Chapter 11: Don't Take the Coast Road

The lawyer kept Leigh at her downtown office until the streetlights came on.

They went through Talia's lab panel and the surgical booking form line by line.

"This is strong," the lawyer said finally. "But it isn't enough. Blaine will say the booking was precaution. He'll say the doctor was wrong."

"Then we need the doctor on the record."

"He's frightened. He wants a guarantee."

"He'll have one," Leigh said. "Tomorrow."

She took the elevator down and walked out into the lobby with the folder under her arm.

Jonas Hartwell was leaning against the wall beside the revolving door.

He had his coat on, and his car keys in his hand.

"Mr. Hartwell," Leigh said. "Do you wait outside every building I enter?"

"Only the ones with one exit."

She tried not to smile and failed.

"The Aldrich driver took the car to be serviced," he said. "Your brother called me. He's dealing with the press and he asked if I'd see you home."

"Conroy asked you?"

"He asked."

It sounded like the truth, and it also sounded like something Conroy would do after a bad day.

She went with him to the car.

It was a plain black sedan with no driver, and he held the passenger door for her.

At the end of the street the road forked.

"I can take the coast road," she said. "It's quicker."

"No."

He said it before she had finished the sentence, and his hands went tight on the wheel.

"Why not?"

"It's closed for repairs."

"It isn't."

"It will be."

She looked at him.

He kept his eyes on the road ahead and turned the car inland.

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