prosecution.”
“Good,” Flanagan replied. “We’re all on the same page. Mac and Dick, I want you guys to work with Ms. Kennedy to prep for tomorrow’s interview with the senator. She may give you some insight as to what Lyman will do. He’s apt to have a trick or two up his sleeve, and we may only get one shot at the senator before Lyman intercedes and says, ‘Prove it.’ So let’s be ready,” Flanagan said sternly. “And I want the prep work done outside the building, preferably after hours. I don’t want any attention drawn to this.” Chief Flanagan looked at Anderson, “Helen, I assume that’s okay with you?”
Anderson nodded her agreement. The chief continued, “You guys figure it out, but I don’t want you seen meeting around here. People’ll talk, think we have something solid. I told Hisle we’d keep the meeting quiet, at least for the time being. So, nobody in this room talks about this with the media or anyone else.” Everyone nodded in agreement.
“Mac? Green and Clark-do they know about the senator?” the chief asked Mac.
“Yes. They interviewed the neighbor John Chase first.”
“This comes from me-they don’t talk.”
“I’ll convey that message, sir.” Mac didn’t need to worry about those two, and the chief knew it, but he was covering all the bases.
“Dick?”
With his hands up, Lich replied, “I know, I know.”
“Okay then. You two and Ms. Kennedy here figure out what you’re going to do. And, Mac, you and Lich let me or Peters know if anything develops today.”
With that, the meeting ended. Mac, Lich, and Sally walked to the elevator.
“So, how do you guys want to do this?” Sally asked.
“My place is up on Summit, close to downtown,” Mac said. “Let’s all meet there at 7:00 p.m. I’ll order pizza.” Lich knew where Mac lived, but Kennedy needed directions.
“Sounds good,” replied Kennedy “I’ll see you guys then.”
Mac and Lich got off on the second floor, heading to their desks. Kennedy continued onto the main level. Her office at the Ramsey County Courthouse was a five-block walk away.
After they got off the elevator, Lich let out a disappointing sigh.
“What’s up?” asked Mac.
“Tonight.”
“What about it?”
“Well, I got a date with Dot. You know, that waitress with the majorleague cantaloupes.”
Mac smiled, “Dicky boy, Dicky boy, what time?”
“Seven.”
Mac thought for a moment. He wasn’t even sure they really needed to meet with Sally yet, although she likely would have some insight on dealing with a shark like Lyman. The interview wouldn’t be much different than any other, and Lich was actually pretty good on interviews. Lich didn’t need to be there. “Look, we’re going out to Hisle’s place tomorrow afternoon, so we’ll have time to talk in the morning, so go ahead.”
“You sure?” asked Lich.
“Yeah, but I reserve the right to ask for details, at least about Dot. I can do without details about you.”
Lich chuckled. “Thanks, man.”
Mac took another look at Lich. He was wearing a brown suit, beat-up black lace-ups, and a faded yellow shirt with a brown-and-tan striped tie. It was not an impressive ensemble. “What’re you wearing tonight?”
“Hell if I know.”
“Promise me it’s not what you have on now?”
“What’s wrong with this?” Lich said, looking down at himself nonplused.
Mac rolled his eyes, shook his head and kept walking, leaving Lich behind to examine his reflection in an office window.
Chapter Nine
Lich was getting anxious. He was nervously tapping his pen on the desk, checking his watch every thirty seconds. Mac took a look at his watch, 4:45 p.m. “So, Dick. What do you and Dot have planned?”
“We’re meeting at Grand Filet.”
The Grand Filet was, naturally, on Grand Avenue, not far from Daniels’ place. It was a small restaurant that would seem more in place two hours to the north of St. Paul. The Filet had a real Northwoods feel, with cedar- planked walls and the best walleye in town. It was perfect for them.
“Sounds good.”
“Yeah, the Filet, man. I’ve been looking forward to it all day.” Mac laughed and thought of Dot’s rather impressive rack, “Dick, that is
Dick grinned. “Fuck you.”
“Look, go ahead and bail. We’re not accomplishing anything right now.” They had been back for a half hour. In the morning they had interviewed two people that Channel 6 station manager Mary Carpenter had found for them. The two had individually threatened Daniels after investigative reports. Mac and Lich had run both men through the drill, but both had good alibis. Neither felt right. After the interviews, the two detectives spent the rest of the afternoon on follow-up canvassing of the neighborhood around Daniels’ place. It had been fruitless. Neighbors hadn’t seen anything on the night of the murder or anything unusual in the days leading up to it. A few people still weren’t home, and Mac left his card behind with a request that they contact him. The one big piece of news from the day was that the district attorney’s office had gotten a hold of the senator’s prints, which had now been matched to the key.
“Have fun with Dot.”
Lich gave him a knowing smile, stood up, put on his coat and headed out with a distinct spring in his step.
Mac smiled to think that Lich looked forward to a date at his age. Good for him. Well, if Lich wasn’t coming tonight, he’d better let Kennedy know. He picked up the phone, dialed and heard, “Hello you’ve reached the voicemail of Sally Kennedy. I’m either on my phone or away from my desk…” He hit POUND and left her a message. It was 5:00 p.m., enough time to get a workout in before getting home to meet with Sally.
Sally pecked away at a motion on her computer, a light-rock station playing quietly in the background. She wanted to polish the motion a bit more before finishing. It would be ready to file in the morning. She took a sip of her Diet Pepsi, when there was a knock on the door and she turned to find Helen standing in her doorway. Sally hit the DND on her phone, and Helen shut the door.
“So, with Johnson’s prints, he’s the prime suspect in the Daniels case, don’t you think?”
“I do.”
“Are you all set with McRyan and Lich tonight?
“Yes.”
“What do you think of them?” asked Anderson, a touch of skepticism in her voice.
Sally gave it some thought before responding. “I don’t know yet. Lich’s been around, although it sounds as if he’ll occasionally talk out of school to the media.”
“What about McRyan?” Helen pushed.
“I haven’t seen him in action. The chief and Peters obviously think highly of him. I sense you have your doubts?”
“He strikes me as a lightweight,” Anderson replied. “I want you to call me tonight after you’re done to let me
