Secret Prey

and you’ve got the young lady to thank for it.’’
    ‘‘Thank you, Your Honor.’’
    As Logan left, the judge said, ‘‘Call the next one,’’ and the bailiff called out, ‘‘Audrey McDonald.’’
    ‘‘Here, Your Honor,’’ Glass called back.
    The woman who’d gotten the bail reduced on Darius Logan wedged herself down a line of spectators, out to the center aisle, and headed for the door. As she passed, she saw Del, and Del said, quietly, ‘‘Quick pregnancy.’’
    ‘‘Shush,’’ she said, and was gone. Del looked at Lucas and said, ‘‘Didn’t have any kids last week.’’
    ‘‘It’s a miracle,’’ Lucas said, turning to sports.
    AUDREY MCDONALD SAT HUNCHED IN HER CHAIR, her back to Lucas, as the hearing routine broke around her, speaking only two words: ‘‘Not guilty.’’
    ‘‘Your Honor, Mrs. McDonald’s attorney has offered Mrs. McDonald’s house as security for her appearance, and the state has no objection to that. As you may know, the circumstances around this particular incident could lead to a change in the charges against Mrs. McDonald . . .’’
    And a while later, it was all done. Audrey waited as Glass talked to the assistant county attorney over a few details, then said, ‘‘We’ve got to sign the papers and then I’m going to talk to the press. If I don’t, they’ll be parked outside your house, hassling you . . .’’
    She liked that, the press, though her face was determinedly grim.
    ‘‘. . . I don’t really expect you to say anything,’’ Glass was saying.
    ‘‘I’ll talk to them, if that will keep them away,’’ Audrey said.
    THE PRESSCAUGHTTHEMOUTSIDETHECOURTHOUSE, at the curb, where Helen Bell was waiting in her car. Glass made a short speech about spousal abuse, said he anticipated that all charges would be dropped, then asked Audrey if she wished to answer questions.
    She bobbed her head. ‘‘Did you kill your husband, Mrs. McDonald,’’ a woman reporter blurted.
    She bobbed her head again. ‘‘Yes,’’ she said weakly. ‘‘I couldn’t . . . I couldn’t . . . He was hurting me so bad . . .’’ She touched the bandage on her scalp and peered at the camera lens. ‘‘Oh, God . . .’’ A tear trickled down her cheek. ‘‘God, I miss him. I’m so sorry . . .’’
    ‘‘Why do you miss him?’’
    ‘‘He was my husband,’’ she wailed. ‘‘I wish he could come back . . . But he can’t.’’ She seized Glass’s arm. ‘‘I can’t . . .’’ She gasped.
    ‘‘All right, all right,’’ Glass said. ‘‘She’s really weak. She’s got to go. I’m pleading with you all. If you have any sensitivity, leave her alone.’’
    ‘‘Mrs. McDonald . . .’’
    Then she was in the car and Helen was driving them away. ‘‘My God,’’ Helen said. ‘‘My God, Audrey . . .’’
    ‘‘Just take me home.’’
    ‘‘No, no. You’re coming to my place.’’
    ‘‘No. I want to go home,’’ Audrey said. ‘‘Helen, please don’t argue with me. Just take me home. Please. I just want to turn off the phones and get some sleep.’’
    AND BACK AT THE COURTHOUSE, LUCAS SAID TO Glass, ‘‘Quite a performance.’’
    Glass was staring after Helen Bell’s car, turned to Lucas and said, ‘‘The last thing I expected.’’
    ‘‘You didn’t prep her?’’
    ‘‘Hell, no. I figured she was such a sad sack, we couldn’t lose. I didn’t think we was gonna get Greta Garbo. Did you see that tear?’’
    ‘‘I didn’t get that close.’’
    ‘‘A real tear,’’ Glass marveled. ‘‘Ran right down her cheek, and it was the cheek that was turned toward Channel Three. Tell you what, Lucas—if I lose this case, I’m gonna want to borrow one of your guns, so I can shoot myself.’’
    • • •
THE HOUSE WAS SILENT: AUDREY ENTERED, LISTENING for the footfalls of Wilson’s ghost. She heard creaks and cracking that she hadn’t heard before—but she’d never before listened. Helen came in behind her, tentatively. ‘‘You’re sure you’ll be okay?’’
    ‘‘I’ll be okay,’’ Audrey said, peering around. The police had been through the place, and though they hadn’t been deliberately messy, the house looked . . . disheveled. ‘‘I hope the police didn’t steal anything.’’
    ‘‘Do you want me to come over tonight?’’
    ‘‘No . . . no. I’m going to take a couple of pills and try to sleep. I just really need to sleep, I haven’t slept since before . . . before . .