The Innocent Woman

stop talking about what’s fair and whose fault it is and just answer the damn questions.”
    Amy stuck out her chin. “Fine,” she said. “What was the damn question?”
    “About Frank Fletcher’s message. I was trying to pin down exactly what he said.”
    “I’ve given it to you the best I can.”
    “All he said was he needed to talk, he was at the office and come on down?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Did he say why he was at the office, how long he’d be there, anything of the kind? Perhaps the time he left the message?”
    “He didn’t say the time he left the message. I think he said he was working there tonight. Catching up on work, I think, is what he said.”
    “Uh huh,” Steve said. “Is that all there was to the message?”
    “Sure. What else would there be?”
    “I don’t know. But you just remembered one thing you hadn’t before. I’m wondering if you remember anything else.”
    “No, that’s all.”
    “Uh huh,” Steve said. “And you say you got this message around seven thirty-five, seven-forty, as soon as you got home?”
    “That’s right.”
    “You went right down to the office?”
    “Pretty much.”
    “What do you mean, pretty much?”
    Amy stuck out her chin again. “I think I went to the bathroom first. Is that all right with you?”
    “Fine,” Steve said. “I only care what time you went out the door.”
    “It was right away. Say a quarter to eight.”
    “You got the message, went to the bathroom and went out?”
    “That’s right.”
    “You didn’t call him first?”
    “No.”
    “Why not?”
    “What do you mean, why not? I just didn’t.”
    “Yes, but you have to have a reason.”
    “Why?”
    “Because it’s a murder case.”
    Amy looked at him. “What the hell has that got to do with it?”
    “It’s got everything to do with it,” Steve said. “Don’t you understand? Every action you took is going to be scrutinized. Particularly in this case.”
    “Why?”
    “Because you’ve already lied to the police and they know it. Now your story—the one we’re going over now.”
    “It’s no story. It’s the truth.”
    “It damn well better be the truth. Now, I don’t know if anyone’s ever going to get to hear it, but if they do, it’s going to be the truth, the whole truth and nothing else but the truth, and it’s going to be a hundred percent airtight. Because if you do tell it, the D.A.’s going to pick through it with a fine tooth comb. So every single stinking detail is important. If he can trip you up on the brand of dental floss you used after dinner, you could go to jail. Do you understand me?”
    “Jesus Christ.”
    “Now, why didn’t you phone Frank Fletcher before you went down?”
    “I don’t know. He said he’d be there. I knew he’d be there. I wanted to just walk in and see him. I didn’t want to give him a chance to work on me on the phone.”
    “Work on you? How?”
    “I haven’t spoken to him since I was fired. I had no idea what he’d say.”
    “That doesn’t answer the question.”
    “What question?”
    “How would he work on you?”
    “Oh, he had a way about him.”
    “Really? Did you two have a relationship?”
    She bristled. “That’s what you asked me the first time I was in your office.”
    “Yeah, and it didn’t matter that much then.”
    “I wouldn’t call it a relationship. We went out a few times.”
    “Shit.”
    “Why is it so important?”
    “I don’t know if it is. On the other hand, I don’t know if it isn’t. But it’s the type of thing the cops can dig up and make you look bad.”
    “How?”
    “They’ll smear you with it. Like it or not, there are some jury members who would just as soon convict you for going to bed with him as for killing him. So, anyway, you didn’t call?”
    “No.”
    “What did you do?”
    “I went out, got a cab and went down.”
    Steve grimaced. “A cab?”
    “I was upset. I didn’t want to take the subway.”
    “Why were you upset?”
    “Because he called.”
    “Why would that upset you?”
    “I don’t know. It just did.”
    “There’s nothing about this message you’re not telling me?”
    “No, it was just the fact that he called.”
    “Anyway, you took a cab?”
    “Yes.”
    “Cab driver get a good look at you?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “How did you pay him?”
    “What do you mean, how did I pay him?”
    “I mean what size bill.”
    “A ten, I think.”
    “You think?”
    “No, it was a ten.”
    “What was the