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don't know what would've happened to Adam. Nothing good, that's for sure.
    W hen I called the public defender's office and asked for Susan Doyle, I was told she no longer worked there, that she'd gone into private practice. I don't know why I was surprised. My life had changed in the past year; it was silly of me to think that other people were standing still. The receptionist was nice enough to give me Susan's number. To my relief, she hadn't moved away; her practice was in downtown Hollywood, three blocks from the courthouse.
    I left a message for Susan and she called me right back. After we chatted a little and she'd asked about Adam, I launch ed into my reason for calling.
    "Susan, I have a situation, well, my client does, and I was hoping you could help and possibly represent her, if necessary. This woman can afford private counsel and I would advise her to hire you."
    "Of course, Jamie, anything I can do. What's going on?"
    I told her about my conversation with 'Slick Nick,' (as Susan liked to call him), and the rundown of Becca and Joes' divorce l itigation, in all its nastiness.
    "That's quite a story," Susan said. "You've known Becca a while, what's your take on her? Do you think she had anything to do with his death?"
    I thought for a minute. "I don't think she's capable of it. She is genuinely falling apart and she seemed as shocked as the rest of us when Joe turned up dead. She was actually waiting for him to pick up the kids when she found out."
    Then Susan asked a question that caught me off guard. " Did she ever threaten his life?"
    I gasped as I remembered our last court hearing. "I'm afraid she did. She told him that if he tried to take the kids awa y from her, she would kill him!"
    Susan was unfazed. She'd been a public defender a long time and she'd heard much worse, I was sure of it.
    "Did anyone else hear her threaten him?"
    "Yeah, come to think of it. Judge Marcus' bailiff, Harold, was there and he said he would call security if they didn't calm down."
    " Well, that's not going to help," Susan said, "but at least we know it's out there. Information is power, I always say. You mentioned that Joe moved out of the marital home a month ago, did Becca have a key to his residence?"
    I knew why she was asking. If Becca  had a motive to kill Joe, and Nick would certainly think she had one, did she also have the opportunity?"
    "No, Becca definitely didn't have access to his house. They wouldn't give each other the time of day, let alone exchange keys. Becca even had the locks changed on the marital home so Joe couldn't come in."
    My stomach was growling, reminding me that I never did get around to ordering lunch. I'm not usually a person who forgets to eat, I can assure you.
    Susan paused, and then asked, "Suicide? Accident?"
    "No to suicide. Accident is a possibility." I was searching my desk drawers for crackers or anything to eat. All I found were a couple of loose Chiclets. I shoved them in my mouth.
    "One more question, do either of them have a lover? Tha t tends to change the dynamics."
    I almost swallowed my Chiclets. I'd forgotten about Becca's boyfriend!
    "Yes! Becca has a boyfriend; he used to be a friend of Joe's, but not anymore, of course. His name is Charlie Santoro. I met him a couple of times and he seemed like a mellow guy. He wasn't adding fuel to the fire , if that's what you're asking."
    Susan didn't pull any punches. "Do y ou think he could be a suspect?
    I thought about it. "No idea. I guess anything's possible. I've been fooled by people before. The mantra of the family law attorney is 'everybody lies.'"
    Susan laughed. "Don't forget you're talking to a criminal attorney. Our clients tell so many lies, they wouldn't know the truth if it bit them in the ass."
    I chuckled along with her.
    "Okay," Susan said, in her no-nonsense way, "here's what you do. Set up the meeting with the state attorney's office and go in with Becca. Don't let her answer any questions except for her name and address.