Just Take My Heart - Mary Higgins Clark [29]
“Emily, believe me, I've admired the fact that you absolutely have never allowed me to give you any slack because of the health prob?lems you've had to deal with.”
“There's something else,” Emily said quietly. “Mark didn't expect to die. He was so sure he'd make it home. He had so many plans for what we would do the rest of our lives. We were even suggesting to each other the names we'd call our children. Now I am constantly and fully aware that I am alive because someone else died. Whoever that person was, he or she had to have plans and hopes for the fu?ture. That's never been easy for me to accept.”
“I can understand that, too. But take my advice. Be prepared to be asked about it.”
Emily took a bite out of the sandwich and forced a smile. “To change the subject, my guess is that you believe I'm doing okay so far with Jimmy Easton.”
“Emily, I was watching Richard Moore squirming when Jimmy was laying out his prior record and the plea deal. You were taking the wind out of Moore's sails when you were dealing with it all up front. You managed to convey to the jury that you think Easton's a real lowlife, but that in this case he's not lying.”
Emily took a few quick bites of her sandwich and wrapped the rest of it up. “Thanks, Ted. I was hoping you'd feel that way.” She hesitated, trying to swallow over the lump in her throat. “And thanks for everything else . . . Your support when I lost Mark . . . When I got sick . . . And then giving me this case, I'll never forget it.”
Ted Wesley stood up. “You've earned every bit of support I have ever given you,” he said heartily. “And trust me, Em, if you convict this guy Aldrich, I can picture the new prosecutor offering you the first-assistant position. Believe me, that's not far-fetched. Go back in there and sell Easton to that jury! Make them think he got religion.”
Emily laughed as she got up from her chair. “If I can do that, then as my grandfather used to say about me, I could sell a dead horse to a mounted policeman. See you, Ted.”
Just Take My Heart
19
Although he had no way of knowing, Jimmy Easton had exactly the same lunch as Emily, a ham and cheese on rye and black coffee. The only difference was that he complained to the guard at the hold?ing cell that he would have liked more mustard.
“We'll remember that tomorrow if you're still here,” the guard said, sarcastically. “We wouldn't want you to be unhappy with our cuisine.”
“I'm sure you'll speak to the chef,” Jimmy grumbled. “And tell him next time to throw in a slice of tomato.” The guard did not answer.
Apart from the lack of sufficient mustard, Jimmy was actually feeling pretty good about his performance so far. Reciting all of his past crimes had been sort of like going to confession. “Bless me, Fa?ther, for I have sinned. It's been thirty years, give or take, since my last confession, I've been arrested eighteen times, have been in prison three times for a total of twelve years. Then six months ago I ransacked four houses in one week and was dumb enough to get caught at the last one. But I always knew I had an ace in the hole.”
Of course, he hadn't told that story to a priest. Instead, he had spilled the beans about Aldrich to that guy from the prosecutor's of?fice, which is why he was sitting here all dolled up, instead of already serving a term of ten years.
Jimmy finished the last drop of coffee. Maybe he should tell the wise-guy cop who had brought him the sandwich that tomorrow, if he was still here, he'd like a bigger cup. And a pickle, he thought with a grin. He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost one. The judge would be back out there in half an hour. “All rise for the court.” Why not “All rise for Jimmy Easton?” Later some of the guys from the jail would watch that Courtside program featuring him. He'd do his best to give them a good performance.
Jimmy got up and rattled the bars on the holding cell. “I want to go to the can,” he shouted.
Promptly at one thirty he was back on the stand. As he sat down, Jimmy remembered Emily Wallace's instructions. “Sit up straight.