Lawyer Trap by R. J. Jagger Page A

trauma—we’re still waiting on the cause of death. I already know it’s going to be suffocation or poison. Either way, I think we have four different killers.”
    Sydney had a serious expression.
    â€œTheoretically, then, Davica is still a suspect as to Angela Pfeiffer.”
    Teffinger dismissed the concept with a facial expression.
    â€œNot really,” he said. “She’d never be connected in any way to other killers. She’s basically a decent person who just happened to get tangled up in a love life that went south.”
    â€œShe’s partying her way through life, the way I hear it,” Sydney said.
    Teffinger nodded.
    â€œTrue to a point,” he said. “But there’s a lot more to her than that.”
    â€œSo have you joined the party yet? Fully, I mean?”
    â€œNo, but I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to hold out, if you want to know the truth,” he said. “You’re the only one who knows that, by the way.”
    She shook her head in disapproval.
    â€œNick, I’m honestly starting to worry about you,” she said. “You never played this fast and loose with the rules before.”
    That was true.
    â€œWhy jeopardize your job or your reputation, is all I’m saying,” Sydney added.
    He knew she was right.
    But she didn’t understand Davica’s power.
    Time to change the subject.
    â€œWe need to find out who the fourth woman is. My guess is that she disappeared right around the time of the other three victims, which is the beginning of April. I think if we do a state-wide search of missing persons from that timeframe, she’s going to pop up.”
    Sydney agreed.
    â€œI can do that, if you want.”
    â€œI want,” he said. “You should probably get right on it. We’re going to look pretty stupid if CNN figures it out first.”
    An hour later, Teffinger received a telephone call from an attorney named Blake Gray. As soon as he hung up, he walked over to Sydney and grabbed her by the arm.
    â€œWe’re taking a field trip,” he said.
    She stood up and fell into step.
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œTo interview our 911 caller.”
    â€œYou found her?”
    â€œMore like she found us,” he said.

29
    DAY FIVE–SEPTEMBER 9
    FRIDAY MORNING
    A spen found two new files on her desk when she arrived at her office—more dogs for the doghouse. She didn’t care. The worst day at work was still better than the best day in the unemployment line. She touched base with the lawyers who had dropped them off, calendared the due dates, and then concentrated as much as she could on pounding out assignments.
    She hadn’t slept much last night.
    That forced her to shore up with too much coffee this morning.
    Plus Rachel’s death wouldn’t leave her alone. She kept getting a mental picture of someone sawing Rachel’s head off. On top of that, Jacqueline Moore hadn’t shown up yet to apologize in person.
    She jumped when her phone rang.
    Blake Gray’s voice came through.
    â€œThe cops are on their way over to interview you,” he said.
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œYou sound stressed.”
    She probably did but said, “I’m fine.”
    â€œWhy don’t you come up to my office? We’ll get organized.”
    When she got to his office, Blake was standing in the doorway talking to Jacqueline Moore. The woman saw her and said, “Sorry about last night. I have some personal stuff going on. I was wrong to unload on you.”
    Aspen said, “No problem.”
    Jacqueline hugged her around the shoulders and said, “I’m a bitch, but most of the time I’m a nice bitch. Yesterday things got away from me.”
    â€œI understand.”
    â€œWe’ll do lunch and I’ll tell you some gossip to make up for it,” Jacqueline said.
    Blake jumped in.
    â€œNot about me, I hope.”
    Jacqueline rolled her eyes.