“Manny, this is the young man I told you about, Jason McDermott,” Carl said. Jason McDermott was the same height as Manny with light brown hair, a handsome face, and Manny noticed as he shook his hand, manicured nails. He did look all business. “He’s familiar with the other side’s tactics, as I explained to you.”
Christ this guy looks expensive, was Manny’s first inclination. “I don’t know if I’m comfortable with this Carl?” Manny spoke. “I think it makes me look like I have something to hide.”
“Manny, you don’t understand the system,” McDermott answered for Carl. “Detective Swenson thinks he’s just doing his job. He is trying to find the guilty party and he is allowed certain liberties. He can sweat you—hoping you trip up—giving him what he needs. You are down here for questioning and please remember, you are on his turf and as long as he is fixated on you, you have to be careful.”
“But I’m not guilty.”
“He doesn’t know that. Until he’s confident you’re not, he’s dangerous. My job is to protect you from him and the system. You say the wrong thing, and this can go on and on. Would you like that?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then you need me.”
“I guess.”
“Good, you stick to what I told you over the phone, and if anything makes you uncomfortable, stop and we talk about it, okay?”
“Who said talk is cheap, with your fee,” Manny grumbled.
“Manny, for gosh sakes, this is not about money,” Carl spoke up, “this is about your very freedom. This is about being able to afford the very best, when you really need it.”
“I’m not concerned about the money, per say. It just irritates me to think that this bozo cop can push me around like this, on a hunch,” Manny said as he pulled open one of the heavy oak doors, stepping back to let the two attorneys go ahead of him.
*
“Mr. Anderson, you keep trying to put the blame on Mr. Crane, why is that?” Detective Swenson was half sitting on the edge of his desk, eyeing Manny. Manny, McDermott and Andrews were all seated in Swenson’s office.
“Because, I’m not guilty,” Manny defended, “but someone else is, and he looks like a good enough candidate to me.”
“Not to me Mr. Anderson, he looks clean. I think I told you before, Mr. Crane isn’t the fastest car on the track. I think you are though, faster than normal that is. I don’t know if all this was in your head before you ran into Crane or you recognized the perfect patsy, and decided to use the opportunity.”
“What’s supposed to be in my head?” Manny agonized.
“Your mid-life crisis, the reason you tried to get rid of your wife. She spoke of it to me.”
“Swenson, get it out of your head, I don’t want to get rid of my wife!”
“Why did you hire a hit on her then?”
“I didn’t!” Manny was getting exasperated.
“You’re the only one I can think of, might have a reason.”
“You’re obviously missing something, then, Detective. What about the person that removed the computer material?”
“Yes, that looks suspicious, but again, I think it was you.”
“I don’t know how to do it, everybody has told you that!”
“We’re back to the hired gun again, aren’t we?”
“I haven’t hired anybody.”
“You spent a lot of time in New York, a lot of hours unaccounted for. You want to come clean? You’re hiding something Sir! We will find out everything, Mr. Anderson.”
“There is nothing to find, believe me Detective, nothing at all!”
“Then you tell me, Mr. Anderson, in your mind, what is going on, who wanted your wife dead?”
“How the hell should I know, you’re the detective. Eddy Crane has something to do with it, I’m sure of that.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere. Of course Crane is connected. He was supposed to take the fall when your wife was killed. Somebody set him up brilliantly. If it hadn’t been for your mutt—”
“George. The mutt’s name was George,” Manny interrupted.
“Yes, of course. George is the real hero, isn’t he?” Swenson leaned toward Manny, inferring it as an insult. “If George hadn’t intervened, your wife wouldn’t have had a chance, and we’d probably have nailed Crane for the murder. But fate stepped in and saved the likes of him. Weird huh? Now tell me Mr. Anderson, who else besides yourself had any contact with Eddy Crane?”
“Who the hell is manipulating Crane, that’s the key?” Manny looked at Swenson.
“Brilliant Manny!” Swenson jumped up. “You see Anderson, it all points right back at you, and any moment now, my people will find the connection. We can all save a lot a time and the tax payer’s money, if you come clean. In the long run, it will be easier on you too, after all nobody got hurt. You have a good lawyer here,” Swenson indicated McDermott. “things shouldn’t go too bad for you. You fess up right here, and you’ll spend a lot less time behind bars than you deserve, I can guarantee that.”
“Why go after Cassey, what would there be to gain?” Manny was thinking, looking at McDermott.
“Look, Mr. Anderson, we have the phone records from Eddy Crane’s home in Yuma,” said Swenson said, still on his track. “You called him from the Minneapolis airport and New York. You sent him to Alexandria, and if it hadn’t been for George, he would have been nailed with the crime. I know he’s not one to deserve any sympathy, but neither is the person who is doing this. An innocent woman was supposed to be murdered.”
Manny didn’t say anything, he was thinking furiously. What are we missing?
“You know Mr. Anderson, your silence doesn’t help your situation. Ignoring me won’t make me go away,” Swenson advised.
“What will Swenson?” Manny shouted, surprising everyone in the room. “I’ve had about enough of this peckerhead!” Manny started to stand. He had lost his temper, but Jason quickly grabbed his shoulder, steering him back down into his chair.
“I can’t figure out if you got lucky, or planned it all real careful?” Swenson said continuing to apply the pressure.
Manny remained silent, steaming, with Swenson staring him down.
After half a minute of quiet, Swenson spoke. “What was it Mr. Anderson, luck, or good planning?”
“I don’t know what you’re referring too?” Manny said, his teeth clenched.
“The hit! Who did you hire to commit the actual crime? We know Crane was going to take the fall, but who actually was out there, who did George tear into? I’ll bet they aren’t too happy with you, forgetting to tell them about that big, old, hound in the back seat. How that person has managed to elude us so far, like I said, is either really lucky, or really well planned.”
“Well, it’s simple Swenson, there is no one.”
“Mr. Anderson!” Swenson got up from his desk quickly, pointing at Manny. “Someone killed your dog, someone scared the shit out of your wife, and someone left a truck full of blood at the Minneapolis airport. The blood matches the blood found on George’s teeth. There is someone Mr. Anderson, someone that you hired! Now, who the hell is this person? I’m losing my patience, Sir!”
“I repeat detective, I don’t know! I had nothing to do with the attack on my wife! I know George is always with her Detective, think about that one.” Manny could see Swenson frown. Manny hadn’t thought about it before Swenson brought it up, but whoever was involved hadn’t realized that George always rode with Cassey.
“Is this true Manny?” McDermott asked. “Cassey always took the dog in her SUV, and you knew this?”
“Yes, always. Of course no one watching her would have realized that because George always stayed on the back floor, loved to go back there and sleep.”
“Detective Swenson, I think we have an issue here?” McDermott said. “You’ve discounted Edward Crane because he had no dog bites. My client surely would have informed anyone he sent to harm his wife of the existence of that dog. Don’t you think?”
/>
“He could have overlooked some of the details. Sometimes this happens. A third party was hired, and a detail was missed. I guess it wasn’t good planning, but good luck after all, hey Mr. Anderson?”
“Whatever! I’m truly sick of you and your pigheaded assumptions, Swenson. You do get stuck like glue.”
“Why thank you. That’s what I’ve been trying to impress on you. That’s why you need to talk to me now. I will find out what happened, how you fit into all this,” Swenson continued, confidently.
Manny was about to speak to try to make some kind of point to the detective, but said nothing, just looking at Swenson with a frustrated look on his face. Manny finally reverted to a shrug.
McDermott, sensing the impasse, spoke. “Well, regardless, I think this meeting is over, don’t you Detective?”
“I don’t want you leaving town Mr. Anderson,” Swenson ordered.
“Is that an order of the court, or a personal request?” McDermott asked as he, Carl, and Manny got up to leave.
“I want Mr. Anderson where I can find him, if I need him,” Swenson instructed.
“You call my office, and Mr. Anderson will be available within twenty-four hours. Is that satisfactory Detective Swenson?” McDermott asked as they walked through the door.
Swenson said nothing, just stared out the window.
*
“You think he took the thing about George serious? I mean, I don’t look as guilty to him now, do I?” Manny asked.
“Hard to say what he’s thinking,” McDermott answered. “Maybe it was just a bit of miscommunication in his head. He’s going to need something a little more solid than that to dissuade him, I’m afraid.”
“What is it with these guys, don’t they ever give up?” Manny asked. “I’m tired of the onslaught on my integrity. I don’t deserve this.”
“You’ve got to understand the mentality, Manny. Swenson and his type are necessary, they help keep us relatively safe. If you were really guilty, you’d be more than just annoyed with him, you’d be damn scared, isn’t that right?”
“Got me there,” Manny conceded. “You just earned your pay.”
“You did well Manny. Stuck up for yourself at the right moments, put lots of holes in the Detective’s assumptions. He might just come through for you.”
“I’d enjoy watching him gnaw some other bone besides mine, that’s for sure true.”
Chapter 31
Manny headed for his car, the blustering cold wind pulling at his over coat making it difficult to walk properly. Manny was being real deliberate, moving carefully on the glaring ice.
Damn this weather, I hate this slippery shit. The worst sound in the world, walking on the snow and it squeaks like this. That means it is really cold! This is the worst part about winter, someday I’m going to bust my butt.
Manny walked past the front of his car, gliding his left hand on the hood, using the car for support. With his left hand still sliding along the hood he rounded the front, moving cautiously toward the driver’s door. When he’d gotten as far as the windshield, he reached out for the door handle with the other hand, half turning to face the car. Just as he touched the handle, his left heel came down on the ice and slipped out from under him. Manny grabbed the door handle, still holding on as his body continued to turn, falling toward the ice. Everything happened so fast, the explosion of sound and the sharp blow to the side of his cheek didn’t register immediately, but he let go of the car door handle, continuing down. The side of his face brushed the hard ice as he hit the ground. Manny started to shake his head, trying to clear his thoughts, but a big drop of blood splattered on the ice and he could feel a stinging in his left cheek.
Manny put his gloved hand up to his cheek and then looked at it. It was covered with blood.
*
When the authorities go over and over the incident with Manny, he cannot explain why he rolled under the car, immediately, saving himself. Not allowing whoever had tried to kill him another clear shot. The next thing Manny knew he’s squirming under his car, trying to get to the other side. Somewhere in his confused mind two more loud bangs registered.
It wasn’t until he was in the hospital, and the doctors and nurses were checking him over that they discovered another superficial flesh wound, basically a scratch across his calf. The forensic people find a ricochet mark on the ice, just below the car door, and a dent from a bullet on the bottom of the muffler. They find a bullet lodged deep in the sheet metal just below the door, between the car frame and body panel.
“All the bitching and belly aching about the snow and ice and it ends up saving my sorry ass, go figure?” Manny said laughing, sitting up on the doctor’s table, Detective Swenson looking at him. Manny can’t figure if the look of concern from the Detective is for him, or the complexity his case has now taken on.”
“Do you know of anyone that would like to harm you?” Swenson asked.
“Yeah, probably the man who attacked Cassey, or do you think I set this up too?”
“It’s unlikely. Someone tried to kill you, I’m pretty sure of that,” Swenson announced.
“Well, thank you Detective!” Manny returned gleefully. “I was worried that you would assume this was all part of my master plan.”
“No, Mr. Anderson, it is very apparent that someone wants you dead. Missing a little detail like George in the back seat may have come back to haunt you.”
“What the hell are you getting at Swenson?” Manny shouted. “Do you think I’m still involved?”
“More than ever Mr. Anderson. This just confirms my suspicions.”
“I don’t believe this guy!” Manny shouted exasperated, looking at the doctor for some support.
“What is it with you?” Manny turned back to Swenson. “I told you, the original guy is still out there and now he’s shooting at me.”
The doctor didn’t even look up, working diligently to bandage Manny’s calf.
We no doubt have a real professional here, making sure I’ll be fit and healthy so they won’t have to carry me up to the gallows. I’ll be able to make it all on my own, Manny thought, watching the doctor.
“Yes, Mr. Anderson, the case has taken a nasty turn,” Swenson said, a little hesitation caught Manny off guard. He almost thought the detective was sympathizing, until he added, “For you because pissed off accomplices can be quite dangerous,” Swenson continued, “as you just found out. The original crime was botched, and now whoever you hired is trying to cover their tracks. You see, Mr. Anderson, you should have told me who you hired, and all this could have been prevented. You nearly died because of your stubbornness to do the right thing.” Swenson had a little patronizing smirk on his face.
“Where’s Crane, are you looking for him?” Manny asked.
“Already found him,” Swenson came back. “He’s still in Yuma, right there at home. I just got off the phone with the locals. Look Mr. Anderson, we’ve checked Eddy Crane out. We gave him a real close look after the incident with your wife, and I can tell you, he never was a gun person, never shot guns. His brother said he was afraid of them, and afraid of everything. Crane even tried to go to a survival school, one of those white supremacist things a few years back. They had a part on sniper training, and Eddy Crane couldn’t hit a bull in the ass with a spade. He was remembered, real clearly, as a complete incompetent with a gun.”
“There’s your connection. Crane met someone there, and he’s the one that’s hiring people,” Manny surmised.
“No Mr. Anderson, no way, because Eddy made no friends there. He wasn’t too well liked, and he came off as an insignificant wannabe. They just wanted his money. I’m sure of all this information because there was a government plant in the group.”
“I’ll bet you’re real sorry the SOB missed!”
“No, Mr. Anderson, that would spoil my fun. You think you’re going to get away, and I’m just as sure you’re not.”
“Did they break the mold after they cast you?”
&n
bsp; “Insults are not in your best interest, Mr. Anderson.”
“You are something else Detective! You’re determined to ruin my life and you’re concerned with insults. You’re trying your very best to malign me with my family, my friends, and you don’t like me criticizing your methods. When this is over—”
“Are you threatening me, Mr. Anderson?” Swenson was quick to cut Manny off.
“It sounds like he is, and I’ll be right there helping him out, anyway I can,” McDermott exclaimed, stepping out from behind the screen in the emergency room. Carl Andrews was right behind him. “Until you have more than just suppositions, Detective, you’d better take a look at all the possibilities.”
“Are you making suggestions on how to do my job?”
“Yes, Detective, I am. I played on your side of the fence too, you know, and you’re getting off base. When Mr. Anderson is found innocent, your methods will come back to haunt you.”
“Okay, Mr. Anderson, I’m going to give you my undivided attention,” Swenson announced. Let’s look at everything again, from your perspective this time, and see what we’re overlooking. Fair enough?”
“My god Swenson, you do have a circulatory system,” Manny snipped.
“Enough of the smart ass stuff, Manny, the man is willing to listen,” Andrews said.
“My gosh Carl, you used a bad word there,” Manny laughed.
“Manny, you’ll never change,” Carl returned.
“Gentlemen, Manny says he’s innocent and I believe him,” McDermott added. “Why does he look so bad to the detective here? That’s what we need to know?”
“When did this all start?” Swenson asked.
“I guess, Billy Palmer,” Manny answered.
“What does he have to do with all this? I presume he’s the Vietnam vet your wife told me about?” Swenson asked.
“Yes, we went to his funeral, and I decided to look into his life,” Manny replied.
“Why?” Swenson asked.
“Andrews can explain it,” Manny stated.
“I’m not sure I think the same as you do, Manny. I don’t see any mystery about what happened to Billy,” Carl returned.
“Just tell me about this Palmer,” the detective said.
“We grew up with Billy,” Carl said. “He was a kind of a rouge, even before the war. He went off to Vietnam and when he came back, he just didn’t click anymore. He was sort of a loose cannon.”
Billy Palmer Page 19