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

right. We should meet the parents before we go forward.”
    “Good.” Mary had thought about it, too, and decided she was right. “It’s good to play nice.”
    “So I hear. That’s why I dressed so boring, in case we can see them today.” Judy gestured in disgust at her perfect outfit. “Look at me, in white and blue. I’m so nautical, I’m practically a yacht.”
    Mary smiled. “They’re probably too busy to see us, him being a captain of industry.”
    “A mogul’s work is never done.”
    “We’ll have to call Allegra, to make sure she’s okay with it.” Mary’s phone started ringing. “This will be my parents, screaming with joy.”
    “Put it on speaker.” Judy grinned. “I love to hear them happy. It adds years to my life.”
    Mary slid her phone from her blazer pocket and hit the speaker button.
    But it wasn’t her parents at all.

 
    Chapter Seven
    “Ms. DiNunzio?” said a man’s voice, which was too stern and authoritative to be anything but a bill collector.
    “If you’re calling again about the Verizon bill, I told you, I paid it.”
    “Am I speaking with Mary DiNunzio?”
    “You guys always pull this. I never give any information over the phone, and I’m supposed to be on a do-not-call list.” Mary set the phone down on the counter to show Judy what a badass she had become overnight, coincidentally the same night she said yes to a marriage proposal when she really meant to say maybe. “You’re just bullies, and you picked on the wrong girl.”
    Judy shot her a thumbs-up.
    “Ms. DiNunzio, excuse me, this is John Gardner, Allegra’s father.”
    Gulp. “Oh, sorry.” Mary cringed, and Judy’s eyes flared. “I didn’t realize, here, I have you on speaker. Mr. Gardner, I’m here with Judy—”
    “Call me John. I understand your law firm is representing Allegra.”
    “Yes, and we were about to call to set up a meeting with you.”
    “Excellent. How about today? I’m at the house, and you can come here. I’d like to keep this away from my offices in town, which as you probably know, are at the Delaware River Complex.”
    Mary did know. That was where Fiona was murdered, which was why the Philadelphia police had jurisdiction and the trial was in Common Pleas Court, here. She caught Judy’s eye. “Perfect, when are you free? We’d like to meet with your wife as well.”
    “Of course, she’ll be there.”
    “And Allegra?”
    “Yes. We live in Townsend. When can you get here?”
    Mary looked at Judy, who nodded, so she answered, “We can leave now. How long does it take from the city?”
    “An hour and a half, at this time of day.”
    Mary would have to get her car, too. “We’ll leave right away, and be there in two hours. We’ll talk with Allegra first to ascertain that she’s okay with our meeting with you.”
    “Of course she is. She’s our daughter.”
    “I understand that, but she’s our client.”
    John paused. “Frankly, we’d like to meet you without Allegra.”
    “Why?” Mary asked, and Judy shook her head, no.
    “We feel that we can speak more freely. We don’t want to upset her any more than she already is.”
    Mary didn’t like the sound of it. “She didn’t seem upset to us.”
    “Allow me to suggest that her mother and I know her slightly better than you do.”
    Mary didn’t like the new edge to his tone, either. “We’ll meet with her first and discuss this with her. It will be her decision.”
    “We’ll sort this out when you get here. Our address is 947 Springhill Lane. Buzz at the gate and look for the sign that says Houyhnhnm Farm.”
    Mary thought the word sounded familiar, then realized it was from Gulliver’s Travels. She couldn’t begin to spell it. She’d recognize the sign because it would look like Greek.
    “Call if you get lost, which is very easy to do. My cell number is 610-555-0363, but I may be on a conference call. If you can’t reach me, my wife Jane’s cell is 555-0364 and Allegra’s is 555-0365.”
    “Will