Phillip Margolin - Ties That Bind

"I can't believe this," William said. "I've known Harvey my whole life. I never suspected . . ."

"It's true. And now you see why I can't cooperate. He'd have Cindy and Megan murdered. But I have something I can use against him. I know a way to find out the names of the members of his group."

"How will you do that?"

"When I signed the suicide note, Stan Gregaros told me that every new member does the same thing. The notes are confessions. The murder weapons have the member's fingerprints. If the police had them, they'd have a list of all the members and an airtight case against each one for murder. I want you to negotiate with Harvey. I'll go with you. We can meet in a public place so we'll be protected. The Westmont would be perfect."

William looked at Tim's bandaged head. "Are you sure you're up to this?"

"We have to act now. I told Hunter that Maria was insanely in love with me but I rejected her and she killed Ally Bennett to frame me. I said that she must have gotten my prints on the gun when I was unconscious and that she wrote the note. But the lab will analyze the note. Any minute, Hunter could learn that it's my writing. I'll be back in custody. That's why we have to meet with Harvey tonight."

"What do you want from Harvey?"

"A promise that he won't hurt my family. I won't help the authorities if he leaves everyone alone. I'll fight the murder charge but I'll take my medicine if I get convicted." Tim hung his head. "I'll deserve what I get, anyway."

Then Tim looked up. He seemed very determined.

"You tell Harvey that he has to promise not to hurt Cindy or Megan. If he won't agree I'll do everything I can to destroy him."

Chapter Fifty-Three.

Harvey Grant was in his chambers when William Kerrigan called him on his cell phone from Tim's hospital room.

"How's Tim?" the judge asked.

"He's being released in half an hour."

"That's wonderful. I've been really worried."

"Have you, Harvey?"

"Of course. All it said in the paper was that Maria Lopez tried to kill him. No one's been able to tell me how he was doing, until now."

"Well, he's doing fine. In fact, he wants to have dinner with you and me at the Westmont tonight."

"Doesn't he want to be with Cindy and Megan?"

"Yes, but it's more important that he makes sure that they're safe."

"I don't understand."

"I think you do. Tim and I had a long talk. He told me about the visits he paid to you recently."

"I see."

"I don't want to discuss this over a cell phone. Do you?"

"No."

"Then let's get together at the Westmont at eight. And Harvey, I think you should wait to hear what we say before you do anything rash. Tim's figured out how to bring down your whole house of cards."

"What are you talking about?"

"He'll tell you tonight. He's already committed his thoughts to paper. Peter Schwab will have it as soon as I leave here."

"I'd never do anything to hurt Tim. I think of him as a son."

"I'm glad, Harvey. Keeping thinking of him that way."

"How can Tim hurt us?" Gregaros asked, after the judge told him what Kerrigan had said.

"Did you tell Tim that the other members of the club sign suicide notes when they join?"

"Yeah."

"If the police get their hands on the notes and the weapons they'll have an open-and-shut case for the murder each member confessed to. Someone will cut a deal. Then it won't just be Kerrigan's word or Maria's word against ours."

"Kerrigan doesn't know where they're hidden."

"They'll get a search warrant for my house. They'll tear it apart looking."

"Then we have to get rid of the evidence."

"No. If we destroy the confessions we'll lose our hold on the others. Fear keeps them in line. We just have to move the evidence off my property. Don't worry. I've worked everything out. We have to act quickly, so we'll do it tonight, before Kerrigan can tell anyone."

A few hours later, Harvey Grant put the suicide notes and the guns into a large carton, which Victor Reis, his assistant, carried into the kitchen. A door from the kitchen opened into Grant's garage, so no one watching the house could see what they were doing. As soon as Reis put the carton in the trunk of Grant's Cadillac, he drove Grant to his meeting with the Kerrigans.

Stone pillars marked the entrance to the Westmont. Reis drove through them and up the winding driveway, then pulled up in front of the clubhouse. The parking valet opened the door for the judge then went around to the driver's door. Reis was already out of the car. He gave the valet the keys to the Cadillac. He had a second set in his pocket, which he would use later.

As Grant and Reis walked toward the main dining room, Burton Rommel walked up to them.

"We have to talk about Tim," Rommel said. "I'm hearing rumors that he's in trouble. This could affect our decision to have him run for Harold's seat."

"I'm having dinner with Tim and Bill, Burt. I'll straighten everything out."

"Good."

"Call me tomorrow and I'll tell you what happened."

"I will. This is something that we have to do right now," Rommel said emphatically.

"I agree completely. It won't do to wait around and let events take their course."

"Glad we're on the same wavelength."

The Kerrigans walked in a minute after Rommel walked away.

"I've arranged for us to eat in one of the private dining rooms," Grant said.

A narrow hall led to the back of the Westmont, where there were three private rooms. The one in which they were meeting had been swept for bugs shortly before the judge arrived. When they were all inside, Grant closed the door.

"I'm going to insist that Victor check you for listening devices before we talk."

William stiffened, but Tim laid a restraining hand on his forearm.

"It's okay, Dad. Let him frisk us so we can get down to business."

Reis was quick but thorough. When he was done, he shook his head.

"Victor, will you please wait outside and make sure that we're not disturbed."

"How are you feeling, Tim?" Grant asked as soon as the door closed behind Reis.

"Maria was acting on your orders, Harvey," Tim answered, "so you can cut the shit."

Grant stopped smiling. "What is it you want?"

"Your assurance that Cindy, Megan, and my father won't be hurt if I keep my mouth shut."

As soon as he closed the door of the private dining room, Victor Reis left the building and asked the valet for the keys to the car in which he was interested, and the number of the space in which it was parked. He also asked for the space where Grant's Cadillac was parked. The valet gave Reis the keys and the information without asking any questions.

The Westmont's parking garage was a short distance from the main building. Reis was wary as he walked across a small outdoor lot to the garage. Two other members were waiting for their cars but Reis knew them. There were no strange cars or trucks within view.

Grant's Cadillac was on the second floor. Reis checked the garage before taking the carton out of the trunk. No one was on the floor. The other car was parked nearby. Reis carried the carton to the car and put it in the trunk. A minute later, he gave the keys back to the valet and returned to wait outside the private dining room.

Half an hour later, Reis drove Grant home. The judge's cell phone rang when they were almost to his gate. Just then, Victor Reis noticed two cars in the rearview mirror. It was very dark, but Reis was surprised that he hadn't noticed them before.

Grant pulled out his cell phone. "Hello."

"It's me."

"Why are you calling?" Grant asked.

"The carton wasn't in the trunk."

Grant blanched. He was about to question Victor when he saw two cars parked in front of his gate. Reis braked sharply. The trailing cars hemmed in the Cadillac. J. D. Hunter stepped out of one of the cars. Several armed FBI agents got out of the other cars and surrounded Grant. Hunter pressed his identification against the driver's side window. Standing behind him was Sean McCarthy. Reis lowered the glass.