As Julia sat down again in the viewing room, Tony told her that investigators from the D.A.'s office were on the way to Juan Carlos's residence, to impound his car. There might still be blood stains. If they could match them to her brother's blood type through DNA analysis they would have positive physical proof for the trial against Juan Carlos and Pete Estandos. It might not work in the blood had degraded too much, though. In the meantime they would start the interrogation, hoping forensic investigators would call to let them know whether they could proceed with new physical evidence.
Julia soon saw the ferret-faced Juan Carlos through the viewing glass. He slouched into the room insolently with his lawyer. Juan Carlos was sporting a dark mossy beard, his black slanted eyes darting around. Julia could see him looking hard at the mirror, as though he could actually see through it.
It was horrifying to face him through just a thin glass mirror, now that she knew the truth. Julia felt nauseated and had to fight her rising gorge. This time she knew her reaction was not caused by the pregnancy. The roiling in her stomach was precipitated by the violence this small, ugly man had performed on her own brother. It was also because of the lies he was telling. He said he was with a girl, a prostitute, that night, and claimed that this woman would corroborate his story.
Jay acted brilliantly indignant that Juan Carlos would come up with such an implausible story at this late date. He started pounding him with statements, one after another. They had declarations from Mike Garcia and Pete Estandos, both, that put him at the scene of the beating of Brian Monay. Sworn testimony of two eyewitnesses that Juan Carlos had believed Brian dying or dead when they left him in the road.
Jay reiterated that Juan would be up on murder charges since Brian Monay had died in the hospital, because his intent, sworn to by the two other people with him that night, was to beat Brian Monay to death and make it look like a robbery.
"Murder charges!" Jay thundered at Juan Garcia. "Do you understand? No one will believe an alibi, now. Your only hope is to make a deal, Juan Carlos. Right now. This minute. If you tell us who ordered the murder of Brian Monay, I will drop the charges to second degree murder. Otherwise you face the death penalty." He was silent for a few beats and lowered his voice to a calm whisper, looking with deadly implacability into Juan's shifty eyes. "Whether it's by lethal injection or the gas chamber, you are the dead man walking."
In the viewing room, Tony was shaking his head in anguish, whispering to Julia as they watched with baited breath, "Damn, damn. Quijada got to him. Promised him an alibi for his silence."
Julia watched intently through the glass. "He's afraid of Quijada. More than the murder charges. Quijada could get off in a trial. He has to confess. Put Quijada behind bars. Otherwise he really is dead."
"I hope you're right," Tony said pessimistically. Neither was breathing as they watched in silence. Juan Carlos was mumbling something to his lawyer.
Finally, after a long sullen silence, Juan looked down and sighed. He whispered, "Aaron Quijada."
"Louder, please," Jay thundered. "For the record."
"Aaron Quijada."
There was a pause for the correct spelling of Quijada's name and his address.
"And you were paid for this?" Jay asked.
"No!"
"Because Brian Monay didn't die. So you had to finish the job, didn't you?"
Ed Riker, Juan Carlos's attorney, popped up in outrage. "Don't you answer that question, Juan Carlos. We're ending these proceedings, right now. Evidently there are new charges we have not yet been advised of."
"To put it succinctly," Jay stated, "Mr. Money died at Cedars Sinai Hospital because life support equipment was sabotaged."
Juan Carlos and his attorney huddled together in a corner whispering. Finally, Juan's lawyer said, "This interrogation will have to be continued at another time. My client is exhausted. The hour is late. You are using scare tactics on an innocent man." He went on and on about the rights of Juan Carlos.
Julia felt let down. There should have been trumpets blaring, a drum roll, and lightening flashes, when Juan Carlos admitted that Aaron Quijada ordered her brother's murder. She turned to Tony, "Will they believe him? It's the word of a murderer, against that of a man who almost became the governor of California."
Tony smiled. "It might be circumstantial, but I believe we've got Quijada. Pete and Mike said that Juan worked for Quijada. They'll probably pick Quijada up tomorrow morning. Maybe even tonight. Particularly if they find blood stains in Juan's car."
Julia swiveled to look at Robin through the glass. He appeared to show no emotion, but he must be feeling some righteous triumph.
Julia and Tony watched as everyone prepared to leave the interrogation room.
"We'll have to wait a few minutes," Tony said. "Otherwise we might bump into Juan Carlos in the hallway."
"I want to confront him," Julia said, getting out of her chair and hurrying to the door. She wanted to beat up the little guy herself.
"No! Wait! You can't Julia," Tony said, jumping up to physically restrain her if he had to. He was too late.
Julia ran out into the hallway. Juan Carlos was just a few feet away. They looked into each other's eyes. Julia noticed that he was shorter than she was. She might be able to fight him, but she would lose, because he preyed on the weak and helpless and fought dirty. She walked up to him slowly. It seemed like time stopped.
"You murdered my only brother," Julia said, with great restraint. "A wonderful, valuable, talented person." She wanted to ask him how he could beat a man to death in cold blood. She wanted to hit him. He backed away, seeing her intent.
"Get this filthy lying bitch away from me," Juan Carlos said with utter contempt.
Thomas McQuery had been standing in the hallway and he stepped between the two of them. Julia could feel Tony pulling her away from the confrontation. Robin came out of the interrogation room and put his arm around her shoulders to guide her in the opposite direction, leading her to the elevators.
"There will be justice for that little prick," Tony said consolingly.
"No," Julia answered sadly. "My brother is gone."
They all walked silently down the corridor toward the elevator, with Thomas McQuery in the rear.
Robin finally said, "There can't be pure justice. But in this instance, I believe 'An Eye for an Eye' is the best we can do."
Julia looked up at him. She didn't want him to think she was ungrateful for all he had done by her bitter remark, or take away from the victory he had achieved. "I agree. It's more than I ever hoped for, Robin. You'll let me know when they're going to pick up Quijada, won't you?"
"The minute I hear," Robin promised. "I'll take you to see it myself."
"Thanks." She glanced down, suddenly mute. The ring she was wearing might be an engagement ring. She was glad that Tony and Tom McQuery were with them as they stood waiting for the elevator.
"I need a favor," Robin said to Julia as they stood in front of the ornate doors of the ancient and slow elevator. He was smiling. "Tomorrow is my father's birthday. There's going to be a party. He and Mom asked specifically if you would come. My dad's been following this case with interest."
"Right now, I'd do anything you ask," Julia said smiling up at him.
"Careful there," Tony interjected, slapping Robin on the back. "This boy is not shy."
Julia hoped she wasn't blushing. "What I mean is, it would be an honor to go to your father's birthday party. Thank's for asking."
Robin was looking at Julia in a puzzled way. She thought he was probably wondering if she knew his father was the famous senator.
"We gotta talk logistics," Tom McQuery broke in. "Julia's staying in a hotel room. I don't think she wants me in there. Course, with what Robin's paying me, I'd prostrate myself in the hallway in front of the door. Sleep there..." He went on, "Julia won't be safe till Quijada's behind bars. Maybe not even then, if he's put out a contract."
Julia felt her eyes and even her mouth open in astonishment. If a policeman thought she was in danger, then Robin hadn't been exaggerating about Quijada's plans for vengeance.
The three men began arguing. Robin wanted to take her to his parents home. Tony said he had a guest room at his apartment, that she would be welcome to stay for a few days. Thomas McQuery said it didn't matter where she was, he would stay there, too. The elevator came and the doors opened slowly and then closed again.
During the arguement Jay caught up with them and said Julia could stay with him. They all nodded in agreement that she shouldn't be alone in a hotel room.
"Just talk around me. I'm a lamp," Julia finally said.
"What do you want to do?" Robin asked.
"It's late and my things are at the hotel. It's nice of all of you to invite me to stay at your homes, but Mr. McQuery can sleep in my room. There's a side alcove with a bed." She turned to the policeman. "Would that be all right with you? I would appreciate your being there."
Thomas McQuery nodded, "Fine with me."
They all entered the elevator. Robin put his arm around her, leaned close and whispered, "I wanted to take care of you." He was looking at her very intently.
Julia took a big breath to respond. She was prevented from answering when Tony started congratulating Jay on the way he had conducted the interviews. Jay said legal documents authorizing a search of Quijada's home were now on the way to a judge.