'Do they have any news about Mrs. Tannenbaum's daughter, Al?'
'Nothing new, judge.'
Norwood shook his head. 'I'm terribly sorry. Al, you tell your people to interrupt if they have to talk to you.'
'I will.'
The judge turned to Betsy.
'And, if you want to stop the hearing, if you aren't feeling well, anything at all, just tell me. I'll set over the hearing on my own motion, so your client won't be prejudiced.'
'Thank you, judge. Everyone is being so kind. But I want to go through with the hearing. Mr. Darius has been in jail for several days and he needs to know if he is going to be released.'
'Very well. Now tell me why you wanted this meeting, Al.'
'Betsy and I are aware of information about the Hunter's Point incident that is known to very few people.
One of those people is Senator Raymond Collby.'
'The President's nominee to the Court?' Norwood asked incredulously.
Page nodded. 'He was the governor of New York when the murders occurred in Hunter's Point. His information could affect your decision on bail, but it would badly damage Senator Colby's chances of being nominated.'
'I'm confused. Are you saying Senator Colby is mixed up in the Hunter's Point murders?'
'Yes, sir,' Page answered.
'And you agree, Mrs. Tannenbaum?'
'Yes.'
'What is this information?'
'Before Mr. Page tells you,' Betsy said, 'I want to object to you hearing any of this testimony. If this information is used against Mr.
Darius in any way, it will violate the due process guarantees of the United States Constitution and an agreement between Mr. Darius, the State of New York and the federal government. I think we need to hash this out in much greater detail before you call your witness.'
'An agreement Darius made with those parties can't bind Oregon,' Page said.
'I think it would.'
'You two are getting way ahead of me. What type of agreement are we dealing with here?'
'A pardon, judge,' Page said. 'Colby pardoned Darius when he was governor of New York.'
'For what?'
'I'd prefer the contents of the pardon were not revealed until you decide the threshold question of admissibility,' Betsy said.
'This is getting extremely complicated,' judge Norwood said.
'Mrs. Tannenbaum, why don't we have the guards take Mr. Darius back to jail. It's obvious to me that this is going to take some time.'
Betsy's stomach churned. She felt like she might collapse.
'I'd like to confer with Mr. Darius in private. Can I use your jury room?'
'Certainly.'
Betsy walked out of the judge's chambers. She felt light-headed as she told the guards that judge Norwood was letting her confer with Darius in the jury room. One of the guards went into the judge's chambers to check with Norwood. He came out a minute later and the guards escorted Darius into the room. Betsy looked toward the rear of the courtroom, just as Reardon walked into the hall.
A guard stationed himself outside the door to the courtroom. Another guard was in front of the door that opened into the hall. Betsy shut the door to the jury room behind them and turned the lock. A table long enough to accommodate twelve chairs filled the center of the large room.
There was a narrow rest room in one corner and a sink, countertop and cabinet filled with plastic coffee cups and dishes against one wall. The other wall held a bulletin board covered with announcements and cartoons about judges and jurors.
Darius sat down at one end of the table. He was still dressed in the clothes he was wearing when he was arrested. The pants were rumpled and his shirt was wrinkled. He was not wearing a tie and he had jail-issue sandals on his feet.
Betsy stood at the edge of the table trying not to look at the door to the corridor.
'What's going on?' Darius asked.
'Page knows about the pardon. Colby told him.'
'That son-of-a-bitch.'
'Page wants to have the judge take Colby's testimony in secret, so the senator's chances of being confirmed won't be affected.'
'Fuck him. If he tries to screw me, I'll take him down. They can't use that pardon anyway, can they?'
'I don't know. It's a very complicated legal issue.'
There was a knock on the hall door. Darius noticed the way Betsy jerked her head around.
Are you expecting someone?' he asked suspiciously.
Betsy opened the door without answering. Reardon was standing behind a guard. She was holding a black Gladstone bag.
'This lady says you're expecting her,' the guard said.
'That's right,' Betsy answered.
Darius stood up. He stared at Reardon. His eyes widened. Reardon looked into those eyes.
'Don't…' Darius started. Reardon shot the guard in the temple. His head exploded, spraying flesh and bone over her raincoat. Betsy stared.
The guard crumpled to the floor. Reardon pushed Betsy aside, dropped the bag and locked the hallway door.
'Sit down,' she commanded, pointing the gun at Darius. Darius backed away and sat in the chair at the end of the table. Reardon turned to Betsy.
'Take a chair on the other side from me, away from Darius, and fold your hands on the table. If you move, Kathy dies.'
Darius stared at Betsy. 'You planned this?'
'Shut up, Martin,' Reardon said. Her eyes were wide. She looked manic.
'Dogs don't talk. If you utter a sound without my asking, you'll suffer pain like you've never known.'
Darius kept his mouth shut and his eyes riveted on Reardon.
'You made me an expert on pain, Martin. Soon you'll see how well I learned. My only regret is that I won't have those private moments with you that you shared with me. Those days alone together when you made me plead for pain. I remember each night we shared. If we had time, I would make you relive every one of them.'
Reardon picked up the black bag and placed it on the table.
'I have a question for you, Martin. It's a simple question. One you should have no trouble answering. I give you permission to answer it, if you can. Considering the time we spent together, it should be a breeze.
What's my name?'
Someone pounded on the hall door. 'Open up! Police.'
Reardon half-turned toward the door, but kept her eyes on Darius.
'Get away or I'll kill everyone in here. I've got Betsy Tannenbaum and Martin Darius. If I hear anyone at the door, they die. You know I mean it.'
There was a scraping at the door to the courtroom.
Reardon fired a shot through the top of the door. Betsy heard several screams.
'Get away from the doors or everyone dies,' Reardon yelled.
'We've backed off' someone shouted from the hall.
Reardon pointed her gun at Betsy. 'TALK to them.
Tell them about Kathy. Tell them she'll die if they try to come in here.
Tell them you'll be safe if they do as I say.'
