Amanda's weary eyes softened. You didn't have a choice. You' d have been breaking the law if you' d done anything different.
The worst part is that we had enough evidence to arrest Cardoni. We just couldn't find the son of a bitch.
Mike told her about the cell phone bill that proved that Cardoni had phoned in the 911 and called Justine's house on the evening of Justine's arrest.
We were also following up on an idea Sean had four years ago but stopped pursuing after Cardoni disappeared. You know that Cardoni practiced at a hospital in Denver before he came to Portland?
Amanda nodded.
I just heard from the Colorado state police this morning. Two years ago they uncovered a killing ground similar to ours in a rural area about an hour outside of Denver. The bodies had been buried for some time. A Colorado lawyer, who has since been disbarred, purchased the property where the graves were found. He was contacted by an anonymous buyer through the mail and paid in cashier's checks.
Cardoni's MO.
Mike nodded.
I might have some extra ammo to use against Cardoni, Amanda said. You know that Bobby Vasquez is working for me, right?
Sean mentioned it.
He gave me gave me a preliminary list of serial murders that might have the same MO as Cardoni's killings. I'll get it to you in case he found something that your investigators missed.
Great, he answered distractedly. Listen, about Bobby ...
Have you gotten an update on his condition?
It's not good. The doctors don't know if he's going to make it.
Amanda's shoulders slumped. What about Cardoni?
Mike looked grim. The bastard's doing fine. That's the bad news. The good news is that he'll be fit for trial soon, so I'll be able to send him to death row. I trust you won't be representing him this time.
Amanda forced a smile and shook her head.
Am I done here? I' d love to get home and take a long, hot bath.
You're done, Mike said, holding her chair for her as she stood. Then he took her hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze.
If there's anything I can do, let me know, Greene said quietly with a warmth that surprised her. She looked at the DA quizzically, and he blushed.
I enjoy butting heads with you, he said, so take care of yourself.
Chapter 60
Even with Cardoni locked in the secure wing at St. Francis, Amanda was afraid to stay by herself. But she turned Tony down when he invited her to stay at his house. Amanda never ran from something that scared her, and she wasn't going to start now.
That night, alone in her apartment, Amanda watched an old movie until her eyes grew heavy, then went to bed around one. She dreamed again about the operating room, the masked surgeon and the coffee mug filled with blood. When the mug slipped from the surgeon's fingers, a wave of blood arced through the air. Amanda jerked up in bed when the mug shattered. It was the second time she' d had that dream, and both times she had woken feeling at loose ends.
No reporters were lurking outside the offices of Jaffe, Katz, Lehane and Brindisi when Amanda arrived at eight the next morning. She had been putting off work on her other cases while she concentrated on Justine Castle. Before she could get to them she had to put Justine's files in order. It was while she was performing this chore that Amanda spotted Bobby Vasquez's list of possible killing grounds. She remembered her promise to send it to Mike Greene. As she scanned the list her eye lit on the Ghost Lake, Oregon, entry. Something about Ghost Lake tickled her memory again, but she was interrupted before she could give it much thought.
There's a call for you on line three, the receptionist told her.
Who is it?
He says he's Vincent Cardoni, the receptionist answered nervously. He asked for Mr. Jaffe. When I told him he was out of town, he insisted on speaking to you.
Amanda hesitated. It would be easy to have the receptionist tell Cardoni that she would not take the call, but her curiosity got the better of her.
Why are you calling this firm, Dr. Cardoni? Amanda demanded as soon as she picked up the receiver. Roy Bishop is your attorney.
Bishop has no credibility with the district attorney or the police.
That may be, but we are no longer your lawyers.
I paid your father a lot of money to represent me. He's still under retainer.
You can discuss that with him when he comes back to Portland at the end of the week. As far as I' m concerned, our professional relationship ended when you murdered my client.
But I didn' t. Please come to St. Francis. I have to talk to you.
You must be insane to think that I would come anywhere near you after what you did to Justine.
You have to come. Cardoni's voice was raw and needy.
The last time I agreed to meet with you, it didn't turn out so well. I think I'll pass.
This is more important than you know, Cardoni pleaded. You're in danger, and you're the only person who knows enough to understand.
Amanda hesitated. She had no interest in meeting Cardoni. The idea of being in the same room with him scared the hell out of her. But he sounded so disturbed and unsure of himself.
Listen carefully, Dr. Cardoni. You think we still have an attorney-client relationship, but we don' t. If you say anything incriminating, I'll walk straight from your hospital room to police headquarters and tell them every word you told me.
I'll take that chance.
Amanda was surprised by the response. Let me make myself clear, Doctor. I would like nothing better than to be the one who gives you your lethal injection.
I said I'll take that chance.
Amanda thought for a moment. She could hear Cardoni's ragged breathing on the other end of the line.
I will talk to you on one condition. I am going to bring a release with me. Once you sign it, the attorney-client privilege will no longer apply and I'll be free to tell the police anything you tell me. I'll also be free to testify against you in court. Will you sign the release?
Yes, I will.
A massive steel door separated the secured ward at St. Francis from a small entry area opposite the elevator. An orderly manned a desk in front of the door. He inspected Amanda's ID and briefcase, then pressed a button. Another orderly studied Amanda through a window made of bulletproof glass that was centered in the top half of the door. When he was satisfied, he let Amanda into the ward, relocked the door and escorted her to Cardoni's room. A policeman was sitting outside. He stood up when he heard footsteps tapping down the narrow hallway. Amanda handed her bar card and driver's license to the policeman.
I' m Dr. Cardoni's attorney.
Can you please open your briefcase?
Amanda complied, and he thumbed through her paperwork and inspected all of the compartments.
You'll have to leave the briefcase out here. You can bring in your papers and a pen, but don't give the pen to Dr. Cardoni.
I have a paper he has to sign.
Okay. I'll come in with you. He can sign in my presence.
Cardoni was dressed in a hospital gown and propped up on a hospital bed with his head slightly elevated. His arms were lying on top of his blanket, and Amanda saw the jagged scar that circled the surgeon's arm just above his right wrist. Cardoni's eyes followed Amanda as she crossed the room. She moved a chair near the bed but was careful to stay far enough away so he could not reach her. The policeman positioned himself at the end of the bed. Cardoni glanced at him.
