"The people rest, your honor," said Holloway, and it was all that Anna could do to keep from making a remark about this. Jack hadn't really been paying attention to much of anything, not that she could blame him. She had rested her case the day before, and now…now it was all up to the jury.
"Closing arguments will be heard tomorrow morning at nine o'clock," said Jamie, "Court is adjourned."
People started moving. Jack looked at Anna for a moment, and sighed before speaking. "Guess we'll just have to wait and see now," he said.
"It was all a matter of waiting and seeing," she said, reaching for his hand, and squeezing gently. "Keep your fingers crossed."
He gave her an amused look as he was led off seconds later. "I will if you will," he said. She nodded, and turned away. He watched the back of her head until he could see her no more, wondering why it no longer bothered him that she wouldn't look at him as he left the courtroom. He supposed it was because she didn't want to watch, and couldn't really blame her.
"The two of you are made for each other, I swear," said Danielle, walking over to Anna as she got ready to leave. "When this is all over and done with…"
"I don't know, Danielle," said Anna, sounding about as tired as she knew she must have looked. "I really hope it goes somewhere, but at the same time, I'm not going to get my hopes up, because this could all blow up in my face."
"I would tell you to keep your fingers crossed, but I have the feeling you and Jack have already shared that little exchange," said Danielle. "Come on, we'll get coffee or something. You look like you could use it."
Anna's cell phone went off, and she reached for it as they walked. "That sounds really good right about now," she said, "Just a sec. Hello?"
"Anna?" Kelly's voice came over the line, and Anna stopped in her tracks as she replied.
"Kelly? Is that you? Where are you?" she asked. "Are you all right?"
Danielle looked over at her with raised eyebrows; Anna moved the phone away from her ear and put it on speakerphone as they left the courthouse.
"I'm fine," said Kelly, "I just…needed someone to talk to, and I couldn't think of anything else."
"You sound upset," said Danielle, unable to stop herself, "What's wrong?"
"I'm on speakerphone, aren't I?" Kelly asked mildly, and then, "The police…have a lead. As to who took Becky, and…" She trailed off and sighed. "How's the trial going?"
"Closing arguments tomorrow morning," said Anna, "Then it's all up to a jury. Why?"
"Because I need you to talk to the prosecution," said Kelly, and looked nervously towards Ed and Nina. Both of them nodded, and she went on. "And I need you to talk to Jack."
"Kelly," said Danielle, slowly, "What's this about? Has something come up?"
Kelly looked back towards the detectives, and they nodded again, so she spoke. "As a matter of fact," she said. "Where are you two right now? I don't…want anyone else to hear this."
"In my car," said Anna, and they were, because they'd just gotten in. "Windows are up, doors are locked and everything. No one but me and Danielle. What's going on?"
"Like I said," said Kelly, "The police think…well, they know that they've got a lead on where Becky is, and who's really behind the murders. It's a long story. But I'm going to…need your help if they're going to be able to do anything."
"All right," said Anna, "I'm game. What's your plan?"
"You do realize that you're going to have to confess to everything. In open court, on the record, and there's no going back," said Connie, once the conversation was over, and Holloway had left the room with Anna. Jack nodded.
"Yeah," he said. "I'm aware of that. And I'm aware of the fact that I'll be disbarred, but I need to ask you something."
"Shoot," said Connie, and then upon realizing how that had sounded, "Actually…ignore that. Just ask."
Jack shook his head, a soft laugh escaping him as he did. "I know what you meant," he said, and then, "Do you really believe I could have really done this?"
She shook her head at once. "No," she said. "No way in hell. I know we're supposed to stay subjective on our side of the aisle, but…this time…"
"I suppose you could say that we've made exceptions before, and we'll continue to make them because some cases get to us more than others do," said Jack. "It was good working with you while I had the chance."
Connie gave him a sideways look. "You're really all right with this?" she asked. "With throwing it all away for something you haven't even done?"
"I have my reasons," said Jack, vaguely. "I've dragged everyone through enough as it is, and I'm done. I can't do it anymore."
"This isn't you," said Connie. "You were so damn adamant about not taking the deal before; why are you taking it now?"
"Because if a jury had convicted me, I could end up with a needle in my arm. I could end up never being able to see the real light of day again. Or I could've ended up with the sentence I'm going to get now. I think I'll be able to live with myself."
"We'll see how long that lasts when they send you upstate, to Ossining, or Dannemora or any one of those other prisons. You sent heaven only knows how many people up there. Any one of them could be looking for a chance to get revenge."
And that, Jack thought, without saying anything, was exactly the point. He still couldn't believe that Kelly had known all along, that two weeks had passed since their daughter had been kidnapped, and only now was she breaking her silence. But at least she had. And at least they were getting somewhere now. He'd never thought playing the role was for him, but apparently, it was working. Neither of the other, younger prosecutors had seen through it yet.
"I have the feeling that things will turn out better than that," he said, and as Connie gave him a startled look, he went on. "Just trust me, for now. I know it's a strange thing to ask you at the moment, but…just trust me."
They took the uniforms' places on the stakeout. They hadn't been contacted, but now that they had Kelly on their side, they had the feeling that they'd be able to trap Galinet in her own web.
"You're sure you have the right number to contact her with?" Nina asked, glancing towards the back seat, where Kelly sat, with sunglasses and a baseball cap on. She didn't look at all like herself, at first glance. It was doubtful that Galinet would be able to tell.
"I'm sure," she said, unable to keep a note of fear out of her voice, "She's only ever called my cell phone."
"All right, then," said Ed, "When we give you the signal, you call her, and tell her to meet you here. We'll leave you here in the car; you'll move to the driver's seat."
"She's likely to be armed," Kelly said, hesitantly, "She told me the last time we spoke that if we had to meet again, she wasn't going to let herself be caught off guard."
"We'll be able to take her before she ever gets to you," said Nina. "Once we have her, she's our problem."
"And Danielle will come along to play attorney," said Kelly, "At least, for now. She'll hand it off before she actually gets to trial."
Both detectives exchanged glances and then looked back at her. "You sure you're all right with this?" Ed asked. Kelly sighed, and ran a tired hand through her hair.
"I should've been all right with this from the beginning," she said, quietly. "Let's just get it over with."
The detectives exchanged glances again, and then nodded, slowly. "All right," said Nina. "We'll leave you here. When you see the hand signal, call, all right?"
Kelly nodded. The detectives got out of the car. She moved to the driver's seat, and waited.
About ten minutes later, when they and the others they'd brought along were in position, she saw the signal, and she called.