Fugitive

by Phillip Margolin

  “And that’s all you talked about?”

  “Yes. It was a short conversation.”

  Amanda talked to the agent for a few more minutes, then she hung up. It wasn’t obvious at first why Cordova’s information about Hass had shaken up Karl Burdett but the germ of an idea was beginning to form.

  MIKE GREENE BEGAN to get suspicious when the aroma of freshly brewed coffee woke him from a sound sleep. His suspicions grew when he wandered into the dining area of Amanda’s loft and found a glass of orange juice waiting at a table setting. A full-blown alarm sounded when Amanda asked him what kind of omelet he wanted for breakfast.

  Amanda wasn’t a terrible cook but Mike knew she didn’t like to spend time in the kitchen. When he stayed over, they usually ate out or he fixed breakfast. If she was up early cooking for him, Mike was certain it meant she wanted something he wouldn’t want to give her.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “Can’t I make you a nice breakfast without you getting suspicious?”

  Mike folded his arms across his broad chest and stared at Amanda until she blushed.

  “Okay, I do have an ulterior motive, but I also wanted to thank you for being so nice to me last night.”

  “Taking care of you was my pleasure. Now, please drop the other shoe.”

  Amanda plopped down across from Mike. She looked sexy with her hair mussed, dressed only in a T-shirt and panties.

  “You know Karl’s murder is connected to the Marsh case, right?”

  “That’s a possibility. But it could be a random killing,” Mike said.

  “Was Karl robbed?”

  “He had his wallet, rings, and an expensive watch, but you could have scared off the killer when you drove into the lot. The killing could still be coincidental.”

  “You don’t really believe that, do you?” Amanda asked.

  “I don’t know what to believe. It’s too early in the investigation to draw any conclusions.”

  “You should get Karl’s files in Sally Pope’s and Charlie’s case. There may be notations in them that will explain why he called me.”

  “I was intending to do just that.”

  “Why don’t you let me see them so I can point out things you might not realize are important.”

  Mike looked shocked. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “I’m dead serious.”

  “Is there some reason you want me fired and disbarred?”

  “What do you know about Charlie’s case?” Amanda asked.

  “Not much. I know it was a big deal up here, and I remember reading about it when I was living in California.”

  “I’ve been living this case almost nonstop and my Dad tried Pope. I can spot things in the file you might miss.”

  “Amanda, you may be shocked to learn that I’ve actually gotten up to speed on other people’s cases before. And I’ve done it without violating the rules of professional conduct. Do you understand what would happen if anyone discovered that I let you read the files of the attorney who was prosecuting your client? And I wouldn’t be the only person in trouble. You’d be riding the elevator to hell with me.”

  Amanda smiled coquettishly. “That’s so literary.”

  “Don’t try your womanly wiles on me. Flattery, the batting of eyelashes, and come-hither stares are not going to work. This is too serious.”

  Amanda stopped smiling. “Now you’ve got it, Mike. This is damned serious. Someone’s tried to murder Charlie twice and they succeeded in killing Sally Pope, her personal assistant, and her dog. Now they’ve killed the DA prosecuting Charlie’s case. You need all the help you can get and I’m willing to risk my career to get the bastard who’s doing this. If I help nail him, I don’t care what rules of professional conduct I violate.”

  CHAPTER 42

  Derrick Barclay had not changed much over the years, Frank thought, as Arnold Pope’s personal assistant ushered him into a sitting room at the rear of Pope’s mansion.

  “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll tell Mr. Pope you’re here,” Barclay said before shutting the door. The curtains were drawn and the subdued lighting from a small ceiling fixture gave the room a closed-in, musty feel. Most of the furnishings were antiques and Frank would not have been surprised to learn that white sheets had covered them until shortly before his visit. He also thought that he should probably not be here, but his curiosity had gotten the best of him. When Barclay invited him to meet with his employer, Frank had been surprised and suspicious. Barclay claimed to know only that the meeting concerned Kevin Pope and Pope’s lawyer in the custody matter would not be present. When Frank told Barclay that it was improper for him to meet with a represented party without the party’s lawyer, Barclay said that Mr. Pope had prepared a notarized waiver in anticipation of Frank’s objection. Frank had thought that over, then agreed to come. Now he wondered if he would regret his decision.

  Frank waited for his host in a comfortable armchair across from a small marble fireplace. After a while, he glanced at his watch and realized that only five minutes had passed. There was a narrow, floor-to-ceiling bookshelf next to the fireplace. Frank was about to inspect Pope’s library when the door opened and Pope hobbled in.

  “Thank you for coming, Mr. Jaffe.”

  Frank noted the tremor in the older man’s voice and the difficulty he had navigating across the room to the armchair opposite Frank. When he lowered himself onto the chair, he grimaced.

  “Why am I here, Mr. Pope?”

  Senior stared at Frank, irritated that his guest had taken control by skipping the usual pleasantries that preceded a business meeting.

  “I see you like to get right to the point.”

  “Which is?”

  “You are ideally situated to perform a service for me, which will bring me great satisfaction and will bring you a substantial reward.”

  “Go on.”

  “I understand you’re representing Liam O’Connell in the guardianship contest.”

  Frank nodded. Pope shook his head slowly.

  “What a sad affair. Poor Sally. We definitely had our differences, some quite vehement, but she was a fighter and I admired her spunk. She probably didn’t know that.”

  Frank didn’t respond. If Pope was trying to convince him that he was sorry that Sally was dead, he was failing. Frank knew how Pope really felt about his daughter-in-law and no phony show of sympathy was going to change his mind.

  “I regret very much that Sally saw fit to cut herself off from me after my son’s tragic death,” Pope continued.

  “If I remember correctly, Mr. Pope, you had something to do with that.”

  “You’re completely correct, Mr. Jaffe. My son’s death was a crushing experience. I was not rational at times after he passed and my grief interfered with my judgment. When Sally was indicted for Arnold’s death I focused my hatred on her and I saw the dismissal of the charges against her as a personal affront.

  “After the dismissal-after I had gotten my emotions in check-I hired a team of investigators to review the case. They concluded that there was a strong possibility that Sally had been unjustly accused.”

  Frank noted that Pope had conveniently managed to forget his involvement in the false accusations and the manufactured evidence that had led to Sally’s indictment. He was tempted to remind him about the photographs and the note that had lured his son to his death, as well as the strong evidence that Otto Jarvis had been bribed to lie at Sally’s trial, but he decided to hold his tongue.

  “I made numerous attempts over the years to apologize and I made many offers to renew our friendship, all of which, to my sorrow, she rebuffed.” Pope lowered his eyes and made a show of contrition. “I can’t say I blame her.”

  “Where is all of this breast-beating leading, Mr. Pope?”

  A flash of anger was Frank’s reward for his blunt question, but Pope mastered his emotions quickly.

  “I am very concerned about my grandson. Sally kept us apart as punishment for the
way I treated her, but I love Arnie very much…”

  “Sally’s son is named Kevin,” Frank interrupted, eliciting another flash of anger from Pope.

  “Yes, Mr. Jaffe. His legal name is Kevin. My son wanted to name him Arnold Pope III but Sally named him Kevin to spite me. I bear her no grudge for that but he will always be Arnie to me.”

  “You were getting to the point of our meeting,” Frank prodded.

  “Sally designated Liam O’Connell as Kevin’s guardian in her will, but he has no right to be the boy’s guardian. He and Sally never married, he’s not kin.”

  “Kevin looks up to Mr. O’Connell and he’s very fond of Kevin. From what I’ve seen, Mrs. Pope made a good choice.”

  “Kevin may be fond of this Irishman, but he has my blood in his veins.”

  “If I remember correctly, you and I discussed the possibility of you becoming Kevin’s guardian shortly after Mrs. Pope’s trial. Have you forgotten why your attorney advised you to drop your plans for a custody battle?”

  Senior flashed a malevolent smile. “You mean your contention that I bribed Otto Jarvis and had something to do with that Rodriguez person, who took the pictures of Sally and her convict friend? Maybe you haven’t heard, but Otto Jarvis passed away, a heart attack, I believe. And Mr. Rodriguez was shot to death in an alley. Something to do with a drug deal gone bad. So you would no longer be able to produce witnesses to support your allegations. But why bring up Sally’s trial? It’s old news.”

  “I still don’t understand why I’m here.”

  “You’re representing Mr. O’Connell, so you are in an excellent position to influence him. I want to adopt Kevin. He would be my heir. Surely you see the advantage to the boy in that. I want you to convince your client to turn down the guardianship and support my claim to be the boy’s adoptive father.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “I have occasional need for an attorney with your talents, Mr. Jaffe. Obviously, I couldn’t retain you or your firm while you’re representing Mr. O’Connell in this matter, because of the conflict of interest that would create. However, if this business is concluded swiftly and favorably, the conflict would cease and I would be able to put your firm on a very healthy retainer.”

  Frank stared directly at Senior. Senior didn’t blink.

  “You don’t see anything wrong in the offer you just made?”

  “None whatsoever.”

  “Some people might interpret it as a bribe.”

  “Nonsense. It’s to my advantage to have the very best legal talent at my disposal.”

  Frank smiled. “I appreciate the compliment, Mr. Pope, but I’m going to turn you down.”

  “That might not be wise. If you don’t assist me I may have to contact the bar with some disturbing information I’ve had in my possession for some time. I would be very upset if I was unable to retain you because you were no longer permitted to practice law.”

  All of Frank’s tolerance for Pope’s clumsy attempt to corrupt him disappeared instantly, and Frank fixed his host with an icy stare.

  “Why wouldn’t I be able to practice law, Mr. Pope?”

  Senior pulled a photograph of Frank and Sally Pope going into her home at night out of his inside jacket pocket.

  “The bar frowns on affairs between a lawyer and his client. I have numerous pictures of you and Arnie’s wife together during and after her trial and investigators who will swear before a disciplinary panel that you left my daughter-in-law’s house in the small hours of the morning on many occasions.”

  Frank stood up. “You’re going to have a hard time convincing the bar that I wasn’t conferring with Mrs. Pope about her legal affairs, but do your worst. I’ve never sold out a client and this definitely will not be the case where I start.”

  “You’re making a big mistake.”

  “No, Mr. Pope, you are. If you come after me, do not think for one moment that I won’t come right back at you.”

  CHAPTER 43

  I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Mike Greene said as he carried two duffel bags loaded with Karl Burdett’s files in the Pope and Marsh cases into Amanda’s condo shortly after seven in the evening. Amanda gave him a big kiss on the cheek.

  “You’re a prince,” she said as she picked up one of the bags and carried it into the living room. Amanda’s romance with Mike Greene had been rocky at times, but that had always been her fault, especially when she’d been traumatized by the events in the Cardoni case. What made her love Mike was his consistency. He was always there for her and he never judged her, even when she was at her worst.

  “I would have been over earlier but I had to wait until everyone left, so no one would see me smuggling this stuff out,” he told Amanda as he hauled his bag to the couch and opened it.

  “I’ll go through these files and you go through yours,” Amanda said as she sat on the floor. “Then let’s switch.”

  “I assume you made coffee,” Mike said as he started pulling folders out of his bag, “because we have to get through this tonight so I can get the files back to the office in the morning before anyone gets in.”

  “Fresh coffee and doughnuts are on the counter. I even bought some maple bars,” she added, naming Mike’s favorite guilty pleasure.

  “It’s going to take more than a maple bar to get back in my good graces,” he grumbled.

  “I’ll see what I can do, if we’re not too tired,” Amanda promised as she stacked manila folders in front of her.

  IT WAS TEN o’clock and several cups of coffee later when Amanda and Mike got ready to swap.

  “Did you find anything in your files or Burdett’s notes that was helpful?” Mike asked.

  “No,” she said, disappointed, “though I did find something that I don’t understand.”

  Amanda carried a folder to the couch and sat next to Mike. He opened it.

  “This looks like a master file,” Mike said. “It has copies of the pleadings, correspondence.”

  “That’s what I figured, but what’s this?” she said, pointing to a line on a log sheet that was stapled to the left inside cover. “A lot of the entries were made twelve years ago, but look at this entry.” Amanda pointed at the numbers and letter: 1253X. “It was made yesterday. Do you know what it means?”

  “Sure. Washington County wanted to have a copy of the file to work on while we were looking at Karl’s original file. That’s a record of the number of pages that were copied. The file is a little more than twelve hundred pages long.”

  “Okay, that’s what I figured. But look at this entry,” Amanda said, pointing to an earlier, recent entry that read 1209X.

  “That probably refers to another copy of the file,” Mike said.

  “Yeah, but see the date and time the copies were made? That’s the afternoon of the day I visited Hillsboro and told Burdett that Charlie was returning to Oregon to face the charges against him.”

  “I don’t see where you’re going. I usually make a copy of my file so I can break it up when I make files for individual witnesses.”

  “If the office had a duplicate file when you asked them to make a copy, why did they need another one?”

  Mike’s brow furrowed.

  “On the day I told him Charlie was returning to face trial, I think Karl made a copy of his complete file for someone who is not in the DA’s office.”

  “Who would want something like that?”

  “Remember I told you how upset Burdett was when the sniper took his shot at Charlie?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I think Burdett might have been killed because he put two and two together and came up with Arnold Pope as the man behind the assassination attempt on Charlie and the murders at Sally Pope’s house.”

  “That’s some stretch, Amanda.”

  “With Gary Hass out of the picture, who other than Senior would want Charlie dead? Revenge is an obvious motive for the attack at the courthouse. Arnold Pope Sr. could order Burdett to make a copy of the case file and e
xpect to be obeyed. He could order Burdett to set free the man he held responsible for his son’s murder so he would be out of jail, where an assassin could take a shot at him.”

  Mike frowned.

  “I’m certain Sally Pope was used to lure Charlie out of his hotel so he could be killed after the first attempt at the courthouse failed,” Amanda went on. “If Charlie’s mysterious savior hadn’t appeared on the scene, Sally and Charlie would have died. Pope is the only person I can think of who would want both of them dead.”

  As she spoke, an image of Nathan Tuazama flashed through her brain, but she decided to keep that information confidential. Besides, Tuazama wouldn’t kill Charlie before he had the diamonds.

  “It’s a stretch, Amanda, and you haven’t given me any hard evidence to work with.”

  “You’re right about the proof part but you have to admit my idea makes sense. When Agent Cordova told Burdett that Gary Hass couldn’t have been the sniper, I think Burdett realized that Pope was behind the attempt on Charlie at the courthouse. What if he confronted Pope? What if Pope became worried that Burdett would tell someone his theory? Pope could have had the same person who murdered Sally take care of Burdett.”

  “That’s a lot of what ifs.”

  “What about Kevin?”

  “Sally’s son?”

  “Why isn’t he dead, Mike? Arnold Pope Sr. is obsessed with getting custody of his grandson. The person who killed Sally also killed her personal assistant and her dog but he never hurt Kevin. I think Kevin is alive because Arnold Pope ordered the killer to make certain that he survived unharmed.”

  “You’ve given me a lot to think about,” Mike said.

  Amanda thought of something else, the photograph of Karl Burdett and Tony Rose carrying hunting rifles that she’d seen in the DA’s office.

  “Are you ready to switch files?” Mike asked.

  “Yeah,” she answered, still distracted by her epiphany. She decided that she would keep this idea to herself until she talked it over with Kate.

  “Why don’t we just trade places?” Mike said.