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."I have to get out of here," she managed to say."I'll take you home," Alex said softly.Alex called the office from Harriett's apartment and spoke to Doug Winston, explaining what had happened.Alex helped Harriett undress and poured her a glass of straight bourbon.When she awoke, it was after dark, and she was curled up in Alex's arms."I'm sorry, Harriett.There was no way anyone could have known.," Alex began."Where's Lacey?""Eleanor picked her up after school.She'll bring her home in a little while.""I need a few days off," Harriett said flatly."Will you have Eleanor cancel my appointments for the rest of the week?""Of course.Do you want me to drive you up to the cabin?""No.Lacey has school.I just need some time alone.""I don't think you should be alone, Harriett.Not yet.""Don't worry.I'll be at the office in a few days."FOUR DAYS LATER, Harriett entered the offices of Winston and Dunne, pausing for a moment before pushing the door open.No one spoke to her as she proceeded toward her office."Schedule a meeting with Doug and Alex for me as soon as possible, please," she said as she passed Eleanor's desk.Eleanor nodded and picked up her telephone as Harriett closed the door to her office.In less than an hour, she was seated in Doug Winston's office facing the two senior partners."I've decided to tender my resignation from Winston and Dunne," she said.Doug Winston rose from his seat and moved to where Harriett was sitting."I know what a disturbing business the Wilkes case has been for you, Harriett, but you can't let it ruin your life.You'd be throwing away everything you've worked for.""I have to do this, Doug," she said firmly."What are you planning to do?" he asked with genuine concern in his voice."I'm thinking about moving and setting up my own practice.The Wilkes case will always be in my mind, but I'll be able to get over it faster if I'm not in Dallas.""We should have never suggested the case to you," Doug said."It's not your fault," Harriett said with what passed for a smile."No one forced me to take the case.It was my decision alone.Every attorney knows this can happen.They just pray it never does.""I think you're making a hasty decision under duress," Alex said tightly.When Harriett looked at her, there was sadness in Alex's eyes.She loved Alexis Dunne, and she loved her job, but she knew she would have to give them both up to make peace with herself and start over."No, Alex," Harriett said softly."I accept that my actions resulted in the death of Ashley Lawrence.I don't like it, but I'll learn to live with it.What I can't live with is the backlash against me and possibly against this firm.I can't spend the rest of my life wondering if there will be some type of retaliation, or if someone at Lacey's school will say something to her about the case or me.I can't place her in that situation.""You might find it interesting that Wilkes has requested you as his attorney again," Doug said."I didn't think you'd mind if we turned the sonofabitch down on your behalf.""Incredible," she said."He's retained the Snake," Alex said."Lewis Sullivan?" Harriett asked."Yeah," Doug said."The scuttlebutt is that Sullivan is going to file an insanity plea."Harriett shook her head."Jared Wilkes is sick, but he's not insane.""Well, that's out of our hands now," Doug shrugged."I'd like my resignation to be effective at the end of the month.I'll clear up the cases I have pending and will probably have to reassign a few of them.""Let us know if there's anything we can do to help you, Harriett," Doug said patting her shoulder."You know, I was looking forward to changing the sign on the door to Winston, Dunne, and Markham.""So was I, Doug," she said as she stood to conclude the meeting.Harriett was in the process of going through a stack of papers on her desk when Alex came into her office, instructing Eleanor to hold any calls.Going around the desk, she bent down and kissed the top of her head."I don't want you to leave, Harriett.I love you.""This isn't about just you and me, Alex.There are others we have to consider.""I'll leave Gwen and go with you if that's what you want."Harriett stood up and walked away from her."What good would that do, Alex? Everyone in Dallas will still know that I freed a killer to kill again.We both know you can't leave Dallas.The firm depends on you.I have to do what's best for me and for Lacey now."Alex pulled Harriett into her arms and held her tightly."What will I do without you?""Same thing I'll be doing.Wishing our lives had taken a different road."Harriett moved to Austin a month later, but kept up with the Wilkes case through the Dallas newspapers and began paying regular visits to a psychologist in Austin.By the time the Wilkes case was nearing its conclusion, she had begun coming to grips with something that was every attorney's nightmare.Without informing anyone, she made the decision to return to Dallas to observe the conclusion of the Wilkes case, timing her arrival to coincide with the return of the jury's verdict.Lewis Sullivan had presented an insanity plea based on the fact that Jared Wilkes suffered from multiple personality disorder.A string of expert witnesses had argued the case for weeks and now sat with their fingers crossed.When the jury forewoman announced the verdict of "not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect" she couldn't believe it.Although she was seated in the rear of the courtroom, she could see Wilkes's face clearly.For everyone's sake, she hoped he would spend the remainder of his life in a mental institution.As Jared stood to be hugged by his mother before being led away, he spotted Harriett in the back of the courtroom.When he was sure she was looking at him, he smiled and winked at her.He had gotten away with murder and wanted her to know it.The drive back to Austin seemed to take forever as Harriett tried to put as many miles between her and Jared Wilkes as possible.Chapter EightHARRIETT COULD SEE her breath in the cold morning air as she shifted from one foot to another on the front porch of a restored two-story turn of the century house that sat on spacious grounds a few blocks from the State Capitol Building.She hadn't been able to sleep more than three or four hours the night before.Finally giving up the battle, she had quickly dressed and left her townhouse before the sun was up.She was being childish and even though she knew that, she needed to talk to Helen.When the front door opened, Helen Mortenson, a fifty-ish woman with silver hair, blinked into the sunlight that was just making its way over the horizon."Harriett?""Good morning, Helen.I'm really sorry to disturb you so early, but could we talk?" Harriett asked, clearing her throat slightly."Of course, my dear." Swinging the door open wider, Helen pulled the belt of her robe tighter."You look like you haven't slept a wink."Stepping onto the polished wooden floor of the home's foyer, Harriett looked around at the familiar surroundings."I'm sorry if I woke you and Eric."Wrapping a chenille-clad arm around Harriett's shoulders, Helen said, "You didn't, dear.I was just making some coffee when I heard the doorbell.You look like you could use some, and I know I can."Harriett stood leaning against a kitchen counter, feeling a little self-conscious, as she waited for Helen to fill two large mugs with the steaming brown liquid.She had met Dr.Helen Mortenson soon after she had moved to Austin, and their friendship had been immediate.Still disturbed by her experiences in the Wilkes case, Harriett had sought help, and Helen's name had been the one her finger had landed on in the phone directory.Helen and her husband, Eric, had a successful practice in Austin and were considered two of the best psychologists in the state by their peers [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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