Echo Of Danger. Marta Perry

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.

      She’d nearly forgotten that she’d left her car at the library, but Jason had brought it back, running again, and handed her the keys. He had waved off her insisting on paying the garage bill, saying it had just been a loose connection.

      Now she willed the elevator to get to Kevin’s floor more quickly. Even knowing someone would call her cell if there’d been any change, she had to see for herself.

      Nothing had changed in the quiet room. Judith smiled at her from the chair beside the bed. “It’s been perfectly calm and quiet while you were gone, but I’m certain sure Kevin’s color is better today.”

      “Has the doctor been in?” She drew up a chair next to Judith and put her hand over Kevin’s, needing the skin-to-skin connection.

      “Not yet.” Judith touched her arm comfortingly. “Soon, I’m sure.”

      Now that she’d seen for herself that Kevin was safe, Deidre could manage to widen her thoughts to include someone other than her son. “I’m really sorry to drag you out at this time of the morning. How will Eli manage getting the children fed and off to school?”

      Judith chuckled. “He probably gave them cold cereal out of a box, but that’s all right for once. It’ll make him appreciate me more, ain’t so?”

      Since they both knew Eli and Judith had the happiest of marriages, Deidre didn’t think Eli needed any prompting. “You be sure he knows how much I appreciate it. Do you have a ride home? I could ask...”

      “It’s all settled. One of the ladies from your church offered to drive me. I hear they’ve all been standing by to take turns doing whatever needs done.”

      Deidre nodded, and the tears she hadn’t allowed herself to shed for Kevin filled her eyes at the kindness. “So many people have helped me since this happened. I don’t know how I’ll be able to thank them all.”

      “Seeing Kevin well is all the thanks anyone needs.” Judith glanced at the clock that was mounted above a mirror on the far wall. “I should probably go down. I don’t want her to have to drive around waiting for me.” She studied Deidre’s face. “If you want me to stay...”

      “No, no, I’ll be fine. I’m just eager to talk to the doctor. She said they’d probably let Kevin wake up today if all continued to go well.” Her heart lurched at the thought of seeing his eyes open, of knowing he recognized her. “Please, go on home. I’m fine now.”

      Judith embraced her. “We are all praying,” she whispered. And then she was leaving, passing Pastor Adam in the doorway.

      “I don’t want to intrude, but I had to see how Kevin’s doing.” He gave her a tentative smile. “Better?”

      “I think so. The doctor should be in soon, so...”

      Adam nodded. “I understand. I’ll leave you.”