“She did sound pretty evil. It might not be anybody who was at the fundraiser though. There are a lot of strange people out there. Remember that article in the Times you told me about — the one that sounded like a conspiracy theory? What if it’s someone who buys into that stuff?”

“The gossipy magazines that covered the fundraiser in detail haven’t come out yet and I don’t think that the coverage in the papers was very specific. That was really all about the Foundation. So it’s not really public knowledge that we’re even dating. It’s just a hunch, but I feel like it was one of those three.”

“Maybe you should report it to the police.”

“Not yet. I can’t mention that I suspect anybody.”

“Why not?”

“I can’t go around accusing a state representative of doing something like this without any proof, and I think that the Masons are big financial supporters of the Pierce family foundation. I don’t want to risk alienating them based on some dirty looks. As for Marla, her family is wealthy and well-connected and I don’t want anyone to get sued. ”

“Fine, but you should still tell the police. Maybe you should tell your dad, too.”

“It would just worry him and he would want to buy us a Pit Bull or hire me a bodyguard or something. My parents worry about me enough. Actually, I have something else in mind, but I would need your help.”

“Uh oh. I don’t like the sound of this already.”

“Remember I had that forgery trial, the one where I had to hire a handwriting expert?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, I still have his contact information. I think that I should hire him to compare the handwriting in this note to samples that I get from all three of the people I mentioned.”

“And just how are you going to get them to give you handwriting samples, Nancy Drew?”

“I’m going to follow them until an opportunity presents itself, but I need your help because they’ve all seen me but they don’t know you.”

“We can’t just follow people around indefinitely. Do these people even live around here?”

“I think that they all live near the Pierces but I’ll verify it,” I said, going over to my laptop. I did a quick search and discovered that Cole’s district was just outside the city and that he had a place there and in Harrisburg, the state capital. Marla had a townhouse in the city and the Masons lived within a few miles of Braden’s parents.

“Marla’s right here in the city. It would be easiest to start with her and the most likely time for her to go out would be on a Friday or Saturday night.”

“So what are you going to tell Braden? I can’t take you to meet my parents because I want to follow your ex-girlfriend around?”

“No. We’re going to need extra help.”

“You are going to tell Braden about the letter though, aren’t you?”

“Not yet. He’s just like my dad. He’ll get all worried and uber protective. He might get himself in trouble by going after one or even all three of the people who I suspect. He might even suspect Cam of being jealous or something and I don’t think it was him.” Suddenly it dawned on me. “That’s it! Cameron can help us.”

“But Marla knows him too. Maybe we should ask Mark.”

“Mark would tell Braden. He’ll be with you, who Marla doesn’t know, and she won’t be expecting to see him. Even if he did run into her though, big deal. He could just say he was on a date.”

“What makes you think he’ll agree to spend his weekends following Marla?”

“I think that he’s bored. That’s why criminal law sounds exciting to him. Did you get his number?” I asked.

“I did,” she said a little sheepishly. “Just in case something happened, you know?”

“What, like the courtroom burned down or something?” I teased.

“Something like that.” She fished her phone out of her purse.

“Call him and ask him if it’s too late to invite him to dinner with us. You can tell him we need to talk to him.”

When she hung up she said that although he sounded surprised, he would be happy to join us. He had a place in Society Hill, another Center City neighborhood which was very near here. I was surprised I hadn’t run into him somewhere sooner. We ordered from a local Chinese place and I ran out to pick it up. By the time I got back Cam had arrived and he and Jess were laughing and talking animatedly. I set the table and we sat down to eat.

“So, Jessica says that there’s something you want to talk to me about?”

“Yeah, I got this letter today,” I said, showing it to him.

“Who would send something like this?”

“I have a hunch that it was either Marla, Cole, or possibly Mrs. Mason.”

“Well, any of them would be capable of it, but couldn’t it be anybody?” I explained my reasoning to him and he saw my point. Next I outlined my plan.

“So you would want Jessica and me just to follow her?”

“I was thinking that maybe you could at least find out what places she tends to go to. Then maybe we could come up with a plan for getting the sample. This would be just sort of an information gathering phase. What do you think?”

“I think it sounds kind of interesting — sort of James Bond.” He laughed. “You’re going to tell Braden though, right?”

“Not right away. I’m afraid he’ll get worried and upset and have one or more of them investigated and that could have all kinds of ramifications. I’m not telling my dad either or we’ll have more alarms in this place than Fort Knox before you know it.”

“I don’t know if I feel good about doing anything behind Braden’s back,” Cam said significantly.

“I promise I’ll tell him. I’m just hoping to have a little something to go on first. I really don’t want to worry him and I honestly don’t feel like I’m in any danger. Public defenders and prosecutors get harassing letters sometimes. I think this is just like that.”

“Well, I guess it’s not like I’m sneaking around with you. More like I’m sneaking around with your roommate.” He smiled. “Okay team, I’m in!”

“Great! Okay, I have the address of Marla’s townhouse. I say that this Friday you two just see if you can figure out what kinds of places she goes to. Maybe it will give us an idea.”

“You’re going to see your parents?” Cam asked.

“Yeah, Braden and I will leave for New York by train on Friday after work, so you guys will be on your own, but call me anytime. If I don’t answer right away I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”

We finished dinner and Cam hung out for a while longer before heading back to his place. When he was gone Jess turned to me and I had a feeling I was about to be cross-examined.

“Okay, what’s the deal?”

“What’s the deal with what?”

“The whole story with you and Cameron and Braden. I get the feeling there’s more there than you’ve shared so far.” Jess was very observant. It was hard to get anything past her.

“Let’s go get comfortable,” I said, heading for the living room and sinking into my favorite armchair. “Cam and I were friends in college and I had a big crush on him. We wound up hooking up one night and I wanted it to be more but he didn’t.”

“Oh wow. You’re kidding.” I could that she genuinely sympathized.

“And he and Braden had some tension because back when Braden was dating Marla, Cam hooked up with her too.”

“Oh my God! He sounds like he was a total ass!”

“It’s weird but I don’t think he was. I know it sounds naïve, but I honestly think he’s basically a nice guy and that there were reasons for all of his screw-ups. I think that he felt really bad about them for a long time.”

“You always give people the benefit of the doubt.”

“Maybe someday I’ll get the full explanation. I really do think that there is one.”

“So do you think that you’ll all be able to get along now that you’re dating Braden?”

“I think so. I hope so. It was a long time ago and I like the present a lot better than the past. Now I’m going to go relax and watch PBS. There’s a special on about the Bill of Rights tonight.”

“You wild woman. Forgive me if I don’t join you.”

“Don’t forget to stick around for Mr. Davis’ plea tomorrow. I think you’ll be more entertained by that.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY,

PENNSYLVANIA

Commonwealth v. Davis

“You understand the charges that you’re pleading guilty to, Mr. Davis? And you understand that you have a right to a trial?” Judge Channing asked.

“Yes sir,” Mr. Davis answered.

“Okay, summarize the facts, Mr. Pierce.” Inner-Gabrielle rolled her eyes.

“On May fourteenth of this year in the County of Philadelphia, the defendant, Mr. Maximillian Davis, aged seventy-five, was in operation of a vehicle traveling southbound on Broad Street within the city limits. Several motorists called nine-one-one to notify authorities that a vehicle matching the description of Mr. Davis’ was driving erratically. Officer Brian Picton of the Philadelphia Police Department got behind Mr. Davis in his patrol vehicle and witnessed Mr. Davis swerve across lanes, hit several parked vehicles and twice drive up on the sidewalk. Mr. Davis did eventually pull over and Officer Picton placed him under arrest. When questioned at the station, after having been advised of his rights and having waived counsel, he explained that he was making, and I quote, ‘a booty call.’ He further explained that at his age, when the mood strikes he needs to, quote, ‘be quick about it’ unquote. He is charged with ten counts of driving on the wrong side of the road, four counts of hit and run, four counts of damaging parked vehicles, and two counts of reckless endangerment.”

“A booty call, Mr. Davis?” Judge Channing asked in a disgusted tone.

“I’ve got needs just like you, sir. I just don’t have the staying power I used to.”

“Ms. Ginsberg?” Judge Channing said, giving my client a look that most people reserved for gum that they found stuck to their shoes.

“Mr. Davis has no criminal record. He was gainfully employed with the erectric – electric! He was employed with the electric company for over fifty years. Furthermore, he’s an upstanding member of his community.” Oh my God. Did I just say that? I saw Braden trying to maintain a straight face. I provided this man with a great deal of mirth. In fact, I filled his life with laughter.

“He was so concerned about remaining upstanding that he could have killed someone from his community,” the judge responded acidly. Braden was now biting down on his lip to avoid laughing. I glanced behind me and saw Mark, Jess and Cameron also trying to maintain their composure. Have you ever noticed how everything seems so much funnier when you’re not allowed to laugh? Well, court is like that a lot. Adam looked like he wasn’t going to make it.

“He deeply regrets what happened, Your Honor, and assures you that it will never happen again.”

“Well, the bad driving part anyway!” Mr. Davis offered.

“Thank you for clarifying that,” the judge retorted sarcastically. “There’s an agreement with the District Attorney’s Office I take it?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Braden answered. “The Commonwealth has no objection to a sentence of six months of probation and restitution for the damaged vehicles.”

“The court accepts the plea. Mr. Maximillian Davis, you have indicated that you understand the charges and are entering a plea of guilty. I hereby sentence you to six months of probation and restitution for any damage that the owners of the vehicles in question can substantiate. Off the record please.” The court reporter stopped typing. “Viagra, Mr. Davis. Viagra!” He banged his gavel just because he could.

“Yes, sir. Thanks, judge! See you later cutie.” Mr. Davis smiled and winked at me flirtatiously before going off to report to the probation department.

Braden and I were done for the morning and we packed up our files. We had all decided to go out to lunch. Braden officially introduced Cam to Adam and Mark and we all headed for Reading Terminal Market again. When we sat down to eat Mark got the ball rolling.

“So Cameron, I hope you were paying attention to how Gabrielle handled that.”

“The erectric company!” Adam laughed.

“Oh my God. I can’t believe I said that,” I mumbled.

“He’s an upstanding member of the community,” Braden added. “That was great too.”

“You liked that huh?” I smiled.

“See what you have to look forward to, Cameron?” Mark asked. “One day you too can represent horny senior citizens while attempting to sound dignified.”

“Too bad he wasn’t around for that case with the nuns,” Adam said to Jess.

“I would have been happy to hand that one off to you,” she told Cam.

“I should introduce Mr. Davis to Ms. Franklin,” I told Braden.

“That would be some hot date.” He laughed. “They could head down to the senior center, get high and get laid.” Hearing Braden say “get laid” reminded me of the conversation we had recently shared lying na**d in bed together just before I had gotten laid very well. It made me feel flushed and sent a jolt of heat to my girl parts. “What?” he asked me quietly. I guess I wasn’t exactly hard to read.