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Al s o by Al li s on le ot tA

Law of Attraction

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A l l i s o n l e ot tA

A TouchsTone Book

Published by simon & schuster New York London Toronto Sydney New Delhi

Touchstone A Division of simon & schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas new York, nY 10020 This book is a work of fiction. names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. copyright 2012 by Allison Leotta All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Touchstone subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, new York, nY 10020. First Touchstone hardcover edition July 2012 TouchsTone and colophon are registered trademarks of simon & schuster, Inc. For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact simon & schuster special sales at 1-866-506-1949 or business@simonandschuster.com. The simon & schuster speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the simon & schuster speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com. Designed by Renata Di Biase Manufactured in the united states of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of congress cataloging-in-Publication Data Leotta, Allison. Discretion / by Allison Leotta. p. cm. 1. Public prosecutorsWashington (D.c.)Fiction. 2. Prostitutes crimes againstFiction. 3. Political fiction. I. Title. Ps3612.e59D57 2012 813'.6dc23 2011046311 IsBn 978-1-4516-4484-5 IsBn 978-1-4516-4486-9 (ebook)

For my grandmother, Bertl Reis who taught me to keep asking questions

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ven now, caroline got nervous before every big joband this was bigger than most. she knew how to smile past smirking hotel concierges and apartment-building doormen who deliberately looked the other way. The key was looking confident. But committing a crime in the u.s. capitol was a different experience altogether. she tried to radiate authority as she strode up the marble steps to the capitols senate carriage entrance. It helped that she was dolled up like a successful k street lobbyist: ivory st. John suit, Manolo heels, hair painstakingly highlighted just the right shade of blond. Two men coming out of the portico murmured hello to her, and she smiled as if she greeted congressional staffers all the time. one staffer turned to watch her pass. his glance was appreciative but not shocked; she was young and beautiful, but she looked like she belonged in this world of high-octane political deal-making. Good. she stepped out of the muggy August twilight and into the airconditioned cool of the security vestibule. To calm herself, she concentrated on the feeling of lace garters skimming her thighs. This was one of the riskiest moments, so she arranged her face into its brightest smile. hello. she greeted the two capitol Police officers with cool professionalism. I have an appointment with congressman Lionel. her heart beat like hummingbird wings as she handed her ID to the officer sitting behind the counter. The guard just smiled as he cross-checked the ID against a paper on his clipboard. he scribbled something down and handed back her ID, along with a rectangular sticker that said visitor in red. Just stick that on your suit, maam. Your escort will be right down. caroline pressed the sticker onto her jacket as the second guard sent her Fendi bag through the X-ray machine. When she was on the

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other side of the metal detector, she took her purse off the beltand exhaled. she stood in the quiet entranceway, sensing the officers checking out her legs. The hallway was 1800s chic: mosaic floor, arched ceiling, black iron candelabras casting a golden glow on flesh-colored walls. shed heard that the capitol was one of the most haunted buildings in D.c., and she imagined the ghost of John Quincy Adams swirling through the corridor. Was it always so empty? This was a private back entrance reserved for congressmen, staffers, and VIP visitors whod been pre-cleared. And it was almost eight p.m. on a sunday. Most employees were home. still, she wished it were busier. A gangly young man rounded the corner. he wore an ill-fitting suit and sneakers, along with a smudge of tinted clearasil on his temple. An intern. Ms. McBride? Yes. Inwardly, she cringed at the sound of her real name, but she was an expert at keeping a serene face no matter what was in her head. Besides, the kid was harmless, in the way that only a young man wearing his first suit can be. his sleeves were too short, exposing two inches of pale, freckled wrists. he reminded caroline of her little brother, whom she adored. Im chester! congressman Lionels intern! I can take you up to his office! Thank you. she walked with him down the corridor. so what are you here to see the congressman about? constituent services. she smoothly changed tacks. What do you do for the congressman? Menwhatever their agewere always happy to talk about themselves. The intern enthusiastically described the process for answering congressional correspondence. We can send sixty different form letters, depending on what a constituent asked about! he stopped for a breath as they entered the most beautiful corridor caroline had ever seen. The hallway itself was a work of art. These are the Brumidi corridors, chester said in an excited stage whisper. originally painted in the eighteen hundreds. Most tourists dont get to see them.

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every inch of wall and arched ceiling was covered in elaborate paintings of American history. chester pointed to the figures of men sculpted into the railings of a bronze staircase. The Founding Fathers. he waved at a lunette painting above a wooden door. The Goddess of War. Despite herself, caroline was impressed. The clack of her heels echoed off the walls as they walked into a circular chamber, as large and ornate as a cathedral. she remembered coming here ten years ago, on a seventh-grade field trip. This was the Rotunda, the ceremonial heart of the capitol. she recognized some of the iconic canvases: the Declaration of Independence, the Landing of Columbus. The domed ceiling, 180 feet above, was covered with The Apotheosis of Washington, a fresco painting of the first President depicted as a god among angels. Wow, she whispered. For the first time that night, caroline had a real sense of the history of the place. It wasnt some TV backdrop. so much had happened in this building, so many famous people had made worldchanging decisions here. Who was she to be prancing through? she was a fraud. Then she noticed the paintings of revolutionary America. Among hundreds of soldiers, explorers, and men in white wigs... she saw only four women. of those, two were naked and on their knees. she felt better. some things never changed. she wasnt a fraud she was a constant. chester led her past a sign that said no visitors beyond this point. They went up a series of curved staircases and down some empty white corridors, then stopped in front of an unlabeled door tucked around a corner. heres the congressmans hideaway! she had no idea what a hideaway was. his personal office, the intern whispered. A little oasis. Where he can get away from the hustle-bustle. There didnt seem to be much hustle-bustle at this hour, but caroline understood the precaution. her prior appointments, at the congressmans regular office in the less glamorous Rayburn office

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Building, had caused difficulties. she was glad for the privacy this place afforded. chester pushed the door open and gestured for caroline to go in. he himself stood outside, as if fearful of crossing the threshold. The door clicked shut behind her. The hideaway was quiet and unoccupied. It looked more like a sitting room in a nice hotel than an office. The walls were deep maroon; the floors were covered in oriental rugs; a leather couch faced a white marble fireplace. Pictures of the congressman in action crowded every horizontal surface. An antique desk in the corner seemed less a place to work than a space for displaying more photos. A door at the back was open to a wide marble balcony overlooking the national Mall. carolines breath caught. The Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial were framed against a fiery sunset. It was a stunning view, better than a postcard. A man stood on the balcony, his elbows resting on the railing, his back to her. The sunset threw his figure into dark silhouette. she smoothed her skirt and ran a manicured hand through her hair. This was the part she liked best. she was good at itgreat, to be honest. she had a talent for it like nothing else shed ever tried. It gave her incredible satisfaction. she smiled and walked out to meet him.

A womans scream pierced the stillness of the capitol grounds. officer Jeff cook was on patrol on the capitol steps. hed been a capitol Police officer for twelve years, but hed never heard a scream like that around here. he put a hand on his holster and turned toward the sound. his eyes flicked over the scenery until they identified the source of the scream. Thereup the hillthe third-floor balcony of the capitols south wing. A man and woman locked in a jerky dance. cook couldnt make out the people, but he knew the geography: That was congressman Lionels hideaway. The couple lurched left, then right. The woman shrieked again. Then the man shoved her over the edge.

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The woman seemed to fall in slow motion, emitting an operatic wail the whole way down. Arms flailed in graceful circles, legs kicked in lazy swings, as she dropped past marble flourishes and arched doorways. A thud. And silence. shed landed on the marble terrace in front of the capitol. elegant for walking on, it was a disastrous place to fall. What would that slab of rock do to flesh and bones traveling at the speed of gravity? cook squinted back up at the balcony. The man was still up there; he peered over the balcony, then turned and disappeared inside. cook ran up the capitol steps.

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nna curtis and twenty other women stood in rows on the wooden floor, looking at their feet, at each other, anywhere but at the woman standing in front of them. The instructor stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling window, waiting with a fading smile. The gym was on the eleventh floor of the prosecutors office, overlooking the rooftops of Judiciary square. In the distance, the capitol towered with smug superiority behind the brutalist concrete slabs of local government buildings. Behind the women, lawyers on stationary bikes and deputy u.s. Marshals on weight machines watched to see what the class would do. Anna felt a growing sympathy for the instructor. Two weeks ago, an e-mail entitled Womens self-Defense had gone to everyone in the u.s. Attorneys office:

Ladies, learn to defend yourselves! The USAO gym is excited to announce a special class August 59 7:009:00 p.m. Led by Eva Youngblood, founder of StrikeBack DC!

A male attorney had replied to all, feigning outrage that men werent invited. The next day, the gym sent an apologetic follow-up. To clarify, the strikeBack class is not just for women. Anyone can be vulnerable and should learn to defend themselves. That sealed itnot a man showed up. Tonight was the first class. Many students, like Anna, were prosecutors in the sex crimes and Domestic Violence section. others were paralegals, victims advocates, secretaries, and prosecutors

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from other sections. Anna figured some were there because they really wanted to learn self-defense, but others just wanted to meet eva Youngblood in person. eva was the wife of city councilman Dylan Youngblood. The couple appeared regularly in the Posts Reliable source column and the Washingtonians society pages. They had achieved even more celebrity a few months ago, when Dylan announced he was challenging congressman emmett Lionel for D.c.s lone congressional seat. It was a position of power and influence on a national scale, but the post had particular significance for the men and women of the D.c. u.s. Attorneys office. The winner would recommend the next u.s. Attorneytheir boss. Rumor had it that Dylans pick would be Jack Bailey, the current homicide chief and his longtime friend. Many in the office planned to vote for Dylan just for that reason. Anna wanted bothto learn self-defense and meet eva. she had admired the fierce feminist advocate for a long time and was excited to take a class with her. eva didnt look so fierce in person, though. she was smaller than Anna had expected, maybe five-two. she was toned and tanned but seemed tiny before the crowd of silent women. nothing about her appearance suggested eva was a local luminary rather than just a thirty-seven-year-old aerobics instructor. Anna looked around at the class, hoping someone would volunteer. her fellow prosecutors were some of the toughest women shed ever met. They faced the citys most violent men on a daily basis. Yet despite their enthusiasm for the class and their willingness to sign a packet of waivers and consent forms, no one was stepping up. The instructors smile faded. Annas sympathy kicked into high gear. even for a woman like eva, it must be hard to stand up in front of a group like this. And this was Annas home turf. she felt a sort of good-citizen responsibility for things to go smoothly. she couldnt sit here while the woman floundered. Anna stepped forward. Ill be the guinea pig. evas smile returned as she gestured for Anna to join her on the mat at the front of the class. As Anna stood next to the instructor,

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she felt Amazonian. she could look right over evas head and see herself reflected in the mirror. They were an odd couple. eva was tiny, muscular, and dark-haired, wearing bright new Lululemon gym clothes. Anna was tall, lanky, and blond, in a faded blue tank top and black yoga pants so well loved they were fraying at the hem. evas face had the expertly made-up look of the after picture of a makeover. Anna, whose pre-class primping involved pulling her hair into a ponytail and applying chapstick, was closer to the before. Whats your name? eva asked. Anna curtis. Thanks for helping with our first lesson in self-defense. The instructor smiled and held out her hand. When Anna took it, evas fingers closed tightly around Annas palm. The instructor yanked Anna toward her, pivoted, and flipped Anna onto the ground. Annas back hit the mat with a thwack. The class buzzed with exclamations and laughter. Wow! howd she do that? Annas like six inches taller! Anna, are you okay? That was her best friend, Grace. Anna blinked up at the fluorescent panels. her flash of anger was eclipsed by a desire to learn that move. evas voice cut through the racket, loud enough to reach the nautilus machines at the back of the gym. Thats your first and most important lesson, ladies. she strode in front of Anna on the mat. never let your guard down! Anna didnt mind being the butt of a joke, but she could give as good as she got. And the opening was too perfect. she swept her foot out at evas ankle, knocking the instructors feet out from under her. eva tumbled to the mat with a yelp. Throughout the gym, weights froze midlift; elliptical machines halted midstride. The two womens heads were level, a few inches above the floor. Anna grinned at the instructor. nice to meet you? eva seemed to consider her options, then returned the smile. nice to meet you, too.

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They got to their feet, and eva stuck out her hand again. Anna made a show of exaggerated suspicion, then braced herself and took evas hand. It was just a handshake this time. so there you go! eva said, turning back to the class. Another demonstration of why you should never let your guard down! The students applauded. stairMasters whirred again; weights continued their up-and-down trajectories. Anna trotted back to her place with the other women in the class. her friend Grace, an elegant black woman in pink capris, said, Youre a natural on your back, kiddo. Anna smiled and rolled her neck in an attempt to get the kinks out. eva launched into an impassioned speech. Too many womens lives are ruled by fear. By taking this class, youll get confidence, independence, and the ability to stand up for yourself when you need to. Anna was skeptical that throwing students to the floor would inspire a feeling of confidence, but she hoped the instructor was right. As a prosecutor of sex crimes, Anna felt particularly vulnerable. Last year, a man she was prosecuting forced his way into her home, where theyd struggled until the police arrived. since then, Anna had been looking over her shoulder every time she walked down the street. she hated feeling that way. shed become a prosecutor in order to escape the sense of powerlessness shed had as a child. she needed to feel in control again. she needed to be able to kick some ass. eva had them all sit in a circle and then asked each woman to say why shed signed up for the class. Anna was surprised to hear her colleagues talk about abuse theyd suffered as children or as girlfriends. They all worked together, helping victims of similar incidents, but rarely talked about what theyd experienced themselves. Anna knew she shouldnt have been surprised. she rarely talked about the darkness in her own childhood. she hadnt planned to tonight, either. But after everyone else had shared their most private experiences, it felt cowardly to hedge when it was her turn. My father used to beat up my mom, Anna said. Its probably the reason I became a prosecutor.

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Grace patted her back, and the other women murmured support. Anna looked at the circle of sympathetic faces. The exercise had been cathartic for everyone. eva herself didnt share anything. Anna wondered whether the instructor had some trauma of her own that had led her to become a womens self-defense guru. eva stood up and started the first lesson. Anna expected to punch some foam pillows, but they spent the next hour learning about verbal deescalationthe art of defusing tense interactions with words. They practiced talking their way out of difficult situations with dates, coworkers, and strangers. It was less of a workout than Anna had expected, but a good idea. Many attacks started with verbal parrying. okay, ladies! eva called. Im going to teach you one series of moves tonight. You know the most common injury from a bar fight? Broken fingers, from punching with a closed fist. hit with the heel of your palm, and you wont hurt yourselfand you wont hold back because youre scared of hurting yourself. she showed them how to strike an attackers nose with the heel of a hand. The key was twisting from the torso, creating torque power from the core. Then she showed them how to grab an attacker by his shoulder, pull him close, and deliver a debilitating groin kick. It seems counterintuitive, eva said, but you have to go through your attacker. Dont run away until hes disabled. Pull him tight to your chest, so he cant get away when you kick his groin. hell bend over in pain, and you follow up with a knee to his head. eva had them practice on each other. Anna buddied up with Grace. To practice the groin kick, Grace pressed Anna against her, so they were chest to chest and hip to hip. You shouldve at least bought me a drink first, Anna whispered. They cracked up. Ill buy you a drink tonight. Grace loosened her grip on Annas shoulders. A bunch of us are going to Rosa Mexicano after this. Anna shook her head with regret. The women from their section always had a great time swapping war stories over pomegranate margaritas. sex-offense work was tough, and raucous happy hours were cheaper than therapy.

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I cant, Anna said. I promised to pick up dinner on the way home tonight. hes got you on a tight leash, huh? Grace was the only person who knew Anna had a boyfriend. no. Anna bristled. We just have plans. But there was a kernel of truth in Graces statement. The last time Anna came home at midnight with margaritas on her breath, her boyfriend had not been happy. he didnt like her to go out drinking when he had to be home with his daughter. Anna didnt want to mess up this relationship, so she hadnt gone out in a while. Anna softened her tone. have a margarita for me. Thats what you said last time everyone went out, Grace chided gently. And the time before that. Anna was surprised that her absence had been noted. she didnt want to be one of those women who disappeared when she got a new boyfriend. eva came over and eyed them disapprovingly. Anna and Grace were holding each other like two sixth-graders at a dance, hands on each others shoulders, standing an arms length apart. What are you waiting for? eva asked Grace. If this were an attack, your assailant wouldve dragged you to an alley by now. Right. Grace pulled Anna against her again and performed a mock groin kick. Anna bent over in pretend agony just as a musical ringtone went off. The theme song from COPS: Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? The entire class looked to the wall, where a dozen identical BlackBerries were lined up. Its mine, Anna said, slipping out of Graces grasp and trotting over. coward! Grace called. Anna picked up her phone. she used that ringtone only for calls from her boss, the chief of the sex crimes and Domestic Violence unit. But carla Martinez was in south carolina, teaching a course at the national Advocacy center. Why would she be calling at almost nine oclock at night?

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hi, carla? Anna, hello. carlas voice was harried but relieved. Ive been trying to reach you. I left you a message. Im sorry, Im at the gym. The locker room was right next to the national security section, where the lead-lined walls interfered with cell signals. how quickly can you get to the capitol Building? carla asked. Anna walked over to the tall window. she could see the top of the capitol dome, eight blocks away. I can be there in ten minutes. so much for dinner plans. Great. Ill explain while youre on your way. Get there as quickly as possible. carla cleared her throat. Preferably before Jack Bailey shows up.

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nna thought the capitol illuminated at night was the single most impressive sight in a city full of impressive sights. Tonight, however, the landmark was trussed up like any other crime scene. Yellow police tape cordoned off the white marble steps, and a haphazard layer of TV vans and police cruisers jammed the street. The night air retained the scent of baked asphalt and the sultry heat of the August afternoon. Anna was flushed from speed-walking over, but she tried to appear calm and official as she squeezed through the bystanders. she was glad shed changed out of her yoga clothes and into a spare black pantsuit she kept in her office. she held up her u.s. Attorneys office credentials, and an officer lifted the yellow tape. As she ducked under, a few reporters shouted questions at her back. she was not at liberty to answer them, even if she had the answers. she kept walking. The capitol sat atop one of the biggest hills in the city, and the landscaping around it was like a wedding cake, all white, scalloped, and multitiered. A fountain separated two sets of marble steps. she jogged up the closest one. she reached the top just in time to see Jack Bailey crest the other set of stairs. Jack was a tall African-American man with a cleanshaven head and light green eyes. his work ethic and courtroom skills had propelled him up the ranks in the u.s. Attorneys office. now, at only thirty-seven, he was the chief of the homicide section, one of the most coveted positions in the largest u.s. Attorneys office in the country. he usually favored dark suits, but tonight he wore jeans and a navy T-shirt with the Department of Justice seal on the pocket. hed been called here from home. so much for carlas hope that Anna get here first. Anna felt a rush of happiness to see Jack, though she was careful to project only the

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polite smile of a colleague. she greeted him in her most formal voice. hello, Jack. Jack laughed and shook his head when he saw her. hello, Anna. Did carla send you to stake a claim to this case? I was supposed to get here before you. An MPD officer passed them and chuckled. no fighting, you two. Flip a coin or something. The ongoing turf war between homicide and sex crimes was a joke to everyone outside the two sections. Anna and Jack walked to the capitols long rectangular south wing, where dozens of officers clustered on the brightly lit marble terrace. she saw uniforms from the Metropolitan Police Department, capitol Police, Park Police, secret service, and a few agencies she didnt recognize. D.c. had more separate police forces than any other American city. she and Jack navigated through the outer layer of police personnel. The closer they got to the center, the quieter the people were. There was an open space in the middle of the crowd, like the eye of a hurricane. Anna wended her way into it. A woman lay on her side on the white marble terrace, her arms splayed one way, legs bent the other. A pool of dark blood spread under her blond hair. her ivory skirt was hiked above her waist, revealing ivory garters. Ivory lace panties were bunched around her right knee. The panties had been ripped off her left leg and hung in tatters. The way her knees were angled, her bottom was bared to the onlookers. Anna wished she could cover the woman with a blanket. They have to wait for the medicolegal investigator, Jack said quietly. They cant move the body until shes been pronounced dead. Anna nodded. on the womans neck hung a delicate whitegold necklace with the name sasha scrolled in cursive. odd, Anna thought. one of the few facts carla had been able to tell her was that the victim had checked in to the capitol with a Georgetown student ID under the name of caroline McBride. The young womans face was turned to the side. she had alabaster skin and the finely carved profile of a Greek statue. she was about the same age, hair color, and build as Annas little sister, Jody. or Anna herself.

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Anna looked up at the balcony from which the woman had fallen. A Metropolitan Police Department officer was standing on it, looking down at the womans body. A few feet from Anna, an MPD crime-scene technician was taking photos of something glimmering near the womans head. A grayish-red dollop. Anna gagged and turned away, realizing it was a piece of the womans brain. shed handled some gruesome cases: injuries inflicted with razor blades, bullets, boiling oil. sex offenses committed on the most vulnerable victims. But this was the first time shed seen a murder victim at the scene. The muggy night seemed to press down on her; she felt unbearably hot and claustrophobic. Anna pushed her way back through the crowd. she made it to the railing at the edge of the terrace in time to retch over the side. she prayed she wasnt contaminating the crime sceneand that no one was watching. When her convulsions stopped, she kept gripping the rail. her legs were rubbery and her throat was raw, but mostly, she was mortified. The view ahead was beautiful. The Washington Monument shone like a beacon against the black sky, and beyond it, the Lincoln Memorial was a steady white square. Anna dug in her purse for one of the tissues she always carried; they were essential in a job where witnesses routinely broke into tears. now that she needed one herself, she was out. she searched for a crumpled starbucks napkin, a cVs receipt, anything. her hands shook. Anna. Jack stood beside her, offering a folded handkerchief. Thank you. As he placed the handkerchief in her palm, he gently squeezed her hand. she closed her eyes and concentrated on his cool grip. It steadied her. she took a deep breath and reluctantly pulled her hand away. she blotted her cheeks and wiped her mouth with his handkerchief. The cloth smelled of fresh peppermint. God, Im so embarrassed, she whispered. Is anyone laughing at me? no. his deep voice brokered no argument. everyone does that at their first homicide scene. she doubted that was true, but at least it was comforting. her

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hands stopped shaking enough for her to find a Life saver in her purse. she sucked on the mint and willed her stomach to settle down. she checked her lapels to make sure she hadnt spattered herself. she seemed clean. okay, lets do this. she turned back to the terrace and stuffed Jacks handkerchief into her purse so she could wash it before returning it. Jack nodded, and they walked to an MPD officer standing at an arched marble entranceway. hi, Frank, Jack said. can you show us where our victim fell from? Jack, hey! The officer was obviously delighted to see him. Jack had a loyal following among law enforcement. Follow me. The officer led them through the arched entrance into the capitol. They walked past a security vestibule and through a rabbits den of narrow white corridors. compared to the mugginess outside, the intense air-conditioning in the building felt like the inside of a meat locker. Anna shivered. The officer pointed up a curving staircase. Two flights up to the third floor. Turn left, the doors on your right. Jack thanked him, and the officer went back the way hed come. Anna followed Jack up the empty stairwell. When they got to the second-floor landing, Jack stopped and turned to her. he lay a hand on her cheek. You okay, sweetheart? he whispered. For a moment, she leaned in to his touch. she still felt queasy from the sight of the young woman on the terrace. Part of her wanted to rest her head on his chest and let his solid form blot out what shed seen. But anyone might see them. she pulled his hand away from her cheek. Im fine, she said. Youre pale. he reached for her. she stepped back quickly and raised a hand. not here, she whispered fiercely. no one besides Grace knew they were dating, and Anna intended to keep it that way. Jack sighed as he turned back to the stairs. At least that put some color back into your cheeks. They walked up the final flight of steps in silence. At the top, she pointed to a dark globe implanted in the ceiling.

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Pull the video? she said. Jack nodded. McGees on it. hes waiting for us. They rounded a corner and walked down the hallway until they came to a crowded vestibule in front of a single door. Anna could see even more activity inside the sumptuous office beyond the door capitol Police officers securing it as a crime scene. In the vestibule was Tavon McGee, a huge, dark-skinned homicide detective from the Metropolitan Police Department. Anna had worked with him on her biggest case, a domestic-violence prosecution that led to a homicide. McGee loved flashy suits, chili cheese fries, and a good joke. he was also very good at his job. The detective stood next to a beautiful dark-haired woman in a pantsuit. Anna saw the gold badge clipped to the front of her belt and the slight bulge of her suit jacket over a firearm at her side. some kind of federal agent. McGee and the female agent were interviewing an older AfricanAmerican man who sported a mane of salt-and-pepper hair, a dark suit, and a gold lapel pin with the house of Representatives crest. Anna instantly recognized him: emmett Lionel, the Districts Delegate to congress for the last thirty-one years. Because D.c. wasnt a state, Lionel didnt have a vote in national matters. Technically, he was a Delegate rather than a full-blown congressman, but everyone used the honorific. he was the citys most powerful local politician. Detective McGee greeted Jack and Annas arrival with a gaptoothed grin. he excused himself from the congressman, pocketed his little notebook, and walked over, putting his huge hands on both prosecutors shoulders. The cavalry has arrived! The homicide detective wore a beige five-button suit, a black shirt, and a tie with stripes of beige, black, and purple. A black fedora sat at a cocky angle on his head. McGee pointed his thumb at congressman Lionel and shook his head in disbelief. You know whose office this is? The Lions! he spoke at my Police Academy graduation twenty-two years ago. Jack nodded. Whats he saying? he was at some kinda reception downstairs, doesnt know how

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a girl came to fall from his balcony. But he was found coming down the stairway near his hideaway by a capitol Police officer running up to check it out. A booming voice interrupted. congressman Lionel! All heads turned to see a tall, dark-suited man striding up the hallway. Anna recognized Daniel Davenport, although shed never met him. every lawyer in D.c. had seen his silver hair and imperious gray eyes on the cover of bar journals and inside newspapers. At a thousand dollars an hour, Davenport had represented ceos and elected officials in the countrys most notorious white-collar criminal cases. It was said that in thirty years, none of his clients had gone to jailand his cases more often ended with the prosecutors facing charges for misconduct. If they got anything wrong tonight, Anna knew, Davenport would hammer them. Davenport walked between congressman Lionel and the female agent and whispered something in Lionels ear. Lionel took a step away from the agent and pointed to two men in suits who were being interviewed by MPD officers. stanley. Brett. come here, Davenport commanded. The two men looked nervously from him to the police officers questioning them. Right now! The men complied like puppies being called to their owner. Jack walked toward Davenport, with Anna and McGee flanking him. hello, Daniel, Jack said. nice to see you. Whats going on here? Good evening, Jack. I represent the congressman. he and his staff would love to answer these officers questions, but I simply cant allow that until I know more about whats happened. You dont represent the staffers, Jack said, inclining his head toward the men in suits. The congressmans office will be paying for their representation. I think youll find they will not consent to be interviewed outside the presence of their lawyers. They can speak for themselves. Jack turned to the men, who stood a few feet behind Davenport. Both appeared to be in their forties but had little else in common.

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The shorter staffer stepped forward. he was African-American, fat, and bowlegged, with a chest puffed out with the pompousness of a miniature bulldog. his shirt was rumpled, and a spot that looked like ketchup marred his tie. he put his hands on his hips. Im stanley Potter, congressman Lionels chief of staff. As Mr. Davenport said, well be happy to cooperateonce weve had a chance to talk to our lawyers. Potter elbowed the taller white man standing next to him. The man said, Brett Vale, Legislative Director. Ditto what stanley said. If Potter was a bulldog, Vale was a greyhound. Good-looking in a wonkish way, with a sharp face and the leanness of a daily runner. he wore an impeccably pressed gray suit and had slicked his prematurely gray hair back against his head. stylish silver glasses framed blue eyes so light they seemed almost transparent. The congressman himself didnt say anything. his lawyer must have told him to keep his mouth shut. he stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking distinguished and contemplative. But Anna could see the sweat beading his salt-and-pepper hairline despite the arctic air-conditioning. she was disappointed in him. It was his right not to talk to the police, but she expected better from a public official. You have their contact information, and heres mine. Davenport handed Jack his business card. Id ask that you let these men go home. Go home! Theyre suspects in a criminal case, said the female agent. shed come over to stand next to Jack. The chief of staff puffed up his chest even further. The Legislative Director regarded her with icy disdain. The congressman looked sick. Davenport took a step forward so that he was standing between them and the agent. Thats precisely the reason they wont consent to be interviewed, Davenport said. unless youre arresting them for something, youve got no grounds to keep them here. And Im sorry, but you are who? samantha Randazzo. FBI, Violent crime squad. The agent put her hands on her hips, which drew back her jacket and exposed the Glock holstered behind her badge. she was in her early thirties, slim

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and athletic. her heels were a little higherand her black pantsuit a little tighterthan the average cops. curly black hair spiraled past her shoulders. she turned to Jack. Any grounds to arrest them as material witnesses? Anna shook her head and saw Jack doing the same. It would be convenient to haul everybody into the police station and force them to answer questions, but that wasnt how the system worked. Without probable cause to believe that one of the men had committed a crime, or proof that they had material evidence and would flee to avoid testifying, there was no legal basis to detain them. The police could take the names of everyone in the building, but they couldnt keep them locked in. Jack turned to the congressman and his staffers. Youre not under arrest. But Detective McGee will give you subpoenas to appear in the grand jury tomorrow. Too soon, Davenport said. Theyll need time to meet with counsel to decide whether to waive any Fifth Amendment privileges. he knew exactly what to say to delay things, Anna noted with equal parts admiration and annoyance. Tuesday, then, Jack said. he looked at the men in suits. Two days is enough. If you leave town while youre under subpoena, Ill send the u.s. Marshals to collect you. The congressman and his two staffers nodded. But Davenport wasnt finished. he pointed to the police officers in the hideaway. now we need to prevent these overeager officers from violating the constitution and compromising their own investigation. Please tell these well-meaning men and women that the speech or Debate clause requires them to leave my clients office. Theyre securing a crime scene, Jack said. There could be more victims in there, or even the assailant. There are half a dozen officers in there, Davenport said. even they would have found another victim by now. Theyve swept the office, so there are no exigent circumstances. now theyre merely intruding on my clients constitutional rights. Those are just capitol Police, McGee said. We still need to process this as a homicide scene.

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no, Davenport said. Youve read the Jefferson case? I can see you havent. suffice it to say that any items you seize from my clients legislative office will be suppressed, and if those officers dont leave right now, you all risk being sanctioned. everyone in the u.s. Attorneys office had heard the basics of the Jefferson casethe FBI had found ninety thousand dollars in a congressmans home freezer, but because of the speech or Debate clause, they werent allowed to search his office. The specifics of this esoteric corner of the constitution were the province of federal political-corruption prosecutors. Anna was certain that in thirteen years of murder cases, Jack had never run across the issue. he looked worried, an expression Anna rarely saw on the confident homicide chiefs face. Annas youth was actually an advantage here. As a student at harvard Law school, shed studied the Jefferson decision. she knew Davenport was right. can I talk to you for a minute? she asked Jack. Davenport looked surprised that the young pup was interrupting the big dogs. But Jack nodded to Anna and motioned for McGee and samantha to join them. The four of them went around the corner and stood in a huddle. he has a point, Anna said softly. Theres only been one search of a congressmans office in all of American historyand the appeals court held it to be illegal. The speech or Debate clause protects legislators from interference by the executive Branch, even when looking for evidence of a crime. McGee looked incredulous. You mean a congressman can kill somebody just as long as he does it in his office? no, he doesnt get a pass. he can be prosecuted, but not with evidence arising from his legislative activity. Its about separation of powers between the branches of government. In Jefferson, the FBI walled off the prosecution team from the search team, but the court of Appeals still held the search to be illegal. If we search his office and disturb his legislative papers, anything we find could be suppressed. What if theres blood or fingerprints on his papers? samantha demanded.

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Anna turned to McGee. Will blood or fingerprints degrade overnight? no. Lets call the judge in chambers, Anna said. We can apply for a warrant tonight. even if the judge wants to hold a hearing, we could probably be in court before seven tomorrow morning. McGee frowned but nodded. he wasnt happy about the delay, but hed defer to Anna on the legal issue. But samantha looked furious. Theres no reason to wait. Throwing someone from a balcony is not a legislative act. Any judge will let us go in there and process the crime scene. The strength of the agents reaction made Anna pause. Was she being too cautious because of the scandal shed gone through last year? she hoped not. I think youre right, she said. But its worth waiting a few hours to make sure we can keep the evidence we find. The killer could be gone in eight hours, samantha snapped. Anna narrowed her eyes. This agent was getting on her nerves. All right. Jack stepped between the two women and held up his hands. Well do this with a warrant and a judges signature. Ill call the judge in chambers. shell probably let Davenport file something and hold a hearing in the morning. Meanwhile, well post MPD officers outside the office. Anna nodded. I can brief the speech or Debate clause for the warrant application. Dont work all night, Jack said. You need some sleep if youre going to argue this tomorrow. Youre letting her argue the motion? samantha asked Jack. I dont know the speech or Debate clause, Jack said, and Anna does. shell get the warrant, and the police will be back in there to do a search by midmorning. If notsamantha glared at Annawell know who to blame.

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icole laughed like it was the funniest thing shed ever heard. It allowed her to tip back her head, exposing the curve of her neck and pushing her breasts farther out of her little black dress. she squirmed as if in uncontrollable delight on Toms lapor was it Tim? oh well, it hardly mattered. What mattered was that she could feel his erection straining desperately through his pants. he was ready to go. she glanced toward the doors leading to the bedrooms. Both were closed, so shed have to wait her turn. not exactly a hardship. she lifted two champagne flutes from the coffee table and handed one to Tom (or Tim), who took it with a wondrous smile. he looked like a kid whod received a pony and a shiny red bicycle for his birthday. she clinked her glass against his. cheers. she savored the cristal, letting the tiny bubbles linger on her tongue. she didnt get to party like this much nowadays. They sat on a couch in an opulent suite at the Willard. More cristal cooled in buckets on the sideboard. The men were well dressed, well groomed, and well behaved. Auto execs from Detroit or something like that. so what if they were a little bland and round in the middle? This was the best gig shed had in a while. Belinda danced between two men by the bar as sinatra crooned from the speakers. The women wouldve preferred Jay-Z, but they knew their audience. The middle-aged men werent natural dancers but were happy for an excuse to run their hands over the beautiful woman. Belinda was a gorgeous chinese-American woman with dark hair floating past her shoulder blades. she wore a dress that shimmered like it was made of liquid mercury. one guy held Belindas hips; the other stroked her ass. nicole caught Belindas eyes and lifted her glass in salute. Thank you, nicole mouthed. Belinda was the one whod included her in the party.

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Belinda smiled, then leaned back to kiss the man behind her. The man in front skimmed his hands up her torso and caressed her nipples through her shimmery dress. she murmured like she was loving it. The men glanced at each other over Belindas head. They were wondering how far this could go. nicole knew. If they continued to show interest in the arrangement, Belinda would lead them both to a bedroom and take one in her mouth while the other took her from behind. The men would go back to Michigan thinking they were sexual conquistadors, boldly exploring uncharted lands. They had no idea. nicole glanced at Bill, the lobbyist lounging in a leather chair. he appeared satisfied, and that was what mattered. he was picking up the tab. Thank God for lobbyists. The auto execs might not even realize the girls were escorts, although theyd have to be pretty dense. But Bill was a pro, and he was trying to land their company as a client. If he succeeded, they would pay Bill exorbitant fees so he could use every means at his disposalincluding girls like nicoleto persuade certain politicians to pass laws allowing higher emissions, fewer miles per gallon, that sort of thing. nicole wondered if anything would get done in Washington without professionals like her to lubricate the joints of power. Bill pulled a smart silver case from his breast pocket and set it up on the coffee table. A mirror, a razor, a heap of white powder. he cut the powder into generous lines, rolled a crisp twenty into a straw, and called to the dancing threesome. The two men and Belinda each had a bump, then Bill pushed the mirror toward nicole. she wanted a line so bad her eyes itched. she loved the white stuff. she loved it so much that last week shed blown her nose and found a chunk of bloody cartilage in the tissue. After she was done freaking out, shed called a friend, who told her not to worry, it happened to everybody. It was her septum, the internal wall that separated her two nostrils. Too much cocaine had eaten it away. There was nothing she could do about it, but she couldnt snort anymore. so shed started freebasing. In fact, shed smoked a rock in the ladies room of the Willards

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lobby right before coming up here. she obviously couldnt freebase at a party like this; itd be like riding a donkey at a polo match. her midwestern clients might not draw the subtle but important distinction between freebasing and smoking crack. crack was for ghetto dwellers only; freebasing was a perfectly acceptable part of the high life. she knew they looked pretty much the same. nicole shook her head at Bill. no thanks, sweetie. Ironically, she felt all prim and proper declining the coke. she felt like the girl in an afternoon special who just said no, the goody-goody A-student, the all-American golden girl. she felt like caroline. Bill shrugged and hoovered a line himself. one of the bedroom doors opened, and a girl walked out with another dazed exec. nicole snuggled closer to Tim (or Tom), pressing her thighs into his erection and stroking his thinning hair. she grazed his ear with her lips and whispered, I want to show you something. her eyes flicked toward the bedroom door. his eyes followed. Desire and fear fought a battle on his face. his thumb instinctively tapped his wedding band, and he was perfectly still for a moment. Then he chugged the rest of his champagne and nodded. chalk one up for desire. she led him by the hand into the bedroom. one of the other men hooted. nicole shut and locked the door. A flat-screen TV, muted, provided the only illumination. Good. You wanted the room dark enough to hide imperfections but light enough to allow the visuals that would move things along. The girl before her had remade the bed, so the room looked fresh and new. nicole had to hand it to Belinda. she ran a tight freelance operation. nicole sidled up to the exec. Youre so hot, she murmured, smiling through the lie. she kissed his neck, pungent with the scent of cigar smoke, red meat, and scotch. The men had apparently gone to a steak house before this. she removed his clothes with skillful efficiency, gently nipping the parts that she was baring. he was naked in under two minutes, pale and pudgy as the Pillsbury Doughboy. That was par for the course. she turned and gathered her long brown hair on top of her head. can you get this for me, honey? he fumbled with the zipper on

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her back. When he finally got it, she let the dress fall to the ground. he inhaled sharply, which she appreciated. she worked hard to have a body that caused that reaction. With the dress off, nicole wore black stilettos, a black bra and thong, a long string of pearls, and a delicate white-gold necklace with the name Bethany in cursive. shed been told to return the necklace when she was fired, but fuck that. shed earned it. she arched her back and rubbed her buttocks against him. he was erect as a double-A battery. Good. some women wanted size or stamina, but in nicoles profession, the smaller and quicker, the better. You didnt want to get sore, and you didnt want to have to work for hours, grinding and licking and ooh-babying, to close the deal. she turned, ran bloodred fingernails down his squishy chest, and pushed him onto the bed. In other circumstances, she might have lingered over him more. The goal of every escort was to secure steady clients. each new trick presented unknown challenges and dangers. There was less risk and better compensation if you could get a steady book of business. Regular customers were good. Getting set up in an apartment was better. Marriage was the ultimate goal. Girls who actually married johns were legends, often talked about and much analyzed, but with their true stories warped by time and exaggeration. nicole knew that marrying a client was as rare as winning the lottery, but that didnt stop her from buying tickets and hoping. she knew she had a limited shelf life. Today, at twenty-two years old, she could command up to five thousand a night, although circumstances had forced her to take much less lately. That kind of cash wouldnt even be a possibility in her thirties. Tick-tock. nicole was constantly on the lookout for Prince charming or, if his white horse didnt gallop over the horizon right quick, Prince charming enough. Tom (or Tim) wasnt that guy. Married men could be fabulous clients: undemanding, apologetic, grateful. But he was from out of town, so he wouldnt be a regular. And there was no way this midlevel auto exec had enough money to keep a girl the way nicole wanted to be kept. she didnt need to make him feel like he couldnt

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live without her. he just needed to have a good time and tell Bill. Quick and easy would do. she pushed him back against the pillows and unclasped her lacy bra. My, my, my. he sighed, cupping one of her bare breasts. You are a beautiful little girl. something about the way he said it reminded her of Larry. she hadnt planned to, but she leaned down and kissed his doughy mouth. she wanted to show him how good she was. she took the string of pearls off her neck: this was her specialty. caroline was always going on about the girlfriend experience. unless you were willing to service the fetishes, the girlfriend experience was where the money was made these days. It was about more than sex. You had to make the client feel like he was having the best date of his life. chat, laugh, really listen. Act as if he were the most interesting person youd ever met. Give the impression that being with him was the place youd most like to be on earth, even if you werent getting a wad of cash to do it. That was why caroline was so damn successful. she wasnt that much prettier than nicole. she just had a way of connecting with people, making them feel happy and wanted. For a while, nicole had tried to compete with that, but it wasnt her thing. Instead, shed mastered a few technical flourishes that kept her in the game. she focused on the sliver of his body that was the core of her business and wrapped her string of pearls around it, starting at the bottom and winding around until everything but the head was wrapped in luminescent beads. he watched with wide eyes. Dont worry, she giggled. Grasping the cylinder of pearls, she stroked up and down the shaft. simultaneously, she took the head in her mouth. clients told her this was a sensation unlike any other. she watched the mans face as her tongue traced his circumference. his eyes rolled back in his head; his mouth gaped like a carp; his hands grasped the sheets in a death grip. he either loved this or he was having a heart attack. God, youre good, he gasped. okay, he loved it. she increased the tempo and pressure. To be honest, nicole thought this was a cheap trick. But something about the pearls

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convinced clients they were getting a high-class service. As an act, it was actually easier than many options. The mans soft belly pressed against her forehead as he writhed. she breathed through her nose, wondered how long it would take, and angled herself so she could watch the TV as she worked. It was tuned to the news. A reporter stood in front of the u.s. capitol, surrounded by flashing police cruisers and yellow tape. he spoke gravely into his microphone. nicole couldnt hear what he was saying, but she read the banner across the bottom of the screen: woman falls from office of cong. emmett lionel (d-dc) at u.s. capitol. nicole stopped what she was doing. she sat up and stared at the TV, wiping a string of saliva from her mouth. Dont stop, the man gasped. he tried to pull her head back down, but she ducked out of his grasp. Wheres the remote? she demanded. he looked disoriented. she clambered off the bed and ran to the TV. It was one of those smooth, flat rectangles that didnt seem to have any buttons. she searched frantically around the room. Finally, she found the remote control in the nightstand drawer. she turned up the volume. ... police have not yet released the identity of the woman who died after plummeting from the third-floor balcony of congressman emmett Lionels hideaway at around eight p.m. tonight. congressman Lionels office has no comment at this time. nicole stared at the TV in horror. Please, honey, Im so close. The man reached for her, panting like he was in pain. he looked ridiculous, naked with only her pearls covering his member. she grabbed the cordless hotel phone and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. standing by the marble Jacuzzi, she punched in carolines number and prayed for an answer. It rang, then went to voice mail. she tried again. This time it went straight to voice mail. Are you okay? Tim (or Tom) banged on the door. hey, whats going on?

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nicole sank down on the edge of the tub. she tried to think of someone she could call, anyone who could help her, advise her, or just tell her everything was going to be all right. There was no one. she pulled her knees tight to her bare chest and hugged herself. she was shaking. What had she done?