“I don’t understand. What are you playing at?”
“I’m going away, Amanda.”
“To where? Why? What’s happened?”
“I can’t tell you. At least, not yet. I just need to know if you can take them.”
“Well, frankly, no, I can’t. My life simply isn’t set up to have children at home. And to be quite honest, I’m not sure I am either. And I’d like to know what this is all about. I think I’m owed that much.”
“You sure are. I’ll call you back, Amanda, when I can, and when I can tell you.”
When they had hung up, Sam paced the room, mentally debating who would be the best guardian for his children. Adeline was technically already over the age of majority in the State of Nevada. But she couldn’t reasonably adopt Ryan, or raise him. Sam couldn’t ask her to do that. And she was still enrolled in college.
His first thought was Elliott, but the more he thought about it, the less he liked that idea.
A knock at the door brought him out of the mental debate, and Sam found Levy and Tom waiting outside.
When they were seated, Levy said, “We have an agreement with the DA—in principle. Our offered account agrees with their evidence, and I think, between you and me, they also would rather avoid a trial.”
“So what happens now?”
“They want to see the exact text of the confession before they’ll formally make an offer. Then you’ll sign it.”
Levy took out his laptop, and the three of them worked on the language until they were satisfied.
When they were done, Sam made one last request. “I need to see Dani.”
“I’ll tell her,” Tom said.
As the two attorneys were leaving, Levy paused. “With my clientele, I see some pretty strange cases. But once I get the whole picture and study it long enough, it makes sense, even the crazy things people do. But I’ve been trying to get my head around this one, Sam, and I can’t.”
“Maybe it will one day. If you give it enough time.”
ELEVEN
Daniele sat across from Sam, a somber look on her face.
He inhaled and said the words he dreaded saying.
“I’ve confessed to Nora’s murder.”
In his mind, Sam had imagined a number of reactions from Daniele. Shock. Rage. Confusion.
He saw the last thing he expected: nothing. Daniele didn’t react at all.
“Who told you?” Sam asked.
“Elliott called me. He was drunk. And enraged. He wants me to talk you out of it.”
“It’s already done.”
Daniele nodded.
“Are you going to ask me if I actually did it?”
“I don’t need to. I already know the answer.”
Sam had wondered how she would take his confession. Her, and his other friends and colleagues. It was one thing to be accused of a crime. It was another to confess.
Her reaction was a relief, knowing that even if he was convicted, it wouldn’t change her mind about him.
“Do you know why I asked you here?”
Daniele nodded. “I do. But tell me anyway.”
“When I’m gone…” Sam swallowed. “I need someone to take care of Adeline and Ryan, to provide a home, and watch out for them, and serve as a legal guardian for Ryan.”
Daniele waited, and Sam continued, “We don’t have any family—none that can take them. I thought about asking Elliott, but he drinks too much. He works too much. And I think…” Sam clenched his teeth.
“You think he might have done it,” Daniele said, sparing him from having to say it—which Sam was thankful for.
“What about Constance?” Daniele asked.
“She’s too sick. And Hiro, well, I think he’s still struggling with his… problem.”
“My answer is yes, Sam. I promise you, I’ll do my very best to care for them the same way you and Sarah would have.”
“I know you will. You know you were always very special to Sarah. Almost like a daughter to her.”
After a pause, he said, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Anything.”
“Why didn’t you ever get married?”
Daniele shrugged. “Work mostly. There was never enough room for what I knew I had to do and someone else.”
Sam rose, assuming the meeting was over, but Daniele held up a hand. “Sam.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“We’re wasting time.”
“Wasting time?”
“We need to be working on the only thing that matters now.”