“I’m not very vulnerable right now, but you were worried about me. You sure you’re telling me everything?”
“I’m telling you everything I know, but I know he had a thing for you and he might see you as more vulnerable than you see yourself. He could put you in jail and he could do things that could threaten your license.”
“Has he done anything like that before?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“But you wouldn’t put it past him?”
“I don’t put anything past anybody. Did he try something?”
“Not with me, but I saw him when I was visiting Phoebe’s.”
“That could be a problem. I don’t suppose he said or did anything while you were there?”
“He did a lot of leering since Phoebe was wearing a very small bikini, but that’s what I’d say she was going for.”
“Hardly illegal. Even if he’s doing more than just looking, as long as she’s consenting, it might be wrong, but it’s not illegal. Now, tell me why you thought your old boyfriend tried to kill you.”
Margot hesitated, she didn’t want to be a rat and felt like she was betraying Mal, but she decided he made his own choices and she couldn’t be responsible for the outcome of those choices.
“Dennis Thorn, which was the name Mal used working undercover, visited Conner Heller before the murder.”
“Mal visited Heller?”
“I think so,” Margot said, finding herself hedging on the truth and offering a little protection even though she shouldn’t be.
“Think?”
“No, I know it. I emailed him asking about it. I didn’t even know if he still checks his email.”
“Then he takes a shot at you thinking he doesn’t want you to spread this information around?”
“Exactly, but it wasn’t him.”
“How do you know?”
“He told me. Don’t ask where he is or why he might be talking to Conner Heller. I don’t know the answer to either one.”
“I’d say he was working as a middle man to whoever wanted Lucas dead.”
“I thought the same thing, but he said no.”
“And you believed him?”
“He told the truth about everything else.”
“You know I have to give this to Anderson.”
“I know and I don’t have a problem with it. I’m done helping Mal.”
“That’s actually really good to hear.”
He may have liked hearing it, but Margot didn’t like saying it.
Chapter 10
Even though Margot wasn’t an actual police officer, Heller’s lawyer insisted he be there when she talked to him. Margot ran into him heading into county jail. He didn’t drive a Porsche or wear a watch or a tailored suit like Thad. He was definitely not Browers and Associates caliber, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a good lawyer.
“Frederic Nolan, but you can call me Fred, if you’d like,” he told her as they walked in together.
“Margot.”
“Nice to meet you. I can tell you this is a waste of time. He’s not talking until he gets a deal. He’s not going to be intimidated either.”
“Do I look like I’m here to intimidate him?”
Fred shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the first time some high-level gangster sent a private eye to make the muscle work look more respectable.”
“Muscle work?”
“They call you Viuda Negra, which I believe is Spanish for the black widow, don’t they?”
“No, they don’t. You shouldn’t believe everything you see on the internet. I’m not here on behalf of any gangster either.”
Fred shrugged like he didn’t believe her and then they were both quiet as they went through the process of being let into the facility.
Conner Heller was a droopy-eyed guy who probably wasn’t that much bigger in height or weight than the diminutive Lucas. He didn’t look like the kind of person someone would hire to kill somebody, but Margot knew looks could be deceiving when it came to violence. Unlike the more likely suspects staying at the jail, he had the opportunity.
“Well, Margot, if you’re not here on behalf of the unnamed gangster, why are you here?” Fredric asked.
“I want to talk about Lucas Lau.”
Heller looked at his lawyer. “I thought you said not to worry about that?”
“I did, and I was right. They won’t be charging for that. I’m not sure why she brought it up.”
“Why won’t they be charging you for Lucas?” Margot asked Heller.
Before Fred could tell him to shut up, Heller said, “I was with Bateman and Darius when it happened. The doc saw us and told us to get to work.”
“She doesn’t need to know any of that,” the lawyer told him.
“But if it’s true…” Heller began.
“Then we don’t want to give anyone a chance to spread lies,” Fred interrupted.
“Hell, that fat cop can back me up…”
“Conner, please stop talking. In fact, don’t say another word unless I give you permission.”
“But I was…”
“Do you want me to quit being your lawyer? Do you want to go back to the public defender?”
Conner opened his mouth but then closed it and nodded his head.
Margot looked at Heller and thought about something he’d said. She decided to put off asking about Mal for a little bit and asked him instead, “You said ‘fat cop’? Was that Detective Anderson?”
Heller looked at Fred, who shook his head no.
“They keep records of who goes in and out. I already know they were here that day.”
“Then why are you asking him?” Fred told her.
“Two reasons. First, he said fat cop, I noticed he didn’t say old cop or cops. If who I am talking about was here, he’d be here with a partner. He didn’t mention a partner.”
“So?”
“So, it might be important.”
“To whom?”
“To all of us. We both know someone
