Phillip Margolin - Ties That Bind

Amanda hesitated. There were policemen, a senator, lawyers, and judges in The Vaughn Street Glee Club. Why not an FBI agent? Amanda closed her eyes. She didn't care anymore. After what had happened this evening, she decided that her best defense was to make what she knew about the club public. Keeping quiet had almost gotten her father killed.

"Despite the way things look, Jon Dupre may be innocent of both murders," Amanda said. "I'm certain that Wendell Hayes was sent to the jail to murder Jon and that he, not Jon, smuggled the shiv into the visiting room."

Amanda watched for Hunter's reaction and was surprised to see none.

"Who do you think sent Hayes to kill your client?"

"Have you ever heard of a group called The Vaughn Street Glee Club?"

"Yes, but I'm impressed that you have. Why don't you tell me what you know about them."

"I think Pedro Aragon met Wendell Hayes in nineteen seventy when they were in their teens or early twenties and formed a pact to help each other. I think some of Hayes's childhood friends were part of the group. Over the years, Wendell and his friends rose to power and they drafted new recruits into their club. If I'm right, there are bankers, judges, politicians, district attorneys, and police involved. How am I doing?"

"Keep going, Miss Jaffe," Hunter responded noncommittally.

Amanda told Hunter about the evidence that pointed to Senator Travis as the man who murdered Lori Andrews. Then she told the agent Jon Dupre's version of the Hayes killing and the evidence that supported it, including Paul Baylor's opinion that Dupre had been attacked.

"My investigator has discovered two suicides going back many years, which may have been murders committed by these people. But I think that the real reason they want to shut me up is that I filed a motion for discovery for the police reports in a multiple murder in a drug house that occurred in nineteen seventy. Here's the kicker: The drug house was on Vaughn Street."

Hunter's poker face was transformed by a wide smile.

"Weapons taken from Wendell Hayes's home were used in the shooting. The police concluded that a burglar stole the guns but I think Wendell took them. Hayes had an alibi for the night of the killings. Supposedly he was at a party with college friends who were home on Christmas break. I'm willing to bet that somewhere there is an interview with these boys. I think they were the original members of The Vaughn Street Glee Club and this is the only record that can point us to them."

"Miss Jaffe," Hunter said, "if you ever get tired of practicing law there's a spot for you in the Federal Bureau of Investigation."

"Then you believe me?"

"Oh, yes. I've been on this case for a while. Senator Travis had a penchant for rough sex and a thing for Lori Andrews. Dupre was buying his drugs from Pedro Aragon. When Portland Vice arrested Andrews, she agreed to work as an informant to help them get Dupre. The Bureau has been trying to break Pedro's cartel and we found out about Lori. During a debriefing, she told an agent about the senator, and I was brought in. We'd heard rumors that Pedro was connected to several prominent people in Oregon, and I'd heard Sammy Cortez's story about The Vaughn Street Glee Club. When Wendell Hayes tried to kill Dupre I started taking the story seriously. You've given me the last piece of information that I needed."

"To do what?"

"Again, I'm afraid I can't tell you that, not until we close the loop. But I can tell you that you've performed an invaluable service by opening up to me."

"Since I've been so helpful to you, do something for me."

"If I can."

"Can you take me to the hospital? I've got to see my father."

Part Six

THE NINETY-YARD RUN

Chapter Forty-Nine.

Harvey Grant was taking off his robe when Tim Kerrigan burst into his chambers and collapsed onto a chair.

"You've got to help me," Kerrigan pleaded.

"What's wrong, Tim?" Grant asked, alarmed. Kerrigan looked like a drunk or a crack addict. If he came apart it would be a disaster.

"I . . . I have dreams. I see her burning, and I can still see the way her face looked when I pulled the trigger. It exploded. There was so much blood."

The judge sat next to Kerrigan. "I'm glad that you've come to me, Tim. I'm glad that you know that you can trust me to help you."

"You're the only one I can talk to." His head dropped into his hands. "I can't take it. I can't live like this. Maybe I should go to the police. I'd tell them it was all my idea. I wouldn't tell them about you or anyone else."

Grant kept his voice calm. He had to stop Kerrigan from coming unglued.

"You're not thinking straight," the judge said. "A confession would destroy Cindy. And think of Megan. She would always be known as the daughter of a murderer, and she'd lose her father. You know what happens to children who grow up with that curse. You would be destroying her chance of happiness."

Kerrigan nodded. "You're right. I have to think of Megan. But what can I do? I feel lost. I can't find any peace."

"Time will make the pain go. Two years from now you won't remember how sad you are today. You'll be in Washington, D.C., with Megan and Cindy by your side. You'll be one of the most powerful men in America and Ally Bennett will seem like someone who only existed in a dream."

Kerrigan looked at Grant hopefully. "Do you think that will really happen?"

Grant squeezed Kerrigan's shoulder. "Trust me, Tim. This empty feeling, your guilt, it will all fade away. You'll be fine and your life will be good."

Kerrigan embraced Grant. "Thank you, Harvey."

Grant patted Tim on the back. Then he got him a glass of water and waited while Tim pulled himself together. They talked for a while more and Kerrigan was calmer when he left. As soon as the door closed behind the prosecutor, Grant sagged.

"Detective Gregaros is here, Judge," Grant's secretary said over the intercom.

"Send him in," Grant said.

The judge had rarely seen Gregaros rattled, but he looked bad today.

"What happened last night?"

"Castillo fucked up. He's dead and so are his men."

"What about Amanda Jaffe?"

"She's the one who killed Manuel."

"She's a goddamn girl."

Gregaros shrugged. "Manuel is still dead."

"This just keeps getting worse," Grant said. "Tim Kerrigan was just here."

"I saw him leave," the detective said. "He looked like shit. What happened?"

"He's a mess. I calmed him down for the moment, but I'm concerned."

"You should be. We've got real problems. Remember I told you that that maintenance guy wrote down most of Kerrigan's license plate? Fucking McCarthy. The son of a bitch is too smart. He ran the partial license number through the Department of Motor Vehicles computer and spotted Kerrigan's name on the printout. Then he checked Kerrigan and Bennett's phone records. Bennett phoned Kerrigan's house a few days before he killed her. And they both called a motel near the airport. McCarthy got a positive ID on both of them from a clerk at the motel."

"What is McCarthy planning to do?"

"I convinced him to move slow. I told him Kerrigan's career would be ruined if we went public without an airtight case. He's going to talk to Jack Stamm before he talks to Tim, and Stamm is out of town until tomorrow. We don't have much time to decide what to do."

Grant closed his eyes. Events were getting out of hand.

"I hate to admit it but bringing Tim in was a mistake," the judge said.

"What are we going to do about that?"

"I'll call the others. I'm going to suggest that we cut our losses."

Chapter Fifty.

"Tim!"

Kerrigan turned and saw Maria Lopez hurrying after him, her shoulders hunched against the teeming downpour. She was carrying a briefcase in one hand and a thermos in the other, leaving no hand free for an umbrella. Her hair was sopping wet and disheveled from the rain. She was wearing a raincoat but she'd forgotten to button it, so her blouse was streaked with raindrops.