I would advise you to say nothing to him, Chandler, McKenna said.

Advice duly noted. Chandler looked at Fiske. For old times sake. We talked to the guards. Unless one of thems lying, none of them gave Wright a lift home. One of them offered, but Wright declined.

What time was that?

About one-thirtyA.M.or so. The film from the video cameras was checked and showed nothing out of the ordinary.

Did Wright give a reason for not wanting a ride home?

The guard said he just walked out the door and he didnt see him after that.

Okay, lets get back to the gun, McKenna said. Im going with you to your office.

Im not driving anywhere with you.

I meant Ill follow you down.

Do whatever you want, but I want a uniformed Richmond police officer there, and I want him to take the gun into custody and then have it transferred to D.C. Homicide. I will not let you be anywhere near the chain of custody.

I really dont like what youre implying.

Fine, but thats the way its going to be, or you can go get your warrant. Its up to you.

Chandler spoke up, Okay, anybody in particular?

Officer William Hawkins. I trust him and so can you.

Done. I want you to leave right now, John. Ill arrange things with Richmond.

Fiske looked down the hallway. Give me a half hour. I need to talk to somebody.

Chandler put a hand on Fiskes shoulder. Okay, John, but if the Richmond police dont have your gun in about three hours or so, then you got a big problem with yours truly, understood?

Fiske hustled off to the garage in search of Sara. A couple minutes later, Dellasandro joined Chandler and McKenna.

Id like to know what the hell is going on around here, Dellasandro said angrily. Two clerks murdered and now another fired over some missing appeal.

McKenna shrugged. Pretty complicated.

Thats real encouraging, Dellasandro said.

Im not paid to be encouraging, McKenna shot back.

No, youre paid to find out whos doing this. And you too, Detective Chandler, Dellasandro replied.

And thats what were doing, Chandler snapped.

Okay, okay, Dellasandro said wearily. Perkins filled me in earlier. You really think John Fiske killed his brother? I mean, okay, he had the motive, but, damn. Five hundred thousand sounds like a lot, but its really not these days.

McKenna answered. When youve got zip in your bank account, anything seems like a lot. Hes got the motive, hes got no alibi, and in a few hours well see if he has the murder weapon.

Dellasandro looked unconvinced. And what about Wrights death? How does that tie in?

McKenna spread his hands. Look at it this way. Sara Evans may have somehow been duped into helping Fiske. Evans and Wright shared an office. Its not out of the realm of possibility that Wright overheard something or saw something that made him suspicious about those two.

But I thought Fiske has an alibi for the time of Wrights death, Dellasandro said.

Yeah, Sara Evans, McKenna said.

And all this stuff with this escaped convict Harms and the questions Evans was asking?

Chandler shrugged. I cant claim we have it all figured out, but that could be just another red herring.

McKenna said, I dont think, I know. If there was anything to it, they wouldve told somebody. Evans couldnt even tell us what was in the appeal. Maybe Michael Fiske took some appeal, so what? John Fiske pops him for the money and he uses this missing appeal as a bunch of mumbo-jumbo to dupe Evans and everybody else.

Well, Im not letting my guard down until we know for sure, Dellasandro said. The people in this building are my responsibility and weve already lost two of them. He looked over at McKenna. I hope you know what youre doing with Fiske.

I know exactly what Im doing with him. *����*����* Fiske caught up with Sara in the parking garage. It didnt take her long to explain what had happened.

Sara, I hoped I would never have to tell you this, but Chandler boxed me into a corner the other day. Im sure Im the reason you just lost your job.

Sara put the shopping bag in the trunk of her car. Im a big girl. Im responsible for my own actions.

Fiske leaned up against the car. Maybe I can go and talk to Ramsey and Knight, try and explain things to them?

Explain it how? What theyre alleging I did, I did. Sara closed the trunk and joined him. I assume they told you about your gun?

Fiske nodded. McKennas giving me an armed escort to my office so I can hand it over. He looked at her closely. So what are you going to do now?

I dont know. But Ive suddenly got a lot of free time on my hands. Ill try to find out about Tremaine and Rayfield.

You sure you still want to help?

At least I wont have ruined my career for nothing. What about you?

I dont have any choice in the matter.

He looked at his watch. How about I come by your place around seven tonight?

I think I can manage dinner. Buy some food, a nice bottle of wine. I might even get real ambitious and dust. We can celebrate my last day at the Court. Maybe go for another sail. She paused and touched his arm. And finish it off the same way?

I can bag Richmond and stay with you. I know how you must be feeling.

But what about Chandler and McKenna?

I dont have to do what they say.

If you dont go, McKenna will probably push for the electric chair. Besides, to tell you the truth, I feel really good.

Are you sure?

Im sure, John, but thanks. She stroked his face. Tonight you can be with me.

After Fiske left, Sara was about to get in her car when she realized she had left her purse, with her car keys, in the bag in the trunk. She popped the trunk and reached in the bag to get her purse. As she lifted it out, the photo on top caught her eye. She had taken it from Michael Fiskes office before the police had searched it. It suddenly occurred to her that she did have something very important to take care of. She got in her car and pulled out of the garage. She had just been fired as a Supreme Court clerk. Oddly, she didnt feel like bursting into tears, or slipping her head in an oven. She felt like going for a drive. Down to Richmond. She needed to see somebody. And today was as good a day as any. When she drove past the columned facade of her old place of work, a great wave of relief swept over her. It was so sudden that it left her breathless. Then, bit by bit, she was okay. She accelerated down Independence Avenue and didnt look back. ["C52"]CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Fiske hurried down to Knights chambers and, surprisingly, was allowed in. Knight sat behind her desk. Ramsey was still there, slumped in a chair. He quickly rose when Fiske entered. Fiske plunged in. I want you to know that anything Sara did or didnt do was to protect my brother. All shes trying to do now is help me find who killed him.

And youre sure that question wouldnt be answered by your simply looking in a mirror? Ramsey said forcefully. Fiske paled. Youre way off the mark, sir.

Am I? The authorities dont seem to think so. If you are a murderer, then I hope you spend the rest of your life in prison. As for your brothers actions, they reside not far down the ladder from taking someones life, at least in my book.

My brother did what he thought was right.

I find that statement positively laughable.

Harold Knight began, but he cut her off with a sweep of his hand.

And I want you he pointed at Fiske to get out of this office and out of this building before I have you arrested for trespassing.

Fiske looked at the two of them. The anger he was feeling right now was the culmination of the last three days of sheer hell. It was as though everything bad that had ever happened to him had been caused by Harold Ramsey. Ive seen the nice little sign over the front door of this place: Equal Justice Under Law? I find that laughable.