“Is there any news about my friend Mary?”
“No, nothing.” Karen looked away, which Bennie took as a bad sign. Every time a jury returned with a losing verdict, they always looked away when they came back into the courtroom. Every lawyer knew it. It was a juror tell.
“Would you let me know if there’s anything I should know?”
“Yes, of course.” Karen handed her a smartphone. “You asked for a phone? You can use mine.”
“Oh, thank you.” Bennie accepted the smartphone, grateful. The screen had a picture of a corgi in a cart. “Poor little guy.”
“She’s fine. She drives better than most people.”
“Thank you, I won’t be long.” Bennie wanted to call Declan and Detective Lindenhurst, but she wasn’t sure whom to call first.
“Good, because there are a few policemen outside who want to speak with you.”
“The local cops? I spoke with them already and I asked them to contact the Philadelphia police.”
“They did but they just want to check one or two things with you.”
“Okay, I need to make two calls. I’ll keep it short.”
“Sure, okay. Just come out when you’re finished and I’ll have your discharge papers ready.”
“Thanks.” Bennie scrolled to the phone function, hesitated, then made the first call.
“Babe, are you okay?” Declan asked, alarmed. “I’ve been calling and texting. Anthony’s been calling Mary. We heard you left the hospital together. We’re both worried. Her family—”
“I’m okay and so is Mary.” Bennie felt so good to hear his voice. Emotions welled up from somewhere behind her cracked ribs, but she didn’t want to give in to them right now, when she had so much to do. “This was as soon as I could get to a phone.”
“Where are you? What happened?”
“I don’t have time to fill you in now.”
“Give me the headline.”
“We figured out who killed Todd and framed Simon. It was a conspiracy.”
“Are you serious?”
“They tried to kill us but they couldn’t.”
“What? Oh my God, are you hurt? Is Mary?”
“I’m fine. I’ll keep you posted but I’m worried Mary has a head injury. She’s in the examination room now.”
“Oh no,” Declan said, hushed. “Should I tell Anthony?”
“Yes, and I’ll call as soon as I know more.”
“Who killed Todd? Where are they? Were they arrested?”
“Two are dead, one survived.” Bennie felt her stomach twist. She took no pleasure in killing Mo. She never would’ve done it but to defend herself and Mary.
“How did that happen?”
“I’ll tell you another time.” Bennie didn’t want to elaborate now. “I have to call the Philly police, brief them, and try to convince them to release Simon.”
“Okay, so where are you?”
“I’m at a hospital in the boondocks. If it had more activity, there would be reporters, so there’s a silver lining.” Bennie realized she couldn’t wait to see Declan. She just wanted to bury her head in his chest and feel his arms around her. She wanted to feel safe again. “Where are you?”
“I’m outside Philly on my way to CHOP.”
“You’re not home?”
“No, I left as soon as Anthony called me. He can’t reach Mary.”
“Thanks,” Bennie said, touched. She felt tightness in her chest again and chalked it up to recent injuries, if not true love.
“Do you want me to come to you?”
“No, thanks. I gotta go call the cops. I love you.”
“Babe, I love you too. I’m sorry we fought.”
“Me too. Call you later.”
“Love you, bye.” Declan ended the call, and so did Bennie. She exhaled, got her emotional act together, then dialed the number for the Homicide Division, which she unfortunately knew by heart.
“This is Bennie Rosato, can you put me through to Detective Lindenhurst?” she asked, and she was put through immediately.
“This is Lindenhurst. Bennie, I’ve been expecting your call.”
“Did the local police contact you?”
“Yes, they did. They briefed me.”
“Have you released Simon?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not? The charges should be dropped. He didn’t commit the murder.”
“I can’t do that without a statement from you and Mary, in addition to our own investigation. We understand one of the suspects, Ray Matewicz, is alive. We need to talk to him.”
“You may have heard that Mary was very seriously injured. She’s in no shape to give a statement. I can give a statement for us both.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Detective Lindenhurst’s tone changed. “I like Mary very much.”
“She’ll be fine,” Bennie said, unsure if she was trying to convince him or herself. “Detective, if you’ve spoken with the locals you have more than enough information to release Simon. You don’t need to wait for Ray.”
“I’m afraid that’s not true. We have procedures to follow. I have to speak with the ADA and the DA.”
“Simon has a sick child and he needs to be with her. She needs her father. Her grandfather had a heart attack. I’m not going to stand around while you drag your feet.”
“I understand your position. We have to follow procedures and complete our investigation. We need you to come down and make a statement.”
“I already gave it to the locals. I told them everything. Can’t you get it from them?”
“No. We need one of our own. We need you to come down to the Roundhouse.”
“Why? I’m staying with Mary. I’m not leaving her. If you really need a statement, I can give it now, by phone.”
“We have procedures. After we have all our i’s dotted—”
“Release him,” Bennie said, beginning to get angry.
“We can’t do that. We just can’t open the door and let him out—”
“Yes you can, and you damn well better.” Bennie felt her temper give way, even if it wasn’t completely lawyerly. “Simon Pensiera is an innocent man. He was wrongly charged for murder by you. The men who killed Todd tried to kill me and Mary tonight. Is that enough for you? How much proof do you need?”
“Bennie, relax and—”
“Don’t you dare tell me to relax!” Bennie had never interrupted anyone so much. She was turning into Mary and she liked it. “If anything happens to Simon’s daughter while he’s wrongly in your custody, I will sue you personally, I will sue everybody in the Homicide Division, and I will sue the city of Philadelphia!”
“Wait, hold on—”
“No, you hold on!” Bennie exploded, taking out all of her rage and frustration on Detective Lindenhurst, which was his own damn fault. “I will garnish every cent you make until the day you retire and then I’ll take your pension! I will take your house and I will take your car! Do you hear me? I will not permit you to imprison my client when you know full well that he’s innocent! What part of I-will-ruin-you don’t you understand?”
“Bennie?” Karen called from the curtain, and Bennie didn’t know how long she’d been standing there.
“Karen, sorry.” Bennie covered the phone with her hand. “Was I making too much noise?”
“No, that’s not it.” Karen’s face fell. “Mary’s being Medevac’d to University of Penn Hospital in Philly.”
“Why?” Bennie asked, her heart aching.