Ben noted several macho grins and sneers as he talked about teen prostitutes and kinky group orgies, but the snickers faded when he began describing the multiple strangulations and dismemberments. He told them how Fielder panicked and began killing off the girls, one after the other. How that had caused Hamel to download the address list so he could turn state’s evidence. How he’d been caught in the act by Fielder, which had caused Hamel to become Fielder’s next victim.
Christina nudged Ben’s shoulder. “Look at Shelly.” Shelly was solemn and silent, even more so than usual. “She really seems to be taking this hard.”
There may be a good reason for that, Ben thought, but he kept it to himself. “Herb seems a bit upset, too.”
“Yeah, but that’s probably because all these orgies were going on and he never got invited.”
Ben smiled, but again he could think of another possible explanation. He noticed that Herb and Candice were not seated together, and had not spoken to (or shouted at) one another since they entered the room.
Crichton was sitting at one end of the long conference table opposite Mike. Crichton appeared to be taking the news worse than anyone. Understandable, Ben thought. Not only had he lost another member of his staff; he’d been made to look a blundering fool. He was staring down at the black enamel table. His coffee cup was empty, but he hadn’t even called for Janice.
“If you don’t mind,” Mike said loudly, “I’d like to finish this up.” Mike had looked better himself. Despite everyone’s entreaties, he still hadn’t checked into the hospital. He insisted that he wanted to “put this case to bed” before he took any time off.
Everyone resumed their places around the table.
“There’s one detail we omitted,” Mike continued. “When Fielder spotted Ben on the streets searching for Trixie, he went after him. He didn’t find Ben at home, so he tore the place apart, just to send a message. Maybe he thought he might find the picture Ben and I retrieved from Hamel’s attic. I don’t know. He didn’t find anything. But of course, that’s because there wasn’t anything to find.
“As you all know,” Mike continued, “Fielder was killed in his fall. That concludes this investigation. Chief Blackwell has declared this matter closed”—he looked pointedly at Ben—“a fact that will no doubt come as a considerable relief to many of you.”
Amen to that, Ben thought.
“I have a question,” Chuck asked loudly. “I understand everything you’ve said, but what I don’t understand is who cut Mr. Crichton’s belay line? That’s the creep I’d like to take apart.”
Count on Chuck to be the one who couldn’t keep his mouth shut, Ben mused. Especially when an opportunity to do some quality sucking-up presented itself. “I’d rather not go into that right now,” Mike replied.
Chuck pounded on the table. “Damn it, I want to know. If someone’s after our mentor, we need to take action.”
Ben scanned the faces around the conference table. He saw a mixed array of reactions. All of them were uncomfortable, just in different ways.
“Well, Chuck,” Ben said, spreading his arms across the table, “if you must know who cut Crichton’s belay line—I did.”
“What?” Mike almost rose out of his chair. “You cut his line?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Why the hell would you do that?” Chuck bellowed. “You just started here. What beef could you have against Crichton?”
“I was trying to flush out the killer. Everything was too relaxed, too pat. I wanted to stir the batter up, to throw a wrench into the killer’s complacency and get himself to expose himself.”
“So you tried to kill Mr. Crichton?”
“I wasn’t trying to kill him. I was right behind him all along. The distance from the giant’s ladder to Crichton was only about five feet—an easy jump, especially since I knew what was coming. He was never in any danger.”
Mike and Chuck stared at him, mouths gaping. Ben couldn’t tell who appeared more outraged.
“That is the most lame, bullheaded, irresponsible plan I’ve ever heard,” Mike said, incredulous. “What if you had missed?”
“I didn’t.”
“You sorry sack of shit.” Chuck was on his feet now, swaggering toward Ben. “I want this prick out of here, Mr. Crichton. I want him fired.”
“We’ll talk about this later,” Crichton said, staring intently at Ben. “Does anyone else have any questions for Lieutenant Morelli?”
No one spoke. Chuck planted himself, arms folded across his chest like Mr. Clean, and glared at Ben.
“If there’s nothing else,” Crichton said, “then this staff meeting is adjourned. Mr. Kincaid, I would like to see you in my office.”
“I have to meet a friend who’s waiting for me,” Ben said, checking his watch. “I’ll drop by when it’s convenient.”
The other lawyers stared at him. He’d come see Crichton…when it was convenient? For him?
Crichton smoldered without comment. “As you wish, Mr. Kincaid. I’ll be waiting for you.”
53
ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, Ben strolled into Crichton’s office, a manila folder tucked under his arm. Crichton was leaning back in his chair, dictating.
“Glad you could make it,” Crichton said, peering over his reading glasses. “Hope I didn’t interfere with your plans.”
“Don’t worry about it. What did you want to discuss?”
“I’ve spoken to Harry Carter about your work on the new assignment. He’s not pleased with your performance.”
“Well, that’s what he does best, isn’t it?”
“Harry is a very important member of our staff. When he makes a negative recommendation, well…that’s difficult for me to overlook.”
Ben sat down in one of Crichton’s chairs. “Let’s not pussyfoot around, shall we?”
Crichton stiffened slightly.
“I’ve been talking to a friend of mine named Loving. He’s a private investigator. At my request, he undertook a search for Al Austin, the long-lost member of the XKL-1 design team.”
Crichton’s feet dropped to the floor. “You did…what?”
“Loving had a long conversation with the man. He’s a funny dude. Seems he didn’t like some of the corporate policies being implemented here at Apollo, so he quit. More than just quit, actually. Disappeared. Seemed to think it would be best if no one at Apollo had any idea where he was.”
“Austin was always a borderline crazy. Paranoid. Probably an alcoholic.”
“Uh-huh. That’s what he said you’d say. Anyway, he claims that after the XKL-1 was manufactured and distributed, a design defect was discovered. A defect that made any vehicle using that suspension system unsafe. Especially on rough or bumpy terrain.” He looked directly into Crichton’s eyes. “Such as the dirt field outside a football stadium.”
“Austin was fired because he was accused of sexual impropriety by several female employees. We had no choice.”
“Uh-huh. He said you’d say that, too. He said all four women who filed complaints disappeared before he or his lawyers could even talk to them. Apparently, they were bestowed with rather lucrative retirement plans.”
“We had no choice. If we hadn’t made them happy, they would’ve sued.”
“I think you were creating a smoke screen, Crichton, just as you’re doing now. The point is that the XKL-1 was and is unsafe.”
“That has never been proven.”
Ben reached into his manila folder and began withdrawing documents. “Loving had a heck of a time finding Austin. He was holed up in western Oklahoma—don’t bother asking, I won’t tell you where. Bought a chicken farm, and that’s what he does for a living now. Says he’s much happier. Which I don’t doubt.”