Visions of Liberty

“This is the computer terminal in the living room,” he said, and leaned over the table putting his hand inside the holo to point at the keyboard. “And this—” he pointed at the highlighted door “—is the only entrance into the study, with the only other terminal that could access these files.”

At a gesture from Li, another of his assistants passed two files to Wainwright. “These files show the layout of the computers, and which terminal could access which file type, kind and level of security,” said Li, “and the layout of Ackerman’s penthouse apartment.”

“Thank you,” said Wainwright, making another note. “Continue,” he said, looking at Li.

Li said a few more quiet words to his assistant, and stepped back.

“We’ll hold the holo on the door and the keyboard and fast forward it to the moment the secure copy

was made.” As he spoke Murdock sprang to life and for the second time today I saw a man die. This one didn’t affect me nearly as much. I’d seen it before, and knew it was coming.

I felt like laughing at the way Murdock dressed and disappeared in a flurry of clothing and as the three almost-naked women seemed to run every which way across the room. A team of medics appeared and suddenly the room seemed to overflow with armed men. As one of them looked into the study the picture slowed back to normal speed.

“As you can see, this is the first time anyone has been near the keyboard or the door,” Li said.

Sam Renkin, one of our investigators, sat down at the keyboard. A moment later he said, “Hey, this thing is recording something.”

Li signaled his assistant and the holo stopped. “From this moment on,” he said, “this man, Sam Renkin, a bonded detective from San Francisco Investigations never left the keyboard until a secure copy of the files on the computer was made.

“One other point. These files could be accessed by voice, but only by Ackerman’s voice. The computer would respond to Mrs. Ackerman’s voice for other commands. Otherwise, only with a password that Mrs. Ackerman said she did not know. Indeed, when Mr. Renkin asked her if she’d known that the computer was recording everything, she went into shock and had to be treated by the medics.”

Turning to Wainwright he asked, “Do you have any other questions, sir?”

With a slight shake of his head, Wainwright indicated that Li should continue. As the holo shimmered and disappeared Wainwright ceased being a faint shadow behind Sam Renkin’s face.

“In our brief, we outlined the substantial circumstantial evidence that strongly suggests Murdock had murder in mind when he arrived for dinner.

“But the facts are clear. At 11:07 last Saturday evening, Gerald Murdock shot and killed Randolph Ackerman. There can be no doubt that Murdock is guilty of murder. For that reason, whether he killed Murdock in a fit of anger or, as we submit, as part of a long-standing plan makes absolutely no difference to the penalty we seek.

“Gerald Murdock is guilty.”

Li took a sheet of paper from his place at the table and passed it to Wainwright.

“Murdock is guilty of murder beyond a shadow of doubt. The high probability that the murder was premeditated merely adds weight to our claim that Murdock pay the highest penalty the law allows.

“And it’s to that penalty I’d now like to turn.”

“We submit that Murdock be required to pay to All-Risk Insurance the sum of 125,115 gold ounces, plus all costs, with interest.”

The amount Li asked for drew a low whistle of astonishment from several spectators, including me. People started whispering to each other until Wainwright’s sharp “Quiet, please,” brought silence back to the room.

“Continue.”

“Certainly, sir,” said Li. “If he fails to pay the penalty, ownership of all property identified as belonging to him be transferred to All-Risk Insurance in full or partial settlement of the penalty. And as he has disappeared entirely and has no known legal identity, we ask that Gerald Murdock be declared a renegade and outlaw until such time as the penalty is paid in full.”

Now I understood why they’d rushed to have this case adjudicated. They’d be able to take ownership of Murdock’s companies. GMR Holdings was the only one left, but if they could grab it before Annabelle Pearson closed it down completely they’d have a chance of being able to trace the money and, with it, Murdock.

Correction: We’d have a chance. Joe and I were going to be the ones who had to find him.

“As we all know, and as Murdock must also know, the penalty for murder is restitution to the heirs of the victim for the value of the life taken, and restitution of any other damages directly attributable to the death.

“Ackerman’s life was insured by All-Risk for the sum of fifteen thousand gold ounces. We seek reimbursement of that amount.

“In addition, Ackerman’s policy with All-Risk includes coverage of violent death, such as murder.

“Because of this provision, All-Risk had complete access to Ackerman’s financial records and routinely updated this risk. The calculation of the value of Ackerman’s life, based on the present value of his estimated future earning power, totals 110,115 gold ounces. This amount is exhaustively documented in the brief, using standard Insurance Association scales.”

That was a big number, even for someone as wealthy as Ackerman. It’s a number you could easily lowball. That was one of the things I liked about All-Risk: they never stiffed their customers.

And how do you figure someone’s future earning potential? You make lots of assumptions. Assumptions that would have been challenged—if there’d been a Murdock representative to challenge them.

“The penalty we seek includes reimbursement of the fifteen thousand gold ounces in life insurance cover that All-Risk has already paid to Ackerman’s widow, Sophia Ackerman, and the sum of 110,115 gold ounces that would become immediately due and payable by All-Risk Insurance.

“We also submit that the penalty include all the costs of the investigation and these proceedings to date, plus the costs yet to be disbursed in finding the defendant and recovering the penalty.

“Finally, that the penalty include interest on the outstanding amount from the moment the decision of these proceedings is finalized to the time the penalty has been recovered in full.”

Wainwright was looking at the papers Li had given him. When Li stopped talking, he looked up.

“Subject to any questions, the plaintiff rests.”

“No questions,” said Wainwright. In a louder voice, looking around the room, “Is there anyone here to speak for Gerald Murdock?”

Once more he was greeted with silence.

“In that case, this hearing is adjourned until two o’clock.” As Wainwright stood up his assistants followed suit. A hubbub of conversation quickly filled the silence as they left the room.

I grabbed Joe by the arm. “Let’s go and talk to Li before everybody else does.”

A loose knot of people had gathered around him. I squeezed through and offered him my hand. “Nicely put, counselor.”

“Hi Ray.” He smiled at me. “Joe.”

“We were surprised to see both you and Wainwright here today.”

“I think the idea is they don’t want the faintest question as to the probity of the verdict.”

Up close, I noticed that his eyes looked tired. “Looks like you haven’t had much sleep recently. Either.” He laughed. “We’re hoping to give you a warm trail to follow. If there’s any trail at all.”

“There’s always something—”

“Ah, there you are.” A voice came from behind me. “Joe. Ray. We need to talk right away.” I turned as somebody’s hand grabbed my arm and started tugging it gently.

“Hi, Fritz. Anyone here had any sleep this week?” Fritz Gandhi—he had an Indian father and a German mother—was chief of All-Risk’s San Francisco bureau.

“Plenty of time for that next week. Or next month,” he said.

“Looks like I have to go,” I said to Martin. “See you at two.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” said Fritz. “You’ll be too busy.”

* * *

Joe and I followed Fritz into a nearby room along with a number of people I recognized from his office.

A woman I did not know, who was stunningly attractive despite her full head of gray hair, was already sitting