“Televisioxi’s good; she murmured to herself. “I’ll watch more television.”
On one of her forays through the stations a courtroom drama caught her attention. The judge was in her chambers discussing some point of law with the prosecuting attorney
“I’m sorry, but that’s not admissable; the judge told the attorney.
The prosecutor looked about ready to explode. “But it proves the defendant murdered his wife.”
“Nevertheless, you and I know it’s not admissable. If you enter it, I’ll have to declarea mistrial, and I know you don’t want that, either. Prove your case without this evidence. you’re a good enough attorney.”
But he didn’t, and Dallas’s attention was riveted to the set as the supposed murderer went free because the jury never learned about the damning evidence. She switched to another channel, but the courtroom drama stayed with her.
That was only television, she told herself. How dramatic to have unusable evidence that would convict a killer. That probably happened once in a million times. She and the jury had heard everything there was to hear about the Celia Martinez case. Of course they had.
She didn’t sleep well that night and got up three times to recheck the locks on her doors and windows.
DALLAS MET AMBER at an Italian restaurant near the bustling Tucson Mall. They’d both dressed in slacks and sweaters; lunching out for them had always meant getting away from cowgirl clothes for a few hours.
Dallas saved her announcement until after the waiter had deposited a large all-you-can-eat salad bowl and two salad plates on their table. Then she told Amber what had happened, even including the incident with Gretchen.
“You sent that man away?” Amber wailed, her fork “That’s what counseling does for you, Amber said. clattering to her salad plate. “You are out of your mind, “It helps you deal with the trauma, so you won’t get ” hysterical every time you think about what happened.
“He’s paranoid, Amber: Dallas picked up a green I should know: ‘
chili pepper by the stem and put it back on her plate.
Dallas’s eyes widened. “You?” She wasn’t hungry. “I can understand it, I guess. If your I was raped when I was eighteen, she said evenly, sister swears some guy raped her, then you want to be-as if giving a weather report. , h the “Oh, my God.” lie’ve she’s right, so you can have somebody to ang , hate on. ” Amber’s tone grew harsher. “Some guy I met at a
“Dallas, look at me.” party took me out in the desert. I was drunk, but he
Dallas lifted her head. definitely raped me, the bastard.” Her hand shook as
“Has it ever occurred to you that-now don’t get mad she reached for her glass of iced tea and took a long, at me-that maybe, just maybe, Neal was guilty of that slow drink. The helpless fury remained in her eyes as
” she looked at Dallas. I couldn t prove that, either, but charge?
Dallas gazed at her as snippets from the television my pqents got me a good counselor, which is why I can , talk about it now without breaking dishes .” courtroom drama played in her mind. “But the evi
, pp “
Dallas reached across the table and covered Amdence didn’t su ort-her s hand with her own. “I wish I’d known. All this ” y y
I know you hate the idea that you mi t have hxmed the we’ve been discussing this, you’ve probably been a rapist loose: reliving what happened to you: ‘
Dallas shook her head. “I didn’t. And the other ” “
Amber sighed. Some. eleven people on that jury didn’t, either.” q, ,
“
I’m sorry. Dallas squeezed her hand.
“Criminals do get off sometimes, you know. “It’s just that it’s hard to prove, babe. You like your
Dallas poked at her salad while sorting through her world to be all organized, and when it comes to this jumbled thoughts. “We listened so carefully to every-crime, everything’s disorganized. This Celia and the thing.” She glanced up at Amber. “Gabe’s sister was rapist were the only people there. But I’ll tell you this. very composed on the stand. You’d think someone If she says it was Neal Parnell, I’d believe her.” who’d been through that would be more upset.” Dallas began to tremble. “You would? Even if the guy
“How long had it been?” was wear inga ski mask and disguised his voice?”
“Four months .” Amber’s laugh was short and humorless. “You can
“Did she have counseling in the meantime?” tell by the smell of his skin.”
“Yes, but-” Goose bumps rose on Dallas’s arms. “What?”
“You don’t think you remember how a guy smells, do you? But the memory s there, all right. I’ll bet if Gabe came up behind you, youd recognize him without looking. You say Celia went out with this guy once, probably even kissed him. She’d remember the scent of his skin. Or at least a part of her mind would, even if she doesn’t realize it. But of course something like that won’t stand up in court.”
“But the defense attorney said Celia was only trying to get back at Neal beqause he stopped taking her out. Celia doesn’t have much money, and someone like Neal would be a good catch.”
“So she accuses him of rape? What a great way to land a proposal : ‘
“Of course not, but ” Dallas put down her fork and covered her face with her hands. “I’m so damned confused”
“Hey, it’s not as if you did anything wrong; Amber said softly. “You had to go by the evidence.”
Dallas combed her hair back from her face with trembling fingers. “If I helped turn a rapist back out on the streets, I did do something wrong. If only I could know.”
“That’s the tough part. But, Dallas, in the meantime , watch out for yourself, okay? Have Frank or
Turner walk you to your car tonight. If you don’t want
Gabe around, that’s your business, but in case lies right, protect yourself.”
“I wilclass="underline" She sighed. “But it’s the uncertainty that bothers me the most: ‘
“You may have to live with that, babe: ‘
BUT DALLAs xNq’w that uncertainty was one thing she’d never been able to live with. She still had all the telephone numbers for her fellow jurors, and after a lackluster shopping spree with Amber she went home and called each one. She left several messages on answering machines, but was able to talk with three people. Each of them confirmed that they believed Neal was innocent.
“And he is innocent, Dallas told Gretchen as she locked her in the yard before driving off to work. “But in case I’m wrong, chew the hell out of anyone who comes around, okay?
Gretchen wagged her tail and barked.
“Some killer dog you are.” Dallas grinned and got into her truck. Then she scrambled back out, her heart hammering. On the seat of the truck lay a single red rose.
DALLAS WAS THROUGH her gate and back inside her locked trailer, Gretchen close by her side, inside of twenty seconds. Moments later she reemerged without
Gretchen, her Lady Smith & Wesson cocked and ready in her hand.
She scanned the area around her trailer. Creosote bushes grew three or four feet high all over the desert floor. Any one of them could hide a grown man. In her imagination Neal crouched behind each one she studied
A movement.
There! She aimed at the bush and fired, shattering the afternoon quiet. A huge jackrabbit bounded away unharmed , and she gasped in dismay. Trembling, she lowered the gun. She’d have to get hold of herself before she killed some innocent animal. Fighting panic, she worked her way through the gate, but she left it open for a quick retreat.
First she checked the back of the truck, but nothing was there except a few stray wisps of hay from Saturday At last she opened the passenger side of the truck and looked in quickly, before spinning around to check behind her. A ground squirrel popped back in his hole, and Sugar and Spice moved restlessly in the corral, but otherwise the landscape remained the same.