murders might be connected?
Doesn't it seem like too big a coincidence?
First Justice Griffen's clerk, and now the judge.'
'I contacted Portland PB as soon as I heard Justice Griffen was killed.
Both agencies are looking into the possibility that there's a connection between the two murders, but right now we don't have any evidence to support that theory. Do you know anything that suggests the cases are related?'
'No. I just . . . I didn't know if you'd thought about it. I wanted to help.'
'I appreciate your interest.'
'Okay. That's all, I guess. Thanks for talking to me.'
'Anytime.'
When Nick Paladino finished explaining what he had learned from Paul Torino, Jack Stamm stood up and walked over to his window. Summer in Oregon was a dream. Snowcapped mountains loomed over miles of bright green forest. Pleasure boats cruised the Willamette, their sails a riot of color. Crime and despair should not exist in such a place, but the real world kept intruding on paradise.
'What about Deems? Do you know where he is?'
'He's vanished.'
'That's the same thing he did before he killed Hollins. And what about the similarity between the two bombs?'
'Torino described how to make that bomb at Deems's trial.'
Stamm turned away from the view. Paladino waited patiently for the district attorney.
'Is Paul certain about the metal strips?'
'I know you don't want to hear this, Jack. You don't need Torino's opinion. You can see the fit.'
'That's not what I asked, damn it.'
The detective looked down, embarrassed. 'Paul will swear they fit.'
Stamm picked up a paper clip from his desk and began to unbend it absentmindedly as he paced around the room. Paladino watched him. He knew exactly what Stamm was thinking, since he had been going through the same mental anguish since his meeting with Torino.
'Jesus,' Stamm said finally.
'I know how you feel, Jack. It's ridiculous. I don't believe it for a minute. But we have to deal with the possibility. Abbie has a motive, she has no alibi for the time the bomb was attached to Griffen's car, she knows how to make the bomb. Paul says he walked her through it step by step when they prepared his direct examination at Deems's trial.'
'This is total bullshit,' Stamm said angrily. He threw the mangled paper clip into his wastepaper basket. 'Nick, you know Abbie. Can you see her killing anyone?'
'No. And that's the biggest reason why I'm not gonna continue on this investigation. I know Abbie too well to be objective.
You have to get out, too.'
Stamm walked back to his desk and slumped in his chair.
'You're right. I might even be a witness. I'll have to get a special prosecutor from the Attorney General's office. Shit. This is impossible.'
'I think you should call the AG right now and set up a meeting.
Stamm was furious. He knew Abbie did not murder her husband. If anyone did, it wasCharlie Deems. But even the possibility that one of his deputies was guilty made it imperative that his office turn over the investigation and prosecution to another agency.
The intercom buzzed. 'Mr. Stamm,' Jack's secretary said, 'I know you don't want to be disturbed, but Charlie Deems is here.
He says he wants to see you.'
'Charlie Deems?'
'At the front counter. He said it was important.'
'Okay. Tell him I'll be right out.'
Stamm looked across the desk at Nick Paladino. The detective seemed as surprised as the district attorney.
'What the fuck is going on, Nick?'
'I don't have a clue, Jack.'
'You don't think he's turning himself in?'
'Charlie Deems? Not a chance.'
Stamm put on his jacket and straightened his tie. His office was only a few steps from the reception area. When he stepped into the narrow hall that led to it, he saw Deems sitting in one of the molded plastic chairs reading Sports Illustrated. 'Mr. Deems, I'm Jack Stamm.'
Deems looked up from the magazine, grinned and walked over to the low gate that separated the reception area from the rest of the office.
'I hear you've been looking for me,' Deems said.
'Yes, sir. We have.'
'Here I am.'
'Would you like to step into my office?'
'Okay,' Deems answered agreeably.
Stamm led Deems past his secretary and into his office.
'You know Nick Paladino.'
'Sure. He arrested me, but I don't have any hard feelings.
Especially since we'll be working together.'
'Oh?' Stamm said.
'Yeah. I'm turning over a new leaf. I want to work for the forces of justice.'
'What brought about this miraculous conversion, Charlie?'
Paladino asked sarcastically.
'While you're sitting on death row you have plenty of time to think about life. You know, life, what does it all mean. I don't want to waste mine anymore. I'm a new man.'
'That's very nice, Charlie. Is that why you came here? To tell us about your change of heart?' Paladino asked.
'Hey, I know how busy you guys are. If all I wanted to do was to tell you I turned over a new leaf, I'd have dropped you a letter.
No, I'm here to help you catch criminals.'
'Anyone in particular?' Stamm asked.
'Oh, yeah. Some people I'm gonna enjoy sending to prison for a long, long time.'
'And who might they be?'
'How about Raoul Otero? I know everything about his operation: how he brings the stuff into the country, where they cut it and who's working for him. Interested?'
'I might be.'
''Might be,'' he repeated. Then Deems chuckled. 'Mr. Stamm, right now you're creaming in your pants, but it's okay to play it cool. I respect you for that. Hell, if you acted real excited it would just encourage me to boost the price I'm gonna ask for the information.'
'And what is your price?' Paladino asked.
Deems turned slowly toward the detective. 'I'm glad you asked. First, I'm gonna need protection. Raoul isn't the forgive-and-forget type.'
'Get to the good part, Charlie,' Paladino said.
'Naturally, I'd appreciate some remuneration.'
'Why doesn't that surprise me?'
'Hey, if I'm working for you I can't be working for me. Let's not quibble over money. I'm risking my life here.'
