Her Best Defense

Chapter 2

Lisa was so stunned she couldn’t speak. She felt as though her jaw had lost a screw and was now wobbling somewhere near her knees. Had she heard this woman correctly? Had she actually said, in front of her husband, that she had been having a physical relationship with another man before his untimely death?

“Don’t look so shocked, dear,” Glory said, smirk intact. “People do these things all the time.”

At first, Lisa couldn’t take her eyes off of Glory. She kept expecting her to say something like, “For heaven’s sake, Lisa, I was only kidding.” When that didn’t happen, when, in fact, she reaffirmed what she’d said in the first place, Lisa couldn’t help but turn her attention to Chandler. Didn’t he mind that his wife had just admitted to having an extramarital affair?

But it appeared as if she were the only one in the room who was the least bit taken aback by Glory’s comments. Was she the prude? Or was it that Glory and Chandler lived by a different set of rules? She finally reasoned that the latter must be true, although if it were prudish to be revolted by a cheating spouse, then prudish she would remain.

She wrote a line about the affair on the open page of her notebook and then moved on. “Other than the obvious, how did you come to know Mateo?”

“He did something around the house,” Glory answered absently.

“I beg your pardon?”

“He worked with the gardener,” Chandler clarified, taking over the conversation.

“He was an employee?”

“Not one of ours. We hired a service to come in and take care of the lawn and gardens. He was an employee of theirs. Part-time, I think.”

“I’ll need the name of that service.”

“Our housekeeper, Maria, will have that. You can call her later.”

Lisa knew she was going to have to start asking some difficult questions. So far, neither Glory nor Chandler seemed the least bit perturbed by what had been said, so obviously the discomfort was hers alone. She must set it aside, she told herself. There was no room for a defense counsel’s personal opinions in a courtroom, nor even during an initial interview of a client.

With her face expressionless, she continued. “How long had he worked for you, or rather, how long had he been coming to your house as an employee of the service?”

Chandler looked at Glory questioningly. She just shrugged and looked away. “I think it was only a few weeks,” he finally said.

Lisa couldn’t help but wonder if Glory’s indifference was real or an act. Did this woman know that from now on, every statement she made and every gesture she used would be noted by anyone and everyone who happened by accident or by design to be in her vicinity?

“Is that what you remember, Glory?” she asked her point-blank.

Glory looked surprised that Lisa was addressing her again. “Yes, I suppose that’s about right.”

“And is that when your…relationship with him began?”

“Yes,” she said, finally answering without hesitation and looking Lisa straight in the eye once more.

It appeared to Lisa that Glory enjoyed causing uneasiness in those around her. Was this a game to her? Or was it that her social standing in the community led her to believe that she was above common decency and good manners? And what about Chandler? He didn’t flinch, bat an eye or even seem to take notice. Didn’t any of this bother him at all?

But if they truly believed they were bulletproof, why on earth had they run to an attorney so soon?

Lisa pondered that question for a moment, then asked, “Was anyone in your household staff aware of the affair?”

“Not that I know of,” Glory answered. “I always gave them the night off when I planned on seeing him.”

“Where were you last night, Chandler?”

“I was in Detroit.”

Lisa wrote, Check Chandler’s alibi. “When did you leave?”

“Yesterday morning. It was a short trip. Just one day.”

“What hotel did you stay at?”

Glory huffed as if to tell Lisa that this was all a waste of time. Lisa ignored her.

“The Radisson, downtown.”

“And you returned just this morning?”

“That’s correct. I was on the six-fifteen flight.”

All of that would be easy enough to check. With security measures being what they were these days, Chandler would not have been able to board an aircraft without first showing identification. Of course, with the weird relationship he and Glory obviously had, Lisa couldn’t quite believe that he had gone off to Detroit, only to return sometime in the night to kill Mateo, then fly back and return in the morning as if nothing had happened. However, there usually was very little logic to murder, and Lisa had learned years ago that anything was possible.

She turned her attention back to Glory. “So, you were alone in the house with Mateo last night?”

“I was until whoever it was came along and killed him.”

“Can you tell me what you remember about the night?”

“Do you want all the gory details?”

“Just the ones about letting the staff off and then everything surrounding the time Mateo was killed.”

Glory looked almost disappointed. “Very well. I guess it was around sixish when I told everyone, including Maria, to leave.”

“Why do say, ‘including Maria?’”

“Maria is our only full-time house staff,” Chandler explained. “She oversees the daily routines of running an efficient household, which includes managing the part-time help…maids and such…we employ. She’s quite adept at it all. And when I’m out of town, she makes sure everything is taken care of for Glory.”

“Does she live on the property?”

“She stays occasionally when her duties cause her to work late. Other times, she goes home.”

“Where is home?”

“You’ll have to get that from her.”

Lisa reverted back to her original line of questioning. “Did everyone leave right away, Glory?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“What time did Mateo get there?”

“I guess about an hour later.”

“Without too much detail, can you tell me about the rest of the evening?”

“After Mateo arrived, we got a bottle of wine and went out to the spa. He liked water sports,” she said with a salacious little grin. Tossing her head, making her fabulous hair bounce a bit, she added, “Then, we went up to my room and spent the rest of the night there.”

“What time did he leave?”

Glory shrugged, which Lisa noticed that she did quite beautifully. Watching this woman was more entertaining than watching a movie, she thought with a slight frown. Truth was, she would like to really know Glory Witherington, through and through. Did Glory ever let anyone get that close?

“I couldn’t say,” Glory said. “I took a pill and went to sleep. I have a hard time sleeping when Chandler is out of town so I always take something that will knock me out.”

“Was Mateo still there when you did this?”

“Yes, I suppose he was.”

“So, you were asleep before he even left?”

“That’s how I remember it, yes.”

“And you heard nothing?”

“Honey, a bomb could go off in that house and I wouldn’t hear it after I’ve taken one of my pills.”

“This could present a problem if the police decide to go after you, Glory.”

“I believe that’s why we’re hiring you, dear, to make sure they don’t.”

Lisa’s intense interest in Glory’s entertainment value came to an abrupt end. In fact, she could stand this woman’s condescending attitude no longer and put pure ice in her voice to respond to such patronization.

“I don’t think you quite understand, dear, but I don’t have any control over what the police decide to do. My job is to defend you, should it come to that. And from what you’ve given me so far, I wouldn’t be able to do that very well.”

Glory appeared to be on the verge of another huff when Chandler intervened. “I think what Glory meant,” he said, patting her hand as if to tell her to cool it, “was that we would like you to do whatever is necessary to prevent that from happening. Use your connections, if you have any, to find out what their intentions are and if they have any suspects. We know Glory didn’t murder Mateo, but then I guess that leaves the question of who did. Why don’t you start there?”

Chandler’s last sentence was more of a directive than a suggestion and Lisa could feel the hair on the back of her neck bristling. Where did these people get off coming in here and ordering her around as if she were simply the hired help? She wasn’t on their personal payroll, and she certainly had other things to do besides catering to them. She would, of course, do absolutely everything in her power to give the Witheringtons the best possible legal advice and, should it come to it, defense. That was her job. But she would not be ordered around and told how to do her job by anyone!

“Mr. Witherington,” she began. “I assure you I will do everything I can for you and Glory—”

“That’s all we’re asking,” Chandler said, interrupting her. He then rose from his seat, bringing Glory up with him. “If that’s all, then we’ll be going. Be sure to keep us informed.” And before Lisa could utter another word, the pair was out the door.

What the hell just happened here? Lisa wondered, dazed by the past few minutes.

Lisa’s head was still spinning as she rode the elevator back down to the sixteenth floor. She hoped that the police had found some evidence of an intruder and that Glory would be ruled out as a suspect. Otherwise, she wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to do to prevent the woman from being arrested. Perhaps something in Mateo’s background would help find his real killer. Of course, finding out everything she could on Glory and Chandler might help her better understand this strange couple, as well. A stop at Larry’s office was definitely in order.

“Hey, good morning,” Larry said with a smile as she entered the research department. He was seated at a computer desk, one of several in the department, and he did that thing that men do to show their respect for a lady. He lifted himself about a foot off the chair, lingered a second and then sat again.

Lisa, still focused on the Witheringtons, barely noticed that he’d moved and only offered a wan smile in recognition of his greeting. “I’ve just spent time with my newest clients, and I don’t mind admitting that I’m confused and unnerved. Larry, I need anything and everything you can dig up on Chandler and Glory Witherington.”

“I heard their name on the radio this morning while driving to work. Something about a corpse in their front yard? Imagine waking up to that.”

Lisa was in no mood for humor. Ignoring Larry’s comments, she plopped into the nearest chair and moaned, “It’s already in the news?”

“The Witherington name is always news. Anyone with money is news. What are Chandler and Glory like in person?”

“You know I can’t discuss clients. But I don’t think I would be too far out of line by mentioning raw nerve endings and the threat of a massive headache lurking on the fringes of consciousness.”

“All happening to an unknown person, of course.”

“Whatever you say. Larry, the dead guy is Mateo Ruiz. From what I’ve gathered so far, he was an odd-jobs yard boy. Look him up, too, would you?”

Larry wrote the three names on a pad and murmured, “The multimillionaires and the yard boy. Makes for some interesting speculation, don’t you think?”

Lisa got to her feet. “I’m looking for facts, not speculation. Give me a buzz when you have anything, all right?”

“Perfectly all right, but don’t try to convince me that a good lawyer—and you are the best—doesn’t do reams of speculation when putting a case together.”

“Larry, you’re too much for me today. Talk to you later.”

Lisa was back in her own office for only a few minutes when she got a call from Grant Gowan. It was difficult for her to even take the call, let alone not sound as though she had just been run through a hay bailer, but she did her best.

“Hello, Grant.”

“Lisa, how’re tricks?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

He chuckled lightly in her ear. “I can take a hint. You’re swamped, right? Okay, we’ll make this short. The party starts at seven. Are you planning to go home first, or what?”

“No, there isn’t time for that. How about we meet in The Pub and go from there? I should be able to get away by six.”

“That sounds fine. See you then.”

As Lisa hung up, she hoped that the conservative three-piece taupe suit she was wearing would work for tonight’s party.

Do you really care?

“Not a whit,” she mumbled and got to work.

The rest of Lisa’s day was much calmer than the beginning. She filled it with paperwork from her previous case and a little research of her own on her new one. Lunch with Pamela took up an hour and a half and then several phone calls later, she was finally out the door to meet Grant.

Over lunch, she and Pamela had discussed the evening ahead. She had tried in several ways to argue that it really wasn’t a date, but in the end had to admit that it probably was, although Pamela should not think of it as a romantic date. It was funny, but until Grant Gowan had actually asked her to attend Faith’s birthday party with him, she had never considered him as anything but another lawyer.

Grant was attractive and Lisa had heard his name mentioned more than once during a gab session between the single women in the office. He was, after all, an eligible bachelor, a successful attorney and, supposedly, from a good home and background. All the makings of Mr. Right. But to her, he’d always just been a colleague of sorts and as she rode the elevator down to the first floor, she couldn’t help but wonder why she’d never been drawn to him, as so many of the other women in the building were.

Oh, well, maybe by the end of the evening I’ll have my answer.

True to his word, Grant was waiting in a booth near the front doors of The Pub when Lisa entered. He was alone and drinking a beer. “Would you like something before we go?” he offered. “We have a few minutes, unless you want to be the first to arrive at the party.”

“A beer would be good,” she said, sliding into the booth opposite him. What was it about arriving somewhere first that had such a stigma attached to it? Someone always had to be first, so why didn’t anyone want it to be him?

Lisa watched Grant go to the bar for her drink. He wasn’t particularly tall but he was tall enough for her, and his body was lean and fit. Of course, it could just be the suits he wore that made him look so good. Nothing off the rack for Grant Gowan, Lisa was sure of that. His clothes looked as if they were made for him.

“Here you go,” he said, placing a cold glass of beer in front of her.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for coming tonight,” he replied, resuming his seat. “I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Why is that?”

Grant shrugged. “I don’t know. You always seem a little distant, I guess. I was beginning to wonder if I smelled bad or something.” He made his last statement with a chuckle.

“Why? Because I don’t throw myself at you like some of the other women in the building do?”

A boyish grin crossed Grant’s lips. “Well….”

He understood exactly what she was talking about, Lisa knew. He was a hot commodity in the singles scene, a role he was obviously enjoying. And it was a role that was putting Lisa off. Perhaps she already had her answer about why she wasn’t all that attracted to him.

“Maybe we’d better get going,” she said as she stood up and straightened her skirt.

Grant stood as well. “I think we still have a little time. We don’t need to rush.”

“I really don’t want to be out too late, Grant. I have a new case and I’d like to get into the office early tomorrow.” Besides being the truth, it was as good a reason as any to cut the evening short, she figured.

“Oh, all right, then.”

They left The Pub and went around the corner of the building to the parking garage. “I’m on the second floor,” Grant told her as he steered her to the elevators.

When they reached his floor and then his car, Grant opened her door first and then went around to the driver’s side and slid in behind the wheel. His car was as elegant and expensive as his suits. Lisa took note of the plush leather she was now seated on, as well as the dark mahogany trim. She also noticed the hood ornament—a leaping jaguar. Grant Gowan reeked of money, old and new.

“Nice car,” she said.

“Thanks,” he said proudly.

The party was just getting under way when they arrived. Lisa recognized several other attorneys in attendance as she and Grant passed through each room of the apartment that had been opened up for the occasion. There was food—mostly yummy little bits of finger food—set up in the dining room and drinks in the kitchen. To get to either, one had to pass through the living room where Lisa saw two junior partners from her own firm. She nodded at them and received friendly smiles in return.

“Grant!” Lisa heard some woman exclaim from across the room. “Where have you been keeping yourself?”

Lisa watched as a flashy blonde approached. The curvaceous woman had a martini in one hand and a cigarette in the other. She stopped about a foot away from Grant and bent forward, kissing the air on either side of his cheeks. It was a scene right out of the movies.

“Oh brother,” Lisa said under her breath.

“Hello, Deidra,” Grant said to the woman. “How have you been?”

“Fabulous, as always. And who is this gorgeous creature by your side tonight?”

“Deidra Upton, Lisa Jensen.”

Lisa politely said hello, as did Deidra while snuffing her cigarette in a nearby ashtray. “At least now I know why you haven’t called lately, you naughty boy,” Deidra said. She flirtatiously flipped the lapel on Grant’s jacket and walked off to gaily greet someone else.

Grant was quick to explain that he and Deidra were just good friends. “Can I get you something to drink?” he asked.

“Not just yet.”

“How about something to eat?”

“I think I’d just like to find Faith and wish her a happy birthday right now,” Lisa said.

“You aren’t ready to go yet, are you?” Grant asked.

Lisa was ready to go, but she shook her head for Grant’s sake. She had always liked Faith Unser, but the rest of the crowd gave off an aura of pretense that Lisa didn’t much care for. Were these the people Grant regularly socialized with?

Lisa put up with the party for an hour before she told Grant she was tired and had to leave. “But you stay, Grant. I’ll take a cab.”

“Like hell you will! I’ll drive you home.”

“You certainly don’t have to leave on my account,” she said. “I’m perfectly capable of getting home on my own.”

“I have no doubt of that, but you came with me so I’d appreciate your leaving with me. I’ll drive you home. No debate, please.”

Within a few minutes, they were outside and walking down the street to where he had parked his car.

“You didn’t have a good time tonight,” Grant said.

“That just isn’t my crowd,” she said with a sidelong glance at him to see his reaction. “I’m sorry, but I guess I’m more of a meat-and-potatoes kind of girl.”

“Don’t apologize. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it.”

Grant stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “Why am I doing nothing right tonight? What is it about you, Lisa Jensen, that gets me all tongue-tied and flustered?”

Lisa was surprised by Grant’s outburst. Did she really have that effect on him? Or was this some kind of ploy to get to her? Stop being so suspicious, she scolded herself. But she couldn’t help doubting. Her past kept creeping forward in her mind, reminding her that she had one failed marriage already and if she wasn’t careful, there could be more, and that was something she didn’t want. The next time she walked down the aisle would be the last time, she had vowed on more than one occasion.

Still, Grant looked so cute and rather hapless standing there on the sidewalk with the streetlight shining down on him that her heart softened toward him.

“Oh, stop,” she said while taking a step back to him, looping her arm through his and pulling him the rest of the way to his car.

Lisa lived only a few miles away from the apartment where the party had been held, so it didn’t take long for Grant to drive to her place.

“It’s still early,” Grant said as he pulled up in front of her home. “I mean, if you’d like we can do something else.”

“Another time, Grant,” she said. “I’m pretty beat tonight.”

“We wouldn’t have to go anywhere,” he tried again. “We could just sit and talk for a while. I’d really like that, and I’m sitting here hoping that so would you.”

Lisa finally got the hint. He wanted to be invited in—something she wasn’t at all ready for. “Can I get a rain check?” she asked quietly.

He hesitated a long moment and finally shrugged. “Sure.”

He was disappointed, but then, what did he expect? This was only their first outing together, with no promise of any others to follow. She wasn’t even sure at this point if she wanted to see him again. What was he thinking? Maybe that she should invite him into her home and possibly her bed after only a few hours together?

Stop it! she told herself again. All he wants is get to know you better. But if she really believed that, why was her left hand curled into a nervous fist?

“I did have a nice time,” she said. “Can I call you in a day or two?”

“Sure,” he repeated, a little more strongly this time.

She quickly bent toward him and gave him a quick kiss. “Thanks again,” she said as she climbed out of his car. As soon as Lisa entered her house, she felt relieved. Her home was truly her sanctuary.

“What a day this was,” she mumbled as she climbed the stairs to her bedroom.

It had started out with those two crazy people that she hoped she would never have to see again and had ended with a date with a man she really wasn’t attracted to. And why not, she wondered. Why wasn’t she attracted to Grant Gowan like so many of the other women in the building were?

“Building, hell,” she said out loud and quite sarcastically. “How about Chicago’s entire legal profession!”

Lisa kicked off her shoes as soon as she got to her bedroom. Next, she slipped out of her work clothes and hung them up. Grabbing a fresh pair of pajamas from a drawer, she went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. She usually checked messages and e-mails when she got home, but not tonight. Tonight she was heading straight to bed, after a call to her mother, of course.

“Hi, Mom,” she said when she heard Claudia pick up.

“Hi, sweetheart. How was your date?”

Lisa expelled a brief, brittle laugh of self-mockery and then spent the next five minutes reciting the details of the evening to her mother.

“Why, I think you should have enjoyed yourself!” Claudia exclaimed. “A nice party and a handsome escort? Yes, you should have had a pleasant evening. Grant sounds like a very nice young man. You should give him a chance.”

“But I’m not attracted to him, Mom.”

“Sex isn’t everything, sweetheart. That goes away and then what’s left? That’s what you should think about.”

“Was there ever a time you weren’t attracted to Daddy?”

Claudia was silent for a few moments. “No, I can’t honestly say there was ever a time I wasn’t attracted to that man.”

Lisa could hear a heavy sigh on the other end of the phone.

“I’m sorry I brought him up, Mom.”

“Don’t be. And don’t listen to me, either. You go find your Mister Right. He’s out there.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”