Friday Afternoon
A police officer escorted Melisa Regan to the interview. Following was attorney Helen Shaye, who sat next to her.
Stone waited for Roberts to sit first, and then sat next to her. He opened a folder. “Do you want to give your version of the events on the night of Ryan Morgan’s death? Or would you prefer to hear from us on how you conspired to commit murder and robbery?”
“My client is innocent of any and all charges. It is up to you to prove she had anything to do with the most unfortunate death of her employer and friend, Mr. Morgan. She is still grieving for his loss.”
“Really? It would impress Walt Disney with that fantasy tale.” Stone tapped his pen on the table. “Why don’t you tell me what happened, Ms. Regan, let’s say, after you found out Ryan Morgan was having an affair not only with you but also with another woman?”
Regan took a deep breath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Of course you do. But how about we ask an easier question? Tell us when you met Tyler Harris at Charmaine’s Coffee Emporium, and then went to Ryan Morgan’s office.”
“Tyler approached me to split the contents of the safe in Ryan Morgan’s office. He said he would provide the muscle, if there was any trouble, if I could open the safe.”
“Nice arrangement. What is the combination of the safe?”
“I, I, I don’t know it off-hand. I wrote it down somewhere.”
“Where? Tell us so we can verify the numbers,” Stone questioned her.
“I can’t remember right now.”
“Alright. You now leave the coffee shop with Harris and go to Morgan’s office. What happened after you left the elevator on his office floor?”
Regan took a deep breath. “We went to his office and opened the door…”
“It was unlocked?”
“Yes. We went inside and into Ryan’s private office. It shocked me to see him on the floor, badly hurt. Before I could react, Tyler used his knife to slice his throat. I was scared. It was brutal. It paralyzed me with fear.
“Then Tyler ordered me to open the safe, which I did.”
“The safe was already unlocked?”
“Yes.”
“You split the monies?”
“Yes.”
“Then what?”
“I can’t remember. It was a blur to me. I went home and cried. I was so upset at Ryan’s death.”
“Yet we contacted you the next day. You claim you couldn’t see us because you had an appointment. You didn’t appear to be distraught when we saw you on Sunday.”
“They gave me medication to help me cope with the tragedy. I wasn’t feeling myself.”
Stone looked at his notes. “Let’s take a step back. When Harris and you first saw Ryan Morgan in the office, did you say anything to Harris?”
“No.”
“You didn’t tell him to kill Morgan?”
“No, I was too scared to speak.”
Stone rubbed his eyes. “I truly hate dealing with liars, especially the ones that only care for themselves.”
“I wasn’t lying.”
“If you think accusing my client of lying, without proof, will help you to solve this case, I assure you I can make your head spin with official complaints.” Helen Shaye glared at Stone.
“We solved the murder. I just need to put the guilty parties into jail.” He pointed a finger at Regan. “That most certainly includes you.” He tapped his pen on the table. “Okay, here is what we know. You contacted Tyler Harris to rob Ryan Morgan’s safe. By your own admission, when we talked to you the following Sunday, you knew Ryan Morgan worked late. That’s why you returned that Friday evening. You didn’t know the safe combination and if he was there, then the safe wasn’t locked. If it was locked, you could force him to open the safe.”
“That is preposterous,” Shaye retorted.
“Morgan’s gun, the one he kept in his desk for protection, was empty of bullets. Your client’s fingerprints are on the gun. She emptied the gun of bullets to ensure Morgan couldn’t easily defend himself. Does Ms. Regan wish to deny she removed the bullets from his gun?”
Shaye looked at Regan.
“Yes, I did. It was because Ryan was prone to moments of anger. I removed the bullets so he couldn’t use it against me.”
“You just keep pushing the boundaries of credibility further each time.” Stone crossed his arms. “I have all the information I require from the confession of Tyler Harris. Ms. Regan, either you tell us the truth right now and confess to accessory to the murder of Ryan Morgan, or we will proceed with conspiracy to commit murder, fraud and armed robbery. If we proceed with robbery, we will notify Revenue Canada of your hidden assets. I will give you precisely four minutes to decide.” He stood. “Three minutes and fifty seconds.” He stepped out of the interview room with Roberts.
“That was a bit of a bluff. We didn’t know for sure it was her fingerprints on the gun.” She stood with Stone by the closed door.
“We do now.”
“Do you think she’ll confess?”
“She doesn’t know what we actually know.” Stone looked at the interview room. “I think she values keeping her money. If she refuses to confess, she’ll risk losing her assets.”
“Won’t Revenue Canada go after the money, anyway?”
“Yeah, well, she doesn’t know that.” He looked at his watch. “Five minutes. Let’s go in.”
Helen Shaye looked up when they entered. “We acknowledged Melisa was caught up in events of which she had little control. Therefore, she will admit to being an accessory to Tyler Harris in the murder of Ryan Morgan. We do not admit to being the main party, or instigator, of the murder and subsequent robbery.”
“Fair enough. We’ll take her statement. But and I’ll warn you just this once, any lies, or misleading information, in your statement means all bets are off. Be smart and give us the entire story,” Stone warned her.
Regan nodded.
“We’ll have someone type out your statement.” Roberts signalled for a cop to enter the room. “Watch her while we get someone to take her statement.”
“Let’s go. I need a coffee.” Stone walked out of the room.
Roberts walked with him to the coffee room. “Okay, we have confessions from Tyler Harris and Melisa Regan. Anything else with this murder we need to do?”
“Yup. I want to push Joseph McCarthy for a confession. I’m certain he stabbed Morgan in the back. I want him to confess to it.”
“Shall we interview him at his home or have him brought in here?”
“Here. Let’s get him out of his comfort zone.”
“Okay. I’ll have him brought into our office. Tomorrow morning good?”
“Yup. Call him today and let him know. Let’s see how well he sleeps knowing he’ll be coming downtown in the morning.”