Let Me Call You Sweetheart

62

Kerry heard about the double homicide on WCBS Radio as she was driving to work. The bodies were discovered by Mark Young’s private secretary. The report stated that Young and his client Barney Haskell had been scheduled to meet in the parking lot at 7:00 A.M., and it was surmised that Young had disengaged the alarm system when he opened the downstairs door of the small building. The security guard did not come on duty until eight o’clock.

The outside door was unlocked when the secretary arrived at 7:45, but she thought Young had simply forgotten to relock it, as she reported he often had in the past. Then she had taken the elevator upstairs and made the discovery.

The report concluded with a statement from Mike Murkowski, the prosecutor of Essex County. He said it appeared both men had been robbed. They might have been followed into the building by potential muggers and then lost their lives when they tried to resist. Barney Haskell had been shot in the back of his head and neck.

The CBS reporter asked if the fact that Barney Haskell reportedly had been in the process of plea bargaining in the Jimmy Weeks case, and was rumored to be about to connect Weeks to a murder, was being considered as a possible motive for the double slaying. The prosecutor’s sharp answer was, “No comment.”

It sounds like a mob hit, Kerry thought as she snapped off the radio. And Bob represents Jimmy Weeks. Wow, what a mess!

As she had expected, there was a message from Frank Green waiting on her desk. It was very short. “See me.” She tossed off her coat and went across the main hall to his private office.

He did not waste words. “What was Reardon’s mother doing coming in here and demanding to see you?”

Kerry chose her words carefully. “She came because I went down to the prison to see Skip Reardon and he received from me the correct impression that I didn’t see anything new that would be grounds for an appeal.”

She could see the lines around Green’s mouth relax, but it was clear he was angry. “I could have told you that. Kerry, ten years ago if I had thought there was one shred of evidence to suggest Skip Reardon’s innocence, I’d have run it into the ground. There wasn’t. Do you know what kind of hay the media would make of this if they thought my office was investigating that case now? They’d love to portray Skip Reardon as a victim. It sells papers-and it’s the kind of negative publicity they love to print about political candidates.”

His eyes narrowed, and he thudded his fingers on the desk for emphasis. “I’m damn sorry you weren’t in the office when we were investigating that murder. I’m damn sorry you didn’t see that beautiful woman strangled so viciously that her eyes had almost popped out. Skip Reardon had shouted at her so loudly in the morning that the meter reader who overheard them wasn’t sure whether he should call the cops before something happened. That was his statement under oath on the stand. I happen to think you’ll make a good judge, Kerry, if you get the chance, but a good judge exercises judgment. And right now I think yours is lousy.”

If you get the chance.

Was that a warning? she wondered. “Frank, I’m sorry if I’ve upset you. If you don’t mind, let’s move on to something else.” She took Robin’s picture from the pocket of her jacket and handed it to him. “This came in a plain white envelope in yesterday’s mail. Robin is wearing the outfit she had on Tuesday morning when she said she saw that unfamiliar car parked across the street and thought someone might be after her. She was right.”

The anger vanished from Green’s face. “Let’s talk about protecting her.”

He agreed with Kerry’s plan to notify the school, and to drop Robin off and have her picked up. “I’ll find out if we have any convicted sex offenders recently released or moved into the area. I still think that sleaze you convicted last week may have friends who want to get back at you. We’ll request that the Hohokus police keep an eye on your house. Do you have a fire extinguisher?”

“A sprinkler system.”

“Get a couple of extinguishers just in case.”

“You mean in case of a firebomb?”

“It’s been known to happen. I don’t want to frighten you, but precautions have to be taken.”

It was only as she turned to leave that he mentioned the murder in Summit.

“Jimmy Weeks worked fast, but your ex is still going to have a hell of a time getting him off, even without Haskell’s plea bargain.”

“Frank, you talk as though it’s a foregone conclusion that this was a hit!”

“Everybody knows it was, Kerry. The wonder is that Jimmy waited this long to get Haskell. Be glad you got rid of Weeks’ mouthpiece when you did.”