Death Turns A Trick (Rebecca Schwartz #1) (A Rebecca Schwartz Mystery) (The Rebecca Schwartz Series)

expensive, but not aggressively ill-fitting, either—and a light blue shirt. I told him he was the handsomest man at the party.
    “I should be, darling,” he said. “I’m the youngest. Come and eat.”
    Like the obedient daughter I am, I followed him through the buffet line. My parents had gone all out. There was everything from chopped liver to fried wonton to poached salmon. I avoided most of the salads and took a lot of meaty things, on the theory that protein would keep me from getting drunk.
    It was warm enough for the deck if you had a couple of drinks in you, so we headed out there.
    “How’s it going, Beck?” Daddy asked, and I knew I was in for trouble. He is the only person in the world allowed to use that childhood nickname, and only under conditions of the most egregious seriousness. Even he had better not mess with “Becky” or “Becca.”
    Wary, I asked, “How is what going?”
    He stopped nibbling at a wonton. “The case.”
    “You haven’t told me how you liked my TV performance.”
    He shook his head. “I worry.”
    “What, you didn't like it?”
    “You didn’t tell me you implied you knew who the killer was.”
    “So?”
    “So it could be dangerous. Maybe the killer believes you; he goes after you next.”
    “Oh come on, Daddy.”
    “Beck, I think you’re in over your head. I want you to turn it over to me.”
    I felt tears swim in my eyes, tears of rage and disappointment. My father, of all people!
    “That’s what Parker’s mother wants me to do too. Nobody west of the Rockies seems to think I’m grown up or capable of doing a damn thing for myself!”
    I put my plate down, preparing to flounce away in a swirl of righteous indignation. But Daddy caught my arm, and I looked at him. There were tears in his eyes, too. “
Bubee
, it isn’t that. Your mother didn’t sleep last night.”
    “She’s got to learn I’m not a little girl anymore.”
    He patted my arm. “I know, darling. I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all. Will you forget I said anything?”
    “Okay,” I said. But I said it sulkily.
    “Rebecca?”
    “Yes?”
    “If it helps any, I’d feel the same way if you were a boy.” Oddly enough, it did help. Parents, after all, will be parents. “Daddy, will you tell me something honestly?” He nodded.
    “Don’t you think I’m a good enough lawyer to know when I’m in too deep? Don’t you think I’d call you in a minute if I thought I couldn’t handle it, or Chris couldn’t?”
    He considered for a few moments. Then he raised his eyes and looked straight at me. “You’re an excellent lawyer, Rebecca. Maybe a little inexperienced, a little bit rash…” He shrugged. “But you would not hurt your client by taking on something you couldn’t do. I have never seen your considerable arrogance get in the way of your judgment.”
    I laughed, because everything was all right again. “Arrogant, am I? Well, let me tell you something; if it goes to trial, God forbid, I’m going to need help.”
    “I know.”
    “Will you come in as co-counsel?” He squeezed my hand and nodded.
    It was a decision I’d made from the first. I knew I couldn’t let Parker’s safety ride on my narrow experience. Or, for that matter, on the impaired judgment of a person who was emotionally involved with him. But I was still hoping it wouldn’t go to trial.
    My appetite was back, so I went in to get some cake. Mom caught me this time. She didn’t say anything. She just engaged my glance, letting me know she couldn’t look at me without tears in her eyes. I was damned if I’d let her get away with it.
    “Take it easy, Mom,” I said. “I’m going to be all right, and so is my client.”
    “Rebecca, tell me the truth.”
    “Okay.”
    “She was a whore, wasn’t she? This, this,…Carol Phillips?”
    “Yes.”
    The tears overflowed, and I told her not to cry on her anniversary. “Don’t worry, Mom. It doesn’t rub off. Nobody’s going to think…”
    She was shaking her head violently. “No, no, no. You don’t understand. I knew her. Her name was Kandi.”

Chapter Fourteen
     
    It had to be right, Kandi’s picture had been in the paper, but her professional name hadn’t. That meant Mom
must
have known her, an occurrence about as likely as Kandi’s membership in Hadassah—or Mom’s in HYENA. I stood there like an idiot, waiting for it to sink in.
    “I mean, I met her,” Mom said. “At Walter’s.”
    Ye gods. My uncle Walter.