Ben said, “You told us about Justice Samuels. Are there any other Justices who didn’t particularly care for Justice Califano?”
Justice Xavier-Foxx laughed. “Justice Lydia Alto-Thorpe. She’s a dyed-in-the-wool ideologue, Detective. She was happy as a clam in the very liberal Brennan court. She was always pushing her agenda. Unfortunately, Lydia has little grace or tact, so she tends to raise hackles rather than gain consensus for what she wants. She sulks, Detective Raven. She’s very protective of the Court, and all its rules and formality, its sacred majesty. When you speak to her, I imagine she will be very angry that this has happened. When she’s angry, she demonstrates a remarkable vocal range.
“She disliked Justice Califano more than any other Justice. Stewart made the mistake a long time ago of laughing at her. She never forgot. It didn’t matter that he sometimes voted with her, unlike Abrams, Spiros, Wallace, and Gutierrez. The other Justices liked Stewart and respected him.”
Ben took a sip of the sinfully rich coffee. “Justice Califano was in the Supreme Court Library on Friday night, near midnight, something obviously on his mind, something that made him want to be alone, to think. Can you think of anything in particular that was bothering him?”
Justice Xavier-Foxx frowned, looking down at her brown suede flats. “You know, Stewart was somewhat distracted, I remember thinking that during our Friday meeting, but then some of the Justices got into an argument about the upcoming death penalty case. Lydia knew Stewart hadn’t made up his mind yet about overturning the 1989 death penalty decision, but still, she couldn’t help herself. She sniped at him. Then the meeting was over and I got busy and it dropped out of my mind.” She turned to Callie. “I’m very sorry I didn’t pursue it, my dear. Maybe he would have said something, but I just went about my business. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Callie said.
Justice Xavier-Foxx bowed her head, but when she looked up, she was smiling. “Just smell those brioches. Let’s have one before they get cold.” She whisked off the napkin that covered the plate. “My husband makes them every Sunday morning, ever since he became a cordon bleu chef over fifteen years ago.”
It was hard, but Ben didn’t grab the plate itself and clutch it protectively to his chest. He took a bite of a brioche, felt it melt in his mouth, and began to wonder if Wheaties was the only breakfast option he should consider.
“Can you think of anyone who hated Justice Califano enough to hire someone to kill him?”
“Goodness, no! Why, there is no one I can imagine capable of such a brutal crime.”
Callie said, “The Supreme Court is a very closed society, ma’am. Some have likened you to the nine princes and princesses. Three hundred–plus people spend hour upon hour together in that one building, seeing to the Justices’ needs. Close proximity can lead to conflict. Can you think of anyone, ma’am, anyone at all you observed who might have disliked my stepfather, other than Justice Alto-Thorpe?”
“Stewart was a nice man, Callie. No one I ever saw or heard about disliked him.”
Ben said, “Any spouses or other family members who might not have cared for Justice Califano?”
Justice Xavier-Foxx shook her head. “No. There is, however, one interesting spouse, Lydia Alto-Thorpe’s second husband, Harry Thorpe. Her first husband died in a yachting accident, and Lydia, already nearing sixty, married Harry within six months. It was something of a scandal at the time, given she was a Supreme Court Justice, but soon forgotten. I have to tell you that I feel rather sorry for Harry even though he’s a very successful businessman, owns Harry’s. The flagship restaurant is in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.”
“I’ve eaten there. It’s excellent,” Callie said. “I had no idea Justice Alto-Thorpe’s husband owned it.”
“Yes, well, Lydia overwhelms him when they’re together in public. I’ve seen her occasionally put him down, or, more often, ignore him. But marriages work for a multitude of different reasons. The few times the Justices and their families have all been together, I’ve seen Harry Thorpe staring at Stewart with anger. Because of what Lydia had said? Probably. I’m sorry, this can’t possibly have anything to do with Stewart’s murder.”
“I can’t remember ever having too much information, ma’am,” Ben said, then added without pause, “Was Justice Wallace ever inappropriate with any of the female employees in the Supreme Court?”
Justice Xavier-Foxx was unruffled. She said matter-of-factly, “There was occasional gossip to that effect, yes. Evidently this is an adult-long habit with Sumner.”
Callie cleared her throat. “How about my stepfather, ma’am? Were there any female employees he liked more than he should?”
Ben kept his head down. He simply hadn’t thought along those lines. He didn’t think anyone had. He said nothing, waited.
To his astonishment, Justice Xavier-Foxx slowly nodded. “Perhaps not on Stewart’s part, I don’t know. Eliza Vickers, his senior law clerk, was in love with Stewart, if I’m not mistaken. A tough situation. She was more than thirty years his junior, in addition to Stewart being happily married to your mother, Callie. Eliza was in her second year with him, very unusual since most law clerks stay only a year. Did Stewart return her affection? All I can tell you is that Stewart was getting quite frantic that her second year was coming to an end in July. He didn’t want to lose her. Very bright lawyer, is Eliza Vickers.”
Callie hadn’t expected to hear this, both Ben and Justice Xavier-Foxx saw it, but she kept it together. “You really think Eliza Vickers was in love with my stepfather? With Stewart? A man old enough to be her father?”
“I’ve learned over the years that a person’s age becomes less and less important. It’s the other things that matter, like respect, brains, kindness. Was she in love with him? I’d say so, yes. It’s just my opinion, mind you, Callie.”
Callie had to know. “Please, be honest with me. Do you think Stewart was in love with her?”
“I can’t say, Callie. I never saw any sort of inappropriate emotion when they were together. It’s just that once I happened to look at Eliza when Stewart was speaking. It was crystal clear to me, another woman, that she loved him. Don’t get me wrong. She never acted silly or smitten. She was tough, and those who didn’t recognize her brilliance fell victim to it. I enjoyed watching her. By the time she hits thirty-five, she’ll be formidable. She might be a Justice on the Supreme Court herself someday.
“I realize you all believe Stewart was killed by someone who knew him. That it was a personal act, not a terrorist act, and that is why I’ve told you this. I very much want you to catch Stewart’s murderer. This information is more than likely a dead end, but I knew I had to tell you anything that might help.”
Ben eyed another brioche but exercised control. “What do you think of Justice Califano’s other two law clerks and his two secretaries, ma’am?”
Justice Xavier-Foxx smiled. “Stewart’s law clerks, like all our law clerks, have their own beliefs, their own biases, their own core values. Sure they’re young, still changing, evolving. You can hear arguments all over the Court. The lunchroom downstairs is a hotbed of controversy, argument, brutal insults. Do our law clerks sway us? Yes, sometimes. Young people are so passionate, so idealistic. It’s difficult to resist them sometimes even when you know they don’t have the ability to grasp the long view, the consequences of a decision.”
Callie asked, “Do you think Justice Sumner Wallace could have behaved inappropriately with my mother?”