Free Privileged Witness by Rebecca Forster Page A

looked everywhere but into Josie's eyes and that ticked Josie off royally. She had no use for martyrs or teases. She had no use for women who hid their guilt behind feminine wiles. Kristin Davis, the woman who had shaken Josie's faith in both human nature and the legal system had pushed Josie to the breaking point. Now here she was again with a rich woman who wanted her help but insisted on playing games. Or was she? Josie was close enough to see Grace's lips quivering, naked without the gloss; eyes tired looking with the smudged mascara. She was pathetic, vulnerable, fearful. If it was an act it was darn good.
    ''Look at me, Grace. Tell me what happened that night?''
    A tremor shook Grace from the bottom up, until her spine was locked, every muscle in her body was taut and the story was haltingly told.
    ''When I got there Michelle was dressing and I couldn't figure out why. I wanted to know where she was going. She told me . . . It was nonsense what she told me. . .she was angry with Matthew.''
    Josie listened, knowing now was the time to listen even though every fiber of her being wanted to know what Matthew and done to make his wife despair.
    ''She told me to leave and threatened to have me evicted if I didn't. I had never seen her angry like that before. When I tried to sit her down, she screamed at me not to touch her. She ran out of her bedroom and I ran after her. I thought she was going to the front door to open it so I would leave but she went to the balcony instead. I don't know if Michelle planned on jumping but I sensed what was going to happen. God, it made me feel sick. . .I couldn't speak. . . I couldn't move. . .''
    The cup danced in Grace's hand and she let go of it. She planted her elbows on the table. Her forehead fell forward onto her clasped hands. Grace sucked in her breath but she couldn't seem to get it deep enough to fill her lungs. She panicked and breathed faster.
    ''I grabbed for her. I reacted. . . . I reached out and I think I touched her.''
    She gestured with one hand, painting a swirl as if cleaning an imaginary window with a view to the past. Then she put her hands on the side of her head and pushed at her hair, slicking it back, plastering down.
    ''Michelle looked back at me. She was so beautiful. . .'' her voice got smaller as the story got bigger. ''Every bit of her face was so gorgeous and awful all at the same time. She should have been happy and she wasn't. I knew in my heart what was happening, but I don't know exactly what did happen. One minute Michelle was with me. . . She was right there. . .''
    Suddenly, Grace threw herself back in her chair and shoved the cup away from her. The water waved and jumped the rim. Her hands came together and that obscenely large emerald was turned and twirled until the skin beneath it looked bloody red while the heels of her hands rested in the wet puddle.
    ''I heard our voices. I heard her voice. I thought we were arguing. Or maybe it was my voice and I was begging. And then. . .'' The breath she took was shallow. Short. Shorter still. ''. . .and then. . .she was. . .just. . . gone.''
    Grace opened her hands as if to show Josie she held no secrets.
    ''I didn't see her anymore. I didn't hear her voice. She didn't scream.'' Grace's hands lowered to the table palms down. She let them slip off until she was holding it by the edge with her fingertips. In a daze, she repeated herself. ''She didn't scream.''
    ''Then what?'' Josie whispered.
    Grace shook her head. The horror of that moment and that night was forgotten. Her shoulders squared and her hands were put into her lap.
    ''I ran away. I ran through the living room and I opened the door and I left.''
    ''You didn't go downstairs and check on your sister-in-law? You didn't want to see if she was alive?''
    ''No one could have survived that fall. I knew that. '' Grace answered, wiping away an errant tear with the back of her hand. ''I was in shock. I got in my car and went home. I waited for someone to come