"Had Volney stopped after killing Gould and Atkins, he would have been home free," Tony said.
"Volney decided he wanted to make a statement. He wanted to scare the legal profession, make them wary of taking malpractice cases."
"Prentice allowed that to happen?" Thorne raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "I thought I knew the man."
"Prentice claims he was powerless to stop it."
"What I don't understand," said Tony, "is why was Juan Iglesia involved? He didn't have control over anything."
"Volney thought Iglesia watched him put one of the bugs in a computer monitor. Volney murdered him to shut him up."
"Did Prentice help?" Thorne asked. "I can't comprehend a man I trusted and called friend would do such a thing and allow me to be sacrificed in the process."
"Prentice didn't get his hands dirty. He kept Volney advised on the progress in the various cases. Doctors talk a lot among themselves, and Prentice stayed informed. But he was jealous of you, Chamberlain. In his estimation, you attracted an unfair share of referrals and robbed him of his income and his prestige. Prentice told Volney enough about your activities to make it easy for him to incriminate you in each of the murders. They planned on you taking the fall."
"That's ridiculous." Thorne shook his head. "But he did ask a lot of questions, always asking everyone about their legal problems."
"Prentice relayed the information to Volney, feeding his anger." Howard took a sip of his wine.
"Was anyone else involved?" Tony asked.
"Only Volney and Prentice. Olson, Villegas, and the doctors downtown are angry at the legal profession, but they aren't homicidal. When we arrested Chamberlain for Valentine's murder, Prentice stayed quiet and allowed Chamberlain to take the rap. Then Prentice and Volney started planning the other murders to implicate Chamberlain further." Howard looked at Thorne. "Prentice enjoyed your being scared to death."
"I've never been more afraid in my life." Thorne squeezed Abigail's hand. "Also, Tony, to change the subject. The Carlson case is going to settle. My lawyer said you're off the hook. You don't have to worry about it anymore."
"Really? I guess Hoch will call me tomorrow. Why the change of heart?"
"Schmeck, as it happens, isn't bloodthirsty after all. She reviewed the case with her client. I don't know what transpired, but Schmeck contacted the defendants' counsels, yours included, and proposed a resolution."
"Maybe she appreciates our saving her life." Tony smiled when Jennifer squeezed his hand.
"I'm sure that's part of it." Thorne tapped the edge of his empty wineglass with his spoon. "Okay, now, listen up. I . . . we have an important announcement to make."
Everyone looked at the couple.
"We're getting married, Abby and I. Soon. She's agreed to marry me, even if I am a jail bird."
"I'll drink to that." Tony raised his hand to signal the waiter. "More wine, please. We have a lot to celebrate at this table."
The End
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
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