“The only thing we share is some DNA, and I’m none too excited about that,” my wife spat. “Like I already told you, I didn’t even know Annalise existed until a few months ago when this all started.”
“Devereaux says the same thing. In fact, it would appear her base personality is even more in the dark than you. She isn’t aware of your familial ties at all.”
“Good. I’d like to keep it that way if you don’t mind.”
“I have no intention of telling her, but I’m certain her attorney knows. And, you must understand that it will come out at some point during the trial, if not before. That much is a given.”
“ Fek…” my wife muttered.
“The concern, however, is the alleged personality called Miranda. She knows far too much about you, as you already heard. Any way you slice it, Miranda or Annalise, she is creating a tangible connection that can be used to implicate you in the crimes.”
“That connection is exactly why Annalise wanted to kill me,” Felicity returned, exasperation in her voice. “Just like Miranda said. Believe me, none of it was my choice.”
“None of what?”
“None of what you refuse to believe.”
“Miz O’Brien, even if we chose to believe such a thing could happen, there’s no possible way to prove it in a court of law,” Agent Hanley insisted.
“Which is just another reason I wasn’t saying anything about it in the first place,” my wife spat as she looked over at him then returned her gaze to Doctor Jante. “So, do I pass your test now?”
“At this point we aren’t doubting that you sincerely believe what you are saying,” she replied.
“Do you believe in God, Doctor Jante?” I asked, attempting to shunt the conversation toward our favor.
Hanley interjected. “I know where you are going with that Mister Gant, and it won’t work. I can assure you the court will gladly agree that you are free to believe anything you want, but belief in something does not make it a tangible fact.”
“Okay, different avenue then. If I’ve been following you correctly, Miranda is the problem. Annalise is simply oblivious. So if all you are dealing with is Annalise, no problem.”
“Yes, that’s correct, more or less.”
“Then I guess that’s our option,” I replied.
“What do you mean?” Jante asked.
I took a deep breath then let the sentence fly before I could talk myself out of it. “I need to make Miranda go away for good.”
Hanley shot a skewed look at Jante then back to me. When he spoke again there was a note of warning in his voice. “Mister Gant, you should know that…”
“Please don’t misunderstand…” I said, cutting him off. “I’m not implying anything sinister or illegal. Like I said, Miranda, not Annalise.”
“All right, I’ll play along. Let’s assume for a moment Miranda really is what you say she is. How do you propose to make her go away?”
“I haven’t quite figured that out yet,” I said. “But I know it has to start with me talking directly to Annalise myself.”
CHAPTER 18:
“Row, would you mind if we postponed this afternoon’s plans,” Felicity asked as we exited the lobby of the FBI field office on Market Street, downtown.
“Not in the mood anymore?” I returned.
“Yes and no,” she said. “I mean, I am in some ways, but all that talk about Miranda has me a bit squeamish. It kind of put a damper on the idea if you know what I mean. It’s just that… Well we could… But, you know I’m afraid I might…”
I slipped my arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze then kissed her on the forehead. “You don’t need to explain, hon, I know exactly what you mean. Don’t worry about it. Why don’t we just grab some lunch and maybe catch a matinee or something instead.”
I could tell the whole encounter still had her rattled just by the way her voice was slipping into a heavier brogue. Just like exhaustion, intense emotions had a way of doing that to her. Her anxiety definitely wasn’t uncalled for. She had every right to it, and even more.
“Aye, sounds like a plan,” she agreed.
“How about the Metro Diner?”
“What? Not Charlie’s? I mean, anywhere is fine with me, but we’re already downtown after all, and Metro is back toward the suburbs.”
I shook my head. “Yeah, I know. But Chuck doesn’t serve liver and onions. Metro does.”
“Liver and onions… Having a craving are we then?”
“Yeah, actually… I think maybe I am.”
“I’ll pass on that,” she added. “I think maybe I’d be happy with a BLT or something of that sort myself.”
“I’m pretty sure Metro has them on the menu.”
We stopped at the curb and waited for a car to cross in front of us. The sun was shining between a light scattering of clouds, and there was a soft breeze blowing. We were at the tail end of the unusual warm spell, so the temperature had only crept up near fifty and probably wasn’t going to climb much farther. Closer to typical for a Midwestern March, but then, this was Saint Louis. Weather always seemed to be a roll of the dice here, no matter how hard the meteorologists tried to nail it down. Even so, to me it seemed almost springlike.
As we waited for a second vehicle to roll by, I shrugged out of my jacket and slung it over my shoulder then slipped my arm back around Felicity. Once the lane was clear, we stepped off the curb and aimed ourselves toward her Jeep.
After a moment she spoke up again. “Do you think they’ll actually go for it?”
“Who go for what?”
“Letting you speak to Annalise.”
“Oh, that,” I replied. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see. They definitely didn’t seem sold on the idea, did they?”
She shook her head and pursed her lips as she frowned. “Even if they change their minds and will arrange it, I can’t imagine her attorney would be too happy about letting you then.”
“True story,” I agreed. “But, if she decides she’s willing to talk to me, and it’s her choice, then maybe there’s a chance. If the people with the badges will go for it.”
She fell quiet until we split apart, and I ushered her in front of me between a pair of parked vehicles.
“And what you need to talk to her about is the necklace,” she said over her shoulder, offering the words as a statement rather than a question.
“Yes.”
She slowed then stopped and turned to face me. “So do you maybe want to explain that to me now, or is it still a big secret?”
“Want, yes,” I replied, shaking my head. “But like I said, I can’t…not just yet.”
“Why not?”
“I made someone a promise.”
“Who?”
“Honey, I can’t really say…”
She studied my face for a moment then let out what sounded to be an abbreviated version of an exasperated sigh. “It’s a good damn thing I trust you, Rowan Linden Gant.”
“Yeah, believe me, I know.”
I felt a tickle on my side, somewhere even with my beltline. The soft vibration was quickly followed by a short chirp and a muffled feminine voice. I reached down and pulled my cell phone from its holder then glanced at the display. As I suspected it was notifying me that I had several new voicemails. I flipped the device open and scrolled through the missed calls. Every single one came from the same familiar number.
“Ben,” I said aloud, turning the display toward Felicity and holding it up for her to see.
“Aye, no surprise that.” She nodded, glancing at the LCD. “Better call him back before he works himself into a snit.”
I half chuckled. “This is Ben you’re talking about. I’m sure he already has…”
She turned and continued walking the dozen or so steps to her Jeep. As I followed along, I thumbed the button so the cell would dial the most recently missed call then placed it against my ear.