Accused: A Rosato & Associates Novel by Lisa Scottoline Read Free Book Online

she didn’t want to get ring-jacked as she walked to work. She’d felt so conspicuous with the big diamond, blinding passers-by like a driver with high beams.
    “I have a plan of action for us. I was reading the case file, and they had a mountain of evidence against Stall—”
    “OH MY GOD!” Anne squealed suddenly, finding the ring with time-warp speed. “Mary, seriously? Are you? Is it? What? A ring!”
    “Mare, really?” Judy did a double-take, then her blue eyes flew open. “Are you engaged? Oh my God!”
    “Oh my God!” Marshall leapt to her feet squealing, and Anne was jumping up and down, a neat trick in mules.
    “Mary!” Anne shrieked, grabbing Mary’s hand. “Let me see that ring! It’s huge!”
    “Mary, it’s so pretty!” Judy burst into happy laughter, then all hell broke loose and they went nuts, jumping up and down and screaming, which brought Bennie running into reception in alarm.
    “What is it? What’s the matter?”
    “Ask Mary!” Anne yelped, and they all parted for Bennie to rush over, her khaki jacket flying open, her stride powerful, and her expression concerned under her curly topknot.
    “Are you okay, DiNunzio?”
    Mary realized she had to say it out loud. “I’m getting married?”
    “Wow!” Bennie threw open her arms, grabbed Mary, and swept her into a big hug, then Judy, Anne, and Marshall joined in, and they were all swirling around like a girl hurricane, and Mary surrendered to their happiness, going along with the atmospheric pressure.
    “Mare, Jeez!” Judy brushed her bangs off her face with a palm. “What a surprise!”
    “Right?” Mary met her eye. “Did you know?”
    “No way, not at all!” Judy grinned. “Jeez, you’re a partner and you’re engaged! Woohoo!”
    “I know, right?” Mary smiled, knowing that her best friend would be happy for her, not in the least jealous. Judy had a great boyfriend in Frank Lucia, Pigeon Tony’s grandson, and they were happily living in sin.
    “How did he propose?” Judy asked, astonished. “When? What did he do?”
    Marshall nodded, excitedly. “Tell us! And when’s the date, and what’s your dress gonna look like?”
    “Yeah, tell us everything!” Anne’s eyes lit up, and Marshall sat on the desk and even Bennie formed a little semicircle around Mary, so she began the story and told them every detail.
    Everything except how she really felt.
    Later, Judy caught up with her in the coffee room, after Bennie and Anne had gone off to trial, and Marshall was back at her desk. The room was small and cozy, ringed by pine cabinets with white countertops, like an office kitchen, which was why Mary gravitated there. Judy popped a Keurig cup into the coffeemaker, hit the Brew button, and turned to Mary, lifting an eyebrow. “Well?”
    “Well what?” Mary asked, her, but she knew. Judy could read her at a glance, and they’d talked about getting married a zillion times.
    “He asked, huh?”
    “Yes.”
    “You said yes.”
    “I did.” Mary sighed, then felt guilty for even having the conversation. “I do love him.”
    “I know that. So what’s up? It’s a good thing. You love each other.”
    “We really do.”
    “It’s love love, right? Not roommate love or like buddies.”
    “No, it’s love love.” Mary thought back to last night, when they had made love. Anthony was wonderful, sweet, and strong, and he’d made her toes curl. Twice. “He’s great.”
    “He is great.” Judy smiled, nodding. “I love him, too. He’s a great guy and he’s great for you. So then what?”
    “I’m not sure.” Mary felt oddly flustered. “For starters, the ring.”
    “What?” Judy frowned at the ring. “I like it. What’s the problem? Is it a conflict diamond?”
    “No.”
    “But it’s conflicting you.” Judy smiled, trying to cheer her up. “Is it about Mike?”
    “No, I don’t think so.” Mary had asked herself that question last night, because she had felt sad after meeting with Allegra, thinking