Trifecta

by Pam Richter

  Jay acted brilliantly indignant that Juan Carlos would come up with such an implausible story at this late date. He started pounding him with statements, one after another. They had declarations from Mike Garcia and Pete Estandos, both, that put him at the scene of the beating of Brian Monay. Sworn testimony of two eyewitnesses that Juan Carlos had believed Brian dying or dead when they left him in the road.

  Jay reiterated that Juan would be up on murder charges since Brian Monay had died in the hospital, because his intent, sworn to by the two other people with him that night, was to beat Brian Monay to death and make it look like a robbery.

  "Murder charges!" Jay thundered at Juan Garcia. "Do you understand? No one will believe an alibi, now. Your only hope is to make a deal, Juan Carlos. Right now. This minute. If you tell us who ordered the murder of Brian Monay, I will drop the charges to second degree murder. Otherwise you face the death penalty." He was silent for a few beats and lowered his voice to a calm whisper, looking with deadly implacability into Juan's shifty eyes. "Whether it's by lethal injection or the gas chamber, you are the dead man walking."

  In the viewing room, Tony was shaking his head in anguish, whispering to Julia as they watched with baited breath, "Damn, damn. Quijada got to him. Promised him an alibi for his silence."

  Julia watched intently through the glass. "He's afraid of Quijada. More than the murder charges. Quijada could get off in a trial. He has to confess. Put Quijada behind bars. Otherwise he really is dead."

  "I hope you're right," Tony said pessimistically. Neither was breathing as they watched in silence. Juan Carlos was mumbling something to his lawyer.

  Finally, after a long sullen silence, Juan looked down and sighed. He whispered, "Aaron Quijada."

  "Louder, please," Jay thundered. "For the record."

  "Aaron Quijada."

  There was a pause for the correct spelling of Quijada's name and his address.

  "And you were paid for this?" Jay asked.

  "No!"

  "Because Brian Monay didn't die. So you had to finish the job, didn't you?"

  Ed Riker, Juan Carlos's attorney, popped up in outrage. "Don't you answer that question, Juan Carlos. We're ending these proceedings, right now. Evidently there are new charges we have not yet been advised of."

  "To put it succinctly," Jay stated, "Mr. Money died at Cedars Sinai Hospital because life support equipment was sabotaged."

  Juan Carlos and his attorney huddled together in a corner whispering. Finally, Juan's lawyer said, "This interrogation will have to be continued at another time. My client is exhausted. The hour is late. You are using scare tactics on an innocent man." He went on and on about the rights of Juan Carlos.

  Julia felt let down. There should have been trumpets blaring, a drum roll, and lightening flashes, when Juan Carlos admitted that Aaron Quijada ordered her brother's murder. She turned to Tony, "Will they believe him? It's the word of a murderer, against that of a man who almost became the governor of California."

  Tony smiled. "It might be circumstantial, but I believe we've got Quijada. Pete and Mike said that Juan worked for Quijada. They'll probably pick Quijada up tomorrow morning. Maybe even tonight. Particularly if they find blood stains in Juan's car."

  Julia swiveled to look at Robin through the glass. He appeared to show no emotion, but he must be feeling some righteous triumph.

  Julia and Tony watched as everyone prepared to leave the interrogation room.

  "We'll have to wait a few minutes," Tony said. "Otherwise we might bump into Juan Carlos in the hallway."

  "I want to confront him," Julia said, getting out of her chair and hurrying to the door. She wanted to beat up the little guy herself.

  "No! Wait! You can't Julia," Tony said, jumping up to physically restrain her if he had to. He was too late.

  Julia ran out into the hallway. Juan Carlos was just a few feet away. They looked into each other's eyes. Julia noticed that he was shorter than she was. She might be able to fight him, but she would lose, because he preyed on the weak and helpless and fought dirty. She walked up to him slowly. It seemed like time stopped.

  "You murdered my only brother," Julia said, with great restraint. "A wonderful, valuable, talented person." She wanted to ask him how he could beat a man to death in cold blood. She wanted to hit him. He backed away, seeing her intent.

  "Get this filthy lying bitch away from me," Juan Carlos said with utter contempt.

  Thomas McQuery had been standing in the hallway and he stepped between the two of them. Julia could feel Tony pulling her away from the confrontation. Robin came out of the interrogation room and put his arm around her shoulders to guide her in the opposite direction, leading her to the elevators.

  "There will be justice for that little prick," Tony said consolingly.

  "No," Julia answered sadly. "My brother is gone."

  They all walked silently down the corridor toward the elevator, with Thomas McQuery in the rear.

  Robin finally said, "There can't be pure justice. But in this instance, I believe 'An Eye for an Eye' is the best we can do."

  Julia looked up at him. She didn't want him to think she was ungrateful for all he had done by her bitter remark, or take away from the victory he had achieved. "I agree. It's more than I ever hoped for, Robin. You'll let me know when they're going to pick up Quijada, won't you?"

  "The minute I hear," Robin promised. "I'll take you to see it myself."

  "Thanks." She glanced down, suddenly mute. The ring she was wearing might be an engagement ring. She was glad that Tony and Tom McQuery were with them as they stood waiting for the elevator.

  "I need a favor," Robin said to Julia as they stood in front of the ornate doors of the ancient and slow elevator. He was smiling. "Tomorrow is my father's birthday. There's going to be a party. He and Mom asked specifically if you would come. My dad's been following this case with interest."

  "Right now, I'd do anything you ask," Julia said smiling up at him.

  "Careful there," Tony interjected, slapping Robin on the back. "This boy is not shy."

  Julia hoped she wasn't blushing. "What I mean is, it would be an honor to go to your father's birthday party. Thank's for asking."

  Robin was looking at Julia in a puzzled way. She thought he was probably wondering if she knew his father was the famous senator.

  "We gotta talk logistics," Tom McQuery broke in. "Julia's staying in a hotel room. I don't think she wants me in there. Course, with what Robin's paying me, I'd prostrate myself in the hallway in front of the door. Sleep there..." He went on, "Julia won't be safe till Quijada's behind bars. Maybe not even then, if he's put out a contract."

  Julia felt her eyes and even her mouth open in astonishment. If a policeman thought she was in danger, then Robin hadn't been exaggerating about Quijada's plans for vengeance.

  The three men began arguing. Robin wanted to take her to his parents home. Tony said he had a guest room at his apartment, that she would be welcome to stay for a few days. Thomas McQuery said it didn't matter where she was, he would stay there, too. The elevator came and the doors opened slowly and then closed again.

  During the arguement Jay caught up with them and said Julia could stay with him. They all nodded in agreement that she shouldn't be alone in a hotel room.

  "Just talk around me. I'm a lamp," Julia finally said.

  "What do you want to do?" Robin asked.

  "It's late and my things are at the hotel. It's nice of all of you to invite me to stay at your homes, but Mr. McQuery can sleep in my room. There's a side alcove with a bed." She turned to the policeman. "Would that be all right with you? I would appreciate your being there."

  Thomas McQuery nodded, "Fine with me."

  They all entered the elevator. Robin put his arm around her, leaned close and whispered, "I wanted to take care of you." He was looking at her very intently.

  Julia took a big breath to respond. She was prevented from answering when Tony started congratulating Jay on the wa
y he had conducted the interviews. Jay said legal documents authorizing a search of Quijada's home were now on the way to a judge.

  CHAPTER 28

  The hotel room had an amazing number of full length mirrors; on the bathroom door, the closet doors, and even the hallway into the suite. Julia would have loved to walk around nude. She thought here was a minuscule swelling in her lower abdomen and her breasts had become larger. But Thomas McQuery was there and she would have to forgo the pleasurable nightly ritual; admiring the marvelous changes a baby was bringing to her.

  When she got in bed she was positive she would never sleep. There was the prospect of seeing Quijada arrested tomorrow. Then she would be meeting Robin's parents, a daunting thought sure to keep her awake for hours. She looked across the room. McQuery had been out as soon as his head hit the pillow and he snored gently and rhythmically, like a growling lion, still fully dressed but with his shoes off, on top of the covers.

  As she was wondering what to wear to the senator's birthday party tomorrow, Julia heard the phone ringing and realized that hours had gone by. She had been asleep. Drugged with exhaustion, she could barely lift her eyelids.

  In the time it took for her to roll over to pick up the telephone receiver by the side of the bed, McQuery was already there and had grabbed it.

  "Yes. Right now? I'll see if she wants to go," McQuery said after listening for a few moments. He hung up.

  "What is it?" Julia asked, rubbing her eyes as she looked at the bedside clock. It was five-thirty in the morning.

  "Robin called. The D.A.'s office got a tip. Quijada's on the run. Probably leaving for Mexico. There must have been a leak about Juan Carlos admitting his boss ordered the hit. If you want to catch this, we have to leave now."

  Julia leaped out of bed and pulled on the clothing she had worn the day before, running her fingers through her hair distractedly as she gathered up her cameras.

  McQuery was holding the door open impatiently as she slung her purse and the bulky camera bag over her shoulder and they thundered down the hallway, got the elevator to the parking garage and ran through the dimly lit garage to McQuery's car.

  As she buckled in, McQuery said, "I'm going to be speeding, so hold on tight. Oh, get the light in back."

  Julia looked in the back seat and saw the warning bubble light that flashed on the top of police cars. She unbuckled her belt to reach it and was thrown sideways against the door as McQuery screeched around the curving ramp out of the garage. Julia managed to get hold of the warning light and handed it to McQuery. He rolled down the window and slapped it on the roof when they paused, before turning right on Century Boulevard. He flipped a switch and the siren began to wail.

  McQuery was driving like a madman, running all the red lights, but he appeared totally calm as he said, "Since Quijada's going to be charged with murder, and there's drug smuggling charges pending, there'll be a swat team. We don't need the extradition problems if he gets away, so it's all going down fast. You can watch, but we'll have to stay way back, out of the way."

  Whew, this is big time, Julia was thinking. Light was filling the sky and the ultra sensitive film she had loaded yesterday would be all wrong. Another sunny day in Los Angeles. Julia changed film with trembling fingers as the car sped through the dawn. When she glanced at the speedometer she noted McQuery was driving the deserted streets at almost 100 miles per hour.

  They screamed through Beverly Hills, took a left on Sunset, and then were on Bel-Air Road heading for Quijada's home. McQuery turned off the siren and slowed down, as there were a number of vehicles on the road now, all heading up the hill. There was a road block where McQuery had to stop and show identification. The policeman at the barricade nodded at Julia with a questioning look and McQuery said, Press. They were waved on.

  McQuery parked a few blocks down the hill from Quijada's residence, which was hidden from view by the winding road. As they walked up the road, brightening minute by minute in the morning sun, Julia got out her camera to check it one last time.

  McQuery went over to several policemen clustered together in the road wearing odd black uniforms and she followed him. The swat team. They had rifles hung with leather straps over their shoulders, so Julia thought that they would be getting in position soon. McQuery was telling them about how two armed men had been with Quijada the night before, holding guns on Julia and Robin. They were talking excitedly about the prospect of armed resistance.

  Julia looked around. She would have to get closer and be in position when the police knocked on Quijada's door. McQuery was busy telling the swat team about the fire power Quijada's men had held last night. He didn't notice when she moved away.

  Men from two police cars were conferring with bent heads, holding maps. An ambulance had arrived and parked near the police cars. The swat team was clustered around McQuery and their own team leader. No one was paying attention as she went up the road, around a bend, and everyone was lost to view.

  Julia jogged up several blocks, hoping she would appear like a local resident out for some early morning exercise. She finally saw that the big gates in front of Quijada's mansion were open. Walking slowly past, feeling the hair rise on her arms, she peeked inside the grounds. There wasn't any movement. A stretch limousine was parked in the driveway, probably ready for a quick and luxurious getaway to Mexico later this morning. Bruno must be inside the house if the gates were open. Looking behind her Julia could see a black and white police car coming slowly, officially, up the road. Julia knew she would lose her chance if she hesitated.

  Turning around, Julia quickly backtracked, went inside the gates and ran over beside a large oak tree at the left side of the property, positioning herself so that she would not be seen from inside the windows of the home. She felt pretty safe because she was within a cluster of trees. There was a lot of dense foliage at the front of the property. It was hard for her to believe she had walked right in without anyone preventing her from doing so.

  As Julia gazed around she could see men in black uniforms positioned on top of the walls of the estate. It was as though they had suddenly materialized, because moments ago there had not been a soul in sight. There were two lethal looking black shapes to the right of her, and one on the left wall. The man on the left was motioning angrily at her. He obviously wanted her to scram.

  Julia turned away and pretended she didn't notice, but she managed a quick picture of him crouched on the wall, holding the camera at waist level, long experience telling her the correct angle to position the camera. She took pictures of the other two swat members also, dodging stealthily out from between the trees to do so.

  Then she turned around and got a picture of the police car now parked in front of the gate, barring exit to the property. She knelt down to snap pictures over a banana tree with wide, light green fronds. She was still snapping when Jay got out of the police vehicle, carrying a briefcase, and started walking up the drive with a blue uniformed policeman on either side of him. He was wearing a grey pin striped suit and looked tiny standing between the two burly policemen at the front door.

  Jay knocked on the door and it opened partially, after a long time went by. Julia couldn't tell who was at the door because all was dark inside and the angle was wrong with the door only open about a foot. Jay opened the briefcase and handed it to a policeman to hold while he withdrew some documents, which he handed to the shadowed person inside. Julia could see him talking, but couldn't make out what he was saying.

  The bull-like figure of Quijada emerged for a moment from the doorway dressed in a scarlet and black brocade lounging coat. He handed the papers back to Jay. One of the policemen went inside with Quijada. Then the door slammed sharply in Jay's face.

  It seemed like hours went by as Julia waited with her camera poised on the front door. The day was getting warm and the camera bag was heavy. Julia shrugged it off her shoulder. Quijada was probably changing his clothes and calling his lawyer. She anticipated that the following sequence would be a le
t down for the hyper, excited swat team. They were ready for action, but Quijada was too smart to resist.

  Finally Jay knocked on the door again. Julia took a moment to look around. The gateway to the property was now filled with policemen and officials. The real press had arrived and they were taking pictures. They were being restrained and had to stay back. She saw Thomas McQuery there, frowning at her. He motioned to come outside. Julia shook her head and smiled at him. She searched the crowd to see if Robin was there, but couldn't locate him in the crowd.

  Then Quijada was at the door dressed in a lightweight blue suit. He held his arms in front of him and the policeman at the door put on the cuffs. Quijada had his head lowered and Julia wasn't having any success at getting a picture of his face as the cuffs were locked in place. Jay, Quijada and the two policemen all started down the circular path to the gate. They would be walking right by her and Julia held the camera poised. Quijada was practically bowed over so that no one could get pictures of his humiliation.

  Julia moved out of her hiding place, bumping her head on a branch of the oak tree as she straightened up from her crouched position. She went to the edge of the walkway. Quijada might have a violent reaction if he saw her there. Maybe she could get some kind of confession or an angry word. She knew, even with his head bent, that he could see her, but something was missing. Julia couldn't figure it out. Then it came. She was within a few feet of the man, but she couldn't smell him. That awful perfume he always wore. And she had a close-up of the top of his head through the viewing lens of the camera. It was all wrong.

  "Mr. Quijada?" Julia said, as he went slowly past.

  No reaction.

  Julia stood there frowning. Then she shouted. "Jay! You've got the wrong man!"

  When her voice rang out, the man moving with Jay and the two policemen looked back at her, startled. It wasn't Quijada.

  She was afraid she might have been mistaken and too hasty, but when she actually saw his face, she knew she was right. The man resembled Quijada remarkably. Probably an extra from one of Quijada's movies, or a relative. Undoubtedly paid an enormous sum to impersonate Quijada so the murdering drug lord could get away.