“I’m just being careful. People could draw conclusions from our friendship.”

“What’s wrong with us being friends? I was friends with Jed, I’m friends with you. Big deal. Besides, I’m seeing Bernadette. Everybody knows that.”

“Still, in a situation like this, with the will getting probated and all, appearances matter.”

“So I take it that’s why you haven’t returned my calls?”

“Don’t be so touchy. I called you yesterday. About that prosecutor, remember? The one who’s harassing Amanda? And I’m calling you now.”

“I called you three times last night to see how you were doing. It’s one o’clock in the afternoon, and this is the first you get back to me? I’ve been worried about you.”

“Come on, now,” she coaxed, a honeyed note in her husky voice. “Be nice, Rom. I don’t want to fight with you. If I haven’t called sooner, it’s only because I was at the hospital with Amanda. Do you have any idea how difficult this is for me, watching what she’s going through? Can you even imagine?”

He was quiet momentarily. “No, I can’t. But you know I’ve done everything in my power-”

“Of course. I know that, and I’m grateful, I really am. But tell me again, what are you doing to protect her now, right this minute?”

“You hired Bill Flanagan like I told you, right?”

“Oh, yes. He showed up this morning. To say I wasn’t impressed is the understatement of the year. He reeks of gin! Reminds me of my father. There’s nothing I hate more than a broken-down old wino.”

“The guy hits the bottle, I’ll grant you that. But he’s one tough son of a bitch. Nobody gets past him.”

“I’m taking your word on him.”

“You won’t be sorry.”

“But is one person even enough? I mean, Amanda saw the whole thing. She could testify. That animal is going to come after her, I know it.”

“Is she awake? Has she said anything?”

“She seemed better a little while ago when I left.”

“That’s good. That’s a relief.”

“But I want her left alone. And I’m afraid that prosecutor is going to come back today.”

“I wouldn’t count on it. They’re busy doing other stuff.”

“Well, if she does, I don’t see how I can keep her away from Amanda.”

“Like I said, nobody gets past Wild Bill.” He paused. “Look, don’t worry. You’re worrying too much.”

“You really think so?”

“Yes. Amanda will be fine. I’ll come over there and guard her myself if I have to. And as for Melanie Vargas, look, if you really feel Amanda’s not well enough to talk, she’ll have to accept that.”

“I don’t know. She doesn’t strike me as the type to just roll over.”

“Don’t worry. I have it under control.”

She sighed. “I guess I should go back to the hospital to keep an eye on things.”

“That’s not necessary. Flanagan is there.”

“Where else do I have to go? I took care of all the funeral arrangements yesterday.”

“Where are you now?”

“At Saks.”

“You went all the way to Saks just to use a pay phone? Man, you are under stress!”

“I wasn’t about to use one on the street. Besides, I always feel better here. It’s a very calming atmosphere.”

“That’s so you, Nell. No problem in life a little shopping can’t cure.” He laughed.

“I suppose, since I’m here, I could find Amanda something to wear to the funeral.”

“Really? She’s well enough to go?”

“We’ll see. I’m hoping anyway. I can only imagine how much she’ll resent me if I don’t find a way to get her there. Years of therapy.”

“Kids.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Okay, so do your shopping, and then I’ll come over and we’ll have an early dinner, order in room service or something. You shouldn’t be alone right now. What’s the name of that place you’re staying?”

24

WITH ALL THE GROUND THEY HAD TO COVER, THEIR best bet was to split up. Randall would go to the hospital and check on Amanda Benson. Dan would head to Brooklyn to hunt down informants who might know Slice’s whereabouts. And Melanie would return to her office. Her nominal assignment was to collect the records they’d subpoenaed and scour them for leads on Slice, but she had her own agenda, one she didn’t reveal to Dan and Randall.

The security breaches on the Benson case troubled Melanie greatly. First the intruder in the basement stealing her evidence, then Slice getting to Rosario. How had he managed it? How did he even know where to look? She had to worry there was a leak somewhere, maybe in her office, maybe among the cops or agents. Maybe a sloppy, careless leak-or maybe an intentional one. Dan and Randall pooh-poohed her concerns. Fine, let them. She’d investigate and get to the bottom of this without them if she had to. She’d reached out and grabbed this case for herself, and she’d see it through to completion no matter where it led or what it took.

But acting completely alone, she recognized, was not an ideal strategy. Ferreting out wrongdoing or negligence in her own office or in the FBI was bound to kick up resistance. She needed backing from someone with juice. Her boss was the obvious choice.

With that thought in mind, she buzzed herself through the bulletproof door and hurried straight to Bernadette’s office, not even stopping to put away her briefcase. Shekeya was sitting at her desk, eating a Big Mac and fries, reading a dog-eared copy of People.

“She back yet?” Melanie demanded, out of breath, “I need to see her right away.”

Shekeya dipped a french fry carefully into some ketchup and chewed it slowly.

“Nope. Went to Washington. She got a meeting at Main Justice.”

“I know, but wasn’t she supposed to be in by now?”

“She don’t inform me of her every move.”

“Well, you booked her flight, didn’t you? Can you check it for me, please?”

“Your panties in a twist, girl. Can’t you see I’m eating?”

“Shekeya, it’s important.”

“So’s my lunch.”

Melanie folded her arms in exasperation, glaring at Shekeya.

“Don’t give me that look. The boss ain’t gonna come back any faster because you standing there with your face all ugly. When I’m done with my burger, I’ll check it for you. Now, get your hiney back to your office.” Shekeya shooed Melanie with a ketchup-besmirched hand.

Melanie sighed dramatically, but she had no choice. She turned and walked out into the hall. She knew Shekeya well enough to be confident she’d get the correct information in Shekeya’s own good time.

AN HOUR LATER SHE WAS SITTING AT HER desk scanning Jed Benson’s telephone records and thinking about how to get her hands on the sign-in sheet from the security desk downstairs when Bernadette rapped loudly on her open office door.

“Shekeya said you were looking for me, hon,” Bernadette said.

“Oh, Bern, I’m so glad you’re back,” Melanie said, hopes brightening. She really needed Bernadette’s help; it was a relief that her boss sounded so nice for a change.

Bernadette walked in and sat down across from Melanie in the guest chair. She leaned forward, her features arranged in a look of motherly concern. “I heard your witness was killed. Are you holding up okay?”

“No, I’m not. I really need to talk to you.”

“Oh, hon, I’m sorry I wasn’t around earlier. I’m sure you could have used a shoulder to cry on.”

“It’s not that, Bern. I’m worried about the case. We had two major security breaches in the past twenty-four hours, and I’m beginning to think we have a leak somewhere. I really need some advice on how to handle it.”

“A leak? What are you talking about? I’m sure your witness blew it herself by telling some idiot neighbor where she was or something.”

“No, Bern, Rosario was completely terrified. She wouldn’t have given up her location to her own mother.”

“People are stupider than you’d think. Do me a favor, check the phone records from her hotel room-then come back and tell me I’m wrong. I’ll bet you ten bucks there’s some call on there to some cousin in Queens who blabbed to the whole planet.”