“We just want to hear your version of what happened.”
“My version, huh.” Keys stopped talking and Amanda could almost see the wheels turning inside his skull. “Well, let’s talk about that. My memory is a bit hazy right now. But I might be able to remember more clearly if my financial situation cleared up. So, why don’t you have a word with Charlie. When you get back to me-depending on the news-I’ll either be talking to your investigator or the DA.”
CHAPTER 33
The morning after the sniper attack, Amanda slept late and didn’t get to the offices of Jaffe, Katz, Lehane and Brindisi until nine. When she opened the door to the reception area, Dennis Levy was talking excitedly on his cell phone. He broke off his call as soon as he saw Amanda and sprang out of his chair, almost knocking the latte she was holding out of her hand when he thrust a copy of World News at her.
“What do you think?” he asked proudly.
“Not much until I’ve had my coffee,” Amanda answered, taking a step back from the keyed-up journalist.
“Look,” Levy said, pointing just below the picture of Charlie Marsh that graced the magazine cover, where bright red block letters proclaimed, THE GURU RETURNS. Following the title was the byline, DENNIS LEVY.
“That’s my story,” Levy declared.
“Congratulations,” Amanda told him, impressed despite her dislike for the reporter.
Levy flipped the magazine open to his story and directed Amanda to a column on the second page. “I told you you’d get a lot of publicity out of this,” he said.
Amanda read the column. Sure enough, she was prominently featured as the lawyer Charlie had chosen to defend him.
“Mrs. Brice overnighted this copy to me. It is literally hot off the press.”
Amanda forced a smile. “It looks like you’re on your way, Dennis.”
“So, what are we doing this morning?”
“I’m not sure,” Amanda lied. “I do have other cases. Why don’t you wait out here while I get some caffeine in me and try to figure out my schedule? All that excitement at the courthouse threw it off.”
“Sure thing,” Dennis said.
As Amanda walked toward Kate’s office, she chanced a quick glance over her shoulder. Levy was smiling like the Cheshire Cat as he reread his magazine article. She couldn’t blame him for being proud.
Amanda knocked on Kate’s doorjamb. “I have a problem,” she told her investigator. “I’m interviewing Sally Pope and I do not want Jimmy Olsen’s evil twin tagging along.”
“Levy wants to look at the Pope file. I can set him up in the conference room and you can sneak out while he’s going through it.”
“You’re brilliant.”
“That’s why I get the big bucks.”
“Just make sure he understands that he has to leave the file the way he found it. I haven’t had a chance to go through it yet.”
“Will do. I’ll also take him with me when I interview Ralph Day.”
“Who?”
“He was Junior’s challenger in his last election.”
“Right. That should keep him out of my hair.”
WHILE HE WAITED for the receptionist to bring him coffee, Dennis studied the mountain of information spread across the conference table. The task of going through it was daunting but Levy loved research. He believed that it was his attention to detail that made him superior to the other reporters at World News.
Kate’s trial book made it easier for Dennis to work through the material. She had explained how she had organized everything from the file into piles relating to different topics. The first items Levy looked at were the autopsy report and photos, because he’d never covered any crime stories and he was curious. He flipped through them with only the tiniest emotional reaction and was pleased with himself. When he was through with the material concerning the cause of death, he pulled over another stack.
An hour later, Dennis squared off a group of reports and stood up. As he stretched, he noticed something sticking out of a pile of witness interviews. He pulled it out and gave it a cursory inspection. He was about to put it back when something caught his eye. He pulled it closer and squinted. Then his eyes grew wide and his heart began to beat rapidly.
“SO, WHAT’S IT like working for the Jaffes?” Dennis Levy asked as he and Kate drove to Ralph Day’s office. The reporter had been talking nonstop since he’d gotten in Kate’s car and he couldn’t sit still. The constant chatter and twitching was getting on Kate’s nerves.
“Most of the time it’s just routine stuff. You know, witness interviews, like today. Internet searches.”
“It must be pretty exciting when you’re investigating a big case, like Charlie’s.”
“The job has its moments,” Kate answered ambiguously, choosing to keep to herself the details of the harrowing situations in which she’d been involved since going to work for Jaffe, Katz, Lehane and Brindisi.
“Any background you can give me on Amanda? Things that aren’t public knowledge that might spice up my stories.”
“You mean like her affair with Brad Pitt or the identity of the father of her secret love child?” Kate answered, keeping her eyes on the road ahead.
Levy’s laugh sounded forced. “That’s good. Yeah, that would help sell magazines.”
“I’m afraid Amanda doesn’t have a lot of secrets and-if she did-she’d have to be the person to tell them to you.”
“Oh, come on. There’s got to be something.”
“What makes you think I’d dish dirt about a good friend?”
“So there is something to tell?” Dennis said eagerly. “You know World News could make this worth your while. You don’t have to work for a small firm your whole life. The publicity I can give you would definitely help your career.”
Kate held her temper. “That’s a good point,” she said evenly. “I’m certain every major law firm in the country would be eager to hire a private investigator willing to sell out every secret they had. I’ll remember to put in my résumé that I can be bought easily.”
Dennis colored as he realized that he’d gone too far. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I’m sure you didn’t,” Kate said, not bothering to mask her distaste.
“Hey, look, I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot. I don’t know what I was thinking. Let’s start over. Why don’t you tell me about the witness we’re going to interview?”
“We aren’t interviewing anyone, Dennis. Remember the ground rules? You’re just going to listen and you are not going to speak unless I say it’s okay.”
“Right, right. I get that. It was a figure of speech.”
“I’m glad we have that straight. Ralph Day was Junior’s opponent in the election. Pope defeated him the first time he ran for Congress but Day won when Junior was killed. Day was also at the Westmont on the evening the murder took place.”
“What do you think he can tell us…you…that will help Charlie’s case?”
“I have no idea.”
“Speaking of ideas, I got a few when I was going through the Pope file.”
“Such as?”
“We should talk to Werner Rollins. After he cut a deal with the cops, Rollins said he saw Marsh shoot Pope, but he could have been pressured to finger Charlie. Twelve years have gone by. Who knows what he’d say now. If he retracts his statement it will really help clear Charlie.”
Kate had never thought Levy was stupid-just obnoxious-and she was impressed by his insight.
“That’s good thinking, Dennis. I’ve been trying to find Rollins. He may be in Denver. I have a Colorado PI following up on a lead.”
“Great! Say, if you find him can I come along?”
“I’ll have to ask Amanda.”
“Oh, sure. Put in a good word for me, will you? I’d appreciate it.”