Beneath The Surface (34 page)

“I understand that you have some information that you’d like to share with us.” Agent’s Todd and Nelson sat down at the conference room table across from Carmen.

She began by telling the agents about the murder of Tangela House, and how that led her to the victim’s apartment, where she found the newspaper article about Congressman Redding. She told them that Jack and Jeannette Winters were arrested for the crime. “But after talking with Mrs. Winters, I wasn’t convinced that she and her husband killed Tangela House.”

“What made you believe they didn’t?”

“Just a feeling,” Carmen said.

She went on to tell the agents about Hammdee Yasir; about his association with the victim, and about the murders that TR said were committed by Yasir.

The two agents glanced at one another. “Other than the statement of a confessed con man, do you have any actual information about this crime?” agent Todd asked.

“No.”

Undaunted, Carmen explained how she found that Hammdee
Yasir was involved in an investment group with ties to the congressman, and how that led her to follow Redding and eventually obtain the pictures and the recording, which she then played for the agents. When it was over, once again, the two agents glanced at each other. “How did you come into possession of that recording?” Agent Nelson asked.

“I’d rather not say.”

Agent Todd stood up and Nelson followed suite. “Would you mind waiting here, Ms. Taylor?” Todd asked.

“No problem.”

For the next hour and a half, Carmen sat alone in the conference room waiting for the agents to return. When the conference room door opened, Carmen was surprised when another agent entered the room. “Ms. Taylor,” he began, “I’m Special Agent Reed Kent. I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

Carmen stood up and shook hands with the agent. “It’s okay.”

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“All right then.” Kent sat down at the table next to Carmen. “Do you mind it I take a look at these?” he asked, pointing at the pictures.

“Not at all. Would you like to hear the recording?” Carmen asked and began to start the recording.

“That won’t be necessary. I’ve already heard it.” Kent looked at the pictures and then leaned back in his chair. “You wouldn’t want to tell me how you came into possession of these, would you?”

“I’d rather not,” Carmen said.

“And now you’re going to tell me about protecting your sources.” Kent looked at Carmen and smiled. “Not really an issue,” he paused. “Has anybody outside of this building seen these pictures or listened to that recording?”

“No, sir. I didn’t know what else to do with the information, so I came here.”

“Good. That’s good.” Kent put down the pictures. “With your permission, Ms. Taylor, I’m going to take possession of the recording and the pictures. And I’m going ask that you not to discuss this information or this meeting, with anybody.”

“I understand.”

“Thank you. Now, I know that you told the other agents this, but please, would you mind walking me through how you got to this point.”

“Sure,” Carmen said and once again told her story. When she was finished, Special Agent Kent got up and stood by the window.

“Here’s the deal, Ms. Taylor. We know all about Congressman Redding.”

“You do?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m not at liberty to discuss the case, but he has been under investigation for a number of ethics violations for quite some time. In fact, the other two men in those photographs that offered Redding the bribe, are Federal undercover agents.”

“That’s why you said that you already heard the recording,” Carmen said as it all began to come together for her.

“That’s right. But now let’s talk about Tangela House and
Hammdee Yasir.”

“Okay.”

“Before her death, Tangela House was a Federal informant. In this particular case, we used her to create background for Hammdee Yasir, who is in fact, a Federal agent working on a matter that is totally unrelated to the Redding investigation.”

“So the investment scam and the murders that TR told me that him and Tangela House witnessed Yasir committing, were staged for his benefit.”

“That’s correct. So you see, Ms. Taylor, this whole thing is part of an FBI sting to catch corrupt congressmen. But I have to be honest with you. I don’t see how any of this has any connection to Tangela House’s murder.”

“I’m starting to wonder about that myself,” Carmen told the agent.

When she was on her way out of the building, Carmen saw Congressman Canfield coming out of the building. She immediately threw her press credentials around her neck and approached the congressman. Since he didn’t take the money that Benson and Hall had offered him earlier that day, Carmen had to know what he was doing there.

“Congressman, excuse me, Congressman Canfield.” When Canfield stopped and acknowledged her, she continued, “My name is Carmen Taylor. I’m a reporter with channel five’s news.”

“Yes, Ms. Taylor. What can I do for you?”

“I want to ask if you have any comment on the upcoming senate vote on the Climate Change
Bill?
”

“I am confident that the bill before the senate will pass.” Canfield smiled. “But you don’t want to ask me about that, Ms. Taylor.”

“I don’t?” Carmen looked confused.

“No, Ms. Taylor; you want to ask me what I’m doing here and about Tangela House.”

Carmen looked surprised. She wasn’t expecting him to mention that, but since he did, and that was actually part of what she wanted to talk about, she decided to go with it.

Canfield had a relieved look on his face. “I watch you on the news, Ms. Taylor, and I know that you’ve been covering her murder. Why don’t you come ride with
me.
”

“Sure,” Carmen said and followed him to his limo.

“Where would you like to start?”

“Let’s start with what you’re doing here.”

“This morning I had a meeting with Congressman Terrence Redding, and two men who were interested in investing in coal technologies. At the meeting, those gentlemen offered us one hundred thousand dollars for our help in getting an Afghani tribal leader into this country. I declined to accept the money, and I felt it was my duty to report the meeting to the FBI. At that time, they informed me that Terrance Redding is the subject of an on-going investigation, and asked me to cooperate. I told them everything, and that I plan to resign and go public with what I’ve done; which is why I’m talking to you now.”

“Tell me about Tangela House.”

“Over the years, I’ve had multiple sexual encounters with call girls. Several of those encounters involved Terrence Redding and others. Now I’m being blackmailed. I received a picture of Redding and I, in a very compromising position with a woman, and it cost me. Cost me everything.”

“How so?”

“My wife found out about it and left with the children,” Canfield said and dabbed his eyes with his handkerchief.

Carmen reached in her bag and showed him a picture of Tangela House. “Is this the woman who is blackmailing you?”

“I’ve never had any direct contact with her. When this first surfaced, I went to Terry—Congressman Redding. He had gotten the same picture. He told me not to worry, that he would take care of everything. Just don’t fall apart: is what he told me.”

Canfield looked at the picture. “That’s her—the woman in the picture. She apparently took it with a cell phone camera.” He laughed. “This was years ago, mind you. At the time, I didn’t even know that you could do that with a phone. I remember wondering why she would be reaching for her phone at a time like that.”

“How much did she want?”

“One hundred thousand each; or she was going to the press.”

“What happened then?” Carmen asked.

“I gave Terry the money and told him to pay her off and be done with it,” Canfield said.

“Do you know anything about how the payoff was to take place?”

“No. Regrettably, I left all of those details to Terry.”

“So you have no idea if the money was paid or not?”

“No, unfortunately not.”

“Have you spoken with Redding about it?”

“No. He hasn’t brought it up, and neither have I. I was just trying to put all this behind me and make a fresh start. But my wife found the blackmail picture and confronted me about it.” Canfield took a deep breath. “I had told so many lies, so many half truths—I thought that it was time to tell her the truth. I thought she would understand.” He shook his head. “She left that same night and took everything from me—my children. Now, I have nothing else to live for.”

“When did you find out she was dead?”

“When you told me, Ms. Taylor—that same night on the 11 o’clock news.”

The following day, Carmen got the word that Congressman Canfield was found dead in his home. “How’d he die?” Carmen asked.

“He hung himself,” Max told her.

With Canfield dead, there was no way for Carmen to prove that Terrance Redding had any involvement with, nor any knowledge of, Tangela House or her murder. At this point, all she had was the word of a dead man.

Seeing no other alternative, Carmen decided to go to see Redding and confront him with what she knew to be the truth about the murder of Tangela House. Since she had previously made an appointment to sit down for an interview with Redding, Carmen hoped that she wouldn’t have a problem.

While she sat in the lobby of Redding’s office, Carmen thought about what she would say. Would she begin by asking him about the upcoming climate change vote, or would she throw caution to the wind and ask him about the murder? She decided that the way to go was a combination of both. She would begin by offering her condolences in the suicide of Geoffrey Canfield. Then she would ask how his untimely death would affect the senate vote. Once that was out of the way and she had created a relaxed atmosphere, she would turn the conversation to Tangela House.

“The congressman will see you now,” Redding’s secretary said and showed Carmen into the office. The door opened and there stood Terrence Redding. “Good afternoon, Ms. Taylor. I’ve been looking forward to this interview,” Redding said and extended his hand.

“Believe me, so have I,” Carmen said and shook his hand.

Maybe it was the fact that her flesh crawled when she shook his hand, or maybe it was the smug look on his face that turned Carmen off, but her idea of taking it slow and creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere went out the window. “Tell me about Tangela House.” Carmen asked and sat down.

Redding looked at Carmen and smiled, before taking a seat behind his desk. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, practically grinning at that point.

Carmen took out a picture and handed it to Redding. “I know you’ve never seen that woman before, so I’ll tell you about her. She was the woman that was blackmailing you and Geoffrey Canfield over a picture of you, her, and Canfield.”

“I don’t know who that woman is,” Redding said and dropped the picture on his desk. “But I’m curious—do you have a copy of this alleged picture?”

“It’s someplace safe,” Carmen lied and hoped it would fly.