Fugitive (28 page)

Amanda asked Keys to outline the scheme. When he was finished, Kate asked Keys about the evening of the shooting.

Who was with you and Charlie at the country club?

Let's see, it was me, Charlie, Delmar Epps, and there was someone else.

Keys thought hard for a moment. Then he rolled his eyes. I forgot Moonbeam.

Who? Amanda interjected.

This groupie. Keys shook his head. She was an obnoxious little twit who attached herself to Charlie. I have to believe she was the greatest lay in history because I can't think of any other reason Charlie put up with her. Anyway, she was in the car with us.

What do you remember about the fancy revolver that was used to shoot Congressman Pope? Kate asked.

Some broad Charlie banged in Texas gave it to him. Her husband was an oil tycoon who was ancient and he collected guns. Charlie saw it when he was at her house and took a shine to it. She gave it to Charlie when he was leaving. I bawled him out about taking it. He was on parole, for Christ's sake. Possessing a weapon could have sent him back to prison.

How did the gun get to the Westmont?

Delmar Epps brought it. He loved toting that gun around, pretending he was Wyatt Earp. I remember him twirling it on his finger in the car, because the limo hit a bump and he dropped it. I almost had a heart attack. The damn thing was pointing at me when it bounced off the floor. I thought it would go off. I yelled at Delmar to put the damn thing away and I have a clear picture of him putting it on the seat next to him while we were driving.

Did he have the gun when he left the car?

Keys's brow furrowed. Delmar usually had the gun stuck in the waistband of his pants, but I don't know if he had it on him when he got out of the limo. Some guy Charlie knew opened the door to the limo instead of the chauffeur and Delmar got in his face. I was concentrating on that while I got out of the car. Then I moved back as fast as I could because I didn't want to be in the way if a fight started.

Do you know where Epps is now? Kate asked.

Actually, I do. He's dead, killed in a car accident. They had a story in the newspaper about it because of his involvement with Charlie.

A knock on the door interrupted Kate as she was about to ask her next question.

I' m sorry to interrupt, Miss Jaffe, the receptionist said, but there's an FBI agent in the waiting room who'd like to speak to you.

Amanda frowned. She had a few cases going in federal court but she couldn't think of any reason for an agent to be contacting her.

You two go on, she said before leaving the room.

A stocky, broad-shouldered man with wavy black hair, whom Amanda didn't recognize, was standing in the reception area. He was wearing a navy blue pinstripe suit, a crisp white shirt, and a tasteful dark blue tie with narrow red and yellow stripes.

I' m Amanda Jaffe, she said as she offered him her hand.

Agent Daniel Cordova from the FBI office in Seattle, he said with an easy smile. I' m pleased to meet you. They say good things about you in the Portland office.

Uh-oh. That means I' m probably not doing my job very well, Amanda answered with her own smile.

From what I hear, you do it too well.

What can I do for you, Agent Cordova?

Is there someplace private we can talk?

Kate was still interviewing Mickey Keys, and the Pope file still covered the table in the conference room. Frank was in court, so Amanda led the FBI agent to her father's office.

You' re representing Charles Marsh on a state murder charge, Cordova said when they were seated.

Yes, Amanda answered cautiously.

In the course of your representation, have you come across the name Gary Hass?

He was a criminal associate of Werner Rollins, one of the witnesses against Sally Pope, wasn't he?

That's right. And Mr. Hass is still a criminal, someone we are very anxious to arrest. A few days ago, a Russian drug dealer named Ivan Mikhailov was tortured to death in Seattle. Mikhailov was trying to take over territory serviced by Julio Dominguez, another dealer with ties to a South American cartel. An informant told us that Hass murdered Mikhailov on orders from Dominguez.

What does this have to do with Charlie?

Hopefully, nothing. But we searched Hass's hotel room. He'd collected several articles about Mr. Marsh and his return to Oregon to stand trial. Do you know if Hass and Mr. Marsh had a falling-out before Marsh fled the country?

I can't reveal attorney-client confidences, but why do you want to know?

Hass is a peculiar person. He's very smart, very violent, and he's known to harbor grudges for years. It's possible that he's in Oregon seeking to even an old score.

Have you heard that a sniper tried to kill Charlie after his bail hearing? Amanda asked.

That's why I' m here.

You think Hass was the sniper?

We have no evidence to support that but I'd like to talk to your client to see if he knows anything that will help us catch Hass. If Hass is trying to kill your client he'll benefit by cooperating.

Why don't you wait here and I'll call Charlie.

Amanda closed the door and started down the hall to the conference room when her cell phone rang.

Have you spoken with your client, Miss Jaffe? Nathan Tuazama asked. Amanda's pulse began to race. She hated to admit it, but the Batangan frightened her.

He's thinking about your request.

I will be calling you this afternoon. If you don't have a positive response for me I will go to plan B.

Tuazama disconnected. Amanda swore and hurried into the conference room. She dialed Charlie's hotel room from the phone on the credenza. Marsh picked up on the second ring.

I called you for two reasons, Charlie. Both serious. There's an FBI agent named Cordova in the office. He wants to talk to you about Gary Hass.

Amanda heard an intake of breath on the line. Charlie?

What about Gary?

They think he was in Seattle recently. He's a suspect in a murder up there. When they searched his hotel room the FBI found articles about you. Would there be a reason he would try to kill you?

The FBI thinks he's the sniper?

I don't think they have anything concrete, but Cordova wants to talk to you about Gary to see if there's a reason he might be in Oregon looking for you. What do you want me to tell him?

Oh, man. This is all I need, Tuazama and Hass after me.

That's the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. Nathan Tuazama just called. He wants an answer by this afternoon.

If I talk to the FBI, will they protect me?

I don't know, Charlie. I don't think they can do anything while you' re facing a murder charge unless you have some amazing evidence about some huge case the feds need help with. I get the impression Cordova just wants to find out if there's a reason Hass might be in Oregon. Do you want to talk to him? I'll make sure he doesn't ask you anything that will hurt your case. If the FBI arrests Hass, that's one less thing you have to worry about.

Okay, bring him over. It'll give me something to do.

I'll be right there. By the way, the problem with Mickey Keys is settled. He signed a waiver to any rights he may have had as your agent.

How much did it cost me?

Seventy-five.

Damn, I' m bleeding money.

Think of it as one less problem you have.

Yeah, right.

Do you know what you want me to tell Tuazama?

No, not yet. I still want to think about what I' m going to do and this stuff about Gary isn't making that any easier.

MR. MARSH, DO you know why Gary Hass would have newspaper articles about you in his hotel room? Agent Cordova asked as soon as the introductions were completed.

Gary and me go way back and he was there when the congressman was killed, so it's natural he'd be interested in reading about me and the case.

Other than curiosity, why would he be interested in you? Does he have a reason to want to hurt you?

Charlie thought about that. He might. The day Pope died, Gary came to one of my book signings and threatened me.

About what? Cordova asked.

Charlie suddenly looked uncomfortable.

Don't answer that if you were talking about something criminal, Amanda cautioned.

Miss Jaffe and Mr. Marsh, I' m not taking notes on this and I promise you I will not use anything Mr. Marsh tells me to get him in trouble. The Bureau wants Hass badly. This is strictly background.

Charlie looked at Amanda. She nodded.

Gary said there were incidents in the book from his life and he wanted to get paid.

What kind of incidents? Cordova asked.

There was a chapter about a bank robbery. That's the one I remember.

What about a bank robbery?

I wrote about one where I was robbing a bank and everything got messed up and some people were killed. He said I wasn't there and he wanted to get paid because he said I was taking credit for something he did.

What did you do when he asked for the money? Cordova asked.

I told him that I wasn't going to give him any.

How did he react to that?

Gary was pissed off. He doesn't deal well with rejection. He said he was going to give me time to think and we'd discuss the money later at the country club. He showed up but we never got the chance to talk because of the murder.

Did you see him after that?

No. I was in Africa until a few days ago. I never even thought about Gary.

Do you think Hass would hold a grudge all these years? Cordova asked.

Gary's brain doesn't work like a normal person's brain, Charlie explained to the agent. He doesn't believe in forgive and forget. So he might.

Would he be angry enough to try and shoot you?

You mean the sniper? Charlie shook his head. I can't see him doing that. Gary likes to hear his victims scream. Also, I never heard of him being a great shot. A knife is more his style. Or a handgun. He'd use one of those but he'd be close when he used it.

WHAT DO YOU really think about the possibility of Hass being the sniper? Amanda asked when Cordova was gone.

I meant what I said. I just don't see it. Gary is a psycho. He wants to see suffering up close. A long-range shot doesn't sound right.

What about Tuazama?

Oh, he'd do it all right. He doesn't kill for pleasure. I don't think he knows what pleasure is. He's a technician. If a person needs to be dead, Nathan kills them. It's like fixing a flat tire for him.

If he's that dangerous, what do I tell him about the diamonds?

I can't do it. It would dishonor Bernadette's memory.

If that's your decision, I think we should use some of the money I have in trust to hire a bodyguard.

That's not going to help. If Tuazama wants me dead, nothing's going to stop him. That's another reason why I can't give him the diamonds. Once he has them, he won't have any reason to let me live. Those stones are the only thing keeping me alive.

Charlie was going stir crazy but he didn't dare leave his hotel room with Tuazama on the loose. He called room service for dinner, watched an in-room movie, then tried to get to sleep. The moment he closed his eyes, he thought about Tuazama, and his pulse rate accelerated. He finally fell asleep from exhaustion at 1:30, after downing several small bottles of booze he found in the minibar. At 2:17, the jarring ring of the bedside phone cut into Charlie's brain like a razor.

Who the fuck is this? he asked after fumbling in the dark for the receiver.

Charlie? a woman asked. It was a voice he would never forget. Charlie sat up and turned on the lamp on his end table.

Sally? What's going on? It's two in the morning.

I have to see you.

When? Charlie asked, still groggy from the shock of being jarred out of a deep sleep.

Now, tonight.

Charlie thought Sally sounded desperate but he had no intention of leaving the safety of his hotel room in the dead of night.

Didn't you hear me? It's two in the morning. I was sound asleep.

It has to be now.

Sally's voice trembled and that made Charlie pause. The Sally he knew was never out of control.

What's so important that it can't wait a few hours?

It's about your case. There's something I have to show you. It can't wait until morning.

I don't even know where you live. I don't have a car.

Get a taxi. I'll drive you back.

Sally gave him directions to her house.

That's in the middle of nowhere, Charlie said. I' m not going to hell and gone tonight. Besides, if this is about my case, I want my lawyer along.

No! This can't wait until morning. It has to be now, she repeated. And you have to come alone. I know something that will help you get your case dismissed.

What do you know?

I can't tell you over the phone. I have to show you. Please.

Charlie was wide awake and wise enough to know that there was no way he would be able to get back to sleep. If he didn't go, he'd be up all night imagining what Sally wanted to show him.