Lost Lake

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

The guard ushered Ami, Brendan Kirkpatrick, and Victor Hobson into the visiting room and closed the door behind them. Vanessa was already seated at a table with three extra chairs.

“You know Mr. Hobson,” Ami said. “This is Brendan Kirkpatrick. He’s prosecuting you. I want to make sure you understand that.”

“I have no illusions about Mr. Kirkpatrick’s interest in me.”

“Good,” the prosecutor said as he placed a tape recorder on the table. “I’m going to insist on recording everything that goes on here.”

“I expected that,” Vanessa answered.

While the prosecutor played with the tape recorder, Victor Hobson sat across from the prisoner.

“It’s been a long time,” he said.

“Almost twenty years.”

“Sorry we have to meet again under these circumstances.”

“You and me both,” Vanessa answered with a wry smile. “But you’re going to help me change my circumstances.”

Brendan spoke into the tape recorder, stating the date, explaining where the recording was taking place, and giving the name of everyone present.

“Look, Vanessa, I’ve got to say this before we go any further,” Victor Hobson said as soon as Kirkpatrick’s introductory remarks were finished. “I’m with the FBI, which means that I’m a law enforcement officer. So is Brendan. Our job is to put you in prison.”

“No, Victor, your job is to get the bad guys. That’s not Carl or me. My father is the bad guy here and I’m going to help you get him.”

Brendan Kirkpatrick shook his head. “I don’t like this. I’m here only because of Mrs. Vergano, who should not be representing you.”

“I’ve waived any conflict in writing.”

“She showed me the paper,” Brendan said. “I still think you’re making a huge mistake. You realize that I will definitely use any incriminating statements you make to convict you, and I’ll call Mr. Hobson and your attorney as witnesses to everything you say, if that becomes necessary?”

“Yes.”

“If I call Mrs. Vergano as a witness she will definitely not be able to represent you anymore.”

“I know that, but I’m hoping it won’t be necessary.” Vanessa leaned forward and focused on Kirkpatrick. “My bail hearing is next week…”

“And I’m opposing your motion. I want to be up front with you, Miss Kohler. I regard you and Mr. Rice as dangerous criminals. Not only am I going to oppose bail, but there are very few concessions that I can make if you’re thinking about plea negotiations.”

“Would you still feel that way if I could prove that my father ran a secret army unit during and after Vietnam that committed any number of illegal acts in the United States, including murdering Congressman Eric Glass on my father’s orders?”

Kirkpatrick sighed. “I’ve read your statements to the California authorities, and Mr. Hobson has told me about your book. I find your charges against General Wingate incredible and totally unsubstantiated. And even if they were true, how would that change the fact that you broke Rice out of jail at gunpoint? I think we should end this meeting before you say something that makes your situation even worse than it is.”

“My father is an unprincipled killer. Do you want a man like that running this country?”

“Of course not-if he is an unprincipled killer,” Kirkpatrick answered, “but you can’t prove your accusations, and I would not consider anything you or Carl Rice said without independent corroboration.”

Vanessa looked at Victor Hobson. “Well, there might be corroboration, and you might be able to get it, Victor. If you find it, we can use my bail hearing to get my father. We can call him as a witness and put him under oath.”

“What are we talking about here?” Hobson asked.

“I think we should cut this short now,” Kirkpatrick said.

“Let’s hear what Vanessa has to say.”

Kirkpatrick looked surprised, and Vanessa almost sobbed with relief when she realized that the FBI man was going to listen to her.

“Patrick Gorman, my boss at Exposed visited me when I was in jail in San Diego. We were joking around about the jail food, and I told him that I couldn’t afford much better with what he paid me.”

“What does jail food have to do with proving that your father was in charge of a team of assassins?” Kirkpatrick asked.

“Let me tell you.”