Genuine Lies

who killed her.” Violently, she shook her head. “Paul, she was my mother.”
    He wondered if she knew this was the first time she’d accepted it. With a nod, he took her hand. “Stay close to me.”
    The music switched off abruptly, so when they stepped into the foyer, they stepped into silence. Paul swept a look up the steps, angling his body so that Julia was shielded behind it.
    “Frank?”
    “Back in here. Shit. Keep her out.”
    But she was already in. For the second time violent death stared back at her. He was on his back, where he had fallen. Shattered crystal was scattered on either side of him. The smell was blood and flat champagne—a party gone horribly wrong.
    “I need to know.” An hour later Julia was sitting in Paul’s living room, calmed through sheer will. She watched Lincoln’s face as she spoke. “Do they think I killed him?”
    “No. There’s no motive. Once they establish the time of death, it’s doubtful there would be opportunity. At this point, it looks professional.”
    “Professional?”
    “One shot, very clean. We’ll know more in a day or two.”
    “A day or two.” Unsure how she could get through even an hour or two, she pressed her fingers to her eyes. “He could have cleared me, Lincoln. He’s dead, and all I can think of is that if we’d had a couple of days, he could have cleared me.”
    “He may still. With Haffner’s statement, and the fact that Drake was murdered, the case against you is looking very shaky. It proves that someone else was on the estate, that the alarm system was inoperable. Haffner also corroborates the fact that you went into the garden instead of the house. And that someone, probably Eve, was already inside. Drake wouldn’t have been looking through the window, wouldn’t have been frightened enough to run away if the house had been empty.”
    Cautious, she closed her hand lightly over the thread of hope. “If we still have to go to trial, that’s what you’ll use.”
    “If we still have to go to trial, yes. It’s more than enough for reasonable doubt, Julia. The D.A. knows it. Now I want you to get some sleep.”
    “Thank you.” She rose to walk him to the door, and the phone rang. “I’ll get it,” she said to Paul.
    “Let it ring.”
    “If it’s a reporter, I’ll have the satisfaction of hanging up. Hello?” Her eyes went quietly blank. “Yes, of course. Just a moment. Lincoln, it’s your son.”
    “Garrett?” He’d already taken a step forward when the shame flooded through him. “My, ah, family decided to fly out for a few days. The children have spring break.”
    When she didn’t respond, he took the receiver. “Garrett, you made it. Yes, I know the flight was delayed. It’s good to hear your voice.” He laughed, and deliberately turned his back on the room. On Julia. “Well, it’s only just past eleven out here, so you’re not really up that late. Yes, we’re going to see a ball game and Disneyland. Tell your mother and sister I’m heading back to the hotel right now, so wait up. Yes, yes, very soon. Good-bye, Garrett.”
    He hung up, cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. I’d left thisnumber for them. Their flight was delayed in St. Louis, and I was a bit concerned.”
    She met his wary eyes levelly. “That’s perfectly all right. You’d better get back.”
    “Yes. I’ll be in touch.”
    He let himself out, hurriedly, Julia thought. “It’s ironic, isn’t it?” she said when she and Paul were alone. “That boy is only a few short months younger than Brandon. When Lincoln found out I was pregnant, he was so terrified of what would happen that he ran straight to his wife. You could say I saved his marriage, and am in part responsible for Brandon’s half brother’s birth. He sounded like a very bright, well-mannered boy.”
    Paul’s cigar broke in half as he crushed it out. “I’d still be more than happy to rub Hathoway’s face against a concrete wall for you. For an hour or two anyway.”
    “I stopped being angry. I’m not even sure when. But he’s still running.” She walked over to fold herself into Paul’s lap. “I’m not running anymore, Paul, and I do know when that stopped. It was that night, in London, when we sat up so late, and I told you everything. All the secrets I didn’t think I’d ever tell a man.” She moved in, letting her lips toy with his. “So I don’t think I want you to rub his face against concrete.” With a sigh, she trailed kisses down his