Betrayal - Fern Michaels [48]
“James wants to stop by today, go over his strategy. I don’t know what else there is to say. I’ve racked my brain for answers, and all I come up with are more questions, and that leads to the inevitable. Why did Sara accuse you of this?” Kate didn’t want to talk about Alex’s coming home. She was sure that he would. Anything more she couldn’t conceive. Kate sat on Alex’s lap, her arms around his neck. She breathed in his scent. If she lived to be a hundred, she’d always remember the smell of Alex. Old Spice and Dial soap.
“James mentioned a private investigator he uses. I think it’s time we seriously listen to what he has to say,” Kate suggested.
“I never thought it would get this far, but you’re right. James will start digging up anything he can find on the Winters and Sara. Let’s just pray he comes up with something we can use.”
“I wish I had told Don about Sara destroying my earthenware in the studio. Maybe he would have thought twice before believing her.”
“Sara is his daughter. He has to believe her. If he thought she was lying, what kind of parent would that make him? A rotten one, I can tell you that for sure. It’s easier for him to think I’m some sick molester; that way he doesn’t have to question his skill as a father, or ask himself where he and Debbie went wrong. I know Don.”
“He certainly doesn’t know his best friend. Former best friend, I might add.” Kate hated the Winter family. The extent of her rage frightened her. She’d heard all people had it in them to commit murder. She’d always laughed at the idea of such savagery. Now she completely understood. A person could only be pushed so far.
“It’s sad, Kate, but life goes on. When this is all said and done, it wouldn’t surprise me if Don called to apologize. Like he’d forgotten a birthday or something. That’s how he is.”
“Then he’s even more shallow than I thought. A sociopath is more like it. Adapting as the situation calls for. It’d be a cold day in hell before I’d say a kind word to any member of that family. I’m sorry, but you don’t ruin your best friend’s life, then say you’re sorry.”
Her heart broke for Alex and his lost friendship. She knew he acted as though the loss meant nothing, but Alex wasn’t that kind of man. The loss probably hurt him almost as much as Sara’s accusation. For that, she was truly sorry.
“You’re right, but this isn’t the time or the place to contemplate Don and his idea of friendship. Right now, I want nothing more than you.” Alex eased her from his lap and led her to the bedroom. Words were unnecessary.
Kate, Alex, and James all sat at the kitchen table sipping iced tea. The weather was still killer-hot, with no break in the humidity. “There is always the possibility the DA will offer a plea. That’s standard in this type of case,” James explained.
“What type of plea?” Kate asked, then looked to Alex to see if he knew what James was referring to.
“In a case of this magnitude, with six counts the DA usually gets a conviction.”
“A conviction! Alex is innocent! I thought you believed us!” Kate yelled. Her nerves were beyond on edge, smashed to smithereens.
“I said ‘usually,’ Kate. It’s my duty as Alex’s attorney to tell him when a plea is being offered. I won’t tell you what to do, though I almost always insist my clients accept a plea in a case of this kind. But I think Alex’s chances of being found innocent are extremely high. That’s why I am not going to suggest you even consider the plea,” James said.
“Okay, so what’s the next step after we tell them we won’t accept their plea?” Alex asked.
James took a deep breath. “Then we go to trial and hope for the best.”
“You just said you felt Alex’s chances of being found innocent were good. So what do you mean, ‘Hope for the best’?” Kate questioned.
“Just what I said. There are no absolute guarantees that a jury will find