Free Peggy Holloway - Judith McCain 02 - Portrait on Wicker by Peggy Holloway Page A

with this?”
    “We need to see what this judge tells Bill first,” I said, “and then I’m sure you will be able to help. You always helped me, didn’t you Dave?”
    “I tried Vicky, I mean Judith, but back then I was so messed up myself. Looks like you turned out all right though.”
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 23
     
    We stopped by the hospital, where Rosa was having her baby. We talked to John and Trudy in the waiting room. John said they were giving Rosa a bath.
    “It’s a little girl, seven pounds, eight ounces. She’s beautiful, just like Rosa.” John puffed out his chest.
    Trudy shyly a sked if we would like to see the baby. After introducing Trudy to Mark, we headed for the nursery. The baby was lying there screaming her head off. Her face was red and, with her head full of black hair, she looked like an American Indian. John made kissing noises and told her not to cry. When we headed back to Rosa’s room, John gave out chocolate cigars.
    One of the nurses said, “You’ ve already given me two, Agent Shepherd.”
    Rosa looked beautiful sitting up in bed brushing her wet hair. She reached to hug all of us in a group hug.
    After we were seated, she looked at me and said, “Judith, you’ve got to do this. It’s the highest high I’ve ever had. I have never been this happy. Don’t forget your biological clock is ticking away. Ben is liable to find someone else, if you keep putting him off. No more lecturing. By the way, can I still borrow Trudy? She has been so much help to me, and I could use her now more than ever.”
    When Rosa noticed Trudy sitting with her head down she added, “Trudy, I’m sorry. It must have sounded to you like I just wanted you around for your help. No, I like having you around, period.”
    Rosa turned to us, “This is one sweet kid, once you get past the BS. John helped with that.”
    “I just love these guys,” Trudy said. “John said he’d help put Mr. Lessiter away.”
    After filling them all in on what had happened since I last talked to them, I said, “We have to be careful. After Bill meets with Judge Meadows, we’re going to come up with a plan together. We’ll probably need your help John, off the record of course. And we’ll definitely need yours, Trudy.”
    She looked excited, “WOW, just like in the movies. I can’t wait to help.”
    Teenagers think they’re invincible, I’ve learned while working with them. We were chuckling over her enthusiasm when the nurse came in. “Everyone out. She needs her rest.”
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 24
     
    We met at three o’clock at John and Rosa’s house, in the Garden district, not far from Dave’s. John and Rosa had bought this house when Rosa found out she was pregnant.
    They had managed to save quite a bit of money while living in Rosa’s small townhouse , where I had lived with her when she and I were working as dancers. Rosa had taken me under her wing and helped me in my search to find out who I was, and what had happened to me when I was three years old. That was how Rosa had met John. He was the FBI agent who had come to our apartment to hypnotize me.
    We thought this w as a good place to meet because John scanned the entire house, for bugs, on a regular basis. Trudy was very intrigued by this. John was her hero.
    Trudy made some snacks. I was amazed at her cooking abilities. She had made some sort of sausage-cheese balls, some Rumaki, and an assortment of chips and dips. John opened a bottle of wine and Trudy fixed herself a coke.
    After all the introductions were made , and all questions asked and answered, and after we were all settled in with our food, Bill spoke up.
    “O kay, first of all, the judge wants to talk to Judith and Trudy in her chambers. She wants to meet at 4:30 p.m.”
    He laughed, “I always knew she was obsessive/compulsive. It’s one of her best qualities for what she does. Tomorrow morning, at 7:30 sharp, she wants to see all of us but I don’t know about you, John.”
    “That’s all