46

 

 

The next morning, Harrity called me in the late morning with an update.

“The police have been busy,” he said after a businesslike greeting. “They’ve re-interviewed Thad Richards, and subpoenaed the accounting for Stoker, Shelley, and Bynes. Richards was apparently less than wholly cooperative.”

“What about the goon he hired?”

“They didn’t share any information about him. However, I doubt they have any. It is likely that only Thad Richards knows who that person is, and as I stated, he was not cooperative.”

“What’d they get from the financial records?”

“I don’t believe they’ve received them yet.”

“I thought they had a subpoena.”

“They do. But they have to give the company a reasonable amount of time to comply with it. It isn’t the same thing as a search warrant, in which the evidence is seized.”

“Then they should have gotten a warrant instead.”

“I concur. But I sense that following my advice is not high on their priority list.”

I smiled. “Probably not.”

“Besides, getting a subpoena instead of a warrant, while less intrusive, also serves as a delaying mechanism.”

“They’re dragging their feet?”

“A little, perhaps.”

I sighed. “I guess no one likes being told how to do their job.”

“Very true. In the meantime, I would like to hire you for some pre-trial work, if you’re available.”

“Of course.”

“Good. What I need is a detailed background interview of Marie Brassart.”

“Won’t you be doing that?”

“I will. Tomorrow, in fact. But I’d like a pre-interview first.”

“Why?”

“Several reasons. My interview will focus on factual elements that impact legal strategy. In conducting such an interview, it is entirely possible that I’ll miss salient facts that indirectly pertain.”

I interpreted what he said, then shook my head, though he couldn’t see it. “I doubt that. You’re pretty thorough.”

“I make every attempt to be. But I’m also human.”

“I’m waiting on the lab results for that one.”

The sound from the other end of the telephone may have been a small laugh. “There are other reasons. At times, my method of interviewing can be intimidating to some people.”

“I could see that being the case.”

“Additionally, the very nature of the client relationship sometimes causes barriers, whether purposeful or not.”

“So you think she’ll be more relaxed and open with me?”

“It is a possibility, yes. In any event, I will get the benefit of your pre-interview prior to my interview with her tomorrow afternoon.”

“All right,” I said. “I’ll do it.”

“Excellent. Please stop by the office and I’ll make sure Maureen gets you a digital recorder. Just return it to her and she’ll transcribe your interview.”

“Do you want a report from me?”

“An executive summary, if you would. But you can brief me in person, if that’s your preference.”

I thought about the last time I had to write anything meaningful in a professional sense and realized I still wore a badge when that happened.

“Verbal is fine,” I said. “I’ll go out to see her after lunch.”

“Perfect,” Harrity replied. “Maureen will call ahead so that you’re expected.”

Expected? I thought.

That’d be a first.