A Good Marriage(40)

“These assaults—should I put a call in to the warden or something? Try to get you some protection?”

“I’m pretty sure that tattling on people in Rikers is hazardous to your health. I just need out of here. Quickly.”

I regretted wasting so much time at Zach’s house. The breakin had slowed me significantly. A writ of habeas corpus had nothing to do with any fingerprints or Amanda’s old journals.

“Young & Crane has agreed to let me represent you,” I said, trying to lead with something Zach would be happy about.

“Wow. That’s great news.” Zach exhaled so hard it made a rumbling sound into the phone. “I can’t even tell you, Lizzie … Thank you.”

“We’ll eventually need to back up and have a longer, much more detailed background discussion where you walk me through everything you can remember about that night. But first we need to focus on getting you out of Rikers. I’m drafting the habeas writ right now. We’ll get it filed first thing in the morning,” I said, signing in to my computer. I felt on more solid ground than I had in days. I’d get Zach’s situation sorted out, and then I’d sort out my own life, too. A drunk husband and some financial problems—even when they came with a side helping of secret baggage—were nothing compared to a murdered wife and a potential life sentence. “I’ll also have someone from the managing clerk’s office get down to Philadelphia to clear your outstanding warrant.”

I waited a beat, hoping that Zach would jump in with an explanation for the warrant.

“Right, the warrant,” he said finally, but he sounded more irri tated than apologetic.

“You need to tell me about things like that,” I said. “I can’t represent you properly if I don’t know everything. It puts me in a really bad position.”

Zach was silent.

“Hello?”

“Yeah, I get that,” Zach said finally, his tone icy. “But then, discovering your wife’s bloody, beaten body and then getting sent to Rikers, where you are getting beaten up repeatedly yourself, can make a person loose with details.”

Fuck you, Zach, that was all I could think. I got that his situation was a nightmare, but I definitely didn’t ask for any of this.

“Hey, I’m trying to help you, remember?” I sounded even angrier than I’d intended. “Because you asked me to.”

He exhaled loudly. “Uh, I’m sorry, Lizzie.” He seemed genuinely chastened. “That’s not—I am so lucky to have your help. I know that. I’m just starting to lose it in here a bit.”

“That’s understandable,” I said. And Zach was being attacked, literally. Surely it was taking its toll.

“I should have told you about the warrant. Actually, I should have paid the damn ticket in the first place. The whole issue could have been avoided.”

“Adam said you didn’t remember what the warrant was for?”

“I do now,” he said. “I’ve had plenty of time to think in here. It was for loitering, I’m pretty sure.”

“Loitering?”

“Ridiculous, right? Do you remember that new mayor in Philly when we were there?”

“Um, maybe, I don’t know.” I did not.

“Well, he was going after everybody for everything. Like every jaywalker. I remember the one officer making a point that they were doing me a favor by not charging me with a misdemeanor, which supposedly they could have. So, I got the ticket for standing too long on a corner. I objected to it on the moral principle that the mayor was trying to create a police state. Hubris of law school youth, I guess. That’s why I didn’t pay it. Obviously, I should have.”

I would have preferred an explanation that was slightly less belligerent, but at least it sounded truthful.

“Yeah, that might have been better, but it’s okay. We’ll get it resolved.”

“Were you able to reach Case’s camp?” Zach asked.

“Yes, it’s all set. Ashe’s parents will head to the camp this weekend, then bring both of the boys to their house and tell Case there. The camp will make sure Case doesn’t hear anything before then. And Ashe’s parents will let me know if Case wants to talk to you, and we’ll arrange it.”

“Oh, good.” Zach sounded relieved. “I was so afraid that he’d accidentally—”

“That’s not going to happen,” I said. “His camp seems really on top of things. And his friend’s parents were very upset about Amanda, obviously, but they were focused completely on Case by the time I hung up.”

“Thank you, Lizzie, really,” Zach said. “Ashe, huh …”

“We should get some other facts straight, in case they somehow come up at the writ hearing. Also, there’s a good chance I’ll be arguing it without you there. They’re scheduled on short notice. You do have a right to be there, but having you brought up could slow things down. Are you okay waiving your appearance?”

“Sure, yeah, of course. Whatever you think is best,” Zach said, the edge completely gone from his voice.

I glanced down at my list, hoping to start with the easiest things first.

“Did you send flowers to Amanda from Blooms on the Slope?”

“Flowers?” Zach asked. “Sorry, no. Why?”