Just Take My Heart - Mary Higgins Clark [52]
Tryon was not about to leave. “Don't forget you're fighting it for Jake and me, too,” he said. “We put a lot of legwork into this one. And that guy Aldrich is a killer, and we all know it.”
Realizing that he was fishing for a compliment, Emily reluctantly replied, “I know you and Jake really worked hard and I certainly hope the jury thinks the way you do.”
You finally got a haircut, she thought. If you knew how much better you looked, you'd visit your barber more often. She had to admit that when he didn't look sloppy, Tryon had a sort of a tough? guy, swaggering manner that some women probably considered at?tractive. Word in the office was that he had a new girlfriend who was a nightclub singer. Why was she not surprised?
It became immediately apparent that he was looking her over, too.
“You sure got all dolled up for the camera today, Emily. You look great.”
In a superstitious moment earlier that morning, Emily had re?jected the jacket and skirt she had been planning to wear. She had reached in her closet for the charcoal gray pants suit and bright red turtleneck that she remembered having on when Ted Wesley as?signed her the case. “I'm not dolled up,” she said sharply. “This suit is two years old and I've worn it any number of times to court.”
“Well, I'm trying to pay you a compliment. You look great.”
“Billy, I guess I should thank you, but as you can obviously see, I'm going over my notes and in a little more than an hour, I'm going to go into court to try to get a murderer convicted. Would you mind?”
“Sure, sure.” With a smile and a wave, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Emily felt rattled. I didn't dress for the camera, did I? she asked herself. No, I didn't. Is the red turtleneck too bright? No, it isn't. For?get it. You're getting wacky, like Zach. She thought again about the missing mums. He must have spent most of Saturday planting them. They looked beautiful. Then when I walked Bess yesterday morning they were gone. Nothing but dirt where they had been. But when I got home at five o'clock his walkway was lined with asters and pansies. I liked the mums better, she thought. But that guy is really strange. Looking back, it's probably a blessing that I found him lounging in?side my house at ten o'clock at night. What a wake-up call!
Dismissing any further thought about her wardrobe or her odd?ball neighbor, Emily looked down and once again perused the notes she would use when she cross-examined Gregg Aldrich.
• • •
The trial resumed promptly at nine a.m. Judge Stevens indicated to Gregg Aldrich that he should return to the witness stand.
Aldrich was wearing a charcoal gray suit, white shirt, and black and gray tie. You'd swear he was going to a funeral, Emily thought I'll bet Richard Moore put him up to wearing that outfit. He's trying to convey the image of the bereaved husband to the jury. But if I have anything to say about it, it won't do him any good.
She glanced quickly over her shoulder. A sheriff's officer had told her that the corridor had been packed with would-be spectators long before the doors to the courtroom opened. It was clear that even seat was taken. Katie Aldrich was sitting in the front row directly be?hind her father. On the other side of the aisle, Alice Mills, accompa?nied by her two sisters, sat just behind Emily.
Emily had already greeted Alice before she took her place at counsel table.
Judge Stevens noted for the record that the witness had been pre?viously sworn, then said, “Prosecutor, you can now begin your cross examination.”
Emily stood up and said, “Thank you, Your Honor.” She walked over to the ledge at the far end of the jury box. “Mr. Aldrich,” she began, “you have testified that you loved your wife, Natalie Rain, very much. Isn't that correct?”
“That is correct,” Gregg Aldrich said quietly.
“And you have testified that you were her agent. Is that cor?rect?”
“That is correct.”
“And as her agent, you were entitled to fifteen percent of her in?come. Isn't that correct?”
“That is correct.”
“And would