The Innocent Woman

mean before. The petty cash Amy was accused of taking.”
    “That’s right,” Tracy said. “You have any ideas about that?”
    “Sure,” Steve said. “But that’s all they are. Just ideas. I can’t prove a thing.”
    “Who wants proof? Just tell me what you know.”
    “There again, I don’t really know anything.”
    “Don’t piss me off,” Tracy said. “Who closed the petty cash drawer? Who took the petty cash?”
    Before Steve could answer, Amy Dearborn burst in. It was the most animated Tracy had ever seen her. Her eyes were sparkling.
    “Free,” Amy said. “It’s unbelievable. I don’t know how to thank you.”
    “You just did,” Steve said.
    “Yes, but it’s inadequate. It really is. And... Well, I don’t know how to pay you, either.”
    “I know,” Steve said. “Some cases are bigger than others. You gave me a dollar. That’s all I ever expected to see out of this one.”
    “But, that’s...” Amy shook her head. “Well, like I said, I don’t know how to thank you.”
    “Yeah, well you don’t have to,” Steve said. “I didn’t do it for you.”
    Amy looked at him. Frowned. “What’s the matter with you? We won.”
    “I don’t consider having someone blow his brains out exactly winning.”
    “Oh. Is that the problem?”
    “It’s part of it. I think part of it is you’re so damn happy, and your boyfriend’s dead.”
    “He wasn’t my boyfriend.”
    “Yeah., well Fletcher was.”
    “Huh?”
    “I remember how pissed off you were, way back when, when I asked if you and Fletcher were an item. That should have told me right there. But it didn’t. I didn’t know for sure until I heard that tape.”
    “What?”
    “The answering machine tape. The way he talked to you on that. I heard that and I knew.” Steve shrugged. “Just like Larry Cunningham knew.”
    Amy looked at him. “Why are you doing this?”
    “Yeah,” Steve said. “Why? Why aren’t I dancing up and down like you, just happy we won? It could be getting lied to so often wears you down.”
    “I didn’t lie to you.”
    “You never did anything else. You’re lying now.”
    Amy drew herself up. “I resent that.”
    “Just like you resented it when I suggested you and Frank Fletcher might be an item?” Steve shook his head. “You really need to change your tune.”
    “I don’t have to stay here and listen to this.”
    “No, you don’t,” Steve said. “But before you go, we should get things straight, in case the police talk to you again.”
    “You think they will?”
    “I know they will. So will the press. You play your cards right, you get a TV movie out of this.”
    “I don’t understand. Why are you so hostile?”
    Steve pointed. “Tracy Garvin put herself on the line for you. I put myself on the line for you. Mark Taylor there didn’t do much—just happened to risk his license. So what does that make us? Just a bunch of suckers, don’t you think?”
    “Hey,” Amy said. “I didn’t kill Frank.”
    “Right. You’re innocent. Unfortunately, that doesn’t give you a ticket to abuse everyone you meet.”
    “Hey.”
    “I expect clients to lie,” Steve said. “It comes with the territory. I think every client I’ve ever had has lied to me one way or another. But you, you take the cake.” Steve leaned back, cocked his head. “I’ve been trying to think why it pisses me off so much. I think it’s like the whole thing with Larry Cunningham. Perfectly willing to let him buy you dinner, knowing he had no chance with you at all. See, that’s a kind of lie right there. You’re lying to him, and maybe you’re kind of lying to yourself too. Because there’s all kinds of lies.”
    Steve held up one finger. “You know what we were talking about just before you came in? The petty cash. Who took the petty cash? I mean the original petty cash, way back when. The petty cash you were found innocent of having stolen. We were wondering who took that.”
    Tracy Garvin’s eyes widened. “Are you telling me she took it?”
    “No, I’m not,” Steve said. “Not exactly. You want to tell us about it, Amy?”
    “Tell you what?”
    “Frank Fletcher. Your relationship with Frank Fletcher. It wasn’t what you said it was. So what was it?”
    “I don’t know what you mean?”
    “Yes, you do. You make the right assumption and the pieces fall into place. You and Frank Fletcher were an item. Used to run around together. Fancy nightclubs, the whole bit.” Steve shrugged. “Who knows,