The Perfect Alibi (Robin Lockwood #2)(30)

“Blaine is smart. He won’t do anything himself,” Randi said. “He’ll get someone else to hurt me, someone like Marlon Guest.”

Robin knew Randi was right. She’d seen Hastings’s hair-trigger temper in court, and she’d saved Randi when Marlon Guest attacked her. Hastings was violent, and he’d want revenge on the person who put him in prison.

“I can talk to Vanessa Cole about protecting you, but I want to be honest. The police don’t have the manpower to assign someone to Randi twenty-four hours a day.”

“And meanwhile, that animal is free and we’re in danger,” Maxine said.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE


Doug Armstrong had just flown in from Seattle, where he’d negotiated a very favorable settlement in a difficult case, so he was in a great mood when he walked into the reception room of his law office at five thirty on Tuesday evening. Doug would have been in a great mood even if the case hadn’t brought the firm a terrific attorney fee. His law practice was prospering and, more important, his marriage was on the mend.

Doug remembered how depressed Marsha had been after her miscarriage and the dark days when he’d been banished to their guest room because she didn’t want to make love anymore. But, miracle of miracles, Marsha had asked Doug to come back to her. The lovemaking had been tentative at first, but it hadn’t been a one-time thing and he had high hopes that they would be able to rekindle the passion that had ignited the early years of their marriage.

Kate Monday, the firm’s receptionist, was getting ready to leave when Doug walked in. “Welcome back,” she said. “How did it go?”

“Fantastic. I can’t wait to tell Frank. Is he back from the Big Apple yet?”

“Yes. He got in this afternoon. He’s in his office. He wanted to see you if you got back before he left for the party.”

“What party?”

“Did you forget? Chad is getting married this weekend, and there’s a party.”

“Damn, I did forget. Where is it?”

“The Monaco steak house.”

Doug walked down the hall to his office. His good mood continued until he answered a voice message from Vanessa Cole.

“Blaine Hastings is free on bail,” Cole said as soon as they were connected.

“How is that possible?”

Vanessa explained what had happened at the bail hearing. “Judge Redding is holding off on deciding if Hastings should get a new trial until we get a handle on how the two DNA samples could match. But I thought you’d want to know what happened.”

“Thanks. I have to admit that I don’t feel safe with Hastings on the street. He threatened me when the trial went south.”

“Do you think you’re in danger?”

Doug thought about Cole’s question for a few seconds. “Probably not,” he answered. “Hastings is a mean son of a bitch, but he was probably just blowing off steam.”

“If he gives you any problems, call me immediately. I might be able to get the judge to revoke his bail.”

“Will do. And thanks for the call.”

Doug hung up and stared out the window of his corner office. Below, the lights of Portland were starting to wink on, and the high hills that loomed over the city were beginning to fade into shadow as the sun set.

Was he really in danger? Blaine Hastings Jr. was not someone to take lightly. Despite the question raised by the DNA tests, Doug was convinced his former client was a vicious sociopath. But Hastings wasn’t stupid, and he had to know that attacking an attorney could only work to his disadvantage. No, Doug decided, he was probably safe.

Doug dialed Marsha. “Hi, hon.”

“Did everything go okay?” Marsha answered.

Doug smiled because Marsha sounded happy. “Yeah, better than I thought it would.”

“Will you be home soon?”

“I can’t come now. Chad Spenser is getting married, and there’s an office party at the Monaco. I forgot all about it, but I’ve got to go. You eat without me.”

“Okay,” Marsha said. She sounded disappointed.

“I know, babe. I miss you, too. I won’t stay late. I promise.”

They talked some more. Then Doug hung up and started to go through his mail. That’s when he remembered that Frank wanted to talk to him.

Doug smiled. The luckiest thing that had ever happened to him occurred twenty years ago. He’d moved to Oregon from Arkansas looking for work, and Frank Nylander had taken a chance on him when no one else would hire him.

Doug’s personal life had also profited because of Frank. His partner had introduced him to Lois, his first wife, and later, after Lois passed, he’d hired Marsha as his secretary.

Doug sobered when he remembered Lois’s final days. There had been endless rounds of chemo and the beyond-sadness moment when she’d passed. Doug didn’t know how he would have survived without Frank’s support in the dark days of depression and grief that had followed Lois’s death. Frank was his best friend, and Doug owed Frank everything.

Doug decided that the stuff on his desk could wait. He got his coat and headed down the hall to Frank’s office. They could talk about Seattle and New York on the way to the restaurant.





CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO