I reached over to my recorder and turned off the Mort tape. Senator Crawford sat staring at it as though the machine had some magical aura.
He asked quietly, “Are you sure Stroble wasn’t making that up?” His voice was husky. “I can’t believe that Fred . . .”
“Mort was telling the truth, sir. He wanted out. Tyrell Ward had developed a good relationship with Mort and learned all this from him earlier on. That was why we set up our first meeting—Michael, Mort, Tyrell, and me. That’s when we learned about the bribe money.”
“Fred. Fred. Fred,” he said distraught. He rubbed his face and looked at Roanne.
“Mort was in meetings that included lobbyist Stanley Horowitz,” she said.
“I know Fred. He’s so straight his shirts don’t need starch,” Crawford said sadly.
“He wasn’t involved in the partying. It was just the money,” I said delicately.
“I heard what Stroble said,” Crawford said sharply. He let out a big sigh. “Sorry, Laura. Fred’s such a great family man, always involved . . .they’re all in college . . . oh damn,” he sat upright, “three kids . . . that’s why the money.” He slumped in back in his chair, rubbing his face. “He’s a friend. What happens now?”
Roanne reached out to reassure him. “I was concerned if Laura had come to you cold, you might have questioned the tape’s authenticity. I know it’s real because I was there and heard it live. It’s been edited to focus on the salient points.”
He nodded and stood. I thought he might be leaving, but instead he walked around, rubbing his temples. He drank some water and then looked at me. I braced for a possible onslaught.
“Okay, Laura, what do you propose?”
My mind was ablaze; we had a new ally.