Other people

Twenty-seven Thomassy

Making love to Francine isn't a commitment! I don't want to get on an emotional roller coaster, or get trapped in those phone calls, hanging on to each other like spider spit. I need to get this over with by getting the case closed my way quick.

The excuse for a lot of her phone calls to me was what was happening at the Grand Jury. I phoned Lefkowitz to volunteer some help to whoever was presenting the case, and all I could get was his secretary saying he had left a message that if I wanted any information I had to call Mr. Cunham directly. So I called Gary and all I could get was his secretary saying her beloved Mr. Cunham could not speak to me at the present time. Of course the runaround was deliberate. I kept checking the Daily News, which is a more reliable place than the Times to get the first flash of a rape indictment, especially white on white. Could Cunham be stalling? Was he testing to see if I would do what I said I would? Was he setting a trap for me?

I searched the grand jurors list for a familiar name. Luckily, Muscreve was still sitting. God how a man can waste his life between playing Republican potsy and public service. He remembered me.

"Mr. Muscreve," I said, "I'd heard that the Widmer rape case might be coming before the jury along about now, but I haven't seen anything in the papers."

"Well, Mr. Thomassy, we sent down the true bill on that only today."

I tried to keep my voice light. "No wonder I haven't seen it in the papers."

"You won't," he said. "The D.A. ordered it sealed."

"What the hell for?"

"I don't recall anybody went into detail about that. You know how it is on the Grand Jury. The D.A. wants something, no reason not to cooperate. He's serving the people."

"Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Muscreve."

"Any time, Mr. Thomassy. My friends and I have a lot of respect for you in this county."

I didn't lose much time wondering when I'd get a call for a return favor. I called Francine.

"News," I said.

"The indictment?"

"Yep."

"When?"

"Yesterday. Sealed. That means it won't appear in the papers."

"Is that good?"

"It'll save your father some sleep. I don't know what Cunham's up to. Anyway, I expect your friend Koslak's been picked up."