If Cardoni is our killer, you' d be putting yourself in danger by looking for him.
Your investigator wouldn't have the expertise to spot a really good facial reconstruction. I' d recognize one in an instant. And believe me, I' m not going to take any chances. If I find Cardoni, we'll go straight to the police.
Amanda hesitated.
Amanda, I like Justine. I don't want to see an innocent person suffer. But I like me, too, and I' m too young to die. I appreciate how dangerous this can be. I' m not going to put myself at risk.
Promise?
Promise.
You know what? Tony asked.
What?
I think we should stop talking shop for the rest of our meal.
Amanda smiled. I agree. What shall we talk about?
I just had an idea. Have you seen the new Jackie Chan flick?
I haven't seen a movie in ages.
It's showing at the Broadway Metroplex at ten-thirty. Are you in the mood for some mindless violence?
You bet.
Tony smiled. You're a girl after my own heart.
Chapter 45
When Bobby Vasquez had called earlier for an appointment, Mary Ann Jager had answered her own phone. Now he knew why: The lawyer's tiny waiting room reeked of failure. There was no receptionist, and the top of the receptionist's desk was bare and covered with a light layer of dust. Vasquez knocked on the doorjamb of an open doorway. A slender woman with short brown hair looked up, startled, from the fashion magazine she was reading.
Vasquez had learned a lot about Jager from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory listing of attorneys' rTsumTs and the file of complaints against Jager that he had obtained through the Oregon state bar. She had gone to work for a midsized firm for a decent salary after graduating high in her law school class. There were no problems until shortly before her divorce, when a client complained about irregularities in her trust account and rumors of substance abuse began to circulate. Jager was suspended from the practice of law for a year and fired from her firm. When she could practice again, she opened her own office. Jager's history was very similar to that of Walter Stoops, and Vasquez wondered if Cardoni found his lawyers by studying complaints filed against members of the bar.
Ms. Jager? I' m Bobby Vasquez. I called earlier.
The lawyer stood up quickly, walked around her desk and extended a damp hand. Vasquez noticed a slight tremor.
I hope you weren't waiting outside long, Jager said nervously. My receptionist is out with that flu that's going around.
Bobby smiled sympathetically, though he was certain that there was no receptionist and very little business, to judge from the empty state of Jager's in-box and her bare desktop.
I' m interested in contacting the owner of some land you purchased approximately two years ago for Intercontinental Properties, a corporation you formed, Vasquez said when they were seated.
Jager frowned. That was a farm, right?
Vasquez nodded, breathing a silent prayer of thanks that he had beaten the police to Jager and that she did not know that the land she had purchased had been turned into a slaughterhouse.
I' d like to help you, but I have no idea who owns the property. The owner contacted me by mail. I was paid to form Intercontinental Properties for the sole purpose of buying the land. My retainer and the money for the property were paid in cashier's checks. I forwarded the title to a post office box in California.
If you could give me the owner's name, I can try to trace him.
I don't have a name. There was no signature on my instructions.
This all sounds very mysterious.
It is, but it's completely legal.
Of course.
Vasquez paused, then acted like a man who has just gotten an idea.
Could I see your file? Maybe there's a clue to the owner's identity in it.
I don't know if I can do that. The information in the file is privileged.
Vasquez leaned forward and lowered his voice, even though he and the lawyer were alone.
Ms. Jager, my client is very intent on negotiating for this property. He has authorized me to compensate you for your time and for reasonable copying costs. I don't see where a problem would arise. Most of the information is public record anyway.
The mention of money got Jager's attention.
I charge one hundred and fifty dollars an hour.
That sounds reasonable.
Jager hesitated, and Vasquez knew that she was desperate for more money. He hoped that she didn't go crazy on him. Until the Jaffes hired him, he was fronting his expenses.
My copying costs are rather high. I would need another fifty dollars to cover them.
That's fine.
Vasquez slid two hundred dollars across the desk.
May I see the file?
Jager rotated her chair and retrieved a manila folder from a cabinet behind her desk. Inside, Vasquez found copies of documents he' d seen in the Multnomah County file. He only asked for copies of the checks. Jager was gone for a few minutes. When she returned, she handed a stack of photocopies to Vasquez.
What's so important about this farm? Jager asked. You're the second person who's been interested in it. Is someone going to build a subdivision?
Someone else asked about this property?
Yeah, about a week ago.
Vasquez put the photocopies away and dug a photograph of Cardoni out of his attachT case.
Was this the man?
Jager studied the photograph for a moment. Then she shook her head.
The man who came in was blond and looked different. More like a Russian.
How tall was he?
Over six feet.
Did he say why he wanted to buy the property?
No. He was more interested in how it was purchased.
Can you tell me any more about him?
No. He just showed up and asked about the farm.
Did you show him the file?
Yes.
Vasquez was stumped. Who else would be interested in the farm?
If this guy shows up again, try to get some more information about him.
How will I let you know?
Vasquez gave Jager his business card and another fifty.
Ten minutes later Vasquez was on the phone with Amanda Jaffe.
Have you had a chance to talk to your father about me? Vasquez asked anxiously.
I' m lead counsel on Dr. Castle's case, so it's my decision.
Look, I know you're worried, but I' m good and I've already got a jump on the cops.
Vasquez eagerly related what he had learned during his meeting with Mary Ann Jager. Amanda only half listened until Vasquez told her that someone else had been asking about the property.
Do you think he was just interested in buying the farm? Amanda asked.
I don't know. I showed Jager a photograph of Cardoni. The person who came to the office was his height, but Jager said that he looked different.
