Page 78 of A Reasonable Doubt

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“Right away,” Dillon said, grateful for an excuse to get away.

“They’re going to take you back to the jail until bail is posted, but you should be free in a few hours,” Robin told her client. She pointed to an accordion file filled with police reports. “That’s a copy of the discovery the DA gave me. I’ll give it to Claire. Go home, take a shower, and eat a good meal. Then go through the discovery and help me figure out who killed Robert Chesterfield.”

“Nice job,” Stanley Cloud said when Robin finished speaking to the reporters who waylaid her when she walked out of the courtroom.

“I couldn’t have done it without Regina.”

“You can thank her in person tonight. I called her with the news, and she wants you and Jeff to come for dinner. I’ve got somesweet corn and several exceptional salmon fillets I intend to barbecue.”

“Your bribe has worked for me,” Jeff said.

“I’ll be there,” Robin said. “Now I’ve got to get over to the jail to make sure that David gets out as soon as possible.”

“What do you think of Ragland’s accomplice theory?” Jeff asked as he followed Robin to the elevator that led to the courthouse jail.

“Not much. Why? Has something occurred to you?”

“Remember I told you that Miriam Ross had an affair with Chesterfield when he was working on the Chamber of Death illusion at the coast?”

“Yes.”

“When I talked to Ross, she said that Maria Rodriguez was jealous because Chesterfield had not been attracted to her.”

“You think that Rodriguez could be the accomplice?”

“Nancy Porter’s inhaler was found in a drawer in Rodriguez’s dressing table. If she had a grudge against Chesterfield, she could have been the person who hid it.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Robin and Jeff parked in front of Regina’s house, and Stanley Cloud walked out to greet them.

“We’re eating on the patio. I just put the salmon on the grill, so let’s get back there so I can watch it.”

Stanley walked them through the house, and Robin saw the police reports in David Turner’s case strewn across the dining room table.

“Where’s Regina?” she asked.

“Upstairs, getting dressed. She was ecstatic when I told her that she’d saved the day.”

“I couldn’t be happier,” Robin said.

“Can I fix you a drink?”

“I’ll take a beer if you have any,” Jeff said.

“A gin and tonic would be great,” Robin told the former chief justice.

Stanley checked on the salmon before going inside to get the drinks. Robin walked to the edge of the patio and looked at the river. A light breeze wafted inland off the water, and the temperature was in mid-seventies without any humidity.

“How are you two?” Regina asked.

Robin turned and smiled. “Fabulous, thanks to you. I told David Turner that you figured out the problem with the time line, and he wanted me to thank you.”

“Here are your drinks,” Stanley said. “Hi, Reggie. Can I get you anything?”

“Maybe a little wine with dinner.”

Stanley checked the salmon and declared it ready for consumption.


Tags: Phillip Margolin Mystery