Motion to Kill

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Mason decided to try his luck with Angela. He was certain that he hadn’t been restored to the office guest list, so he waited for her in the parking garage. It was a confusing maze of levels going up and down in opposite directions at the same time that even a cheese-starved rat couldn’t navigate, but it made a great hiding place.

He waited in a dark corner near Angela’s car, until she had her back to him before approaching her as she opened her car door.

“How’s the radio traffic and troop movements, Angela?”

He caught her elbows when she jumped, falling backward into him.

“Jesus Christ, Lou! You scared the shit out of me.”

He may have, but that didn’t explain why she was pressing her bottom against his crotch instead of running away.

“Sorry. I’m just trying to be more careful in my efforts to reach old age. Can I buy you a drink?”

She turned around but didn’t back up. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. You’ve got official leprosy, and it may be contagious.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve had my shots. And we made a deal. I’ll be straight with you if you’ll be straight with me.”

“Okay, get in. But I pick the bar.”

She chose a place called The Limit on downtown’s West Side. Dim lighting left him almost blind until his eyes adjusted. He was the only man in the place. The chalkboard sign at the door announced a seminar on alternative treatments for AIDS.

“Surprised, Lou?”

“I didn’t think anything could surprise me after the last few days, Angela, but you are full of surprises.”

“Because I brought you to a lesbian bar?”

“It’s not something I would have thought-or thought about. You just seem so interested in men.”

“I am. Exclusively. I come here when I don’t want to be bothered by men. These women understand that and respect my privacy. Besides, there’s not much chance of running into Scott here, is there?”

They both laughed, breaking the tension. A waitress took their drink orders, beer for Mason, a martini for Angela.

“What’s happening at the office?”

“All hell broke loose after you and Sandra left. Scott and St. John had a real pissing match.”

“We ran into St. John on our way out. He had a court order freezing the firm’s assets.”

“That’s what was so funny. The two of them were fighting over whether the federal court order freezing the firm’s assets trumped the state court order appointing a receiver to run the firm.”

Mason smiled at the image. “Who won?”

Angela giggled. “I did. I told Scott we were screwed either way.”

“You have the wisdom of Solomon.”

“And very big ears. After St. John left, Vic Jr. showed up again. He and Scott had their own screamer in the conference room.”

A waitress brought their drinks. Mason sipped. Angela finished hers in two gulps.

“What was that one about?”

“I only caught bits and pieces, but it was mostly about the fees we charged his father for work we didn’t do. In the meantime, half the staff has quit and the clients are panicked. Scott hired the security guard to keep out the press.”

“And me.”

Mason signaled the waitress to bring Angela another round. Several women waved at Angela from across the bar. She caught their eyes and waved back, all smiles. The waitress set another martini on the table and wiped up the water ring left by the empty glass.

“Angela, I need some answers.”

“Don’t ask me questions I can’t answer.”

“Can’t or won’t? Someone is trying to kill me, and it has something to do with the firm. You know more about what’s going on there than anyone else. You’ve got to help me.”

“You give me too much credit. All I know is what I read in the papers.”

Mason waited, not wanting to press too hard. The volume of the bar’s background music had picked up, prompted by the arrival of the after-work crowd.

“Do you remember when Sullivan changed his will last winter? You were one of the witnesses.”

“Sure. Diane asked me to be a witness. What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Did you know what changes he made in his will?”

“C’mon, Lou. That was six months ago. I don’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday.”

“I’m not interested in your diet. Just do your best. Was Sullivan in the conference room?”

She hesitated, realizing that his questions were serious ones and that he expected serious answers.

“No. Diane was the only one there. We waited about ten minutes, but Sullivan didn’t show up. Finally, she just gave me the document and told me to sign it, and she would take care of the rest later.”

“So you never actually saw Sullivan sign it?”

“I know that’s against the rules, but we do it all the time with notary signatures.”

Mason hoped she was loosening up, so he decided to take the plunge. “Angela, do you remember our conversation the day after Sullivan’s body was found-”

“-when you did your big-shot impression and told me you were in charge?”

She couldn’t resist the chance to tease him. He smiled without taking his eyes off of her.

“Actually, that was old news by the time I got to your office. You already knew, and I’ve been wondering how you got the word so quickly.”

She reddened, swirled the ice cubes in her glass, and drained it. She looked down the length of the bar as she answered.

“Like I told you, Lou, radio traffic and troop movements.”

“I don’t think so. Only Scott, Harlan, and I knew before the partners’ meeting. I was the first one in your office after the meeting. Try me again.”

No answer. Mason took the telephone bug out of his pocket and dropped it on the table. Angela’s death grip on her glass was answer enough.