“Darling, please don’t,” she begged. “Not to me — you don’t have to. Bauer told me the case they’ve got. He likes you — and he says your only chance is to plead guilty. Gates thinks he can get you off with seven or eight years.”
“Whose side are you on?” Conway demanded. “Mine or Bauer’s?”
“I know how you feel,” she said gently. “But don’t say things like that. I love you, and you’re the only person in the world I care about. But I also know what Gates and Bauer think — that you have no choice but to plead guilty. They know, I know, the district attorney knows — the jury would know. Oh, my dearest, I couldn’t bear it if you — if—” The tears came now, and there was no doubting her sincerity.
“Did you say you loved me?” he asked.
“You know I do.”
“Gates seemed pretty sure he could get me off with seven years. Maybe — maybe even less.”
“It’s so much better than taking a chance.”
“Would you wait for me?”
“I’d marry you this minute if you wanted me to — and if we could. But that would be putting a noose around your neck.”
“I know that. But would you wait for me?”