When Secrets Die by Lynn S. Hightower

very up-to-date on the subject, since I just talked to the woman today and took her case a few hours ago.” And awfully forthcoming with information, I thought, but did not add, because I did not want to impede the flow.
    Joel stared at me. “There will be something in the newspapers tomorrow. Maybe on the news, concerning Emma Marsden.”
    â€œWhich naturally you can’t tell us about,” I said.
    â€œNo, it was leaked to the media on purpose, by the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, so there’s no reason I can’t leak it to you.”
    I clenched my fist. Joel had a mournful air that did not give me a good feeling about the future of my client.
    â€œThere’s a videotape,” he said.
    â€œNo no no.”
    â€œIt’s not what you think,” Joel told me. “It’s a tape of Emma Marsden in the parking lot of a local restaurant having sex with her ex-husband.”
    Rick leaned forward. “Have you seen it?”
    â€œBits and pieces. They were playing it in one of the interrogation rooms.”
    I sighed. “What does that have to do with Munchausen’s, Joel?”
    He shrugged. “Nothing. Except it was taken on her child’s birthday, the first birthday after he died. She and the child’s father—”
    â€œClayton Roubideaux,” I said.
    â€œThey’d evidently gone out to mark the occasion, and wound up in his car.”
    â€œSo she’s guilty of what? Sex?”
    Rick took the cigar from Judith’s reluctant fingers. “Well, Lena Bina, you have to admit, on the anniversary of her child’s death—”
    â€œIs there anybody in this room who hasn’t had sex in a car?”
    I saw no hands. Certainly not my own.
    â€œJoel, is she going to be charged?”
    â€œOn the basis of the tape? No, as far as I know she’s not. That’s why the information is going to the media, instead of before a grand jury.”
    â€œTrial by public opinion?” Judith said.
    â€œThe doctor who treated the child is raising a lot of fuss,” Joel said.
    â€œWhat have you guys got on her?” I asked him.
    Joel shook his head at me. “That wouldn’t be what I was worrying about, if I were you.”
    â€œAnd what would you be worrying about?” I asked him.
    â€œWho took the videotape. From what I understand, it came in anonymously, through the mail, to the office of the Commonwealth Attorney.”
    â€œAnd you guys just take it on faith?”
    â€œIt’s not my case, Lena, but the guy working it takes nothing on faith. If I know Jack Linden, he’ll be trying to establish whether or not it really is Emma Marsden in the tape, as the letter states—”
    â€œOh, so it came with a letter,” Rick said.
    â€œYes, but you’d need a court order to look at it.”
    Rick looked at me and rolled his eyes, but even though Joel and I were constantly dealing with professional boundaries in flux, this was one I knew I had no chance of crossing.
    â€œJoel, I assume you don’t have a problem with me letting Emma Marsden know?”
    â€œNo—if the media knows, I see no reason for her not to.”
    â€œIt’s mean not to go to her first.”
    â€œI won’t argue the point.” He glanced at the clock. “It’s late, though.”
    I bit my lip. “I know. But better now than first thing in the morning when she picks up the paper or turns on the news. She’s got a teenage daughter, you know.” I turned to Rick and Judith.
    â€œWould you guys want to know?”
    Rick nodded.
    â€œCall her,” Judith said.

EMMA
    C HAPTER F IVE
    Emma had gone through all the motions. She had done everything required. She’d cooked Blaine’s dinner and cleaned up the kitchen. Read the newspaper and stayed up late watching a movie about Joan of Arc, and now she could not sleep. She got up out of bed, padded into the living room, which was