Visions of Liberty

“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 at the table.

“Ray, Joe, I’d like you to meet Noni Brooks. Noni, this is Ray Black and Joe Herrera. They head San Francisco Investigations.”

“Good,” she said. I presumed our reputation had preceded us. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Noni’s from Berkshire Re,” Fritz explained. “They have—potentially—a large interest in this case.”

“The violent death cover?” Joe asked. Noni and Fritz both nodded.

Noni Brooks certainly didn’t waste any time. “The question is: can you find Gerald Murdock?” But her look seemed to say, Ifyou can’t, we’ll get someone who can.

Berkshire Re is the biggest—and smartest—insurance outfit in the world. They obviously wanted Murdock and his money found. And they don’t take “impossible” as an answer.

“What’s the budget?” asked Joe.

“Five hundred ounces,” said Noni.

“To start with,” added Fritz.

“You’re assuming Wainwright will find him guilty,” I said.

“No,” said Noni, “we’re not assuming that. Though we expect he will.” She looked at her watch. “Judge Wainwright will give his decision three and a half hours from now. If we just sit around and wait till then and the verdict is guilty, that’s three and a half hours we’ve lost.

“Do I need to point out the obvious? It’s Friday already, and this man is going to be very hard to find.

His trail’s getting colder by the minute. One extra hour could be the difference between success and failure.”

What about the five days we’ve already lost? I thought to myself. But I said, “If anyone can find him, we can.” Joe nodded his agreement.

“As far as you’re concerned,” said Fritz, “Wainwright has already pronounced him guilty. We’ll call you when he announces his decision but we want you to be ready to move the moment he does.”

“GMR Holdings,” said Joe.

“That’s right,” said Fritz. “Follow the money. We’ve got all the papers ready: five minutes after Wainwright rules we’ll be in possession of the company. Then we have to get Murdock’s secretary out of the office and see what she’s left for us to find.”

“I want to see the bank records,” I said. “Murdock disappeared at Union Square Saturday night. Like the Invisible Man. Feels like we’ve been hitting our heads against a brick wall ever since.”

“That’s exactly the point,” said Fritz. “Somewhere in the company’s records should be a warm trail to follow. At least a lead, a hint of some kind.”

“Looks like our only bet,” said Joe.

Noni Brooks shook her head. “There’ll be a reward. One thousand ounces for information that leads us to Murdock.”

“Who’ll screen the replies?” asked Joe.

“We want you to do that. You’re the experts,” said Fritz.

“That’ll cost extra,” said Joe. “Murdock will be ‘seen’ all over the world.”

“We only need one.”

“Yeah. But figuring which is the right one will cost a fortune.”

Fritz turned to Noni, who nodded her head.

“Okay,” he said. “We’re also going after the money Murdock skimmed from the joint venture companies. We’re claiming Murdock broke the partnership agreements which would make it theft.”

“But I thought he had the right to withdraw that money,” I said.

“He had the right to spend the money on joint venture business. Not to pay himself without Ackerman’s agreement. Anyway, we’ll have a judgment in a day or three. If the judge rules against Murdock, he’ll be guilty of theft as well as murder.”

“Good,” said Joe.

Everybody turned to look at him. “Why?” someone asked.

“Never mind now,” said Fritz. “It’s time we got moving.”

“Who’s handing things on your end?” Joe asked.

“Tony Ramirez. He’s expecting your call.”

“What I want to know,” said Joe, to no one in particular, “is why did he do it? What’s his motive?”

* * *

“Greed or lust,” said Joe as we walked out onto Geary.

“What about revenge?”

Joe shook his head. “Doesn’t figure.”

“Hang on a minute,” said Joe. He stepped into the tobacco store we’d just passed.

“Heavens above,” he said, jogging up to where I’d stopped. He stared at his phone in one hand and a packet of Maui Wowie Lights in the other. “They’ve gone down in price again!”

I jangled the coins in my pocket. Joe never carried any, always paying by phone. Call me weird if you like, but I enjoy the feel, the weight of gold and silver.

“So what’s new?” I asked.

“They dropped last month, and they’re down again already.”

Thinking of our payroll I said, “Wish salaries went down like everything else.”

“Yeah,” he grunted.

“So what do you want with them?” I asked him.

“Added inspiration.” “I’m inspired enough already.”