Michael Luskin was seated exactly where they arranged for him to sit, looking over the insurance papers that Beverly had conveniently spread out on a table in the room where she wanted Michael to be sitting. She knew that he would be busy reading about all the money they were going to receive and wouldn’t pay too much attention to the mafia’s cable company crew.
Georgio’s car pulled up at the house right on time, and at that point, Georgio decided to do the job himself. Why not? He could save the couple of thousand it would cost to have one of his boys do it, and he wouldn’t even have to worry about getting rid of the murder weapon or creating some phony alibi… someone else was all set to take the fall for this one.
Georgio went inside and shot Michael Luskin, thinking it was Paul Potter. He dropped the throwaway gun on the floor and left, completely unaware that the girls were watching from the minivan and Kathy was snapping pictures.
After Georgio completed their work for them and drove away, they went inside the house, messed things up a little, and got ready for their prize sucker Peter Sharp to show up.
That’s when they finally did what all criminals usually do in time… they made the one fatal mistake that was their undoing - the poorly timed nine-eleven call that Beverly made, saying that I had just killed someone, not knowing that at the exact time of the call I was standing outside being watched by a Federal Agent and a Chief of Police.
The thing that really bothers me most about this is that they waited so long to tell me that they knew I was innocent. I guess that was their little bit of enjoyment, making a criminal defense lawyer twist in the wind for while. But that also answered the question as to why I was never strip-searched, photographed, or fingerprinted, why my jailhouse meals were catered, and I was allowed to keep my belongings and watch television in the cell.
The exact details of the plan that Suzi couldn’t have known were provided by Kathy Potter and Beverly Luskin, because Myra tells us that after she had them brought in for questioning, just like experienced criminals, they both started pointing fingers at each other. True loyalty among friends is a wonderful thing. Beverly, being the faithful person that she is, claimed that she had nothing to do with those murderers who shot Paul, Georgio was an acquaintance of Kathy, and that there was no way that a housewife in La Verne could ever know people like that and get them to commit murders.
We were all sure that Kathy had as convincing a story, but Myra told us differently. Kathy must have made some deal with Snell and the FBI, because she didn’t hesitate revealing her total involvement in the schemes. She sounded too confident of the government’s protection to lie, so Myra’s people believed her.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the case would never have been solved without Suzi’s efforts. Because I was in plain sight when Beverly made that call, I never was in any danger of being railroaded for the murder of Michael Luskin, but without her investigation, the authorities might not have been able to put together a case against the two women.
After all, who could blame them for a drug dealer making a mistake and killing someone who they thought was the guy who tried to stiff them out of fifty thousand dollars? And why should they be responsible for some mafia kingpin making a mistake and killing a guy that he thought was going to testify against him? Without the kid’s discovery of the fact that there were twins involved, the authorities probably would never have been able to figure out who was killed in Beverly’s house.
Even after the cops knew that she tried to frame me, Beverly’s only liabilities would have been a civil suit from me, and a small fine for the filing of a false police report, neither of which would put her behind bars. At the point of the second killing, Beverly was still home free on the insurance claims, because no one would have dreamed that the guy killed in her house was her husband.
I guess there really is no such thing as the perfect crime, especially when Inspector Suzi is on the case.
There were both good and bad results from this whole case. Getting together with Beverly for that brief time was definitely a good thing. In fact, up until the time that she started shouting about me killing someone, I thought I really had a chance with her.
Unfortunately, I won’t be waiting around to give her a second chance, because even if she succeeds in getting a jury to believe about her conspiracy in the murders being one of innocence, her attempts to bilk Uniman Insurance out of three million will definitely put her behind bars. Ordinarily the insurance fraud alone wouldn’t necessarily bring too much of a prison sentence, but taken along with the deaths that surrounded it, she wound up with a five year stint at the women’s penitentiary, but that sentence will probably be lengthened as a result of a statement that Myra is making on the evening news right now.
“Originally, the two female defendants we arrested contended that they could not be held responsible for the deaths of their husbands because one was killed in a shooting by drug dealers, and the other was killed by a known Mafia hit-man. However, these two ladies did conspire to defraud an insurance company out of money, because they made untrue statements in their claims as to the dates of death of their loved ones.
“Because they did conspire to commit the felony of insurance fraud, and two deaths were caused as a direct result of that conspiracy, we have been successful in obtaining an indictment against them both for first degree murder, under this state’s Felony Murder Rule, which states that if a killing occurs during the course of a commission of a felony, all accomplices in the felony are chargeable with murder. Our office is aware of the fact that there have been rulings holding that the underlying subject felony of the conspiracy must be an inherently dangerous one, but we also feel that the recent expansion of the legal doctrine to include crimes such as second degree burglary should support our indictment on the felony murder rule basis.”
As expected, there was absolutely no mention of the fact that co-conspirator Kathy Potter has disappeared into the wind. Myra tells me that Snell’s people came and took her into Federal custody. I have a feeling that those photographs she snapped of Georgio whacking Michael Luskin have moved her up the food chain of protected witnesses, so she’ll probably never be heard from again around these parts. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s living in a new trailer and the proud owner of a nail salon in Jerkwater, Arkansas.
Another good thing that I discovered was how good an investigator Jack B. is, and best of all, how much the kid cares for me. She’ll never admit to it, but I know the emotions are there. Myra can’t figure out what the kid sees in me, but over time maybe the kid will educate her too. Hope springs eternal.
I hear the pitter-patter of large paws, so there must be a dog mail coming in. I see that there are several messages tucked into his collar, so after tipping him with a generous few pats on the head, I start to go through them in order, hoping to find my reward check from Uniman Insurance. It should have arrived last week.
First, there’s a Certificate of Completion from my boating class. I can’t figure out how this could’ve happened, because I was in jail during the final exam. A letter attached explains how since I was teaching everything I learned in the class to my legal ward Suzi, when she came in and passed the final exam with flying colors, they assumed that I must have taught her well from my own understanding, so they decided to give me the Certificate. They also thank me for the wonderful party I threw for them, and express their regrets that I wasn’t able to attend. They also offer congratulations on my complete vindication in the murder case.
Next is a notice from the Court in Pomona, informing me that when I was unavoidably detained on the day of my trial no bench warrant was issued because the judge was also out that afternoon having emergency root canal work done. They also acknowledge receipt of the legal brief submitted by my office, which showed them the weakness of their case in not being able to prove exactly when my car was stolen, and whether or not it was before or after the allowed twenty minutes of parking had lapsed. A notice of Dismissal of the Charge
s is attached.
Lastly is from billing at Uniman Insurance. Dear Mister Sharp:
We have received your personal services invoice for
saving us three point two million dollars on the Luskin and Potter policies, but our records indicate that those rewards had already been paid in full before your invoice arrived, per a previous invoice from your law firm.
She did it to me again. The Peter Sharp Legal Mystery Series
#1:Single Jeopardy
Attorney Peter Sharp has been wrongfully suspended from the practice of law and thrown out of the house by his soon-to-be ex-wife, a newly appointed deputy district attorney. As a result of the eviction, he’s forced to live in their back yard on an old, poorly wired, 40-foot Chris Craft cabin cruiser he’s restoring, that is in danger of burning up at any time.
To make matters worse, as the result of trying to help someone fill out some claim forms, he gets arrested for conspiracy to defraud an insurance company. His alleged coconspirator, a man charged with murdering his own wife to be with a beautiful flight attendant, is about to discover that Peter is also sleeping with her while the man is out of town. As Peter fights to get his law license reinstated, he discovers the secrets behind two murders, a fatal plane crash, and who framed him with the State Bar - all with the help of his legal ward Suzi, an adorable, quiet (at least to Peter) ten-year-old Chinese girl and her huge Saint Bernard.
Peter also gets involved in matters concerning sexual harassment, vexatious litigation, double jeopardy, and a groundbreaking case of Negligent Nymphomania.
#2: …By Reason of Sanity
In his second Adventure, Attorney Peter Sharp gets retained to defend a man accused of capital murder. The only things making this case a little harder to defend than most others are that the client’s acts were captured on videotape, he confessed to the police, and he wants to plead guilty. To make matters worse, the District Attorney’s office has brought in a special prosecutor for the trial: Peter’s ex-wife Myra.
While he’s preparing for trial on the murder case, Peter is also hired to represent an insurance company, to defend it against a man who slipped and fell while inside a bank that was coincidentally robbed later that same day. Peter thinks the case would have died when the claimant was murdered, but at usual, he’s wrong.
In this adventure, while Peter is involved representing Vinnie, the prolific, peeing pornographer, he also helps solve several bank robberies by catching the entire gang, and makes the acquaintance of a new friend who runs anautopsy store - all with the help of his legal ward, the adorable tenyear-old Suzi and her huge Saint Bernard.
#3: A Class Action
In his third Adventure, Attorney Peter Sharp is retained to represent a man accused of murder, by the planting of bombs in vehicles. The client is also suspected of being part of a conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States in an upcoming Fourth of July parade.
With the assistance of his legal ward Suzi, Peter cracks the case, identifies the real murderer, and at the same time solves the mystery of a dead body found in his friend Stuart's automobile trunk... all while falling for a lesbian lawyer, winning a Will contest, breaking up a stolen car ring 4,000 miles away, and battling with his ex-wife, who has been elected to the office of District Attorney.
In the adventure’s finale, Suzi miraculously manages to get ‘Bernie,’ her huge Saint Bernard into a courtroom, where she makes her first official court appearance, holds her first press conference, and becomes a local television hero.
#4: “Conspiracy of Innocence”
Suzi once again saves Peter’s case by finding the connection between two crimes that allegedly took place in different parts of the State, one of which Peter was arrested for. And once again, Peter falls for a woman who he thinks could really ‘be the one’ this time.
Peter’s ex-wife Myra must make the decision as to whether or not she should resign from prosecution of a case in which she may have a conflict of interest – Peter’s murder charge.
Everyone including Peter is sitting on the edge of their chairs as this double murder mystery comes to a shocking conclusion that involves a mafia hit man, revengeful drug dealers, a local police chief, and the ever-popular FBI.
#5: …Until Proven Innocent
Tony Edwards, A dock neighbor of Peter’s, is charged with murder. Unfortunately, he is a suspended police officer with a known dislike for people who are the color of his alleged victim. He’s also the subject of many citizen complaints for using excessive force in the minority community.
At Suzi’s request, Tony has taught her how to help him re-load his target practice ammunition, also giving the little girl a basic course in ballistics.
When a local black movie producer who Tony was working for gets killed, Suzi and talks Peter into handling Tony’s defense… which doesn’t look too good because he was arrested at the scene of the murder with his gun still smoking.
Along the way, Peter once again gets involved with who he thinks might be ‘Miss Right,’ represents a 500-pound woman who is being discriminated against, uncovers a white supremist militant organization, and also stumbles onto a group of people who are pirating DVD copies of recently released major motion pictures.
Peter’s ex-wife, District Attorney Myra Scot, makes a mistake when she subpoenas little Suzi to come and testify as a prosecution witness against the defendant, Suzi’s friend Tony.
After what Suzi does to solve the mystery and destroy Myra’s case in court, everyone knows that the District Attorney’s office will never subpoena Suzi again.
#6:The Common Law
Peter Sharp encounters a client with amnesia, who not only can’t tell Peter what his own name is, but who also has absolutely no recollection of the crime he is charged with committing. In lieu of his memory, Peter’s obtainsvideo surveillance footage that establishes his client’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The usual crew also gets involved, including Peter’s close friend Stuart, Jack Bibberman the investigator, Laverne the ‘amorous houseboat lady’, and Stuart’s employees Vinnie and Olive – who are having some disagreement as to whether or not they’re legally married; and last but not least, little Suzi B. and her big Saint Bernard.
The law firm is still operating from their 50-foot Grand Banks trawler yacht in Marina del Rey, California… the vessel that Peter still doesn’t know how to drive. As in past adventures, all involved continue to visit the local haunts.
One way or another each of Peter’s cases winds up being a conflict with his ex-wife Myra, who is the county’s chief prosecutor. He also may be more closely involved with FBI Special Agent in Charge Bob Snell than before, as they share a dangerous high-speed situation on a winding road.
Suzi’s new friend Lotus and her mother also play an interesting part in this adventure as Peter finds that he is fighting a ring of credit-card fraud experts.
#7:The Magician’s Legacy
Little Suzi has decided that she wants to study magic in this eighth legal adventure she participates in.
Unfortunately, her teacher is the main suspect in what appears to be an ‘impossible’ crime… the shooting of a man in his completely locked ‘safe room.’
In order for Suzi to clear her magic teacher of liability for this crime, she must convince Peter to handle the case, which he does under one condition: Suzi must help him by solving the mystery of this locked-room murder.
Her task is made difficult because all events took place in a secure ‘panic room,’ with steel doors in place, and no windows. Somehow, the alleged murderer is believed to have committed the crime and successfully escaped from a room that could only later be opened by a crew using blowtorches.
Suzi is especially motivated to solve this enigma when she learns that an attorney who she dislikes may be involved.
#8:The Reluctant Jurist
There’s a mini flu epidemic going around in Los Angeles and it has especially taken its toll among Superior Court Judges in Santa
Monica, who all seem to have been infected at the same conference they attended.
Peter has been ‘drafted’ to fill in as a temporary judge for some civil matters, but winds up getting stuck hearing a big criminal trial involving a devious attorney as the defendant… the same attorney who Peter crossed swords with in a previous situation.
Suspense enters the picture when Peter’s legal ward Suzi fails to appear as guest of honor at her own birthday party, and every local state and Federal peace officer in California wants to locate her.
This is the second adventure that Peter and Suzi B. have been involved where Suzi’s Saint Bernard may be partly responsible for a successful conclusion.
#9:The Final Case
Suzi dislikes a certain devious attorney who Peter keeps coming up against. She feels that he has no business being licensed to practice law in the State of California.
When Peter’s new romantic interest invites him to a cocktail party, Suzi and the other guests are shocked by a loud noise down the hall, coming from their host’s study.
Other guests at the party include the chief of police, mayor, and district attorney, who unanimously conclude that the dead body they discover is the result of a suicide.
Even Suzi is inclined to go along with their conclusion… until she learns that the devious attorney she dislikes may be involved in handling some legal matters for the deceased.
Suzi won’t let go of this one. Against everyone’s advice, she keeps working to prove her suspicions about that devious attorney and his connections to what Suzi believes must have been murder.
The conclusion to this mystery is a complete surprise to everyone.
Conspiracy of Innocence Page 21
