red with indignation; his gaunt body seemed ready to burst through his suit. Sara could read it all in his smoldering eyes: A scandal on his watch. At the one institution that had been above scandal in a town constantly and infamously mired in it. His place in history, his long-earned career of jurisprudence, to be blemished by the blunders of an insignificant clerk; the history of his professional life reduced to a series of explanatory footnotes. If she had struck down his entire family right in front of him, Sara Evans could not have devastated the man any more. She fled the room before she burst into tears.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
* * *
Fiske was waiting for Sara in her office. When she appeared in the doorway, he rose and started to speak, but then Perkins appeared behind her. Sara went over to her desk and started cleaning it out, while Perkins watched from the doorway.
“Sara, what happened?”
“This is none of your concern, Mr. Fiske,” Perkins said. “However, I will let Detective Chandler and Agent McKenna know you’re here. They have something to ask you.”
“Well, why don’t you run off and tattle on me so I can talk to Sara in private.”
“I am going to escort Ms. Evans from the building.”
Sara continued to pack her things into a large shopping bag and then picked up her purse and laid it on top in the bag. As she passed Fiske, she whispered, “I’ll meet you in the garage.”
As she went by Perkins, he said, “I’ll also need all of your keys to this building.”
Sara put her bag down, fished through her purse, pulled the keys off her key ring and tossed them to Perkins.
“It’s not like I’m enjoying any of this,” Perkins said indignantly. “The Court’s in shambles, we’re surrounded by a media army, people being murdered, the police swarming everywhere. It’s not like I wanted you to lose your job.”
Sara wordlessly pushed past him.
On the way down the main hallway, the group slowed as Chandler and McKenna approached from the other way.
“I need to talk to you, John,” Chandler said.
Fiske looked at Sara. “I’ll catch up with you, Sara.”
She and Perkins walked off.
“You want to ask me something?” Fiske said.
“That’s right.”
“Would this be about my brother’s life insurance policy?”
“Yes it would,” Chandler said grimly. “McKenna thinks you might have taken it out yourself in your brother’s name without his knowledge and then killed him.”
“You found the policy in my brother’s apartment?” Chandler nodded. “Well, then he obviously knew about it.”
Chandler looked over at McKenna with an inquiring look. However, McKenna remained silent.
“Look, I didn’t know my brother had taken out the policy. The insurance agent talked with me. I’ll give you her name. She actually met with my brother, if you’re really thinking I set this whole thing up myself.” He looked at McKenna and saw the man’s face darken. “Sorry to pop your balloon, McKenna. The money’s going to our parents — Mike knew that’s what I’d do with it. Talk to the insurance agent, she can confirm it. Unless you think I’m also in cahoots with her. Why stop there? I’ve probably got all nine justices in the back of my pocket too. Right?”