Page looked across the table at Darius. Darius met Page's stare without blinking. Page turned back to Reardon.
"You'll get your pardon. We'll go to my office. It will take a while to firm up everything. Will Kathy and Nancy Gordon be — all right?"
Sloane nodded. Then she smiled at Betsy.
"You didn't have to worry. I lied about starving Kathy. I fed her before I came here, then I put her to sleep. I gave Kathy her stuffed animal, too, and made certain she was nice and warm. I like you, Betsy. You know I wouldn't hurt you, if I didn't have to."
Page was about to tell two of the officers to take Reardon to his office when Ross Barrow rushed into the room.
"We know where the girl is. She's all right. Tannenbaum's investigator found her in Washington County."
The woman the medics carried out of the dark basement looked nothing like the athletic woman who told Alan Page about Hunter's Point. Nancy Gordon was emaciated, her cheeks sunken, her hair unkempt. Kathy, on the other hand, looked like an angel. When Stewart found her, she was in a drugged sleep, lying on a sleeping bag, hugging Oliver. The doctors let Betsy touch Kathy's forehead and kiss her cheek, then they rushed her to the hospital.
In the living room, Ross Barrow took a statement from an excited Reggie Stewart while Randy Highsmith looked at photographs of Martin Darius that had been found during a search of the house. In one of the photos, the trunk light clearly showed Darius lifting the dead body of Samuel Oberhurst out of the trunk of Martin Darius's car.
Alan Page stepped out onto the porch. Betsy Tannenbaum was standing by the railing. It was cold. Page could see the mist formed by her breath.
"Are you feeling better, now that Kathy's safe?" Page asked.
"The doctors think Kathy will be fine physically, but I'm worried about psychological damage. She must have been terrified. And I'm frightened of what Reardon will do if she's ever released."
"You don't have to worry about that. She's going to be locked up forever."
"How can you be sure of that?"
"I'm having her civilly committed. I would have done that even if I was forced to give her a pardon. The, pardon wouldn't have prevented me from committing her to a mental hospital if she's mentally ill and dangerous.
Reardon has a documented history of mental illness and hospital commitments. I spoke to the people at the State Hospital. There will have to be a hearing, of course.
She'll have a lawyer. I'm certain there will be some tricky legal issues. But the bottom line is that Samantha Reardon is insane and she will never see the light of day again."
"And Darius?"
"I'm dismissing all of the counts except the one for killing John Doe.
With the picture of Darius with Oberhurst's body and the evidence about the murders in Hunter's Point, I think I can get the death penalty."
Betsy stared at the front yard — The ambulances were gone, but there were still several police cars. Betsy wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.
"A part of me doesn't believe You'll get Darius.
Reardon swears He's the Devil. Maybe he is."
"Even the Devil would need a great lawyer with the case we have."
"Darius will get the best, Al. He's got enough money to hire anyone he wants."
"Not anyone," Page said, looking at her, "and not the best."
Betsy blushed.
"It's too cold to stand out here," Page said. "Do you want me to drive you to the hospital'?"
Betsy followed Page off the porch. Page held open the door for her. She got in. He started the engine. Betsy looked back toward Kathy's prison.
Such a charming place. To look at it, no one would ever guess what went on in the basement. No one would guess about Reardon, either. Or Darius.
The real monsters did not look like monsters, and they were out there, stalking.
Epilogue At eleven-thirty on a sultry summer morning, Raymond Francis Colby placed his left hand on a Bible held by the chief deputy clerk of the United States Supreme Court, raised his right hand and repeated this oath, after Associate justice Laura Healy: "1, Raymond Francis Colby, do solemnly swear that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as Chief justice of the United States according to the best of my abilities and understanding, agreeably to the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God."
"is she a judge too, Mommy?" Kathy Tannenbaum asked.
"Yes," Betsy whispered.
Kathy turned back to the ceremony. She was wearing a new, blue dress Betsy bought for their trip to Washington. Her hair smelled of flowers and sunshine, as only the freshly shampooed hair of a little girl can smell. No one looking at Kathy would guess the ordeal she had undergone.
The invitation to Senator Colby's investiture arrived a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment to the Court. The Lake pardon had been the nation's hottest news story for weeks. Speculation ran rampant that Colby would not withstand the revelation that he had set free the rose killer. Then Gloria Escalante publicly praised Colby for saving her life and Alan Page commended the senator in making the pardon public while still unconfirmed. The final vote for confirmation had been wider than anticipated.
"I think he's going to make a good justice," Alan Page said, as they left the Court's chambers and headed toward the conference room, where the reception for the justices and their guests was being held.
"I don't like colby's Politics," Betsy answered, "but I like the man."
"What's wrong with his politics?" Page deadpanned.
Betsy smiled.
A buffet had been set up at one end of the room.
There was a courtyard with a fountain outside a set of French windows.
Betsy filled a plate for Kathy and found a chair for her to sit on near the fountain, then Betsy went back inside for her own food.
"She looks great," Page told her.
"Kathy's a trouper," Betsy answered proudly. "The investiture came at a good time, too. Kathy's therapist thought, a change of scenery would be beneficial. And were going home by way of Disneyland. Ever since I told her, she's been on cloud nine."
"Good. she's lucky. You too."
Betsy stacked some cold cuts and fresh fruit on her plate and followed Page back toward the courtyard.
"How are you doing with Darius?" Betsy asked.
"Don't worry. Oscar Montoya is making a lot of noise about the pardon, but we'll get it into evidence."
"What's your theory?"
We believe Oberhurst was blackmailing Darius about the Hunter's Point murders. The pardon is relevant to prove Darius committed them."
"if you don't get the death penalty, you have to lock him up forever, Alan. You have no idea what Darius is like."
"oh, I think I do," Alan answered smugly.
"No, you don't. You only think you do. I know things about Darius-things he told me in confidence-that would change you forever. Take my word for it: Martin Darius must never leave prison. Never."
"Okay, Betsy. Take it easy. I'm not underestimating him."
Betsy had been so intense that she did not notice Justice Colby until he spoke. Wayne Turner was standing beside the new Chief justice.
"I'm glad you came," Colby told Betsy.
"I was flattered you invited me."
"You're Alan Page," Colby said.
"Yes, sir."
"For you and Betsy, I will always be Ray. You have no idea how much your statement meant to my confirmation. I hope you can come to the party I'm throwing tonight at my home. it will give us a chance to talk. I'd like to get to know you two better."
Colby and Turner walked off and Betsy led Page into the courtyard, where they found Kathy talking to a woman with crutches.