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“My dad,” Carrier asked, nonplussed, and Be
“Well, I know more than a few, because they hit on me all the time. I’m not bragging, I’m just giving you a field report. Nine times out of nine, if a man is hitting on me, he’s married.”
“You’re kidding,” Carrier said, so surprised she couldn’t finish her second doughnut.
“If Linette didn’t go home on a night he told a client he was going back to the office, I bet you he’s got a chick somewhere.” Murphy pushed aside her coffee. “And he’s probably set her up in an apartment in town, within walking distance of his office, for his convenience.”
“How do you know that?”
“It’s the standard offer. Platinum AmEx, BMW convertible. It’s minimum wage.”
“Whoa,” Carrier said, but Be
“Linette has a receptionist who looks like Miss Texas.”
“Now you’re talking,” Murphy said. “I’d start there.” She turned to Carrier. “Sorry to shoot your theory, Jude.”
“It’s not shot, Murph. We just go digging.”
“What do you mean?”
“We find some reason for you to go over to Linette’s office and see if he hits on you.”
Murphy sniffed. “Of course he’ll hit on me. I’m practically undefeated.”
“Are you two nuts?” Be
“What?” they both asked, in unison. The phone started ringing but everybody ignored it.
“Have Linette hit on you, Murphy?” Be
“It could,” Murphy answered.
“Like what?”
“We don’t know yet. We’d be investigating.” Murphy looked as if she were actually considering it, sipping her coffee and narrowing her eyes. “We have to find out what Linette’s up to, then confront him.”
Carrier joined in. “Or turn him in. Or catch him in a lie. It’s not the whole picture yet, boss. It’s just a piece. That’s how we always do it. Piece by piece, like a puzzle.”
“What? No we don’t. It’s not a puzzle!” Be
“I bet we could crack this case, Be
“Absolutely not!” Be
“Got Sam on line one. He says it’s really important.”
“Okay, thanks. Ask him to hold while I kill my associates.” Be
“Okay.” Carrier got up, obviously disappointed, and Murphy went after her, taking her coffee.
“Making a big mistake, Be
“Right. See ya. Bye.” Be
“Wonderful, but I’m not calling about money. I’m calling about your friend David. Did you get my envelope? I had it hand delivered.”
“Uh, wait.” Be
“Read it. I would have faxed it to you, but the photo came out too black.”
“Hang on a minute.” Be
“Your bodyguard David has a past you should know about.”
“What?” Be
Oh my God. Be
David R. Holland was indicted today in the death of Cadet John Wellington, 23, of Encino, who died Monday morning, during training of the Navy SEALs. Cadet Wellington succumbed to a heart attack during one of the exercises supervised by Instructor Holland, comprising so-called “Hell Week.” Instructor Holland, who served as Assistant Director of the training facility, was suspended pending a military hearing on the charges. The hearing is set for March 3.
“Be
“No.” Be
“I told you, people don’t just take a break from the SEALs.”
“I guess not.” Be
“No, I don’t.”
“Maybe he was found i
“Maybe he was, but maybe he wasn’t. And maybe there’s been a continuance and we don’t know yet. It doesn’t matter. It’s a material fact, and he omitted it.”
Be
“I had a kid here do a Lexis search and order the original from the paper’s online archives. I knew you had to see it to believe it. This is all she came up with, and the kid’s a whip.”
Be
“Be
“Bye,” she said, and hung up the phone. Looking at the picture until the intercom started buzzing again.
31
Be
“Yo, Mort, how you doin’?” Be
“Be
Get over it. “Mort, yes. Sorry, it’s hectic here today.”
“I gather. The cops caught that animal who killed Robert, I hear. And that banker, too. I bet you’re happy.”
“Yes, right.” Be
“Well, I’m calling with good news. I’ve decided to go with your firm, for representation in the class action.”
Really? “Really! How wonderful. That’s great news. Thank you so much for your confidence in us.” Be
“I look forward to our working together, Be
“Uh, well.” Be
“Key Medical, Inc.”
“Of course. I’ll review the file as soon as I get it, then come out and meet with you and the gang. This way I won’t waste your time, or your staff’s, asking questions I can answer myself.”