I continued, "Finding another killer for two of the victims is a good start, but..."
"It's two of eight," she said, turning back to me. "Only a quarter of the way there."
"And having Chandler say that Evans copied the earlier crimes doesn't help. It's unlikely he killed all eight, which is what we were hoping for--a single killer. This complicates things." I paused. "It further complicates things because you asked me to investigate those two. Specifically those two."
She paused, as if processing my meaning. Then she shook her head. "I picked them because they didn't fit the timing pattern. It was a place to start." She met my gaze. "I didn't kill anyone."
"But it could have been my father."
"What? No." She clutched my hands again. "That's not the way to go, Olivia. My lawyers wanted to use that angle, to raise the possibility that your father acted alone. I refused because I have no doubt--no doubt--that he isn't responsible. If you're even entertaining the idea, you need to see him. Either way, you need to see him." A wistful smile. "You loved your mommy, but you were Daddy's girl."
Just like at home, with my other parents.
I pulled back. "I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, I'll be watching the Chandler case, and looking for a connection to the other victims. You also need to think of anything else I can use. I'm sure you've done that a million times in the last twenty years, but I'm going to need more."
"I'll put together everything I can."
I stayed for a little longer, just talking. Then the guard came to say our time was up. As Pamela rose, I said, "One more thing. I'm trying to get my medical records. Do you remember who I saw after Dr. Escoda?"
"Escoda?"
I spelled it. She said the name didn't ring a bell.
"You should ask your father," she said. "He took you to most of your appointments, and he has a much better memory for dates and names. Is something wrong?"
"No, just checking."
"So you're all right?" she asked, waving off the guard's attempts to lead her away.
"I am." I walked over and tried to give her a hug, but the guard wouldn't let me. I stood there as she walked away, looking over her shoulder, watching me until the door closed between us.
Chapter Sixty-eight
That evening I was sitting in my favorite Chicago restaurant, attacking a T-bone like it was my last meal. Dinner was Gabriel's treat. A celebration. I could argue--and had--that he should be resting, but that was like jumping in front of a train and ordering it to stop. He had his cane, and that was the only concession he'd make.
As this was a celebration, the subject of our investigation was off-limits. Gabriel wasn't just paying, he was entertaining, too, and spent the meal regaling me with past cases. I listened to his stories and I ate my dinner and I drank my wine and I was happy.
I shouldn't have been happy. I should have been traumatized, curled up in a corner, reliving the ordeal at the Evans's house. I'd shot two people. Maybe in a few days that would hit me, but for now, I only regretted that it had to happen.
"Have I made legal life sound exciting?" Gabriel asked as he refilled my wineglass.
"You have."
"Good. Because I have a proposition to make."
"Really?" I waved at the bottle. "So that's why you're plying me with wine."
His eyes glittered, and he opened his mouth to say something. Then he shook his head, smiled, and eased back in his seat.
"Rest assured, it's not that sort of proposition. It's a job offer. You proved an apt investigator. I'd like you to continue in that capacity. Particularly if you promise to do all the online research."
"You're too kind. Tell me more."
"You'd do the research mostly from your apartment--I'll set you up with proper Internet. You'd still need to come into Chicago to discuss cases and conduct interviews. While I can't provide you with an office, I'm sure we could set up a desk with Lydia for when you're in town. I can't offer full-time hours, but the pay would be sufficient for you to quit the diner."
"I don't want to quit the diner."
He fixed me with a look. "Don't tell me you enjoy waiting tables, Olivia."