All Dressed in White (33 page)

“At first, he lawyered up,” the detective said matter-of-factly. “He gloated that he could afford an entire team of the best lawyers in the country, ten times better than you, Mr. Buckley—his words, not mine. But I told him I didn’t care how many lawyers he had; he’d be found guilty of at least Amanda’s murder and the attempted murder of Meghan. I dared him to lawyer up. That was his best bet. Then he started to cry, blaming the victims.”

Most riveting of all was Meghan’s harrowing tale of being kidnapped from the pier behind the Grand Victoria. “I was so tempted to scream for help, but no one would have heard me over the sound of the ocean. And then I saw the gun. I had to decide in an instant what to do. All I could think about was our baby.”

Just this afternoon, Jeff had sent Laurie an email to say they were expecting a girl. They planned to name her Laura. “Without you and your team I would have lived my whole life being under suspicion for Amanda’s death,” Jeff had told her.

Laurie had edited the show so many times, she knew every word by heart. She even knew that when Alex began his closing narrative, it would last exactly ninety-four seconds. “As one former FBI profiler told us, Nick Young was motivated by hate—a hatred for the romantic love he was sure he would never have. It seemed that the only women who rejected him were drawn to his friend Jeff Hunter. Tonight, Nick Young will sleep behind bars, charged with the murder of two different women and the attempted murder of another, in three states. And perhaps all women can sleep a little more safely.”

The credits had just begun to roll when Laurie’s phone started to
buzz. Brett’s, too, apparently, because he exclaimed, “Twitter’s blowing up. We’re trending. This is the biggest special yet.”

•  •  •

The text messages on Laurie’s screen meant more to her than any viral hype. The first note was from Kate Fulton:
I’m crying for Amanda, but am so glad you finally brought some peace for her family and friends. Thank you . . . for everything.
No one had found out about the time she spent with Henry Pierce years ago at the Grand Victoria. As far as Laurie was concerned, no one ever would.

Even Austin Pratt sent a note:
My engagement is being announced. She’s a technological wiz, my kind of woman. Will change “Lonesome Dove” to “Lovebirds.”

The next one was from Jeff:
We’re still in shock, but we’re trying to move on. Thank God Meghan is doing well and we can’t wait for the baby! Thanks to all of you for everything.

The Pierce family had insisted that Jeff accept his inheritance from Amanda’s trust. She would have wanted “Saint Jeffrey” to have it. Jeff had thanked them profusely and had told them that this money would allow him to remain at the Public Defender’s office—where his heart was. He could support his family without going into private practice.

As Sandra and Walter rose from the sofa, Laurie couldn’t help but notice that they’d held hands the entire night.

When the Pierce family left, Charlotte whispered a thank-you in Laurie’s ear. “Still on for drinks Thursday?”

To Laurie’s surprise, Charlotte had invited her to lunch when they returned from Palm Beach. She said she sensed that they were both busy women who could use some company outside the office. She’d been right. It was the first time Laurie had made a new female friend since Greg died.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Laurie said.

•  •  •

Alex gave Timmy an especially long hug at the apartment door. Laurie tried to act as though everything was normal, but she felt the lump in her throat when she told her father she’d meet them in the lobby. When she was the last guest remaining, Alex give Ramon and Andrew a look that had them scrambling toward their respective bedrooms.

“So . . . ,” Alex said sadly.

“It’s not like you’re moving thousands of miles away.”

“No, but as I’ve told you, I have accepted a number of cases in federal courts, which will mean a lot of traveling in the coming months.”

Laurie looked down at the floor. For the first time she noticed how beautiful this hallway rug was. Would she ever see it again?

It was just as she had told her father: if it’s meant to be, it will happen naturally. They shouldn’t have to overthink it. But deep down she knew that wasn’t true. She wasn’t letting it happen. And Alex wasn’t leaving the show because of his law practice. He was leaving because he was in love with her. She was holding back and she knew why. She still missed Greg so much. She just wasn’t ready to replace him.

“Did you see Walter and Sandra tonight?” She knew she was looking for something to talk about so she wouldn’t need to say good-bye. “It looks as though they made it through. Some couples are soul mates, meant to be.”

“And sometimes people have more than one,” Alex said. “Look at Jeff. He loved Amanda, and now he loves Meghan. You see how happy they are.”

His point wasn’t lost on Laurie. “Good night, Alex.” They held each other in the foyer, his only kiss a gentle one on her lips.

Laurie had no idea what Alex was thinking about as she walked out the door. It was a line from his favorite song:
God speed your love to me.

•  •  •

Timmy was waiting in the lobby, trying to mask an involuntary grin. She couldn’t imagine anything else that could have made her smile at that moment.

“Mom, I feel sorry for all my friends,” he said mischievously.

“And why is that?” She looked to Leo for some hint of the punch line she sensed was coming, but he was sporting his poker face.

“Because their moms aren’t nearly as cool as you are. You catch the bad guys.”

When he hugged her, she thought it might be the best hug she’d ever had. She found herself looking forward to tomorrow. She had already found their next case. A young woman was in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, and Laurie was going to prove it.

And Alex—when I’m able to open my heart again, please, God, let him be there.

MARY HIGGINS CLARK,
#1 international and
New York Times
bestselling author, has written thirty-five suspense novels; four collections of short stories; a historical novel,
Mount Vernon Love Story
; two children’s books, including
The Magical Christmas Horse
; and a memoir,
Kitchen Privileges
. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she has co-authored five more suspense novels, and also wrote
The Cinderella Murder
with bestselling author Alafair Burke. Her books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone.

ALAFAIR BURKE
is the
New York Times
bestselling author of eleven novels, including
Long Gone, If You Were Here
, and the latest in the Ellie Hatcher series,
All Day and a Night
. A former prosecutor, she now teaches criminal law and lives in Manhattan.

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BY MARY HIGGINS CLARK

The Melody Lingers On

Death Wears a Beauty Mask

I’ve Got You Under My Skin

Daddy’s Gone A Hunting

The Magical Christmas Horse
(Illustrated by Wendell Minor)

I’ll Walk Alone

The Shadow of Your Smile

Just Take My Heart

Where Are You Now?

Ghost Ship
(Illustrated by Wendell Minor)

I Heard That Song Before

Two Little Girls in Blue

No Place Like Home

Nighttime Is My Time

The Second Time Around

Kitchen Privileges

Mount Vernon Love Story

Silent Night / All Through the Night

Daddy’s Little Girl

On the Street Where You Live

Before I Say Good-Bye

We’ll Meet Again

All Through the Night

You Belong to Me

Pretend You Don’t See Her

My Gal Sunday

Moonlight Becomes You

Silent Night

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

The Lottery Winner

Remember Me

I’ll Be Seeing You

All Around Town

Loves Music, Loves to Dance

The Anastasia Syndrome and Other Stories

While My Pretty One Sleeps

Weep No More, My Lady

Stillwatch

A Cry in the Night

The Cradle Will Fall

A Stranger Is Watching

Where Are the Children?

BY MARY HIGGINS CLARK AND CAROL HIGGINS CLARK

Dashing Through the Snow

Santa Cruise

The Christmas Thief

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping

Deck the Halls

BY MARY HIGGINS CLARK AND ALAFAIR BURKE

The Cinderella Murder

BY ALAFAIR BURKE

If You Were Here

Long Gone

THE ELLIE HATCHER SERIES

All Day and a Night

Never Tell

212

Angel’s Tip

Dead Connection

THE SAMANTHA KINCAID SERIES

Close Case

Missing Justice

Judgment Calls

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