at the newspaper office. We leveled and told each other all that we knew.”
“Why don’t you just go back to Philly?”
“Not yet, listen up Raymond. She said the police knew all along that Barner was alive because he serviced Towson’s apartment after you left. They found insecticide on a piece of that cup you broke. And that was one day after Loraine said she shot him. So they knew she was lying, not you.”
“Slow down, what are you talking about? We knew Barner was an exterminator.”
“Yes, but we didn’t know he had serviced Towson’s apartment the afternoon of the shooting. Someone connected with the investigation told Linda that CSI found a shard from a broken cup on the floor. It was out of sight on the kitchen floor, covered with insecticide. Apparently, Barner didn’t notice it and sprayed right over it that afternoon. That’s the cup you broke when you were there earlier!”
“So what?” Then he caught the significance. “You mean it was on the floor unnoticed all afternoon. That proves Barner was there after me.”
“Yes. At that time both Barner and Towson were alive. One reason they denied bail was Moran told the judge you were the last person to see the victim alive. No way they could have been certain about that. They discovered that Barner saw him alive much later. And they have no evidence that you went back up there. Bastards should have bonded you out immediately when they found a major piece of their evidence discredited. By now they have their lab reports back finding no blood splatter on your clothes, so all of their circumstantial bullshit is falling apart. I haven’t been so angry since I dropped my cellphone in a restaurant toilet.”
“I’ll ask Kagan. Maybe he can inform the judge about this.”
“Ask hell! You don’t understand, there’s more. I dropped a bombshell. I was so mad I told Linda everything —plus a bunch of speculation. When she told me about Barner and the insecticide, I had a meltdown. The paper has it all now: Loraine, Tammy, Norma, and Barner. All the names, the alleged rape, the phony Sonny Barner shooting, everything you said in your statement, and anything we discussed since. Essentially, I discussed the contents of that signed statement you gave Moran. That statement was an official document of the prosecution. I could go to jail for disclosing it. Linda called the editor back in from home. They have their heads together right now deciding how much they can print.”
“Okay. I’ll tell Jerry Kagan. Moran might be willing to talk bail when he learns a big headline is on its way.”
Chapter 29
Sunday morning Moran carried the thick newspaper out to his apartment balcony to relax with his coffee. Later he’d watch the game on TV and pop a couple of beers. Then he saw the editorial caption,
He studied the editorial. The mood had changed. The editorial page that previously had beaten the drum for a speedy trial had now taken an explicit step toward criticizing the conduct of the investigation,
The paper insinuated that the investigation was off track, and even went so far as to suggest that the police might not have the actual killer in custody. The paper intended to dig into it. The newspaper has something new, Moran thought. In less than an hour, he was dressed and having a rare Sunday meeting at police headquarters with the chief and Goddard.
“To start with,” Moran explained. “Kagan phoned me Friday and told me to give Reid bail or else. Said he was going back before the judge with new information. I blew him off. Then the newspaper runs this editorial— something has definitely changed. Do you have Linda Call’s home number, Chief? Let’s find out what the paper is going to print.”
The chief spun his Rolodex, dialed, and handed the phone to Moran. “Larry Moran here. Yes, just fine. Can you give me Monday morning’s headline?”
Linda replied, “I know what you’re getting at Mr. Moran. You’re not on the front page tomorrow, but your investigation is the subject of a new series of articles. We’re putting them together right now with all the names. I’m afraid you won’t be pleased.”
“How did you find out the names of the subjects you believe to be part of the investigation?”
“Now you know my sources are confidential, but believe me we’ve got it all. We’ll be sending it on to the AP wire for national distribution and TV will pick it up from there. Why don’t you give me a statement now giving us your side? You’re going to have to sooner or later, you know.”
“No, and tell your editor I said the paper better be damn careful about printing a bunch of guesses.” His throat was now so tight he could barely force out a polite goodbye. He slammed the phone down. “Damn. How’d they get those names?”
“My guess is the paper has heard all the names from Sandy Reid,” Goddard said. “She might even have talked to TV people.”
“She runs around and somehow everyone is willing to talk and help her,” the chief said.
“She broke the law if she showed Reid’s statement to the press.” Moran frowned. “What in hell is happening? I never had problems like this before with my cases. The sister, the sister, the little bitch is making my life miserable. Go lean on her, Goddard, and lean hard.”
“I didn’t become a cop to lean on people who aren’t breaking the law.”
“Well, then go make her break some law and then lean on her. You cops know how to do that stuff. Do you think you can handle that? You’ve done worse, like breaking and entering.”
The chief’s eyes went from Moran to Goddard. “What’s he talking about?”
The detective stared at Moran harshly but didn’t speak. Huress must have seen him enter the Barner house and told Moran.
Moran just shook his head. “And Chief is it true that Reid is still in city jail? Why? What is he, some celebrity? Why did no one inform me? I want him transferred to the county dungeon today.”
“He’s already scheduled for transfer today, or maybe Monday,” the chief answered. “The judge had put a hold it. I thought you knew.”
Moran raised his voice, “Is the judge also a member of the Sandy Reid fan club? Goddamn it, the whole place is going to hell.”
“Can’t you let Reid bond?” the chief said. “That might pacify the sister and we could get out in front of this negative story.”
“And replace him in jail with whom?” Moran answered. “We can’t say that all at once we realized the evidence we presented at the hearing wasn’t any good. I’d look like a fool.”
Goddard said, “You got in front of the cameras on day one saying Reid was unquestionably guilty. You left us no wiggle room.”
“That’s enough, Goddard. You were strutting around as well. The town demanded a suspect, and we needed someone in jail to keep the heat off.”
“You’d keep an innocent man locked up to keep from being uncomfortable?”
“It’s called strategy. So, now you believe Reid is innocent?”
“Okay, leave him in jail. I hope CNN gets your name right.”
“No.” Moran was firm. “Reid stays on the hook until we find a better suspect. What about the Tampa connection, the Cuban-Americans?”
“They had a muscle guy capable of murder. He’s the one who put Sandy Reid in the hospital.”
“I like him already.” Moran snickered. “Maybe we can get him to do it again.”
“But he was crude,” Goddard said, “and the Towson killing required some finesse. Coincidentally, he was murdered last week by Towson’s lover.”
