Page 29 of The Devil's Advocate

‘You might say that. Where are we staying?’

‘Somewhere close,’ said Kate.

‘Who is looking after Clarence?’ I asked.

‘Denise agreed to take him.’

‘I got you this,’ said Harry, handing me a sandwich wrapped in greaseproof paper.

‘Is this my fried egg sandwich from this morning?’

‘I didn’t think it should go to waste. Cost me two dollars, that sandwich,’ said Harry. I opened the sandwich, looked at it, wrapped it up again and buzzed the window all the way down to get some air on my face, and to take away the smell from the egg.

‘Did you get the reports from Betty at Cody Warren’s office?’ I asked.

‘Sure did,’ said Harry. ‘And before you ask, I already talked to Kate and Bloch – we’ve got no idea what F C might be. They’re not initials from any witnesses or persons involved in the case – I just don’t know. Maybe Farnesworth knows. His report makes interesting reading. The county medical examiner missed some things on Skylar Edward’s autopsy – marks on her forehead. Apparently, Warren’s medical examiner took photographs, but Betty didn’t have them. They were in Warren’s car with the file. The report says there are indentations in the wounds on the forehead. A distinctive bruising pattern.’

‘So the murderer maybe used a club of some kind?’ I said.

‘He thinks the mark is from a pattern on a ring. I think he’s right.’

‘Is it distinctive?’ I asked.

‘The report says it’s a star shape. Far as I can tell from checking the property record at the time of Andy’s arrest, he didn’t wear a ring.’

‘Things are looking up. This is the foundation of a good defense,’ I said, with a smile. ‘We just need the photos.’

Silence in the car. Neither Harry nor Kate looked in my direction.

Bloch sighed.

‘Do you want to tell him?’ asked Kate.

‘Tell me what?’

‘As you know, Betty didn’t have the photos. They were in Warren’s car, which is missing, and we can’t find the medical examiner. He’s not returning calls or emails. I get the impression we’re being frozen out,’ said Harry.

‘Have you asked Betty to call him?’

‘Do you think this is our first murder case?’ asked Harry. ‘She’s getting the run around too. I think someone got to our expert. Without seeing the photos or Farnesworth showing up to court, we can’t use the report and that means we don’t haveanykind of a defense.’

‘Any more good news?’ I asked.

Bloch pulled up outside The Chanterelle.

‘Perfect,’ I said.

The hotel receptionist still had a cigarette in the same corner of her mouth, the nicotine-stained ‘No Smoking’ sign fluttered in a gust of wind as Block closed the front door. She narrowed her eyes at us as we made our way up the stairs, toward the two rooms Bloch had reserved. Whoever had sent the word out on me had obviously failed to do their homework. Kate Brooks was not on the Buckstown blacklist and it was too late now to repeat the lie about being fully booked. We went in through one door, to a room with a desk, one chair, a lamp, two single beds. They were adjoining rooms, separated by a door so light you could spit through it. The door was open, and Harry had all the case papers laid out on the double bed of the next room. This room only had the bed, a dresser and the bathroom. No desk.

No coffee machine in either room.

‘If I don’t get a cup of coffee soon I’m going to kill somebody,’ I said.

Without a word, Bloch turned to leave.

‘Cream, and extra sugar,’ I said. Bloch flipped me the bird on the way out, with a smile.

‘What do you want to do now?’ asked Harry.