See Jane Die Part 24

"All night?"

The cold night air clinging to him. He'd been outside.

Why?

"Yes." She felt the need to explain, to prove she was telling the truth. "We ate in. Ian grilled steak."

"Then what?"

"We cleaned up, talked a bit. I went to my studio to edit a piece for my show."

"And Ian?"

"His study. To catch up on his medical journals."

"How long were you holed up in your studio?"

"I don't know-" She brought a shaky hand to her head. "Several hours."

"From what time to what time?"

"I don't know!" She jumped to her feet, swaying slightly. "Why does it matter? Why-"

"Because it does, Jane." Stacy followed her up, caught her hands tightly. "Trust me, it's a matter of life and death. Think, you have to think."

Terror left her weak-kneed, trembling. She sat back down. "We finished dinner at seven-thirty or eight.

Cleaned the kitchen. I went to the studio, he went to the study."

Stacy did the math. "So at nine-thirty or ten you left the studio-"

"Ian woke me up. I'd fallen asleep and-"

"Fallen asleep?"

Jane's heart stopped at the way her sister jumped on that. She shouldn't have offered that. But to keep

anything from her now would make Ian look guiltier later. It would undermine her testimony.

"Yes," she continued. "I asked him the time, he said ten but-"

The clock in the living room. It had indicated the time was two hours later than that, after midnight.

That wasn't right. She rubbed her head. It couldn't be.

"What, Jane? What are you remembering?"

"Nothing. Today...it was...such a...shock. That's all."

"So, he woke you up about ten?"

"Actually, he didn't wake me. The nightmare did. He heard me scream and came to the studio."

Stacy looked pleased with the answer. She paused, as if to a.s.semble her thoughts. "Ian grew up in

Atlanta, didn't he?"

"Just outside. In Athens."

"So he's a Braves fan?"

"The Braves baseball team?"

"Yes."

"I suppose. Though he's not a big baseball lover. Doesn't really follow the sport."

Stacy stood and crossed to the window. She gazed out at the city skyline, spine ramrod straight,

expression set. Jane sensed that conflict raged within her.

After several moments, she turned. "Jane, I have to ask you something else. You're going to be angry with me, but I have to ask, anyway. And I need you to be completely honest with me, no matter what." Jane nodded, unable to find her voice.

"Are you certain Ian has been faithful to you?"

"You can't possibly-"

"Has he been faithful, Jane?"

"Yes! He's been faithful. I'm absolutely certain."

"You'd testify, under oath to these facts. Just as you relayed them to me."

Fear took Jane's breath. She brought a hand to her mouth, then dropped it. "Testify? Why? What aren't

you telling me, Stacy?"

"I shouldn't be here...shouldn't be telling you this, but it doesn't look good for Ian. I suggest you contact a lawyer." For a moment, Jane couldn't breathe. She felt as if the universe had tilted on its axis. "You can't be serious. Please tell me this is some kind of joke."

"I wish it were."

Jane swallowed hard. The cold clinging to him. The discrepancy with the time. Where had Ian been that

night, while she slept in her studio? Not at La Plaza murdering a woman. Never.

Ian was the most gentle man she had ever known. Honest. Morally upright. He could no more have done this than chew off his own hand.

Why couldn't Stacy see it, too?

"Why are you doing this, Stacy? Jealousy? Punis.h.i.+ng me for marrying Ian? Or for grandmother's

prejudice?"

Color flooded her sister's cheeks. "I can a.s.sure you, this has nothing to do with me. It's about evidence, Jane. Compelling evidence."

"I don't believe you." She got to her feet. "There is no evidence. There can't be. Because Ian had nothing

to do with this."

"I'm trying to help you. If you'd just listen-"

"Help? That's what you call this?" Jane's voice rose. "You're trying to pin this on him. You could look in

another direction if you wanted to."

"I wish I could change things. But I can't. It's out of my hands."

"Why do you hate me so much!" Jane cried. "What have I done to hurt you?"

"By coming here I've jeopardized my career," she said stiffly. "And this is how you repay me? Thanks,

sis. Thanks a lot."

Jane folded her arms across her chest, mind whirling. This was a nightmare. She would wake up screaming any moment.

The boat captain turning back, readying to make another pa.s.s at her. To finish the job.

Her nightmare, it was happening. Just what she had subconsciously feared.

She was losing it all.

"Jane? Are you all right?"

No. She might never be all right again.

"It's time for you to go."

Stacy opened her mouth as if to speak, then without a word, turned and started off. She stopped when she reached the kitchen doorway. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I really am."

Jane stood frozen until she heard the downstairs door slam shut. Then she sank onto a chair and sobbed.