“What’s up, Danny?” he asked when his brother came on the line.
“Hey, Jake. Thanks for calling,” Daniel said pleasantly. “The man would like to see you if you can spare a few minutes.”
“Sure, Danny. Whatever you say. When?”
“How’s today look for you? Tell me a time and I’ll arrange it.”
“Slow day?”
“Actually, yeah,” Daniel laughed. “It’ll only take a few minutes. I can sneak you in and out. No problem.”
“Tell ya’ what. How ‘bout around noon. I’ll swing over and see him and then you and I can grab some lunch. What do you think?”
“Okay, sure. Sounds good. Come up to my office in the Capitol and I’ll get you in through a back hallway. Come over just before noon. He’ll be here then and in his office.”
“Okay, Danny. Everything all right? How’s he doing?”
“He tries to keep busy but it’s been tough on him and the family.”
“How’re you getting along with him? Any problems?”
“Me? No, why do you ask? No, no problems. I kind of keep my distance. You know, just do my job and be there when he needs me. Everything’s cool, Jake,” the last part said in a whisper.
“Okay, Danny. See ya’ in a little while.”
FORTY-NINE
On his way to St. Paul, a call from John Lucas was patched through to him in his car. Jake told Lucas about the locker and the tennis shoes and promised to have a photo sent to him for comparison with the footprint found near the alley where Michelle Dahlstrom was killed. He placed another call to arrange that and made the rest of the journey without interruption.
After arriving at the Capitol, he entered the anteroom of the Governor’s staff offices and the receptionist, recognizing her superior’s brother, smiled sweetly as she picked up the phone to inform Daniel of Jake’s arrival. He had barely seated himself in one of the reception area chairs when his brother’s door opened and Daniel appeared. They exchanged a brief greeting and handshake, almost as if the two men were barely acquainted, and Jake followed his younger brother into his office.
“I can’t make lunch after all, Jake,” Daniel said after Jake closed the door. Some things have come up and I’ll have to take a rain check.”
“That’s okay, Danny. Some other time,” Jake said, hiding his disappointment.
“Jake,” Daniel said hesitantly, “have you given any thought to Mom, lately? I mean, well, you know, maybe go to see her?”
Before responding, Jake sat down in one of the large leather chairs in front of Daniel’s desk while Daniel remained standing, leaning against the edge of the desk to look down at his brother. Jake sighed heavily, rubbed a hand across his face as if pondering the question while Daniel awaited his reply.
“It’s not that easy for me, Danny,” Jake softly said. “I don’t know how you can see her as much as you do. Speaking of which, how’re you doing, anyway? That’s why I wanted to have lunch. I wanted to talk to you.”
“I’m doing good, Jake. Really. Don’t change the subject.”
“I’m not changing the subject. It’s the same topic, remember? How’re you doing around here? You know, with your boss and everything?”
“I’m uh, doin’ okay. I mean, well, you know, with, well um, the Governor and all. It’s a little strained but, I uh, just sorta keep my distance. Do my job. Try to be professional and run things here.”
“Still taking your medication? Still seeing the shrink?”
“Yeah, yeah Jake,” Daniel said as he moved around the desk keeping his head turned to avoid his brother’s gaze.
“You sure?” Jake asked. “You wouldn’t bullshit me about that, would you?”
“No, Jake,” Daniel said as he sat down in his chair. “That’s helped me, a lot. You know, with issues to deal with and all. I’m doing fine, really.”
“How’re things at home?” Jake asked.
“None of your business,” Daniel said a bit testily, immediately regretting his tone. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Jake,” he quickly added, holding his hands up when he saw the stern look on Jake’s face. “It’s just, well, things have been better. But, you know, we’re working it out. It’ll be okay.”
Just then his phone rang and the button lit up for the direct line to his boss saving Daniel from the necessity of further explanation. He picked up the receiver, told the Governor they would be right in and, as the two men began to walk towards the door in the corner, said to Jake, “What about seeing Mom. She needs us Jake. She’s not going to live much longer.”
“Yeah, I suppose,” Jake replied with obvious reluctance. “I guess I can put up with her again for a couple hours. It’s just, well, the drinking and all. The poor me bullshit. It’s hard to take.”
“Since the accident, the drinking’s about all she has. What’s the harm?”
“Let’s go see your boss, Danny,” Jake said.
The two men walked quickly and silently down the back hallway stopping at the first door they came to. Daniel rapped softly and opened the door without waiting for a response. They entered the Governor’s Capitol office and the man came around the desk to greet them. As they shook hands, Jake noticed the grip was firmer than the last time they met. The eyes a lot less puffy and the facial muscles tighter. Dahlstrom gently took Jake’s left elbow and guided him toward the chairs in front of the desk. They each took one of the chairs leaving Daniel to remain standing behind them.
After a very brief exchange of pleasantries Jake went quickly into a monologue explanation of the case and evidence against Carl Fornich.
“So, Jake,” the Governor began when Jake finished. “There might be some evidence to tie him to Michelle’s death?”
“Well, sir,” Jake replied, shifting slightly in his seat. “It’s a little early to tell for sure. We don’t know yet.”
“This man, Lucas. He’ll check it out?”
“Oh, yes sir. No doubt about that. He’ll get his people to do a comparison on the footprint. But, sir, even if it’s a match, well, that’s pretty thin evidence. Certainly not enough for a conviction.”
“I see. Yes, I suppose you’re right,” Dahlstrom said somberly nodding his head in agreement. “But,” he continued as he lightly placed his right hand on Jake’s left arm, “it may be enough to give her mother and me some peace of mind. Especially if we can put this animal away for a long time, Lieutenant. See what I mean.”
“Of course, sir. Of course I understand,” Jake said looking directly into Dahlstrom’s eyes. “Governor,” he continued. “Fornich is the guy. No doubt about it.”
“Yes. Yes, I do believe you Jake,” Dahlstrom said quietly moving his gaze to stare vacantly at the wall behind the desk. He sat this way for a moment, his hand still resting on Jake’s arm, the only sound in the room the soft tapping of the clock on the wall.
After a brief moment of awkward silence, he turned back to Jake, smiled slightly as he stood extending his hand to his guest, “Thanks for coming by, Jake. I mean it. I really appreciate these, ah, informal, off-the-record chats.”
“No problem, Governor,” Jake said as the two men shook hands.
Dahlstrom walked with them back to the back hallway door and, as Daniel held the door for his brother, Dahlstrom said, “Daniel, after you’ve shown Jake out, I’d like to see you, please. Thanks again, Lieutenant,” he said to Jake who waited in the hall. “See you again, soon. When this is all over, I’ll have to have you and your wife to dinner. Just to show my appreciation.”
“That would be nice, Governor. I’ll look forward to it, sir,” Jake replied not bothering to correct the man about his marital status. “Goodbye, sir,” Jake said as Daniel closed the door to lead Jake away.
A few minutes later Dahlstrom was seated at his desk, his reading glasses in place as he read over a document he could barely concentrate on. He heard a soft rap on his back door just before Daniel reappeared through it. He removed the glasses, placed them and the paper he held on the deskto
p, gestured to a chair as Daniel approached and said, “Sit down, Daniel. Please. I want to see this cop, Lucas, your brother talked about. Arrange a private meeting in two days.”
“Yes, sir,” Daniel said after he sat down.
“And, Mills. Have you heard anything from him yet?”
“No, sir. But, it’s only been a few days,” Daniel replied.
“Your brother knows nothing about him?”
“No, sir. At least not that I know of. If Jake knew he was poking around, he would’ve called me, I’m sure of that,” Daniel answered.
“Good. Anyway,” Dahlstrom continued, “give Mills a call. I want a progress report. Set up a meeting with him for early next week. Have Slocum, the Hennepin County Attorney and Judge Prentiss there, too. I have something to discuss with them.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get right on it,” Daniel replied.
FIFTY
Marc replaced the telephone receiver in its cradle and stared silently at it, the beginnings of a tension headache making its appearance at the base of his skull. He had just spent ten minutes having his ass chewed off by his wife for neglecting his children and, of course, the not so subtle reminder that he was again late with the support check. What made him feel worse was that she was right. He hadn’t seen his son and daughter for almost a month and he felt guilty as hell about it. Knowing they missed him and needed him. Even though they weren’t little kids anymore, their parents’ breakup had been very difficult on both of them. And he missed and needed them, too.
The intercom on the phone went off but he didn’t bother to answer it. He knew what it was. Carolyn or Sandy letting him know that Joe Fornich had arrived. He damn well better have more money, Marc thought as he opened his door.
“C’mon in, Joe,” he said trying to keep the annoyance from his voice as he stood aside to let the man enter his office.
“Bad day?”
“I’ve had better,” Marc answered. “What do you have for me Joe? Please give me some good news.”
“I have some more money, Marc,” he said with obvious hesitation. “And, more comin’.”
“How much?” Marc asked hiding his disappointment.
“I talked to my boss and he’ll come up with some and my sister is closing on her loan in a couple weeks. I guess she had some problems to straighten out first. With her credit or something.” Joe said to soften the news.
“How much?” Marc asked again.
“Well, um, I got another four grand today. That should hold you for a while, shouldn’t it?” Joe asked hopefully.
“Joe,” Marc began slowly, leaning forward on the desk. “That’ll barely cover the money I owe the testing labs I’ve had to hire to go over the evidence. The semen sample found on one of the victims, the knife and clothing they took from Carl’s apartment. That kind of stuff. I told you this wouldn’t be cheap.”
“I’m doin’ the best I can, Marc. I’ll get it for ya’. I swear,” Joe pleaded.
“I know, Joe,” Marc said softly. “Let me have it,” he continued as he held out his hand.
Fifteen minutes after Joe Fornich left, Marc was seated in his chair staring out the open window behind his desk. Unconsciously looking at the tall buildings extending skyward from the pavement of downtown Minneapolis. Reflecting on what life must be like with the security of steady employment and a regular paycheck when he heard Carolyn’s voice behind him from the open doorway.
“Maddy Rivers is here, Marc. She says it’s important. She needs to see you.”
He swiveled the chair around to face her, lifted his hands with the palms up and, grinning, said, “Why not? Must be bad news. Today seems to be the day for it. Hi there,” he said to Maddy as she appeared over Carolyn’s shoulder. “C’mon in and have a seat. Tell me your bad news.”
“Well,” she began as Carolyn closed the door. “You’re not gonna like it. I saw that guy that did time with Carl, Leo Shepley. He’s a creepy little dude. Anyway, seems our boy didn’t always play well with the other children.”
“How so?” Marc asked.
“He stabbed a couple of other inmates. Damn near killed one of them.”
“What?”, Marc asked. “Bullshit. How’d he make parole?”
“No one would testify. He was charged with two of them and, according to this jailbird Shepley, he may have done a couple more. In fact, Shepley says it was well known that he did it.”
“That’s just fucking beautiful,” Marc said.
“Isn’t it though,” Maddy said, a statement not a question. “You suppose the cops have this?”
“Of course they do.”
“Why haven’t they told you?”
“Because they’re trying to hold it until the last possible moment. They’ll claim they weren’t sure they could use it at trial so, no need to disclose it. It’s bullshit, of course, but that’s what they’ll say.”
“Can they use it at trial?”
“Probably not,” Marc answered. “Prentiss might want to let it in with a warning to the jury about what it means. Technical crap that will not help us, obviously. But I’ll make damn sure he’ll know he’ll have an appeal because of it if he does. That will probably stop him. Let’s go,” Marc said as he got up, grabbed his coat and headed for the door. “You can tell me the details in the car.”
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“It’s time we paid a visit to our client. I want an explanation of this.”
They took Marc’s car and as he drove toward downtown she went over her notes of her meeting with Shepley. According to Tony Carvelli, Shepley had done time for a sex offense involving a child and Tony knew some cons who claimed Shepley was a bit of a jailhouse snitch. Not exactly the most popular or trustworthy type. But, also according to Tony, she told Marc, Shepley’s information was usually pretty reliable.
“Combine this with the girlfriend thing and Carl won’t look too pretty to a jury,” she said.
“What girlfriend thing?” Marc asked staring straight ahead through the windshield as he pulled into the parking ramp a block from the jail.
“You remember, I told you about it. The assault conviction for beating up a girlfriend,” she answered.
“Oh, yeah that’s right. I’d forgotten about that one. Hell, he was nineteen at the time. That was thirteen years ago and I can probably keep that out at trial. Too long ago.”
“And then, of course, there’s the rape conviction,” she added.
Marc parked the car on the fourth floor of the ramp and they took the elevator down to the street level and quickly walked the block to City Hall. Even with his thoughts obviously preoccupied on their upcoming meeting with his client, Marc couldn’t help noticing the number of male heads turning at the sight of Maddy Rivers. It even caused a mild ego rush thinking they might believe she was with him in a personal way.
They waited silently for Carl in one of the small conference rooms, Marc seated at the table in the cheap plastic chair, his legs casually crossed trying to look more calm than he felt. Maddy alternated between leaning against the wall next to the one-way mirror and pacing behind Marc. After fifteen minutes or so, the door Marc was facing opened and Carl appeared, the bruise on his face fading and the swelling almost gone.
“What’s up, Marc?” he asked cautiously, glancing back and forth between his two visitors.
“Sit down, Carl. We gotta talk,” Marc said pointing to the chair across the table from himself as Maddy took the seat in the chair to Marc’sright.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the stabbings in prison?” Marc calmly asked staring straight into Carl’s eyes.
“What? What’re ya’ talkin’ about?” Carl stammered, averting Marc’s gaze.
“Cut the bullshit, Carl. If we found out about it, you can bet the cops have it, too!” Marc yelled slapping the tabletop.
The room remained silent as Marc continued to stare at Carl with an angry look on his face. Maddy sat calmly, her legs crossed and her hands folded in her lap, caref
ully examining Carl’s reaction. Carl fidgeted in his chair nervously flexing his fingers, folding and unfolding his hands as he tried to avoid Marc’s eyes.
“Well?” Marc asked quietly. “I’m waiting.”
“I, uh, I guess I didn’t think it mattered and, um, ...”
“You didn’t think it mattered?” Marc asked. “Let’s get something straight once and for all, Carl,” Marc continued as he leaned back in his chair. “There is nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing about you and your life that doesn’t matter. I have to know everything about you and your background. Is that clear enough? You don’t decide what I’m to know. For chrissake, Carl. They could’ve clobbered us at trial with this if we hadn’t found out. I need to know everything so I can prepare for it. Do you understand?” Marc said, the last three words spoken very slowly and deliberately.
“Yeah, okay,” Carl said softly. “It’s just, well, it’s kinda embarrassin’, ya know,” he added, shifting his eyes to Maddy and back to Marc.
“There’s nothing you can say that she hasn’t heard before,” Marc answered.
“Okay, yeah, I guess,” Carl said. “Okay, there was these two guys. Couple a damn queers, you know. Anyway, they tried to, well, uh, ya’ know, do me. So, I had to defend myself is all. Stop ‘em. Make ‘em leave me alone.”
“So, you stabbed them in self defense because they were trying to sexually assault you. Sodomize you? Is that correct?” Marc asked calmly.
“Yeah, that’s what happened. You got a smoke? I could use a cigarette,” Carl said.
“I don’t smoke anymore,” Marc answered as Maddy opened the long-strapped purse that had been dangling at her side. She removed a pack of Marlboro Lights and a book of matches and slid them across the table to Carl.
“Keep ‘em,” she said as he began to hand them back.
“Thanks. Anyway. That’s all there was to it. There was no charges or nothin’. They didn’t wanna testify cuz of what they’d tried to do to me so, the whole thing kinda went away,” Carl said. “And nobody fucked with me after that so, it kinda helped, ya know?”
(2012) The Key to Justice Page 24
