Lewinsky arrives at 3:00 P.M. with his attorney, Ronald Ranes.

It’s not the first time I’ve been surprised that someone who has never been charged with a crime has such apparent easy access to a criminal attorney; do people like him have them listed in their Rolodexes under J for “Just in Case”?

But Ranes is a top guy, very well respected, smart and tough. The two of them join Nate and me in an interview room with a one-way mirror so Bradley can observe. Nate and I have agreed that I will ask all the questions, and his role will be to look large and ominous. It’s a look he can manage easily.

Once we’re settled in, I inform them that the interview is being recorded and that they are free to end the session at any time. Ranes acknowledges that and says for the record that his client is here of his own free will and resents being dragged down here, that he is an upstanding citizen and deserves better treatment.

Our goal here is limited. With or without Ranes being present, there is no way that Lewinsky is going to say anything to incriminate himself. He’s far too smart for that; the table we’re sitting at would be too smart for that.

What we want to do is shake him up, to get him to take some action that we can pounce on. We have surveillance in place on his phone and emails, so if he does or says the wrong thing because we have worried him, then we’ve got him.

I identify Lewinsky and his position at the hospital for the record, and then ask, “Mr. Lewinsky, are you aware of any fraudulent activities regarding the purchase and/or dispensation of drugs at Bergen Hospital?”

He pretends to be surprised at the question, and says, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Please answer the questions that I ask you. Are you aware of any such activities?”

“I am not.”

“Have you ever, in any manner, adjusted the hospital records showing the purchases of drugs, or the dispensation of them?”

“I have not.”

I ask the question in different forms a few more times, and each time he denies them, showing exasperation at the repetition.

“Do you personally know Joey Silva?”

“Joey Silva?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

He looks at Ranes, who nods. Then Lewinsky says, “I’ve heard the name.”

“Have you ever met him?”

He shakes his head. “Not to my knowledge.”

“Ever spoken to him?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

I then ask him the exact same questions regarding Tony Silva and Philly DeSimone, and his denials are the same. Finally he says, “These are gangsters.”

“Thanks for sharing that,” I say. “Have you ever heard the name Travis Mauer?” Mauer is the fictitious patient that supposedly received treatment and drugs at Bergen Hospital.

“No, I don’t believe so.”

“What about the name William Simmons?”

That seems to provoke a slight reaction in him, but I can’t be sure. “William Simmons?”

I nod. “That’s correct. William Simmons.”

“It sounds familiar, but I can’t place it.”

“Let me try and refresh your memory; he was a murder victim who died at Bergen Hospital.”

“Perhaps I heard his name in that context, but I don’t remember.”

I tell him that we have no further questions, and ask him if he would be willing to take a polygraph. He says absolutely not, and expresses his resentment at being treated like a criminal.

I smile and thank him for his cooperation. He responds with, “I hope that this will conclude this matter, whatever it is you’re doing.”

I smile again. “We live in hope.”

The meeting breaks up; whatever Ranes got paid for coming here today, he didn’t break a sweat to earn it.

It’s hard to know what effect, if any, the conversation had on Lewinsky. He was calm and under control; he certainly didn’t break down and blubber out a confession.

Now the ball is in his court to see if he reveals himself in a phone or email correspondence, and in Jessie’s court to monitor it.