"h.e.l.lo, David." Emily bustled up to him, and he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I hope you're hungry. Dinner's almost ready. Sandra's in the kitchen helping me. She's such a dear." She picked up a tray and hurried back into the kitchen.

Quiller turned to David. "You mean a great deal to Emily and me. I'm going to give you some advice. You've got to let go."

David sat there, saying nothing.

"That was a long time ago, David. And what happened wasn't your fault. It could have happened to anyone."

David looked at Quiller. "It happened to me, Jesse. I killed her."

It was deja vu. All over again. And again. David sat there, transported back to another time and another place.

It had been a pro bono case, and David had said to Jesse Quiller, "I'll handle it."

Helen Woodman was a lovely young woman accused of murdering her wealthy stepmother. There had been bitter public quarrels between the two, but all the evidence against Helen was circ.u.mstantial. After David had gone to the jail and met with her, he was convinced she was innocent. With each meeting, he had become more emotionally involved. In the end, he had broken a basic rule: Never fall in love with a client.

The trial had gone well. David had refuted the prosecutor's evidence bit by bit, and he had won the jury over to his client's side. And unexpectedly, a disaster had occurred. Helen's alibi was that at the time of the murder she had been at the theater with a friend. Under questioning in court, her friend admitted that the alibi was a lie, and a witness had come forward to say that he had seen Helen at her stepmother's apartment at the time of the murder. Helen's credibility was completely gone. The jury convicted her of first-degree murder, and the judge sentenced her to be executed. David was devastated.

"How could you have done this, Helen?" he demanded. "Why did you lie to me?"

"I didn't kill my stepmother, David. When I got to her apartment, I found her on the floor, dead. I was afraid you wouldn't believe me, so I-I made up the story about being at the theater."

He stood there, listening, a cynical expression on his face.

"I'm telling you the truth, David."

"Are you?" He turned and stormed out.

Sometime during the night, Helen committed suicide.

One week later, an ex-convict caught committing a burglary confessed to the murder of Helen's stepmother.

The next day, David quit Jesse Quiller's firm. Quiller had tried to dissuade him.

"It wasn't your fault, David. She lied to you and-"

"That's the point. I let her. I didn't do my job. I didn't make sure she was telling me the truth. I wanted to believe her, and because of that, I let her down."

Two weeks later, David was working for Kincaid, Turner, Rose & Ripley.

"I'll never be responsible for another person's life," David had sworn.

And now he was defending Ashley Patterson.

Chapter Fourteen.

AT ten o'clock the following morning, David walked into Joseph Kincaid's office. Kincaid was signing some papers and he glanced up as David entered. ten o'clock the following morning, David walked into Joseph Kincaid's office. Kincaid was signing some papers and he glanced up as David entered.

"Ah. Sit down, David. I'll be through in a moment."

David sat down and waited.

When Kincaid had finished, he smiled and said, "Well! You have some good news, I trust?"

Good news for whom? David wondered. David wondered.

"You have a very bright future here, David, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to do anything to spoil that. The firm has big plans for you."

David was silent, trying to find the right words.

Kincaid said, "Well? Have you told Dr. Patterson that you'd find another lawyer for him?"

"No. I've decided that I'm going to defend her."

Kincaid's smile faded. "Are you really going to defend that woman, David? She's a vicious, sick murderer. Anyone who defends her will be tarred with the same brush."

"I'm not doing this because I want to, Joseph. I'm obligated. I owe Dr. Patterson a great deal, and this is the only way I can ever repay him."

Kincaid sat there, silent. When he finally spoke, he said, "If you've really decided to go ahead with this, then I suggest that it would be appropriate for you to take a leave of absence. Without pay, of course."

Good-bye, partnership.

"After the trial, naturally, you'll come back to us and the partnership will be waiting for you."

David nodded. "Naturally."

"I'll have Collins take over your workload. I'm sure you'll want to begin concentrating on the trial."

Thirty minutes later, the partners of Kincaid, Turner, Rose & Ripley were in a meeting.

"We can't afford to have this firm be involved in a trial like that," Henry Turner objected.

Joseph Kincaid was quick to respond. "We're not really involved, Henry. We're giving the boy a leave of absence."

Albert Rose spoke up. "I think we should cut him loose."

"Not yet. That would be shortsighted. Dr. Patterson could be a cash cow for us. He knows everybody, and he'll be grateful to us for letting him borrow David. No matter what happens at the trial, it's a win-win situation. If it goes well, we get the doctor as a client and make Singer a partner. If the trial goes badly, we'll drop Singer and see if we can't keep the good doctor. There's really no downside."

There was a moment of silence, then John Ripley grinned. "Good thinking, Joseph."

When David left Kincaid's office, he went to see Steven Patterson. He had telephoned ahead, and the doctor was waiting for him.

"Well, David?"

My answer is going to change my life, David thought. David thought. And not for the better. And not for the better. "I'm going to defend your daughter, Dr. Patterson." "I'm going to defend your daughter, Dr. Patterson."

Steven Patterson took a deep breath. "I knew it. I would have bet my life on it." He hesitated a moment. "I'm betting my daughter's life on it."

"My firm has given me a leave of absence. I'm going to get help from one of the best trial lawyers in the-"

Dr. Patterson raised a hand. "David, I thought I made it clear to you that I don't want anyone else involved in this case. She's in your hands and your hands only."

"I understand," David said. "But Jesse Quiller is-"

Dr. Patterson got to his feet. "I don't want to hear anything more about Jesse Quiller or any of the rest of them. I know trial lawyers, David. They're interested in the money and the publicity. This isn't about money or publicity. This is about Ashley."

David started to speak, then stopped. There was nothing he could say. The man was fanatic on the subject. I can use all the help I can get, I can use all the help I can get, David thought. David thought. Why won't he let me? Why won't he let me?

"Have I made myself clear?"

David nodded. "Yes."

"I'll take care of your fee and your expenses, of course."

"No. This is pro bono."

Dr. Patterson studied him a moment, then nodded. "Quid pro quo?"

"Quid pro quo." David managed a smile. "Do you drive?"

"David, if you're on a leave of absence, you'll need some expense money to keep you going. I insist."

"As you wish," David said.

At least we'll eat during the trial.

Jesse Quiller was waiting for David at Rubicon.

"How did it go?"

David sighed. "It was predictable. I'm on a leave of absence, no salary."

"Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. How can they-?"

"I can't blame them," David interrupted. "They're a very conservative firm."

"What are you going to do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? mean? You're handling the trial of the century. You don't have an office to work in anymore; you don't have access to research files or case files, criminal law books or a fax machine, and I've seen that outdated computer that you and Sandra have. It won't be able to run the legal software you'll need or get you on the Internet." You're handling the trial of the century. You don't have an office to work in anymore; you don't have access to research files or case files, criminal law books or a fax machine, and I've seen that outdated computer that you and Sandra have. It won't be able to run the legal software you'll need or get you on the Internet."

"I'll be all right," David said.

"You're d.a.m.n right you will. There's an empty office in my suite that you're going to use. You'll find everything you need there."

It took David a moment to find his voice. "Jesse, I can't-"

"Yes, you can." Quiller grinned. "You'll find a way to pay me back. You always pay people back, don't you, Saint David?" He picked up a menu. "I'm starved." He looked up. "By the way, lunch is on you."

David went to visit Ashley in the Santa Clara County Jail.

"Good morning, Ashley."

"Good morning." She looked even paler than usual. "Father was here this morning. He told me that you're going to get me out of here."

I wish I were that optimistic, David thought. He said carefully, "I'm going to do everything I can, Ashley. The trouble is that not many people are familiar with the problem you have. We're going to let them know about it. We're going to get the finest doctors in the world to come here and testify for you." David thought. He said carefully, "I'm going to do everything I can, Ashley. The trouble is that not many people are familiar with the problem you have. We're going to let them know about it. We're going to get the finest doctors in the world to come here and testify for you."

"It scares me," Ashley whispered.

"What does?"

"It's as though two different people are living inside me, and I don't even know them." Her voice was trembling. "They can take over anytime they want to, and I have no control over them. I'm so frightened." Her eyes filled with tears.

David said quietly, "They're not people, Ashley. They're in your mind. They're part of you. And with the proper treatment, you're going to be well."

When David got home that evening, Sandra gave him a hug and said, "Did I ever tell you how proud I am of you?"

"Because I'm out of a job?" David asked.

"That, too. By the way, Mr. Crowther called. The real estate broker. He said the papers are ready to sign. They want the down payment of sixty thousand dollars. I'm afraid we'll have to tell him we can't afford-"

"Wait! I have that much in the company pension plan. With Dr. Patterson giving us some expense money, maybe we can still swing this."

"It doesn't matter, David. We don't want to spoil the baby with a penthouse, anyway."

"Well, I have some good news. Jesse is going to let me-"

"I know. I talked to Emily. We're moving into Jesse's offices."

David said, "We?" "We?"

"You forget, you married a paralegal. Seriously, darling, I can be very helpful. I'll work with you until"-she touched her stomach-"Jeffrey comes along, and then we'll see."

"Mrs. Singer, do you have any idea how much I love you?"

"No. But take your time. Dinner's not for another hour."

"An hour isn't enough time," David told her.

She put her arms around him and murmured, "Why don't you get undressed, Tiger?"