Cold Target by Patricia; Potter Page A

“You’ve heard nothing from Nan?”
    â€œNope. I think no news is good news.”
    Meredith agreed. The longer the time passed after a court order without contact, the better. Then she recalled the odd encounter in the courtroom. “Do you remember Gage Gaynor? He was a witness in a cop murder case I helped try.”
    â€œHe’s hard to forget. Big. Brooding. Honest, I think.”
    Meredith hadn’t quite made up her mind about that yet. There had been rumors. Perhaps because he’d testified against a fellow cop. Or perhaps it was because of his cool green eyes that had been so difficult to read or the odd warm feelings he’d aroused in her. She hadn’t trusted them.
    â€œHe was at the hearing.”
    Sarah looked surprised. “Did he say why?”
    â€œJust that it was official business. He got in a dig about L.L. and Tommy’s case.”
    â€œThey were just kids.”
    â€œAccording to him, they were lowlifes unfit for a second chance.”
    â€œThey were carrying drugs for a pittance. I think they learned their lesson.” Despite having worked for the DA, Sarah was the original bleeding heart. It was at her behest that Meredith had taken the case. She’d been moving more and more toward family law and farther away from criminal practice.
    The phone rang, but it stopped suddenly, and she knew Becky must have come into the office.
    Meredith went to the door and looked out. Becky gave her a short wave and silently mouthed to her, “Are you here?”
    â€œWho is it?” she mouthed back.
    â€œA Detective Gaynor.”
    â€œSpeak of the devil,” Sarah muttered.
    For a moment, Meredith thought she must have conjured him. It was an unwelcome thought. But she nodded and went into her office. She picked up her phone. “Detective?”
    â€œI wondered whether Mrs. Fuller has had any more problems.”
    â€œNo. Why?”
    â€œHe had a warning. If he goes near her, let me know.”
    â€œThank you. I’ll pass that on to Nan.” She paused. “Will there be departmental charges?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œMay I ask why?”
    â€œIf he were fired, who would he blame?”
    She was silent for a moment. He was right. A man with nothing to lose could be very dangerous. “And if he attacks someone else?”
    â€œAs far as we know, he hasn’t. No complaints. He has a good record.”
    â€œExcept for beating his wife.”
    â€œLook, Ms. Rawson, I don’t like it any more than you do, but he’ll be watched carefully now. One wrong step and he’s out. He knows that. But I think he would be far more dangerous to your client if he lost his job. He wouldn’t be able to find another in law enforcement. He would go after her for ruining his life.”
    â€œYou sound as if you know that firsthand,” she said.
    â€œI do. A lady I liked a lot was killed that way.”
    She heard, or thought she heard, emotion in his voice. “Is that why you were in the courtroom?”
    â€œI was the one who recommended that he not contest the charges, or the divorce. I told him I’d better not be wrong in not pressing for departmental action. If he so much as calls Nan, let me know.”
    â€œThank you,” she said. “You could have told me that then.”
    â€œYep,” he said cheerfully.
    â€œWhy didn’t you?”
    â€œBecause you were glaring at me.”
    She probably had been. She had been so sure he was there to support Fuller.
    â€œJust thought you should know.” He hung up.
    She stared thoughtfully at the phone in her hand. One question answered.
    She didn’t think she would be as lucky on the others.
    Why in the hell had he done that?
    Gage seldom explained himself, especially to an attorney.
    But he had seen the suspicion in her face and for some reason he wanted to explain. He had no idea why he mentioned April, the wife of his first partner.
    He