Chapter Two
Nigel was at his desk when he saw the phone light go off, he grabbed the morning newspaper from the table in the client waiting area and hurried back to Sandy’s office.
Her office was one of three medium-sized offices along the hall running back from the reception area. It was half the size of Martin’s well-appointed office at the end of the hall, which had been proudly decorated and used by his father. Although her office was nicely furnished, she had changed nothing since moving in. She told herself that one day she’d give it her own decorating touch. Her desk and the matching credenza behind it held stacks of papers, file folders and legal briefs—all in a somewhat orderly fashion.
She had just hung up and was explaining the phone call to Martin when Nigel appeared. He asked, “Was the state attorney’s call about Lester Bardner? The man who was in here yesterday?”
“What?” she said absent-mindedly. Then turning to focus on him. “What do you know about this?”
“Lester Bardner,” Nigel repeated. “You met with him yesterday. He’s a suspect in a murder case. It’s in the police notices column.”
“I was just informed of that on the phone, Sherlock. If a man is in here one day and arrested for murder the next, why did I have to hear it from the state attorney?”
“When I read the name in the paper this morning, it didn’t ring a bell with me. Later when the state attorney called—.”
“Nigel, we’re paying you to hear all the bells,” she said sternly.
Martin spoke up saying he also seldom read the paper first thing in the morning—obviously trying to take the pressure off Nigel.
“I screwed up, didn’t I?” Nigel said, “From now on, I’ll read the daily police notices and scan the paper every morning. I didn’t realize how important it might be to my job.”
“You didn’t screw up—I’m sorry.” She brushed aside his concern, “I didn’t read the morning paper either. And it isn’t necessary for you to read it. I was just upset at being caught off guard. We often have a running battle going on with the prosecutors, and I don’t like anyone over at the state attorney’s office getting one up on me.”
Martin said, “It is strange this guy Bardner was in here talking with you. Something about a divorce? Now he’s arrested for murder. You didn’t care much for him. You do not suffer fools gladly.”
“I’ll work on it.” Then she waved the idea away. “On second thought, I won’t work on it. Someone else will have to suffer the fools.”
“What bothers you about him?”
“You want it alphabetically? The short list is compulsive, obsessive and shallow. Did I mention pompous ass? And I didn’t detect much discipline. All of which is normal for a philandering husband, I suppose. He has a problem with an apparently vengeful girlfriend, but I’d love to hear her side of it.” She halted and put her hand to her mouth. “Geez, was the victim a woman? The guy’s parting words were that somehow he must stop the girlfriend from telling his wife, and stop his wife from divorcing him.”
Nigel shook his head while pointing to the police notice in the newspaper. “Male, shot dead last night. Name withheld pending notification of blah, blah, blah.”
She let out an audible sigh. “At least he didn’t go out and kill his girlfriend or his wife after conferring with me.”
“No, but he went out and killed some man after talking to you,” Nigel said.
“Quite right,” she said. “One hell of a coincidence—and he told the state attorney we are going to defend him.”
Nigel heard the phone ring in the front office. He reached over, punched the flashing button on her desk phone and answered, “Bronner & Reid law office.” After listening for ten seconds, he looked at her, raised his eyebrows and said into the phone, “Yes, Mrs. Bardner, I’m certain Miss Reid will see you. When would you like to come in?” He threw a quick look at Sandy who nodded back at him and took the phone.
“This is Sandy. Are you Lester’s wife? We need to get together right now... how soon can you get here?”
She talked for only a minute or so, before hanging up and saying, “Julia Bardner is on the way. Nigel, call over to the police station and have them fax a copy of the police report.”
Martin said, “She wants us to defend her husband?”
She nodded. “You know anything about her?”
“I’ve met her. She’s a prominent real estate broker, commercial properties. Well-respected, well-connected, on several boards. Rather stern, all business, no-nonsense. Lives over on the barrier island. If she can afford that lifestyle, she can afford the best lawyer in town.”
“That’s good to hear because we’re not defending that jerk husband of hers for peanuts.”
Nigel came back and interrupted them. “Police clerk said we can’t have the report because it isn’t final yet.”
“Then call them back and get the preliminary. Tell them the state attorney wants me to have the prelim immediately.”
“Oh, of course. I didn’t know if I should throw around his name. I’m beginning to understand how things are done around here.”
“Works every time. No one at the police department will check with the state attorney and ask him if it’s okay.”
As a practical matter, she wanted the report without delay to get a feel for the nature of the crime and the extent of the crime scene evidence. The fax came in and she had barely enough time to scan the preliminary report before she was facing Mrs. Bardner for her appointment.
Julia Bardner came in head erect and hair perfect. Mid-forties, rather tall. A thin lipped businesswoman of no-nonsense demeanor wearing a light-weight, classic suit and kitten heels. When selling a property, Sandy guessed, she’d pitch to the women and dressed to appeal to them. Men would take her as a genderless business person and that’s the way she wanted it. A sharp woman, was Sandy’s immediate impression. Her husband was fooling himself, if he thought he was keeping his affair secret from this woman; she no doubt had guessed it when he walked in the house after speaking to Sparkle in the wine shop that very first day.
Sandy had the feeling the woman was forcing an acceptable smile. Not because she was bothered that her husband was in serious trouble, but because it was her usual manner to appear controlled at all times. Her expression was as impenetrable as a bluffer in a high-stakes poker game. No doubt, she’d participated in countless successful real estate negotiations wherein her opposition inevitably left the bargaining table wondering if they’d left any money behind.
Sandy began with, “Lester Bardner is your husband, he’s accused of committing a crime and you’re considering engaging our firm to defend him.”
The woman nodded and maintained her opaque expression. “He was arrested at our home last night, you know. I can still hear the police pounding on our door at three a.m.”
“Must have been horrible,” Sandy said and meant it. “What did they say? Did your husband talk to them?”
“They told him they wanted to speak with him and to step out onto the front porch. When I looked out they were speaking to him and then suddenly hauled him away like the Gestapo.”
After offering a few consoling words, Sandy took a moment to gather some routine personal information for the file, and then raised her eyes. “Tell me about your husband.” Unless cornered on the subject, she didn’t intend to mention she had already met the somewhat quirky guy when he attempted to sweep his girlfriend problem into the office.
“He’s a pleasant sort. Keeps to himself. Has time for golf and other leisure activities. A nice fellow, perhaps a tad emotional at times. Everyone likes Lester. I’m sure you’d like him.”
Yes, Sandy thought, he’s delightful. Obsessed and incoherent—a charming fellow.
Julia went on with a capsule summary of her own extensive real estate activities, while dropping hints as to their comfortable lifestyle, so Sandy would make no mistake about who she was dealing with.
Sandy checked the police report on her desk bef
ore asking, “You know a Benjamin Coleman?”
She tossed her head arrogantly. “I know everyone who matters.”
“Well, you missed this one, and he matters. According to the police, he was sitting in his car parked in front of Mahoney’s restaurant when your husband walked up and shot him in the head.”
Sandy watched the woman’s inscrutable manner wilt; her face collapsed and her body sunk even deeper into the soft brown leather. She covered her face with her hands. “Oh, my god. All I knew was a shooting was involved. I thought perhaps something accidental.”
“How did they know your husband was involved? The shooting was in downtown Park Beach around midnight, and you live over on the island.”
The woman was still shrugging in disbelief. “They say he actually shot someone in the head?”
Sandy nodded and tapped the police report on her desk.
After a few moments, Julia said, “My fault. I made him do it.”
Sandy produced a box of tissues from a desk drawer and pushed them across. “I suggest you tell me everything.”
“Will you help me? I heard you’re an absolute wizard in these kinds of cases.” She dabbed at her glistening eyes. “It’s so shocking. I’m truly mortified that my husband has been arrested and is in jail. I was worried about my real estate business suffering. But it’s much more serious than that, isn’t it? It’s critically important that Lester get out of this mess quickly. My life depends on it.”
“Not to mention his.”
“Oh… of course... his life.”
“Why me? You must come in contact with lawyers every day?”
“They’re all ordinary and can’t pull rabbits out of hats, as I hear you can.”
“What was that about you making him do it?”
“An exaggeration, of course, yet I might well have influenced him.” Her face appeared pained, not used to divulging information on her personal behavior. “I was with a client late at the office Monday, the night before last. Got home around eight and Lester wasn’t there. Didn’t show until around midnight. Tried to sneak in, but I was waiting for him—angry as hell. I suspected he was seeing another woman.” She suddenly stopped. “Are you willing to help us? Otherwise, I’ll stop disclosing family secrets.”
“We’re speaking in confidence, Mrs. Bardner. I need to hear the ugly parts, and I need to speak with your husband in jail. Then I’ll decide.”
“You mean you might not take the case?”
“That’s what I mean.”
The woman leaned forward and continued, “I confronted Lester about the other woman. We had a fierce argument. He denied everything. Said he was watching a late game over at the sports bar. I didn’t believe him at first, and I’m afraid I made a fool of myself with my accusations. He got very emotional, said he couldn’t believe after all these years of being faithful, my accusations were his reward for loving me. We’re not the type of people who yell back and forth, however, on that occasion we did indeed raise our voices. He stormed out of the house. He’s not the most stable guy to start with, and I was afraid he’d do something stupid.”
“Like what? Going out and shooting someone’s head off?”
The woman flinched. “Do you always speak so bluntly? That just isn’t Lester. I can’t believe he’d ever do anything like that. Yet he does get emotional, and he was very upset that night.”
“Again you mention your husband being emotional. Are you being euphemistic? Is he on some relevant medication?”
“The usual…Prozac. It wouldn’t surprise me if he went out and did something foolish... not murder, of course, but some sort of trouble.” She hunched her shoulders as though helpless in the matter. “After the fight I started feeling guilty. What if the poor man was telling the truth about being faithful? I had no proof. I checked the TV schedule and sure enough, the Dolphins had a late game Monday night, so perhaps he had been late at the bar. He came back home an hour later. I tried to make amends, but he gave me the silent treatment.”
“Where was he last night, the night of the murder?” Sandy was making notes all the while.
“Not sure, he came in late again.” The woman covered one hand with the other to hide a slight tremor. Apparently, the seriousness of the situation was beginning to seep through to her. “I sincerely hope you can help.”
“I’ll meet with your husband in jail today. If he’s cooperative, truthful and I feel I can work with him, then I’ll defend him and draw up an engagement agreement for you to sign.”
“But you’ll clear him of all the charges?”
“You know I can’t answer that. I don’t yet have all the facts.”
“What if he’s guilty?”
“Mrs. Bardner, you are retaining the best defense lawyer south of Philadelphia, and I’ll defend your husband to the best of my ability whether or not he’s guilty.” She wasn’t the best lawyer by a long stretch, but that’s what the woman wanted to hear. “Now, this might surprise you—you may need an attorney for yourself. The police will soon be around to see you. Don’t talk to them. Don’t talk to anyone about the case. In due course, the prosecution will depose you, and you have to tell everything. At that point, you’ll need an attorney at your side. In the meantime, no talking.”
After leaving the law office, Julia walked to the parking lot beside the building, stopped and looked back. She then continued across the narrow stretch of grass into the parking area of the adjacent office building. A black Lincoln pulled up and stopped. The driver leaned over and pushed the door open for her. “How’d it go?”
“I engaged her even though she has an attitude. She’s the suspicious type. My guess is she doesn’t always play by the rules.”
“You’re right, she’s a bit of a wiseass from what I hear. Just hire her and let her do her thing. She’s successfully defended dozens of people just in the past year. The toughest defense attorney this county has seen for a long time. She’ll straighten out this mess and have your husband out in no time, and we can go on as if nothing happened.”
“You’re probably right, only that I don’t usually hire people I can’t control. They can take off on their own.”
“Well, you need her, and your husband in jail is the last thing I need. The sooner whatever happened in that incident gets out of the paper the better. Was she able to tell you much? Did she say why he got arrested?”
“Sounds serious. The police say he walked up and shot some guy sitting in his car. She had the police report right there.”
“Someone’s mixed up. I realize Lester has his problems, still that doesn’t sound like him. Have they identified the guy who was shot?”
She hesitated before lying, “I guess Sandy didn’t have the name of the victim.”
He shook his head. “Is that all she said? This guy was shot while sitting in his car? This can’t have anything to do with Lester. He must have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. You think he possibly knows the guy?”
She shrugged. He didn’t realize how bad it was, and she didn’t want to be the one to tell him.
“This might be worse than I thought.” He took out his phone and dialed, “Yeah, it’s me. Hey look, the police arrested someone last night for shooting some guy in his car. Yes, in this morning’s paper but no details. Make a few calls, Claudia, and find out what the hell is going on. And call me right back… no, no, merely curious.”
“Why did the blockhead shoot that guy?” Julia said after he hung up.
“He didn’t shoot anyone, sweetheart. Now don’t worry about it until we find out what really happened.”
“I feel so guilty about getting him involved in this mess.”
“What do you mean?”
“I definitely knew he was running around with someone. I should have kept quiet and let him have his plaything. After all, he was out of my hair and not bothering us. Perhaps I shouldn’t have accused him. I was being mean. I wanted to punish him. But not like this. We argued and I got him all upset.”
“I don’t want him to rot in prison, although that would solve a couple of problems for us, wouldn’t it?”
He raised his voice, “We don’t have any problems, Julia. And don’t start making any. A man in my position needs to keep things just as they are.”
“I won’t, don’t worry. My boat is rocking enough for the two of us.” She braced herself for when he found out just how bad it all was.
His phone buzzed, and as he listened, a frown sagged down over his face. He said goodbye and slammed his hand against the steering wheel. “Damn! They’ve identified the victim. Do you realize who it is?”
She mumbled something while shaking her head.
He tilted his head back for a second and then stared at her. “Benjamin Coleman.”
Her voice was weak, “I don’t understand.”
“You don’t understand? You don’t understand? For chrissake, Julia, your husband shot Benjamin Coleman! I thought you had that situation under control.”
She jumped at his words and cringed against the car door. “I mean, why would Lester do something like that?”
Both thought in silence for a full minute, then he said, “I don’t know what evidence the prosecution has, but the word around the courthouse is your husband is as good as convicted unless he has an airtight alibi. Do you know where he was last night?”
“He came in late.” She slowly shook her head. “What can we do?”
“Don’t get me involved in this, Julia!”
“Of course not, but you’re familiar with all this law stuff. Just tell me.”
“Well, first of all he needs an airtight alibi.”
“What sort of alibi would the police consider airtight?”
“You are a well-known and respected businesswoman. If he were home with you at the time of murder, it would create reasonable doubt in the minds of a jury. You understand, I’m not suggesting that you lie.”
Into The Heat (Sandy Reid Mystery Series Book 6) Page 2
