Page 113 of Fifty-Fifty

‘I think they planned to dope Frank into submission, and when that didn’t work, or Frank found out about their plans and wanted to change his will, then they had to take alternative action. What’s the best way of making sure you inherit forty-four mil, and your sister doesn’t?’

‘You make sure your sister is convicted of killing the legatee,’ said Kate. ‘The Slayer laws prevent murderers inheriting their victim’s estates. And if you’re acquitted you can’t be tried again, that would be double jeopardy. So one of us is part of this plan?’

‘Maybe not part of it. I don’t think it’s about us. It’s evidence or testimony.

Something we haven’t seen yet. If that smoking gun comes up we’ll need to talk

again. Look, I’ve never asked this question of another attorney and for most it doesn’t even matter, but I have to ask this. Do you really think Alexandra is innocent? Honestly, no bullshit.’

‘I do. What about you? Do you think Sofia is innocent?’

I nodded, said, ‘I wouldn’t have taken the case otherwise.’

‘Shit,’ said Kate.

‘We can’t speak a word of this to Dreyer. Nor anyone else. We have to trust each other,’ I said. ‘There’s something coming – a witness or a piece of evidence that proves the case against one of the sisters, or exonerates one of them. I just know it. When we see that get-out-of-jail card coming – we know it’s false and

the other sister planted it. I think one of them killed Frank, and is dead set not only on convicting her sister, but making sure she herself is acquitted.’

Kate held out a hand.

‘But what do we do with this card if we see it?’

‘We lay down our arms. If I see Sofia playing that card, I’ll sink her case.’

‘Do you mean you’ll walk away?’

‘No, I mean I’ll make sure she’s convicted. I won’t fight her case anymore, and I’ll do my best to destroy her defense without getting disbarred.’

Kate looked to the ceiling, ran her hands down her throat before she spoke.

‘My mom sacrificed everything so I could be a good lawyer, in a top firm.

Now I’m being sued by that firm. I’ve put my life on the line for this case.

Helping a murderer go free, or getting disbarred wasn’t part of my plan,’ she said.

‘I didn’t know you were being sued. You should have told me. Do you have a lawyer?’ I asked.

‘No, can’t afford one.’

‘Let’s get this trial out of the way. If you want, I might be able to help.’ I reached into my wallet, there was something there that I’d put away for a rainy day. I took it out and handed it to Kate.

‘What’s this?’

‘It’s a card I found in Levy’s wallet,’ I said. ‘I don’t know what it is, it’s not for any kind of service or company I’ve ever heard of. It’s kinda mysterious. It might be something, it might be nothing. Tell you the truth, since you took over the case I haven’t even looked into it. Thought I might need leverage on Levy someday and this seemed like it could be something.’

As Kate took the card, I said, ‘I sent an email last night to a friend. She’s an analyst in the FBI. I want her take on this. I’m going to call her later. If I get anything from her I’ll share it with you. This is beyond attorney-client privilege now. One of us is a pawn in a killer’s game.’

Kate nodded, turned the card over in her hands – examining it.

‘It’s weird. I’ve never seen a card like this before,’ she said.

‘I know. Guys like Levy have secrets. Maybe this is one. Maybe not. Just promise me one thing,’ I said.

‘What’s that?’

‘If it turns out to be a bullet for Levy, make sure you shoot it.’