“Sure they will,” Bess said.

The interview with Ann Granger was breaking up. Waving further questions aside, Ms. Granger threaded her way toward the now-vacant desk.

“Ms. Drew?” The sergeant, peering through the double doors, beckoned to Nancy. “In here.”

Nancy grabbed Ned and Bess’s hands and hurried toward the waiting policeman.

“Excuse me, are you Carson’s daughter?”

Nancy glanced back over her shoulder. Her father’s client was walking toward them. A worried frown was creasing her smooth oval face.

“I’m Ann Granger. I’m so sorry about all this. The charge against your father is ridiculous! If you see him, will you tell him I said so? I feel as if it’s all my fault.”

The TV cameras had swiveled around to capture their exchange. Reporters were heading toward them.

“Ms. Drew, what’s your reaction to the charge against your father?” someone called.

“It’s not true, and that’s all I have to say.” Nancy turned back to Ann Granger.

Looking up into wide, dark eyes, Nancy liked what she saw. The reporter was clearly upset, and her defense of Carson Drew seemed to have come from the heart.

“Come with us,” Nancy said firmly. Turning, she marched toward the double doors as if she had every right to bring the others with her.

Carson Drew was cleaning fingerprinting ink from his fingers when he glanced up and saw the four bearing down on him. In his perfectly tailored suit and dark tie, he looked calm and composed, but Nancy could see the strain in his eyes.

“Nancy!” Carson said, enfolding her in his arms. “I was hoping you wouldn’t hear about this until I’d made bail. Hello, Ned-Bess. Ann, it looks as if you’ve got a lemon of a lawyer. Feel free to cut your losses and find another, if you like. I’ll understand.”

“How can you think such a thing?” Ann Granger protested. “You’re my lawyer, no matter what.”

Nancy’s father smiled slightly. “I appreciate your loyalty, but I’m not sure I can still work to your best advantage. Getting myself out of this will eat up a lot of my time.”