For Better or Worse

by Al Lamanda

  “What if Reed spent his time in Coleman planning revenge against Walt?” I said.

  “Walt wasn’t alone,” Jane said. “The FBI arrested him as well.”

  “I know that,” I said. “But if I’m right, he’s taking down Walt, and making the FBI look really foolish in the process.”

  “Any evidence of this?”

  “Not a shred.”

  “And you want to do…?”

  “Get the evidence I need to go after this guy.”

  Jane ate another piece of her steak. “I’m going to regret asking, but how?”

  “He’s not on parole, so he doesn’t have to report in,” I said. “But he’s been out a year, so he must have a driver’s license with an address on it.”

  “And you want me to get it for you?” Jane said.

  “What can it hurt to check him out?” I said.

  “With you involved, a lot,” Jane said. “But I’ll get it for you.”

  “Want dessert?” I said.

  “Who doesn’t?”

  * * *

  By the time we returned to Jane’s office, it was after midnight. Just a few deputies were on duty with a few cars on patrol.

  Jane did a search of Yann Michael Reed and gave me the address listed on his driver’s license.

  “How far can you go back on his license history?” I said.

  Jane hunted around in her computer and showed the first license issued to Reed when he was sixteen. The address was the same.

  “He’s living with his mom,” I said.

  “Alright, enough violating people’s privacy rights,” Jane said. “I have to be on duty at nine.”

  “Want to come back to my place?” I said.

  “I’ll won’t get any sleep, and I’ll walk in here with bags under my eyes,” Jane said. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Jane called her office and told her deputy taking calls that she needed to check something out and wouldn’t be in until ten.

  What she needed to check out was a few extra hours of sleep. She always kept a clean uniform in her cruiser and a small overnight bag.

  When she emerged from the trailer looking fresh and crisp, she sat beside me with a large mug of coffee.

  “I’m tired, Jack,” she said. “When this term is up I’ve decided not to run for re-election.”

  “You said that two election cycles ago,” I said.

  “Twenty-four years is enough,” Jane said. “How are we ever going to plan anything as a couple with me wearing the uniform?”

  “When is your term up?”

  “Two years.”

  “Let’s talk about it after Walt is acquitted,” I said.

  “Someone’s coming,” Jane said.

  “That would be Carly and her little rascals,” I said.

  Jane stood up. “Thanks for the coffee and nookie,” she said. “Call me later.”

  I watched Jane’s cruiser leave and Carly’s limo arrive and didn’t have to move a muscle.

  Carly poked her head out of the limo. “Had breakfast yet?” she said.

  * * *

  We went to the diner and ordered breakfast specials.

  Kagan planned to rehearse Walt one more time before the grand jury convened.

  Carly and Harry planned a review of all paperwork in case they overlooked a detail or two.

  “Napier is going to be tough to beat at the grand jury and even tougher in court if he gets an indictment,” Carly said. “So we need to be sure of every question, of every answer, of every fucking detail, no matter how small or large.”

  “This is personal for you,” Kagan said.

  “That son of a bitch Napier nearly sent me to prison and ruined my life,” Carly said. “I’d love nothing better than to shove the point of my stiletto heel up his bony ass.”

  “Let’s not lose sight of the fact that it’s Captain Grimes on trial for his life,” Kagan said. “Not your stiletto heels.”

  “What about you, Bekker, what do you plan to do today?” Carly said.

  “Take a ride in the country,” I said.

  * * *

  The Reed home was a small house about forty-five minutes north of town. It was in the middle of a quiet, tree-lined street in a nice neighborhood.

  A ten-year-old Ford sedan was parked in the driveway in front of a closed garage door. I parked across the street and watched the house for a while.

  The curtains were drawn in all the visible windows. I couldn’t tell if anybody was home. I decided to sit for a spell.

  A year ago, I would have smoked three or four cigarettes while I waited.

  Instead, I opened the lid on the deli container of coffee and took a sip.

  By the time the deli container was empty, I was rewarded when the front door opened and Reed and his mother appeared. They walked to the car and got in. Reed drove.

  I gave them a block lead and followed.

  Reed took me to the highway for several exits, and then got off and drove to the mall. He parked outside the food court and held his mother by the arm as they walked to the entrance.

  I parked a few rows back and took my time entering the food court. Mom was at a table. Reed was at the pizza stand. I wasn’t hungry, but I went to the burger stand and got a burger and coffee.

  I sat behind Reed and ate my burger. As he brought the pizza to his table, I used my cell phone to take a few photos of him.

  As soon as my burger was consumed, I took my coffee and left the food court.

  * * *

  Kagan had come and gone by the time I reached my house.

  I met with Walt in the backyard over a couple of glasses of cold lemonade.

  “Tell me about Yann Michael Reed,” I said.

  “That’s nine years ago, at least,” Walt said.

  “I know. I read the arrest report,” I said. “Tell me about him.”

  “He was some kind of computer genius,” Walt said. “Embezzled millions from his clients. It was his wife who fingered him after she found out he had a Russian mistress stashed in New York. I had to get the FBI involved, and we still couldn’t crack that egg. It took a federal warrant for the FBI to confiscate all of his computer crap. I was acting lieutenant at the time. That case made it permanent. Now, mind telling me why the interest?”

  “Reed and Smith were at Coleman at the same time,” I said.

  Walt looked at me. I could see the gears moving behind his eyes. “So they crossed paths,” he said. “You don’t think…?”

  “How was Reed at the trial?” I said.

  “As far as I remember, he never made a sound,” Walt said. “Even when the judge pronounced sentence, he didn’t say a thing.”

  “Did he take the stand in his own defense?” I said.

  “No, but he did take the stand for the prosecutor,” Walt said. “He spent more time staring at me than answering questions. I think back now, I remember he had those crazy Charles Manson eyes.”

  “He ever threaten you, say anything in court?”

  “No, never. Even when we arrested him, he kept his mouth shut.”

  “Did you attend his sentencing hearing?”

  Walt nodded. “The judge gave him the opportunity to speak, but he never said a word,” Walt said. “Sentence was pronounced, and he was ushered off to prison.”

  “Did they recover all the stolen money?” I said.

  “Hell if I know,” Walt said. “They recovered a lot and paid what they could to the victims, but who really knows?”

  “He’s been out close to a year,” I said. “Lives with his mother.”

  Walt looked at me. “Is it possible he teamed up with Smith to frame me?” he said.

  “Anything is possible,” I said.

  “It could be a coincidence tha
t they were at Coleman together, and nothing more.”

  “I don’t believe in coincidence,” I said. “I think he still has access to a lot of the money he embezzled, met Smith in Coleman, and concocted a scheme to get even with you and make the FBI look like fools in the process.”

  “Can you prove any of that?”

  “No, not yet.”

  “I’m running out of time, Jack,” Walt said. “No matter how many times Kagan rehearses me, and Carly discredits the witnesses in court, the six hundred thousand is a noose around my neck.”

  “I better get busy then,” I said. “Before that noose tightens.”

  * * *

  I parked across the street from the Reed home a few houses down and waited. The Ford sedan arrived near sunset, and I was ready with a digital camera that had a decent zoom lens.

  Reed parked in the driveway, and between him and his mother, they carried a dozen shopping bags into the house.

  While Reed carried bags, I got busy with the camera.

  Once they were in for the night, I took off.

  * * *

  At the trailer, I powered up the computer and downloaded the photos I took of Reed.

  I made some coffee and then drank a cup at the kitchen table while I reviewed the photos.

  Reed was about six-foot-two, the same height as Walt. He was a bit thinner, had lighter hair, and had blue eyes to Walt’s brown.

  But, it was possible.

  I used the landline phone to call Venus at home.

  “Well, well, John Bekker,” Venus said. “Let me guess, you need a favor.”

  “I do,” I said.

  “Concerning?”

  “Walt, what else?”

  “Knowing you, it could be anything,” Venus said.

  “Can you help?”

  “I don’t know, you haven’t asked me anything yet.”

  “Face recognition that you use to help victims identify a suspect, can you construct something for me?” I said.

  “When?”

  “Tomorrow, say, around ten,” I said. “I’ll be bringing the Little Rascals.”

  “Who?”

  “Walt’s defense team.”

  Venus sighed heavily. “Only for Walt,” she said. “Not for your dumb white ass.”

  “I owe you,” I said.

  “My house needs painting,” Venus said.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Before anybody could hop out of the limo, I opened the front passenger door and got in beside the driver.

  “We’re taking a detour,” I said.

  From behind me, Carly asked, “Where?”

  “Pat’s Donuts,” I said.

  * * *

  I sprung for three dozen donuts and a large box of joe. Two dozen went to the squad room, while a dozen went to Venus.

  As she bit into a Boston cream donut, Venus said, “Grey.”

  “What’s grey?” I said.

  “The new color of my house,” Venus said.

  Kagan sipped coffee to wash down a bite of a chocolate donut and then said, “Maybe you should tell us what’s going on here.”

  I handed Venus my camera. “Download the last dozen photos,” I said. Then I withdrew the report on Reed from my jacket pocket and handed it to Kagan.

  As Venus downloaded, Kagan, Carly and Harry read.

  “I remember this case,” Carly said. “I was a junior ADA at the time.”

  “He got out a year ago,” I said. “He was also in Coleman with Smith.”

  “Photos are ready,” Venus said.

  I scanned the dozen photos and selected a decent front shot. “That one,” I told Venus. “Let’s use that one.”

  Venus swirled her chair around to face another computer. She pulled up her program and downloaded the photo I selected.

  We ate donuts while she brought up the photo.

  “Okay, close in on his face,” I said.

  Venus zoomed in a bit on Reed’s face.

  “Add twenty-five pounds so his face is puffier,” I said.

  We watched as Venus added flesh to Reed’s face, making it softer and rounder.

  “Darken his hair and style it like Walt’s,” I said.

  Venus made the change to the hair.

  “Now give him brown eyes like Walt’s,” I said.

  Venus changed the eye color.

  “What do you think?” I said.

  Venus looked at me. Then she split the screen in half and pulled up a photo of Walt, so that he and Reed were side by side.

  “If you saw Reed looking like this just once seven months ago and then were shown this photo of Walt, what would you think?” I said.

  “I think you might think it’s the same guy,” Carly said.

  “I think you might be right,” I said. “Venus, can we get some hard copies of each and a side-by-side?”

  “Sure, and don’t forget grey is my favorite color,” Venus said.

  * * *

  As the limo whisked us to my house, Kagan said, “What was all that ‘my house, color grey’ stuff back there?”

  “I think in exchange for her services, I’m supposed to paint Venus’s house,” I said.

  Carly thought that funny and cracked up laughing. “Bekker, you’re such a sucker,” she said. “All she really wants is a roll in the hay.”

  “Remember the earrings,” I said.

  “Earrings might take offense to you painting another woman’s crotch,” Carly said. “I mean, house.”

  “What in God’s name are you people talking about?” Kagan said.

  “You know, if I was that banker and I was shown the photo of Walt seven months after the fact, I might make the same identification he did,” Harry said.

  “I think that’s Bekker’s point,” Carly said.

  “I realize that, but are we going to use it in court?” Harry said.

  “Do you know what an October surprise is?” Carly said.

  “Right before an election, something bad is reported to hurt the candidate’s chances,” Harry said.

  “Reed is going to be our October surprise,” Carly said.

  * * *

  Walt looked at the photo comparison and shook his head. “Son of a bitch,” he said.

  “All it took was for Reed to darken his hair and eyes and get a little fat to pull it off,” Carly said.

  “I’m not…” Walt said.

  “Especially after seven months,” Harry said.

  “We’ll have the jury so confused, they’ll have no choice but to dismiss,” Kagan said.

  “And what about this Reed?” Walt said. “Do you think if this is true, he’s just going to sit on his hands while I walk?”

  “No, I don’t,” I said. “Right now, the goal is to get you off. I’ll work on Reed.”

  “Chin up, Walt,” Carly said. “This is almost over. Alright, let’s go. We have a new line of questioning to consider.”

  “Give me a minute,” I said.

  After Walt and I were alone, Walt looked at me. “Jack, I don’t know what to say.”

  “How are you at painting houses?” I said.

  * * *

  While Carly, Kagan and Harry worked at the table, Regan, Oz and I hung out down at the beach.

  Regan brought her little pug, Cuddles, and they splashed around a bit in the low tide waves.

  “Look like Walt gonna be set free,” Oz said.

  “You never know what a grand jury is going to do, but it’s looking better for Walt,” I said.

  “Hey, Dad, let’s do a cookout!” Regan said.

  “Sounds good,” I said.

  I stood and walked to the trailer. “Who’s up for a cookout?” I said.

  “Why not?” Carly said. “We plan to work until dark
anyway.”

  “Call Campbell, tell her to bring the baby,” I said.

  I grabbed Oz and we drove to town. On the way, I called Jane and asked her to stop by.

  At the market, I picked up steak tips, burgers, dogs, chicken, baked beans, rolls, and bags of chips.

  Later, as the sun went down, I fired up the grill.

  Campbell arrived with Settina and Regan took over.

  A bit after that, Jane showed up in her cruiser.

  “What are we celebrating?” Jane asked.

  “Bekker is a lot smarter than he looks,” Carly said.

  “Well, hell, I thought everybody knew that,” Jane said.

  I grilled, Regan took care of Settina, and we ate in front of a large bonfire in the trashcan.

  The sun went down and the bonfire burned low.

  The limo whisked Regan and Oz home, so by nine o’clock, Jane and I were alone on the beach.

  She smoked a cigarette as we both sipped from mugs of coffee.

  “So, this little magic trick you pulled out of your hat might do the trick,” Jane said.

  She passed me the cigarette and I took a hit.

  “You never know about a grand jury,” I said. “A lot depends upon the presentation. Who does cross and how well it’s received. But the odds are looking much better.”

  “And Venus put this together for you?” Jane said.

  I gave her back the cigarette.

  “For Walt,” I said.

  “Uh-huh. And what’s the payment?” Jane said.

  “What makes you think there’s a payment?” I said.

  Jane blew a smoke ring and flared her nostrils at me. “A: she’s a woman. B: she has an itch. C: she wants you to scratch it,” she said.

  I looked at Jane.

  “Choose your words carefully,” she said.

  “You’re wearing the diamond earrings, not her, so I guess she’ll just have to find another back scratcher,” I said.

  Jane shrugged. “Not bad. Not exactly Hemmingway, but not bad,” she said. “Let’s go for a romp.”

  “In the water?” I said.

  Jane stood up and waked to the door of the trailer. “Sure,” she said. “Afterwards.”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Walt’s grand jury hearing began on Monday. Today was Saturday, and so far I’ve spent the morning parked diagonally across the street from the Reed home.