Page 153 of One of Us Is Guilty

I’d asked him if he would arrest somebody, but I’d told Kennedy to wait until the case was over.

‘What is the meaning of this?’

‘We obtained a federal warrant to look into your financial history, ma’am. It seems there are sums of money that have been lodged in your accounts, which tend to show you have been paid to influence cases.’

‘That’s preposterous! Any warrant would be illegal. You have no probable cause to look into my affairs.’

‘But we do. Mr. Flynn has been assisting us with our investigation. On our instruction, he gave you five thousand dollars, cash, in person. He bribed you on our behalf.’

The change of color in her face was something I’d never seen before. A bright red angry hue at her cheeks turned white as the shock hit her.

‘That was payment for fines, which will be accounted for in court funds at the end of this trial. He said he was paying this money on account, the arrogant prick.’

‘That’s your story, ma’am. Mr. Flynn tells it differently. But itgave us probable cause to investigate your checking accounts. You have to come with me now.’

I turned around, looked for Vanessa.

‘She said thank you,’ said Harry, ‘before she left. She said she needed to get away before the press could get to her. She said she would call you to arrange a meeting.’

I sat down at the defense table as the turmoil and chaos enveloped the courtroom and the arrest of the judge gathered noise around me. I leaned my head back and looked at the ceiling.

Then closed my eyes and tried to stop the pain pumping through my skull.

‘Eddie . . .’ said a familiar voice. I opened my eyes. Bloch was standing in front of me, her phone in her hand. She handed it to me.

‘Raymond got the results back on the DNA comparison between Teresa Chase and Molly Green, checking for any familial connection.’

On Bloch’s phone was Raymond’s email with the results.

I read it, said, ‘Tell Raymond I need him to do one more thing.’

64

Vanessa

‘Penn Station, as fast as possible, please,’ said Vanessa to the cab driver.

She closed the passenger door and caught her breath in the back of the cab as it pulled away from the courthouse. A crowd of reporters had followed her out of the courtroom, but she had managed to get the elevator before they could jump in beside her. They gathered outside the court building, and didn’t see her get into the cab.

She exhaled, tried to bring down her heart rate.

Flynn was brilliant. But way too smart for his own good.

She would meet him. Like she had agreed. She didn’t want this man for an enemy, and maybe the truth would make him an ally. But not yet. She couldn’t agree to see him for a while.

She had work to do.

Vanessa took the burner phone from her coat and typed out an SMS message to her husband.

The police will come for you. But they don’t have enough to charge you.

I can change that.

I have the bracelet. That’s why my DNA was on the jewelry box.

I’ll text you details of where we can meet. I need other peoplearound. I’ll give you the bracelet, you give me what I want in the divorce. You’ll need time to prepare the papers.

I’ll send you details. If you come after me, I’ll make sure the police get the bracelet.