Lorraine looked at the Chief, then Rooney. ‘You want to make a deal with me, don’t you? Well, I guess it would depend—’
‘On what?’ the Chief asked.
‘On what exactly you want me to do. If I work with you, you’ll have a tough time bringing me into court as a prosecution witness, won’t you? I’d put any money on it that anything connected to the Thorburns you’ll have to tread on lightly. What is it you want me to do? Is Janklow going in a line-up?’
‘The situation is this. If you pick Steven Janklow out of a line-up, it will be his word against yours. You are a chronic alcoholic, ex-prostitute, drug user—’
She snapped, ‘I am also an ex-cop.’
The FBI agent retorted, ‘We know that, and we’d be out of our minds to put that out. With your record, it would make you sound an even worse witness than a hooker.’
The comic-strip man leaned on the desk. ‘I think we got Janklow to agree to come into the station. He’ll be accompanied by his lawyer. What we don’t want is a line-up at this stage. But you came face to face with him, you were attacked, so what I want from you is just a good look. We’ll set him up in an interview room with a one-way viewing section so you can watch him at your leisure. Because you have to be one hundred per cent sure that the man you say attacked you was Steven Janklow.’
Rooney took over. ‘You’re the only witness we have but, that said, we’ll need a lot more. If he did attack you, then he will be charged with assault. If you’re sure it’s him, we can even press charges, but you and I both know, because of who you are and his powerful back-up, he’ll walk.’
‘What about the couple that saw me in the garage?’
‘At no time were they able to describe the man in the car with you, so they can’t be brought on as witnesses — well, not yet.’
So far Lorraine couldn’t see any risk, but then she intercepted the looks between the men. As Rooney moved closer, Here it comes, she thought.
‘You know Brad Thorburn, you’ve had sexual intercourse with him. He inferred that you may have been attempting to blackmail him. We don’t know yet if he has played any part in the murders but he is Janklow’s brother, and you’ve told us he even has a pair of cufflinks, so—’
‘You want me to blackmail Brad Thorburn?’ she asked smiling.
‘No, we want you — and only if you’re sure that Steven Janklow is the man who attacked you—’
The comic-strip man was gradually taking over and Lorraine began to try to assess him and to fathom what they wanted her to do. He was steely, assured. She determined that he was trying to make her offer to assist them without them saying it for themselves; whatever it was must be either illegal or, as they had implied, risky. They were all watching her, waiting for her to take the bait...
‘I think I get what you’re after. If I do recognize him and I’m a hundred per cent sure that the man who attacked me was Steven Janklow, then you’ve still only got him on assault. You want to use me to do — what? Put pressure on him and see what it throws up, and at the same time find out if Brad Thorburn is also involved?’
They all straightened and she knew she had not only bitten their bait but was offering to reel herself in. She looked over at Rooney and smiled. ‘I’ll do it but there are certain conditions. If I can get Janklow to admit his part in the murders, maybe by confronting him at his home, if I can get him to admit it and I’m wired up, you won’t need to call me as a prosecution witness. So there will be a guilty plea? That what you’re after?’
They didn’t say a word.
‘I’ll have a try, but I want your word you won’t release my part in any of this to the press.’
‘We can’t guarantee that,’ snapped the Chief.
‘Then bring him in and charge him. Just do what you have to do.’
There was a low murmur and she looked to the only other woman present and asked if she could go to the bathroom. She took her time: she was tired out and her clothes were crumpled. She sat on the toilet, thinking about everything they had discussed. When she was led back into the room, only Rooney and his chief remained. Everyone else had gone.
The Chief motioned her to a chair. ‘We cannot agree to any deal, Lorraine, you know that, but what we will do is not press charges against you for withholding evidence, and we will endeavour to keep your name out of the proceedings. Your identity will be kept secret, but only if you’re able to ascertain that Janklow is the killer.’
She looked at Rooney and gave a half smile. ‘Okay, I’ll do it. Though it’s a very one-sided deal to your advantage. Now, I’ll need some new clothes and I need to get some rest. I also need a car so I’ll want a clean licence — just so I don’t get picked up.’
Rooney winked at her as a warning not to press too hard for anything more.
‘When is Janklow coming in?’ she asked the Chief.
‘Not sure, but we don’t want to make it seem too urgent, so you’ll have time to change and rest up.’
‘Can Bill be my back-up?’ she asked, and smiled at Rooney who looked at the ceiling. ‘He was always a good back-up man, one of the best.’
‘No, I’m afraid not. Bill’s been seen in your company and by the look of him if he doesn’t get some sleep, he’ll fall down. You’ll have his lieutenant, Josh Bean. He’s a good man, and he’s waiting to drive you home right now.’
Lorraine was confident, almost arrogant, as she said, ‘He gonna take me shopping? I want to look good.’
The Chief replied that they might not need the new clothes. First she had to view Janklow, then they’d see about the other things she’d asked for — just as they’d also have to set her up with a wire. She walked out of the room before the Chief had finished talking, saying over her shoulder, ‘I guess you’ll call me when you need me.’
‘Can we trust her?’ the Chief asked Rooney.
‘Much as any woman and she hasn’t had a drink for nine months. She wants to go straight.’
‘It never was your theory, was it?’ the Chief said quietly and Rooney grunted. He knew that by bringing her in it’d come out in the open.
‘No. She ran rings around most officers and, so help me God, I’ll never know why she blew it those years ago.’
‘Just hope she doesn’t blow it with us. If she puts a foot out of line, Bill, I’ll haul her in so fast, I’ll have her charged and put away for a long time. You should make sure she’s aware of just how serious this is. We’ve got to get this case wrapped up. And if she fucks up, it’s not just us, it’ll be the FBI who’ll make sure she never works again, not here or in any other state. Let her know that. Make sure she knows we can’t have any mistakes — there’s been too many as it is.’
Chapter 18
Rooney had shaved, and was wearing a clean-looking shirt and a new suit. He’d had a good lunch before he drove into the station. He knew that Janklow was being brought in by his lawyer at four thirty because his chief, who seemed to be in a growing state of panic, had called him three times.
Bean was sweating as he hit a traffic jam. Lorraine sat beside him. If she was nervous she didn’t show it but Josh grew increasingly agitated. He kept on tapping the dashboard clock, then checking his wrist-watch. It was almost four. His hair was damp at the nape of his neck and he leaned out of the window to look at the lines of traffic up ahead. He knew if she wasn’t at the station by four fifteen he’d be hauled over the carpet. He wiped his face.
Lorraine tapped his shoulder. ‘Get your light on or we’ll never make it. Shut it off before we get to the precinct.’