“This is Annie Lincoln.” She fumbled for words, unsure what to say. “Where are you, Mr. Norton?”
Another hesitation. “I can’t tell you that, but I … I’ve been watching the news. They’ve got it all wrong. I’m not a murderer, Mrs. Lincoln.”
“Then why don’t you turn yourself in and clear your name?”
“Because I wouldn’t last a day. I’d be killed like Werner Shaft was.”
“Killed? By who?”
“I can’t tell you that either. I can only tell you I’m innocent and I want you to prove it.”
“If you’re innocent, Mr. Norton, my husband and I will do whatever we can, but we have nothing to go on. I’ll need your complete participation and you’ll have to tell me everything.”
There was a pause on the line, silence for so long Annie thought the caller hung up.
“Are you still there?” she asked.
“I’m here.” A deep breath, and then, “I can tell you this. Werner Shaft, his brother Rocky, and I, were involved in a heist a few months ago. It was drug money. Rocky got wind of a big deal going down, so we teamed up and intercepted the money. We agreed to put it away for two years. Not touch it until everything blew over.”
“So you think they found out who did it and they’re after all three of you?” Annie asked.
“No. They had no idea who it was.” Norton sighed. “But I believe Rocky got antsy for the money. He was impatient and was always after us to split it up. We refused. I believe he killed his brother and now he’s after me. He’s greedy that way. He wants it all for himself and he doesn’t want to wait.”
“But to kill his own brother?” Annie said.
“Worse things have taken place over money.” He sighed again. “I wished I’d never gotten involved with those two. They were both bad news from the start. As you probably know, Werner and I did some time in prison together. It was through his carelessness we got caught, and I should’ve stayed as far away from both of them as I could.”
“Mr. Norton, someone hired a hitman to kill my husband and me. Was it you?”
“Why would I do that? I want you to prove my innocence. I’m tired of running for my life. If it means going back to prison for the heist—fine, but I’m not going down for murder.”
Annie came to the only possible conclusion. “Do you think Rocky Shaft is out to kill you?”
“Probably. He killed Werner Shaft and he’s after me. And now he’s after you to keep you from finding out the truth.”
“What about the evidence against you?” Annie asked.
“What evidence?”
“A shell casing with your prints on it.”
Norton chuckled. “Planted. It wouldn’t have been hard for Rocky to get ahold of that at one time or another. Probably took it right out of my gun. We hung around from time to time. Had a few beers together, things like that. He had a lot of opportunity.”
“There was a witness that identified your car.”
“Again, not so hard. My wife was babysitting that night and I was at home. My car was parked in the driveway. He could easily have borrowed it without me knowing. Did the witness get the license plate number?”
“No, just the make and model.”
“Then it could’ve been another car the same as mine. Possibly picked it up somewhere. Or borrowed it for the occasion from an unsuspecting person.”
“Why didn’t he kill you as well, or at least attempt to?” Annie asked.
“That wouldn’t serve his purpose. He was using me as a patsy for Shaft’s murder. Kill two birds with one stone, and then grab the money.”
“What about your wife?” Annie asked.
“Tammy doesn’t know anything about this at all.”
“We talked to Tammy, Mr. Norton. She finally admitted you assaulted her on occasion.”
Norton sighed. “We argued a lot and sometimes things got physical. I’ll admit that, but there’re a few marks on me as well.”
“Why should I believe that?”
“You don’t have to. It’s unfortunate, yes, but it has nothing to do with any of this.”
“Fair enough,” Annie said. “But how am I going to prove your innocence?”
“By proving Rocky Shaft’s guilt.”
“Of course, but all the evidence is stacked against you. Nothing against him.”
“There has to be something.”
“Mr. Norton,” Annie said. “At the beginning of our conversation, you said you feared for your life. But if Rocky only wants to frame you for murder, why the fear?”
“Because, like you said, all the evidence is stacked against me. With me dead, and perhaps my body buried somewhere forever, the case will be closed, and my guilt will be proven as far as the police are concerned.”
“So Rocky frames you, you disappear, and it’s game over. Case closed.”
“Exactly.”
Annie had a lot to think about now. Assuming Michael Norton was being totally truthful with her, she needed to find some evidence against Rocky Shaft. That was like fighting an uphill battle, with everyone convinced Norton was the murderer.
“Leave it with me,” she said. “I’ll see what I can come up with.”
“One favor, Mrs. Lincoln?”
“Yes?”
“Leave my wife out of this. I don’t want her to be concerned for my safety.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“I’ll pay your fees once you clear me. Don’t worry about that.”
“We’re already being paid by Maria Shaft to look into this.”
“Yes, I know. I saw that on the news, but it’s worth it to me if you clear my name.”
“I’ll do my best,” Annie said.
Norton thanked her and hung up. She put the phone down thoughtfully. This was an interesting development indeed.
She picked up the phone again and called Hank’s cell.
“Detective Hank Corning.”
“Hank, I got a phone call from Michael Norton. He claims he’s innocent.” She gave him a brief rundown on the conversation. “I recorded it and I’ll get a copy to you immediately.”
Hank whistled. “That could put a whole new light on things. Hold onto it and I’ll pick it up as soon as I can.”
“I’ll make a copy right now and have it ready,” Annie said.
Chapter 25
Wednesday, 12:49 p.m.
AS SOON AS JAKE arrived home, Annie stepped into the living room and called him into the office. He could tell something was up by the look on her face.
He followed her in, eased into the guest chair, and sat dumbfounded as she played back the phone call from Michael Norton.
“I’ve got a copy ready for Hank,” she said. “We’ll see what he makes of it.”
Jake sat quietly a moment, trying to digest what he heard. “It all sounds logical,” he said at last. “And if it’s the whole truth, then Rocky Shaft has covered his tracks pretty well.”
“I’m sure he slipped up somewhere. We have to find out where,” Annie said thoughtfully, and then her face brightened. “How’s Sammy?”
“He’s good. He sends his greetings. He’s still living in the same castle, and he says—” His voice trailed off, interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. It was Sammy Fisher.
“I have some good news for you, Detective Jake.”
Jake put the phone on speaker. “Already?”
Sammy chuckled. “I’ve been living out here a long time,” he said. “I make it my business to get to know people, and I know how to ask subtle questions. I knew exactly who to turn to for answers this time.”
“What did you find out?” Jake asked.
“You’re right about Punky Brown being a two-bit hood. He’s not shy about making it known he aspires to be a hitman. People I talked to said he just got out of prison where he claimed to learn a thing or two. He’s been putting the word out among the darker criminal elements—you want somebody done? Call Punky.” Sammy laughed. “Sounds like a cheap business card.”