"No crimes and punishments, just Woody Allen and Dave Barry." Meg noticed the handcuffs and involuntarily shuddered. "Had many visitors?"
"My attorney and my sister."
"That was your sister I passed in here the other day? Pretty. You guys are from Philadelphia, huh. More family up there?"
"Not anymore, folks died in a crash on the expressway. We were grown at the time."
"Sorry about that. Leave anyone behind up there? How's the single situation in Philadelphia?"
"Don't actually know. I was married and after we settled the divorce, I just sat around feeling sorry for myself. I wanted out of there. Like many people, I always had Florida in the back of my mind. New beginnings, et cetera."
"Perhaps you'll meet someone down here."
"Not likely in here," he joked. She didn't laugh. He pointed to the books. "Very thoughtful. But admit it, there was no collection at the office was there?"
"Technically there was but I was the only contributor."
"I'm fired aren't I?"
Meg grimaced. "Police came to the office. They boxed up files and everything from your desk: company files, personal, everything. The company went ballistic. There was uproar in the office for the rest of the day. Yes, you're out."
Ray noticed Sandy coming in. She stood at the door laughing with Sergeant Lewis about something. She came over holding up the morning paper. "Well, brother, you have your fifteen minutes of fame. Hi, you're Meg Emerson." She pronounced the name distinctly for Raymond's benefit and introduced herself.
Meg said, "Welcome to Florida, I wish the circumstances were different. I'd show you two around. Yes, the paper is doing its best to keep things stirred up, nothing else is happening in this town."
"We're going to change that. We're going to find a couple more suspects. Raymond, I met with your attorney, Jerry Kagan. Probably okay, he's on the list of qualified counsel for capital crimes. I'd say he's an oldie but goodie. I asked him to hire me as his investigator for a dollar a day. That puts me on the defense team, which may or may not mean anything."
"We just talked. He told me they could transfer me out to the county jail at any time. He's going to speak to the judge and see if he can get me a few more days here."
Meg said, "I hear it's miserable out there and dangerous. This is jail, out there is prison."
"I didn't realize I had it so good."
Sandy made a sympathetic frown. "You'll be on your own out there, Raymond. I'll be leaving."
Meg said, "So, Sandy, you just drove down. You're on vacation?"