Chapter 4

Natalie Vega stared at Evangeline Wilkenson as her ultimatum rang in her head. "You have got to be kidding me!"

"Do I look like I'm kidding you?" the older, black woman asked as she looked down on her client.

"I'll get another attorney."

"The judge isn't going to allow it this late in the case."

"Even when I tell him that you're. . ."

"That I'm what?" she interrupted. "You can't prove anything. And he's certainly not going to believe you over me. I mean, you're nothing but trash, even with the Buchanan name. I'm Nora's protégé. I went to the best schools. I have an impeccable record. You'll just be seen as an unstable, jealous b!tch, which actually would give Nora more of a case. . . hmm. . . I suppose I should start planting doubt. I mean, going as far as getting John to look into phone calls from a ghost. . ."

"How do you know about that?"

"I know everything. He tells me everything."

"You won't get away with this!"

"Of course I will," Evangeline laughed. "You want to stay out of jail, then you agree to leave town and stay out of contact with people here, especially John. If not, I make sure I loose the case. And although I'd hate adding a loss to my record, it will be for a good cause."

"You'd really let an innocent person go to jail?"

"Try me. You have till the morning to decide," Evangeline warned before walking out.

At the slamming of the door, Natalie slumped to the couch, "What the hell am I going to do?" she wondered staring into space as someone started to knock on the door.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

"What if she's right, Richard?" Emily asked as he maneuvered the roads with the help of a tracking system.

"Do you think she is?" he asked.

"We don't even know what she's like now."

"She's always been a good girl. She probably is taking the blame for someone else."

"Well what if it's not that? What if she did it?"

"Emily!"

"Watch the road, Richard," she chided. "Besides, I didn't mean it that way. What if she had no choice? What if she's still afraid that everyone will leave her and she got in over her head with that man?"

"Then we'll prove that she's wrong about people leaving her, won't we?" he asked, slowing as a car came towards them down the dark road, causing them to blink at their high beams. "Don't people ever them their lights when they see on coming traffic?" he mused.

"Apparently not, dear," she sighed as she shifted in her seat. "What about her lawyer? Have you heard anything about her?"

"I have someone looking into her as well as the case as a whole. It will be all right, Emily. She won't be hanging from that bridge much longer."

"What?"

"Nothing, just an on-going. . ." he shook his head.

"Of course. 'Annie.' You two always. . .I never understood the fascination that movie held for you two."

"Roxy told her I was her 'Daddy Warbucks.' Natalie didn't know what she meant at the time," he answered as he stopped the car.

"Why did you stop? Did you get lost?"

"No. We're here."

"Well, it certainly isn't what I expected considering the situation."

"She always has had a good head on her shoulders."

"I suppose," she sighed as he opened his car door.

"Emily?" he asked once he realized that she wasn't moving to exit the car.

"I'm scared, Richard. We can't just make her come to Friday dinners."

"But we can ask," he replied as he got out of the car. "Are you coming?"

"Yes, yes. Of course," she answered unbuckling her seatbelt. . ."