Phillip Margolin: The Associate

Daniel was stunned. “You don’t have to kill Alice.” “You put her in this position.” Kate sat on the arm of the couch and put a hand to her head. Daniel took a step forward. “Stop! Iwill kill you,” Flynn said as if to reassure himself that he could do it. Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel saw Kate pull herself together. She was taking in the situation, focusing on Flynn. “I know you’ve got someone at Reed, Briggs who’s helping you,” Daniel said to Flynn. “Tell the cops who it is. We can help you cut a deal.” Kate stood up. “Goddamn it, stop,”

Flynn shouted as he moved the gun between Daniel’s body and Kate’s.

He’d been told to kill them quickly and get out, but he was having trouble pulling the trigger. Daniel lunged. Flynn fired into his torso. Daniel grunted with pain as he hit Flynn with every ounce of his strength. Flynn staggered into the door and fired again, shocked that Daniel hadn’t fallen. The second shot stunned Daniel, but he still had enough strength to drive his thumb into Flynn’s eye. Flynn screamed. Daniel’s knees gave way. Flynn lashed out, using the gun as a club, and knocked Daniel to the floor. As he fell Kate made a spearhead with her rigid fingers and struck Flynn in the larynx. His hands flew to his throat and the gun dropped to the floor. Flynn had trouble seeing and breathing, but he lashed out with a wild punch that caught Kate in the temple, dazing her. Flynn grabbed Kate by the throat. She tried to break the hold, but he kneed her in the stomach and she sagged. A blow to Flynn’s crotch went wide and glanced off his thigh. Kate couldn’t breathe. Her sight dimmed and she lashed out ineffectively in a panic. Flynn smashed her head into the wall and her body grew limp. Then there was an explosion. Blood bathed the side of Flynn’s head and the grip on her throat relaxed. Kate staggered away from Flynn and gasped for air. Flynn fell to the ground. Daniel was on one knee holding Flynn’s gun. Then he toppled over on his back and clutched his stomach, now saturated with blood. Kate dropped beside him. “Oh, God! Daniel!” A wave of nausea swept through him. Daniel’s vision blurred, but he forced himself to speak. “Nine-one-one,” he croaked. “Save Alice Cummings.” “Don’t talk,” Kate said as she pulled up his shirt so she could see the bullet wounds. Daniel tried to give Kate Alice Cummings’s address but he felt like he was lost in a patch of fog. He knew that Kate was talking to him because he could see her lips move, but he couldn’t hear her words. Those lips were the last thing he saw before he slipped away.

Aaron Flynn’s partner pulled on a ski mask and cut across a yard that backed on the ground-floor garden apartment where Alice Cummings lived. A door at the back of the house opened onto the postage-stamp-size patch of lawn, which was enclosed by a low wood fence. The screen door was unlocked and the lock would not be much of a challenge. The plan was to jimmy the lock and cut the bitch’s throat. To kill or not to kill the kid, that was the question. If he was as fucked up as Flynn said, the brat was probably better off dead.

The door only took a few minutes to open. Flynn’s partner pulled a hunting knife from a sheath and took a step into the apartment.

Alice Cummings sat up in bed. Her clock read 2:13. The house was quiet, but she was certain that a noise had awakened her. Maybe Patrick was having a dream and made the noise in his sleep, because he was quiet now. Alice lay down and closed her eyes. It was always a blessing when Patrick slept. She’d put him down at ten and crashed immediately. Five hours was good. Alice’s eyes opened wide again. She was certain that she’d just heard something. She slipped out of bed and walked to the bedroom door, which she always kept open so she could hear Patrick, and peered into the front room. Nothing seemed out of place. The only part of the apartment she couldn’t see was the kitchen, which was at the back. She edged along the wall. As soon as she turned the corner Alice saw that the back door was open.

The moment Flynn’s partner took a step into Alice Cummings’s apartment, a sixth sense warned her of danger. She was half turned when a damp ether-soaked cloth pressed across her mouth and nose and a muscular arm circled her chest, pinning her arms to her side. She tried to kick free as she was hoisted off her feet. She knew she only had moments before she passed out. In desperation she raised her heel and jammed it down on her attacker’s instep. He swore, but his grip did not weaken. As she was dragged back across the lawn she saw the stars swirling above her, twisting in faster circles.

Alice froze at the entrance to the kitchen. Was someone in her house? Was Patrick safe? She switched on a light as she rushed to his room. His door was open. She stopped at the railing to his crib. He was curled on his side, breathing fitfully but sound asleep. Relieved, Alice checked the rest of the small apartment. When she returned to the kitchen a cold wind swept through the door. She shivered as she pushed it shut. Then she turned the lights off so she could see outside, pressing her nose to the kitchen window to see every inch of the yard and beyond. She saw nothing strange. But someone had definitely tried to get in. Why had they left? Who had they been?

Kate tried to keep her face neutral when the police guard showed her into Daniel’s hospital room. There were bruises on her face and the gash on her cheek had required stitches. But Daniel’s injuries had been far more severe. “You look awful,” she said. “Gee thanks,” he said, his voice subdued by painkillers. “You look pretty ugly yourself.” Kate smiled, relieved that he could joke. “That picked my spirits up.” She sat down next to Daniel’s bed. “Now I’m going to pick up yours. Amanda and I had a long talk with Mike Greene. I think we convinced him that Flynn framed you. Amanda is pretty certain your case will be dismissed by the time you’re discharged. Also, Alice Cummings is okay. When the police got to her house she told them that someone tried to break in. Her back door was wide open. But nothing happened.” Suddenly Daniel grimaced. Kate took his hand. “Are you okay?” “Yeah. My meds must be wearing off. But I’ll be fine. The bullets went through my small bowel. I only had to have minor surgery.

I should be out of here in a few days.” “Charging Flynn’s gun was very brave. You saved my life.” Daniel smiled. “Turnabout is fair play.

Besides, I wasn’t worried. I remembered what you said.” Kate looked confused. “About what?” “You know, about how being shot in real life is different from TV. Flynn’s gun was a twenty-two. I knew it wouldn’t pack the wallop of a larger-caliber gun, and I knew you knew all that judo stuff.” Daniel shrugged. “I figured I’d get in a few good punches to soften him up and you’d finish him off and call the medics.” Kate looked horrified. “You idiot. That only works if you’re shot in the body. You’d be dead if Flynn had shot you in the head.” Daniel’s eyes widened in mock horror. “You never told me that,” he said. Then he laughed. Kate shook her head. “You really are hopeless. I’m going to have to stick around to baby-sit you.” Billie Brewster knocked on the door. “Thought I’d drop by and see how you’re doing,” she said. “What happened with Webster?” Kate asked. Then she turned back to Daniel.

“Billie questioned her today.” “Either she’s innocent or she’s got ice water for blood,” Billie said. “Did you hit her with the photographs?”

“She’s sticking with the story she told you. She denies having anything to do with fixing cases for Flynn and she’s got an answer for everything.” Billie suddenly remembered the envelope she was carrying.