Phillip Margolin: The Associate

“By the way, I got this in the mail. It’s Bernier’s photograph. Flynn is in it, but Webster isn’t. I thought you might be able to tell me who the woman is.” Kate took out the photograph. Daniel leaned over to see it. “Oh, shit,” Kate said, and she suddenly knew why Gene Arnold had almost fainted when he saw Claude Bernier’s photograph.

Anna Cordova escorted Kate Ross and Billie Brewster across the terrace to the poolside table where Martin Alvarez was waiting.

Alvarez stood as Kate introduced the detective. “Claude Bernier finally sent us a copy of the photograph that Gene Arnold bought in New York. Flynn is in it, and we’ve identified the woman he’s with.”

“Really. Who is she?” “Renee Gilchrist, a secretary at Reed, Briggs,”

Kate said. “Flynn represented the plaintiffs in a number of lawsuits that my firm was defending. We think that Gilchrist was working with Flynn to fix those cases.” “What does she say about that?” Alvarez asked. “We haven’t been able to ask her,” Billie answered. “She disappeared the same day that Flynn was killed.” “That would certainly indicate guilt, wouldn’t it?” Alvarez said. “It’s definitely suspicious.” “Do you think this woman was involved in Gene’s murder?”

“Yes, we do,” Billie said. “That’s why we’re here. Kate has a theory about why Mr. Arnold was killed and she thinks you can help us find out if it’s correct.” Alvarez spread his hands. “Anything I can do …” Kate took Bernier’s photograph out of the envelope she was holding and set it on the table. Alvarez showed no emotion as he studied the photograph. “Is that Melissa Arnold, Gene’s wife?” Kate asked. “The woman who was supposed to have been kidnapped and murdered seven years ago?” Alvarez nodded slowly. His eyes never left the photograph. “Here’s what Billie and I think happened,” Kate said.

“When the FBI botched the arrest at the drop site, McCann got away with the ransom money, but Lester Dobbs was arrested. Dobbs cut a deal and named McCann, the only other person in the plot that he could identify. McCann was arrested quickly, but not before he hid the ransom money. “I’m guessing that McCann refused to tell Melissa where the money was unless she got him out of jail. There was also the threat that he would cut a deal to save himself. That’s when Melissa conceived the brilliant idea of faking her kidnapping. “Looking back, Melissa had to have been involved. When she faked her own kidnapping, she only asked for seventy-five thousand dollars, instead of the million dollars she asked from you. Seventy-five grand was an amount that Gene Arnold could cover from his retirement account. Melissa would have known Arnold’s financial situation.” “Of course,” Billie interjected, “Melissa’s kidnapping was only a smoke screen to cover up the real reason for her plan: the destruction of her court reporter notes, which would force the judge to order a new trial. After she murdered Lester Dobbs, the court had to let McCann out of jail and she was able to kill the only witness who could identify her and get away with the money. No one thought Flynn was involved, so he was home free. Even McCann might not have known. And no one was looking for Melissa, because everyone thought that she had suffered the same fate as your wife. “Then Mr. Arnold saw Melissa and Flynn in Bernier’s photograph and flew to Portland. He phoned Flynn from his hotel the day he landed. Flynn or Melissa killed him and burned the body in the lab.” Alvarez shook his head. “I can’t believe it, but it must be true.” Kate studied him carefully. She was certain that her news had not come as a surprise. “It’s too bad we can’t find Melissa,” Brewster said. “Whoever burned down the lab was bitten by a rhesus monkey. The medical examiner has a swab with material she found on the monkey’s teeth. If we had Melissa we could run a DNA test that would prove she was at the lab. We also have an impression of the monkey’s teeth that we could match to any bite marks she has on her shoulder.” “Do you have any leads?” Alvarez asked. “Actually, we do,” Billie answered.

“It’s another reason we came to see you. Claude Bernier called me, yesterday. His conscience was bothering him. It seems that a Hispanic gentleman visited him the day after Kate told you about Mr. Bernier’s photograph. He called himself Juan Fulano. I’m told, by a Hispanic friend, that Juan Fulano is the Spanish equivalent of ‘John Smith.’ Is he right, Mr. Alvarez?” “Yes.” “Fulano wanted to purchase a copy of Bernier’s photograph, but he paid Mr. Bernier to do something else.

Can you guess what that was?” “I have no idea,” Alvarez answered coolly. “Mr. Fulano asked Bernier to hold off sending us the photograph until he gave the okay. Paid extra for the favor. Then, the day after Melissa Arnold disappeared, Fulano gave the okay to send the photo to Portland. Interesting, no?” “I’m afraid I don’t follow you.”

“Don’t you, Mr. Alvarez?” Billie asked. “You know, I made some inquiries about you to police acquaintances in Mexico and Arizona.

They say you’re straight now-have been for a while. But they say you ran with a very rough crowd early on. The type of people who would think nothing of abduction or murder.” Alvarez did not act offended by the accusation. “Your information is correct. I was very wild in my youth. But those days are behind me.” Billie stared hard at Alvarez.

He returned the stare without blinking. “If I asked you to predict the future would you hazard a guess for me?” the homicide detective asked.

“I have no psychic powers, Detective.” “I give you my promise that your answer will stay with the three of us.” Alvarez considered Billie’s request for a moment. “Ask your question.” “My department has limited funds. I’d rather spend them on crime fighting than on a wild-goose chase. What would you guess my chances are of finding Melissa Arnold alive?” As Alvarez thought about the question he looked at the two women. They stared back impassively. Alvarez made a decision. “Melissa is a very clever woman, as you have discovered. My guess would be that someone so clever would be able to disappear without a trace. Whether she is alive or dead is not for me to say, but I would guess that she will never be found.” Then Alvarez shrugged and his features softened. “But the police have all sorts of modern devices I know nothing about. Really, crime detection is not my area of expertise.” Billie stood and Kate rose with her. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Alvarez,” the detective said. “Kate has told me how deeply you loved your wife. I’m sorry if we uncovered old wounds.”

Kate picked up the photograph and replaced it in the envelope. Alvarez did not glance at it. As soon as the women were out of sight, he entered his office and closed the door. Then he took a copy of Claude Bernier’s photograph from a wall safe concealed behind a small painting. He studied it one last time, then set it on fire. As Melissa Arnold’s image burned, Alvarez turned toward the photograph of Patty Alvarez that stood in a prominent place on his desk. A tear appeared at the edge of Alvarez’s good eye. He made no effort to wipe it away.

He dropped the burning photograph in a wastepaper basket and watched it turn to ash. “It’s over, Patty,” he whispered. “It’s over.”

“Come in, Joe,” J. B. Reed said as his secretary showed Joe Molinari into his corner office. Reed was puzzled by Molinari’s visit since he was not working on any of Reed’s cases. To be honest, he only remembered Molinari’s name because his secretary had told it to him when she buzzed him to say that one of the associates wanted to talk to him. “What can I do for you?” Reed asked as Molinari sat down. He noticed that Molinari did not seem nervous or deferential the way most of the new associates were in his presence. “Something is going on that you need to know about.” “Oh?” “Just before he died, Mr. Briggs fired Daniel Ames.” Reed’s features clouded when Molinari mentioned his friend’s murder and accused murderer. “That was wrong.” “I don’t see how any of this is your business, Mr. Molinari,” Reed snapped.