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Lily, Bartā€”you made it happen.ā€

That was sweet vindication, from a man who didnā€™t think women investigators had a place outside an office. Maybe Wukowski was rethinking that aspect of my life. ā€œIā€™m glad to know that,ā€ I told him. ā€œBut donā€™t forget the one who really started everything. Adriana could have taken the money without asking any questions. She put everything in motion, because she didnā€™t want a tainted inheritance. And now, her innate honesty and sense of rightness have cost her.ā€

ā€œI hate to say it, but I see it all the time. Someone does the right thing and it comes back to bite them. While lowlifes get away withā€¦murder.ā€

I could hear the exasperation and frustration in his voice. ā€œRemember what you said during the Morano case? ā€˜Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows,ā€™ā€ I reminded him.

ā€œYeah. And I believe that. Itā€™s just that, sometimes, the payback isnā€™t fast enough or drastic enough to suit me. I guess itā€™s a good thing Iā€™m not the judge or jury.ā€

ā€œIā€™d have to agree on thatā€”for myself, too. But, caro, youā€™re probably the most decent man I know.ā€

Wukowski said it would be best if we didnā€™t see each other until Petrovitchā€™s arraignment. He didnā€™t want our relationship to be the cause of issues with the case.

Our relationship? I wondered exactly what that relationship was. But there would be time for us to work that out later. Right now, I had calls to make and people to see, starting with Adriana.

Chapter 29

It only takes bad leadership for a country to go up in flames, for people of different ethnicity, color, or religion to kill each other as if they had nothing in common whatsoever.

ā€”Savo Heleta

I called Bart first, to find out what went down at police headquarters. He assured me that they treated Adriana gently, as a witness for the prosecution. Her only cause for upset was the reality of ā€œUncle Hermanā€™sā€ heinous crimes and the revelation of her parentsā€™ involvement. He gave me the green light to call Bram and set up a meeting with Adriana. ā€œBut Angie, the news vultures are all over this. You and Bobbie are already targets, because of the film at the truck stop. Itā€™ll be worse now.ā€

ā€œIā€™ll deal,ā€ I told him. ā€œTheyā€™ll give up once they realize Iā€™m not making statements or giving interviews. Iā€™ll just refer them to you,ā€ I said with a lilt in my voice.

ā€œThanks,ā€ he rasped back. There was no missing the irony in his.

After we hung up, I called Bram.

ā€œMiss A is with Spider and his family,ā€ he said. ā€œIā€™m on guard duty at your condo. I agree with Bart that there should be no problem with a meeting, now that theā€¦stuff has hit the fan. Thereā€™s no reason to muzzle anyone now. In fact, Adriana can probably come out of hiding, although I still think she needs personal protection, just to keep the news hounds at bay.ā€

ā€œSo itā€™s okay if I leave the building without supervision?ā€

ā€œYes. Unless you want some help with the reporters.ā€

I thought about it and decided that the sooner I started the ā€œno commentā€ process, the sooner theyā€™d tire of it and leave me alone. Bram and I agreed to meet at the UWM library at one oā€™clock, for a trip to Adrianaā€™s safe place.

Before the news broke, I had to talk with Rua Kolar. Petrovitchā€™s perfidy was just a story to us, albeit an awful story. It was Ruaā€™s life. I couldnā€™t let her hear it on the news.

I spoke with Lily next. She, too, was taken aback when she heard the scope of Petrovitchā€™s crimes. When I asked if sheā€™d arrange a meeting with Rua, she said, ā€œYes. She needs to hear this in person. Iā€™ll call her and get back to you.ā€ She paused. ā€œI think Colonel Lewis should sit in, too. Rua knows him and respects him for his service in Bosnia. Heā€™ll be able to reassure her about the Tribunal process.ā€ In fifteen minutes, she had the meeting set up at the library for eleven-thirty. Bobbie planned to get a ride home from Bram and would then meet me at the library after my talk with Rua.

It was now ten-fifteen. I set out my clothes, took a quick shower and completed the usual rituals. I was sore, but much better than yesterday. Once dressed, my full length mirror reflected a woman ready for a funeral, in a black Anne Klein pantsuit with a lacy black camisole underneath. Rather than adding to the heaviness, I wanted my clothes to reflect the hope of justice delivered, even if deferred. I switched out the black cami for a cream-colored blouse with satin piping around the crew neck. A chunky turquoise choker and black Ferragamo pumps with a grosgrain ribbon finished the look.

It felt good to ease into the Miata and drive. So far, there was no snow on the ground, nor was any forecasted. I savored the freedom of cruising down Lake Drive, with the sun shining and Lake Michigan a rich blue. It was good to be free of constant protection and the stalking danger of the last week.

I met Lily in the same conference room we used to interview Rua the first time, only last Thursday. So much had happened since then. How would I tell her about Petrovitch and his scheme without adding to her trauma? I finally decided that there was no way to make this easy. I would have to tell the truth and just be there if she needed help. Presence, Aunt Terry once told me when I asked her what she said to the many people she comforted, is sometimes all we can offer and is sometimes all that is needed. I hoped that Rua would allow Lily and me to give her the gift of presence.

ā€œYou want to tell her?ā€ I asked Lily as we sat down.

ā€œNo. I think you need to do it. Iā€™m just a bystander.ā€

I snorted.

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