either. He has no criminal record. His prints are not on file. That’s the good news.”
“Why is that good news?”
“Wake up. The theory is the guy was blackmailing you so you killed him. If the guy had a police record as a blackmailer that would just about sew it up.”
“Oh. But he doesn’t?”
“No. And that’s gotta be worrying the police some. And at this point, keeping the police worried is about the best we can hope for.”
Sheila looked at him. “Why do you say that?”
Steve shrugged. “Well, that’s the bad news. The cops have located Greely’s address. It’s a dive in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. But here’s the thing. The cops have sewed it up tight. There’s no information coming out whatsoever. I’ve got detectives crawling all over the place and they can’t find out a thing. And that’s strange, ’cause we got a pipeline into police headquarters- that’s how we know the cops I.D.’d Greely and found his address-and we still can’t get anything. Once the cops got the lead to Greely’s apartment, they clamped the lid on tight. And that can mean only one thing. They found something.”
“What?”
“Best guess is something that proves Greely wrote the blackmail letter.”
“Like what?”
“Newspapers with words cut out would do it. I don’t know. That’s just the best guess, but it’s not really a good one.”
“Why?”
“’Cause you’re here. The cops haven’t picked you up yet. And if they had solid evidence that Greely wrote that letter, you would think that they would.”
Sheila frowned. “So you don’t think that’s it?”
He shrugged again. “Maybe, maybe not. There’s another factor to consider. The D.A. had a visit from Mr. Marston, of Marston, Marston, and Cramden yesterday.”
“Who?”
“The attorneys for your Uncle Max.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Luckily I got that bit of information before the pipeline shut down. Anyway, that’s the other explanation. If Uncle Max is throwing his weight around and leaning on the D.A. to keep you out of this, well, then it’s possible the cops have linked the letter to Greely, but they’re not going to make a move on you till they have an airtight case.”
Sheila bit her lip. “I see. But if Uncle Max has hired attorneys-”
“Don’t worry about it. Uncle Max can hire anybody he wants. As far as I’m concerned, I’m working for you.”
She looked at him. “Wait a minute. Uncle Max didn’t give you a retainer?”
“That’s neither here nor there.”
“But he didn’t?”
“No.”
“But I can’t pay you. I have no money.”
“Don’t worry about it. If you want me, I’m your lawyer. That’s all you have to consider. Uncle Max is going to pay me. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
She frowned.
“Unless you’d like me to bow out of the case. Which you have a perfect right to do. In which case, Uncle Max would be delighted to retain Marston, Marston, and Cramden to represent you.”
“No.”
“Okay. I’m your lawyer till you fire me. So, as they say in the singles bar, let’s talk about you.”
“What?”
“Let’s assume the cops linked the letter to Greely. That makes him a blackmailer. You have a trust fund that you lose if your name is connected with any scandal. So all the cops would need to give them an airtight case would be to find out what he could have been blackmailing you about.”
Her eyes faltered. “I see.”
“Well? What could it be?”
She looked at him defiantly. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
Steve sighed. “You sure know how to boost a guy’s confidence. All right. So tell me. Where are you going?”
“To the airport.”
He smiled. “Flight is an indication of guilt,” he said lightly.
“I’m meeting someone.”
“Oh? Who?”
“John Dutton.”
“Who’s John Dutton?”
“A friend.”
“That narrows the field. Now I know you’re not going to meet an enemy. Is this John Dutton anyone special?”
“He’s my boyfriend, if you must know.”
“That’s nice. Does he live with you?”
“He has his own apartment.”
“He ever sleep over?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“As a matter of fact, it is my business. Any hint of scandal, remember?”
Sheila pouted, said nothing.
“Where’s he coming from?”
“Reno.”
“When’d he go there?”
“Two days ago.”
“The same day you got the letter?”
Sheila bristled. “And just what is that supposed to mean?”
He shrugged. “Nothing. Just trying to get the time straight.”
“Yeah, it was the same day. I dropped him at the airport. When I got home the letter was in my mailbox.”
“And then you got the phone call?”
“Yes.”
“Was his plane in the air at the time?”
Sheila glared at him. “Are you trying to imply-”
“Yes, I am. Did you think it was him?”
“Now look here-”
Steve cut her off sharply. “No. You look here. I’m going to give you a little bit of advice, first of all because you need it, and second of all because that’s what a lawyer’s supposed to do. And it’s this-stop being so outraged all over the place. This is just a sample of the type of questions the DA.’s going to be throwing at you, and let me tell you, if you’re going to react like this you’re a dead duck. And this is nothing. These are pretty innocuous questions. Wait’ll you get cross-examined by someone who isn’t on your side.
“Now, stop being so hotheaded and emotional, and think rationally for a minute. You’re just a normal, ordinary person going about your business, living your life. One day, as a bolt out of the blue, you get that letter. If, as you say, there is no reason for anyone to blackmail you, then your first reaction would be what any normal person’s reaction would be under those circumstances-you would think it was a joke.”
Steve paused and let that sink in. “Now, wasn’t that your first reaction? Didn’t you think it was a joke?”
“Yes. Yes, I did.”
“Of course you did. And your next reaction would be to think who could have played this joke. Right?”
