“That’s probably not wise,” Anders said. “Peter Ragland is prosecuting, and he’s probably going to ask for the death penalty.”
Randall shrugged. “I don’t care. What do I have to live for? I waive my right to an attorney, so ask your questions.”
“First, I want to thank you for sparing Renee Chambers and telling us where to find her.”
“Renee never did anything to hurt me.”
“What did Morris Quinlan do?” Dillon asked.
“I do feel bad about that, but Regina Barrister was still alive, and I couldn’t let him interfere before I killed her.”
“She’s still alive,” Anders said. “Do we have to worry about you, Jane?”
Randall looked Anders in the eye. “My only regret is that she didn’t eat the chocolates and die, so she would know the agony my mother went through. If I ever get out, my only priority will be ending her life.”
“I appreciate the honesty,” Anders said. “I guess we’ll have to make sure that you stay locked up for the rest of your life.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Robin usually got up around five so she could go to the gym before she went to the office, but she hadn’t gotten to bed until four, and exhaustion and the painkiller she’d been given kept her under the covers until nine o’clock. She was groggy when she did get out of bed, and she stumbled into the bathroom only half awake. When she returned to the bedroom, Robin saw that Jeff’s side of the bed was empty. That’s when she remembered their argument.
Robin felt terrible during her walk to the office. Her arm was throbbing, but the pain in her heart was worse. She loved Jeff and she was afraid that what he saw as reckless behavior was pushing him away. She saw what she’d done in a different light. Regina and Stanley were very important to her, and she had no doubt that the decision to watch their house had saved their lives.
Should she have asked Jeff to go with her? Approaching problems without emotion and solving them with cold logic were things Robin did very well. When she thought about what Jeff had said, she could see now that he was right. The police wouldn’t have gone to Regina’s house because Robin had a hunch, but that didn’t mean Robin should have confronted Jane Randall alone. She knewthat she should have asked Jeff to back her up, just as she knew that Jeff would have gone with her because he loved her.
Robin went to Jeff’s office as soon as she arrived at the law firm, but he wasn’t in. Robin felt terrible. Had she destroyed their relationship?
She went to her office and distracted herself by calling Peter Ragland. “Did Carrie or Roger tell you what happened last night?” Robin asked.
“Yeah. It looks like Porter or Randall or whatever her name is killed Chesterfield,” Ragland said, but he didn’t sound happy about being proved wrong.
“I can see why you arrested David,” Robin said to make Ragland feel better. “Can I tell him you’re dropping the charges, now that we know he’s innocent?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Thanks, Peter.”
As soon as she hung up, Robin called her client.
“I have great news,” Robin said when David Turner answered his phone. “I just got off the line with Peter Ragland, and he’s going to drop all the charges against you.”
“How did you manage that?”
“Last night, the police arrested Nancy Porter when she tried to murder Regina Barrister. Porter’s real name is Jane Randall, and there is overwhelming evidence that she murdered Chesterfield and two other people.”
Robin told Turner about the Randall and Gentry cases and how she had discovered Porter’s real identity. Then she told her client about finding Renee Chambers alive and her capture of the fugitive.
“I’m so grateful,” Turner said when Robin was done. “I can’t imagine that there are many lawyers who would risk their lives to help a client.”
“Fighting killers isn’t part of my usual legal service.”
“Caesars Palace has been threatening to cancel my contract, but I’m guessing they’ll change their tune, now that I’ve been cleared—and I’m also guessing that the publicity will bring in the crowds.”
“It worked for Chesterfield.”
“Do you think I should use the Chamber of Death as my new finale?”
Robin laughed. “Absolutely not!”