Money Creek

by Anne Laughlin

“Are those the dudes who were killed? Never heard of them.”

  “You know we’ll be able to place you with one or both of them. Not telling us about it now hurts your case,” Freya said.

  Stingy leaned back in his chair as if he were relaxing at the end of a busy day. “I don’t have a case because I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Really? In an area as small as this, no one in the drug community told you that Hughes and Barnes were killed in a home invasion Saturday night? I find that really hard to believe.”

  “That’s your problem, not mine. This conversation is over. I want a lawyer.”

  This didn’t surprise Freya, but her heart sank all the same. “Fine. Get your lawyer. We’ll question you again with your attorney.”

  Freya and Ben stayed seated as Stingy was led out of the room. “This is bad. We’ll be lucky to hold him twenty-four hours now that he’s lawyered up,” Ben said. They got up and walked back to their office. Freya stopped at the front desk and asked the deputy there to call her when Stingy’s attorney arrived.

  “I don’t believe him for a second. He knows those people and he knows they were murdered. But knowing and showing are two different things,” Freya said.

  They waited.

  * * *

  Clare sat at her desk with her head cradled in her arms, sick with the thought of the conversation at Elizabeth’s the night before. She was to meet Elizabeth later in the morning to give her a status report on the brief and memorandum. She was prepared enough to impress, but she couldn’t escape the fact that she was the sort of person Elizabeth said she hated. Thomas was due any moment to go over their progress and determine how much was left to do. She craved more meth. She’d brought some with her from home, determined to not take more but making sure she could if she decided to. She slipped the paper packet, a credit card, and a dollar bill into her pants pocket and made her way to the washroom. It was a one-seater, so she had privacy. She set out her supplies, opened the packet and sniffed up two lines, instantly feeling more alert and a little buzzy.

  Thomas was waiting in her office when she returned. “What time do you see Elizabeth?”

  “Ten o’clock. I want to be super prepared. How are you doing with the memo?”

  “I’m close. Jo’s preparing the exhibits and those are nearly done,” Thomas said.

  “Have you added anything since I read it yesterday?”

  “About two pages.” He slid them across the desk to her. Clare read them quickly and with total focus. Her phone interrupted her. She could see it was from Donna at reception and she considered letting it go to voice mail. But Donna would page her, so there was no point.

  “Good morning!” Donna said. “I see you beat me into the office again this morning.”

  “You’re slowing down, Donna.” Was that an inappropriate thing to say to someone in a wheelchair? She flushed, ashamed of her insensitivity. “Sorry. I was teasing and it came out wrong.”

  “What came out wrong?”

  God, now she’d made it into a thing. “What I said about you slowing down.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Never mind,” Clare said briskly. Thomas must think she was insane. “What can I do for you?”

  “It’s the county clerk. I’m transferring her now.” Donna hung up and a cheerful voice came on the line.

  “Is this Clare Lehane?”

  “Yes, how can I help?”

  “Well, sugar, you’ve got yourself your first pro bono case. I’m Sonia Bertel, the county clerk. We met at the Nelsons’ party. I put your name in the rotation a week ago and here you are.”

  Clare sagged. She didn’t have time for this. It was impossible. “This is a really bad time for me now. Is there any way you can move to the next lawyer on the list?”

  Sonia laughed. “I haven’t talked to a lawyer yet who hasn’t said it was a really bad time for them. It won’t work, I’m afraid”

  “What’s the case?” She looked at Thomas and shook her head.

  “It’s a capital case, so pull on your big girl pants. Your client is being held at the county jail in relation to a triple homicide that happened over the weekend.”

  Her heart took an extra beat. “I can’t handle a capital case. I’ve never practiced criminal law.”

  “You can take that up with the judge. For the time being you’re it. Now you need to get on over there so they can question the guy.”

  “But I can’t. I have a meeting.”

  “The coin’s not dropping for you, is it? Your meeting has to wait. You’re obligated to represent this man. You should leave now.”

  Thomas was giving her a quizzical look. “Fine. I’ll be there.” She hung up.

  “You got tagged, didn’t you?” he said.

  Clare didn’t answer, lost in thought about what just happened. Despite how absurd it was to have her represent anyone in a murder case, especially this one, it was good news that someone was in custody. If they’ve arrested the killer, then a tremendous weight was off her shoulders. She grew excited. All she had to do was represent him during questioning and then get the judge to order a new defense lawyer at the arraignment. Easy.

  “I have to cancel with Elizabeth because they’ve assigned me that triple homicide.”

  Thomas whistled. “Now you’re talking. I’ve mostly gotten DUIs.”

  Clare came around her desk. “I’m going to see her. Wish me luck.”

  Elizabeth was coming out of her office when Clare arrived.

  “I thought we were meeting at ten,” she said.

  “I have to talk to you about that. Can we go into your office?”

  Elizabeth retreated to her desk and Clare took a chair. She looked at her boss and had the same feeling she always did. She wanted her approval and was barely hanging on to it.

  “I’ve just been assigned a pro bono case by the county clerk,” Clare said.

  Elizabeth frowned. “That’s rotten timing. You can’t really afford the time to be pulled.”

  “That’s what I told the clerk, but they were crocodile tears. I’m stuck with it.”

  “What’s the case?”

  “It’s the triple homicide. It would be crazy for me to handle a capital case. That would be an instant appeal based on insufficient counsel. If they file charges I’ll ask the judge to change lawyers.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “Excellent idea.”

  “But I have to leave now to be with the client during questioning and the arraignment.”

  “Funny you getting this case after that talk we had about it last night.”

  “I’m not seeing the humor, sorry.” She smiled limply and left the office. As she grabbed her briefcase and legal pad, she realized Freya would probably be questioning the witness, putting them squarely across the table from each other. Things were getting more complicated at every turn.

  Clare was shown into an interview room where she was to spend a few minutes alone with her client. When they led him in, she saw immediately that he couldn’t be the man who committed the murders. The man she’d seen flee the scene was tall and lean, while her client was of medium height and quite chubby. This man wasn’t the murderer, leaving Clare responsible for getting an innocent man released before they charged him. One complication layered over another, seeming without end. A wave of exhaustion passed through her. Everything seemed like a mountain to move and she didn’t have the energy to give a nudge.

  “Mr. Lee, it says here that you’re being held for the triple murders Saturday night.”

  “They have nothing on me. I mean nothing. It’s not even circumstantial.”

  She doubted Freya and Ben would detain anyone without some evidence against them. Still, she knew he was innocent. They couldn’t have too much on him.

  “Let’s see how the questioning goes. Please pause before answering the detectives’ questions so I can stop you if necessary. If I say don’t answer, don’t answer. That’s very important. After the questioning t
he detectives will consult with the state’s attorney to see if they want to file charges, after which you’ll be arraigned in front of a judge. Do you understand?” She’d taken two criminal law classes and remembered precious little

  “They better not charge me. I’m no angel, but I didn’t do this. You’ve got to fix this.”

  Clare was about to reply when Freya and Ben walked in the room. Her body sparked, though whether from fear or desire, she couldn’t tell. Freya nodded to her. Clare got up and joined her client on one side of the table, with Ben and Freya on the other.

  “Now that you have your attorney present,” Freya said, “we’ll continue with our questioning. Where were you on Saturday night?”

  Stingy looked at Clare and she nodded. “I was at my mother-in-law’s. I’m there a lot. My wife always wants to be with her mother, what can I say? But that’s at least two people who can vouch for me being there.”

  “We’d like to hear what evidence you have against my client,” Clare said. “As far as I can tell, you don’t have anything to hold him.” She looked at Ben as she talked. She could feel Freya’s eyes on her.

  “We’re not compelled to lay that out for you, counselor.” Ben looked at her kindly and she blushed. She had no idea what she was supposed to expect during this sort of interview.

  “Where is your mother-in-law’s?” Freya asked. Stingy slouched in his seat.

  “She lives out toward Cranston,” he said.

  “Is that far away from the murder scene?” Clare asked. She had no idea.

  “It’s the opposite direction,” Ben admitted. “But Stingy’s alibi could be based on his family members lying for him. It’s not the best alibi in the world.”

  “It’s rock solid, man.”

  Clare put her hand on Stingy’s arm. “Wait for a question before you speak.”

  He looked at her grumpily and leaned back in his chair.

  Freya seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her. “Do you have anything to corroborate your alibi?”

  Stingy thought for a moment. “Yeah, I do. I stopped for gas on my way to my mother-in-law’s. My wife was with me. It was the Phillips station in Cranston.”

  “Do your homework before charging my client,” Clare said. “There should be video of him at the station.”

  “We’ll do that,” Freya said, looking at Clare for the first time.

  “Good. In the meantime, I suggest you release my client. You have nothing to hold him on.”

  A flash of annoyance crossed Freya’s face. “We’ve got time before we have to release him.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Stingy said. “I want out of here.”

  “Let’s see if your alibi holds first,” Ben said. “If it does, you’ve got nothing to worry about, right?”

  Stingy gave him a sour look. Freya terminated the interview and a deputy came in to take him back to his cell. Ben and Clare got up to leave.

  “I’ll meet you back at the office,” Freya said, looking at Ben. “I’d like to have a word with Clare.”

  Ben looked from one to the other and then picked up his notebook. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”

  When they were alone Freya leaned back in her chair and sighed. “This is unbelievable. How did you get this case?” She seemed more upset than annoyed.

  “I was forced to take it pro bono. It’s the last thing I want.”

  “I don’t want to be on the other side from you.”

  If only Freya knew how far on the other side Clare really was. “If Stingy’s alibi pans out, the issue will be moot. You’ll have to let him go.” Please let that be the case. She couldn’t let a man go to prison for something he didn’t do, but it would mean disaster for her.

  “If that doesn’t happen, promise me you’ll get off this case.” Freya leaned forward. She moved to take Clare’s hand and then thought better of it.

  “What are you so afraid of? We’re both professionals,” Clare said.

  “I’m afraid it’ll impact our relationship.”

  Clare was silent. This was the first time the idea of a relationship had been mentioned. She didn’t know if she was happy or frightened. It seemed impossible she could be happy, given her current circumstances, but a feeling of safety washed over her. Had she found someone who loved her for who she was? Of course, Freya didn’t know who she really was, but at least she was serious about what she saw. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was for someone to want her. Maybe if everything played out exactly right, she wouldn’t lose Freya.

  “They’ll have to let me off this case. It’s a capital charge and I’ve no experience with criminal defense.”

  “You seemed like you knew what you were doing,” Freya said.

  “I had one mock criminal trial in law school, and I barely remember that.”

  “I don’t want to be distanced from you or arguing with you over the case.” Her eyes blinked rapidly and she moved around in her seat. She waited nervously for Clare’s reply.

  “Nothing is going to distance me from you. I won’t let that happen.” Not if she could help it. “Can you come over tomorrow night?”

  Freya looked relieved. “I’ll be there. Whatever happens, I’ll be there.”

  Clare returned to the office and met with Elizabeth about the summary judgement motion. Later in the day, Ben called to tell her Stingy’s alibi was corroborated by gas station footage of him filling up around the time of the murders. They were letting him go, but her problems were far from over. She wished she’d brought more meth with her. She wanted the distraction of that initial buzz. It eased her worry, if only for a short time. But it was too late in the day. She didn’t want to lose a night’s sleep when she needed to be as sharp as possible. She left work early and went home. A drink would have to do.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Freya put on her sunglasses as she sped toward Bloomington. The snow on the ground made the sunny day almost blindingly bright. In the folder on the seat next to her was the subpoena obtained by the state’s attorney compelling the Prairie Title Company to release the name of the beneficiary of the trust that owned the house where the murders took place. She was certain it belonged to one of the dead drug dealers. When she got to town she swung by her apartment and checked that everything was fine. The place hardly felt like home anymore. So much of her life was in Money Creek now, including a girlfriend. Was Clare her girlfriend? Her passion in bed said yes, but it was no guarantee. She hadn’t responded when she’d used the word relationship in their talk yesterday in the county jail. Had she scared her away?

  She pulled up to the title company’s offices and fifteen minutes later returned to her car with the documentation in hand. She got in before reading the page revealing the beneficiary. Her mouth opened when she saw that it was Henry Nelson who owned the house. Christ. Her first thought was of Elizabeth and how this would break her heart. The second thought was to bring Henry in for questioning as soon as possible. She called Ben to set the wheels in motion and sped back to Money Creek. She wouldn’t have thought Henry was involved with a major drug operation. Still, there was something a little sly about him. She always thought his extreme politeness masked a more sinister personality, though she could point to nothing concrete. His involvement surprised but didn’t shock her.

  * * *

  Henry tapped his pencil on the side of his computer, blankly looking at the screen. He was searching for a topic for his senior seminar thesis, but couldn’t focus enough to pick one. What the hell difference did it make whether he wrote about themes of isolation in the novels of Thomas Hardy? He’d soon to be under suspicion for murder. He knew it was only a matter of time before the cops discovered who owned the house, and then he was in deep trouble. He lit a joint and started pacing the living room. He would plead ignorance, of course. The house was used without his knowledge. But how would he explain the house to his mother? She had no idea he owned it. He assumed she would know he’d been brought in for questioning. Barely a thing happened i
n Money Creek without his mother hearing about it.

  As he calmed himself he realized how little the police actually had on him. There was nothing putting him at the house at the time of the murders. The only one who knew he’d been there at all was Clare, and she certainly wouldn’t be telling anyone.

  He snubbed out the joint and collapsed on the couch just as the doorbell rang. He prayed it was Evan who’d forgotten his key. It rang a second time right after the first, which probably meant it was the cops. He wondered if he’d be arrested for smoking dope. It probably wasn’t smart to have stunk up his apartment with it. They wouldn’t find any stash, though. He’d hidden that away in a secret hole in the backyard. At least he was smart enough to do that.

  When he pulled the door open he saw Freya and Ben, standing a few feet from the door. Ben had his hand resting on his gun. Jesus. Did they expect him to shoot his way out of this? He stepped away from the door and gestured them in.

  “Come in,” he said, closing the door after Freya and Ben walked into the living room. Ben waved his hands in front of him.

  “Christ, you must have just put that joint out. It stinks in here.”

  “I wasn’t expecting such august company.” He smiled the smile that usually worked to get him out of awkward situations. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “No,” Freya said. “If we look around, are we going to find drugs here, Henry?”

  He employed the smile again. “Feel free to look around. There’s nothing here. I had that joint sitting around from a long time ago.”

  “And you decided to smoke it in the middle of day?” Ben looked confused by this.

  “Sure, why not? I have the rest of the day off. No harm done.”

  Freya and Ben remained standing. “Henry, you may know why we’re here.”

  “Actually, I have no idea.”

  “You had to know that we’d figure out sooner or later that the house where the triple homicide occurred is owned by you.” Freya looked him in the eye.

  He was able to act surprised at the news. “What do you mean?”

  “Do you own a house at 15264 Lamont?”