Ties That Bind (30 page)

Authors: Phillip Margolin

Tags: #Fiction, #Thrillers, #General, #Suspense, #Mystery & Detective

BOOK: Ties That Bind

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Katherine Hickox, a member of the Westmont Country Club, had known William and Tim Kerrigan for years. She and another man were in her office when William and his attorney, Peter Schwab, arrived. She shook Schwab’s hand quickly, but held Kerrigan’s.

“I’m so sorry to hear about all this, Bill. Are you okay?”

“I’m holding up, but I’ll feel a lot better when I know how Tim is doing.”

Katherine released Kerrigan’s hand and introduced the other man in the room.

“This is J. D. Hunter. He’s the FBI agent in charge of the case.”

Hunter shook hands with Kerrigan and Schwab while the U.S. attorney sat behind her desk.

“How is my son?”

“When we broke into the cabin, Maria Lopez had a gun to Tim’s head. It went off as she was turning toward us. The gun moved, so Tim only suffered a minor head wound. It’s nothing serious. We have him in the secure wing at OHSU. I thought it would be better to hold your son at a hospital instead of a jail.”

“Why would you hold him at all?”

“Tim is the prime suspect in the murder of a prostitute who was shot to death in Forest Park a few days ago.”

Kerrigan’s mouth opened. He stared at Hunter for a moment, then turned toward Katherine. She nodded.

“You’re serious?”

“I’m sorry, Bill,” the U.S. attorney said.

“Are you planning on transferring Tim to jail when he’s able to move?” Schwab asked.

“No. We’re releasing him sometime today.”

“If he’s a suspect, why are you letting him out?”

“I can’t get into that. I will tell you that we’re handing over everything we have to the state. Katherine doesn’t see a federal crime here. There’s evidence that the lab is still checking. If they get the results we think they will, I’m certain the state will indict.”

“From what I know, it doesn’t look good for Tim,” Hickox said.

“Everyone I talk to says nothing but the finest things about your son,” Hunter said. “He must have been under tremendous pressure. I’d like to help him, and you can play an important part in making sure that he gets a lenient sentence.”

“What can I do?”

“Before I go any further I’ll need your word that you won’t discuss what I tell you with anyone else.”

“I don’t understand.”

“And I can’t explain without your promise.”

Kerrigan conferred with his attorney. When they were through he turned back to Hunter.

“I give my word that I’ll keep your confidence. Now tell me how I can help Tim.”

“Tim’s assistance in a larger investigation could have an impact on his charges and his sentence, but he’s refusing to cooperate. If you want to help him, go to the hospital and talk sense into him. Believe me, he needs all the help he can get.”

fifty-two

An armed police officer manned a desk in front of the thick steel door that barred entry to the secure wing of the state hospital. William Kerrigan signed in. The officer checked his ID then pressed a button under the desk. Moments later, the steel door opened and an orderly escorted Kerrigan down a corridor surfaced with linoleum that smelled faintly of antiseptic. Halfway down the hall, another officer was sitting in front of Tim’s hospital room. He checked Kerrigan’s ID a second time before unlocking the door to the room.

Tim turned toward the door when his father entered. He was pale. A thick bandage covered a good part of the right side of his head and there was a dark bruise where the bandage did not cover his skin. There was no life in his eyes.

“Are you okay?” William asked.

“I messed up, Dad.” A tear formed. “I really messed up.”

William pulled a chair next to the bed. Tim looked away from him and wiped his eyes.

“It’ll be okay, son. I talked to J. D. Hunter, the FBI agent in charge of this case. You’re going to be released from the hospital, today. Once you’re out of here, we’ll get the best lawyers and we’ll get you through this.”

“No, I don’t think so. You don’t even know what’s happened to me.”

“Hunter said that you killed a woman. You didn’t do it, did you, Tim?”

“I did kill her.” Tim looked so lost. “God forgive me. I . . . I shot her then I set her on fire.” Tim couldn’t meet his father’s eye. “I’m a terrible person. I’ve ruined Cindy’s life and Megan’s.”

“Hunter said that he’ll help you if you cooperate with him. He didn’t tell me what he wanted you to do, but he assured me that something will be done if you assist the FBI in an investigation.”

“I can’t, Dad. If I . . .”

“What is it?”

“I can’t tell you. I’d be putting you in danger.”

“I don’t care, Tim. You’re my son. What is it that they want you to do?”

“You don’t understand. They’ll kill Cindy and Megan if I talk. They might even come after you.”

“Who are you talking about?”

Tim shook his head.

“The people who threatened you aren’t more powerful than the federal government. I’ll make sure that Cindy and Megan are protected.”

“You can’t guarantee that. You don’t understand who you’re dealing with.”

“Then you have to tell me.”

Tim stared out the window. His father waited patiently. Then Tim seemed to make a decision.

“Maybe you can help me. Maybe we can work this out.”

He thought some more. Then he took a deep breath.

“It’s Harvey, Dad. Harvey Grant. He’s the one who threatened me.”

William’s mouth dropped open. Then he laughed in disbelief.

“Harvey is my oldest friend. We go back to junior high. He loves you. He’s your godfather.”

“Please don’t hate me, but I went to Harvey when I got in trouble. I didn’t go to you. I felt that he . . . that you . . .”

“You don’t have to say any more, Tim. I understand why you didn’t come to me. I’m not the warmest person. It’s hard for me to show affection. But I’ve always loved you. If I’ve been hard on you it’s because I wanted you to be the best.”

“I always thought you were disappointed in me, that you wished I . . . that I wasn’t your son.”

“Oh, no, Tim. You’ve always made me proud. Now tell me what this is all about.”

Tim told his father about his evening with Ally Bennett and her attempt to blackmail him into dismissing Jon Dupre’s case. Then he told him about his meetings with Harvey Grant and what had happened in Forest Park.

“I can’t believe this,” William said. “I’ve known Harvey my whole life. I never suspected . . .”

“It’s true. And now you see why I can’t cooperate. He’d have Cindy and Megan murdered. But I have something I can use against him. I know a way to find out the names of the members of his group.”

“How will you do that?”

“When I signed the suicide note, Stan Gregaros told me that every new member does the same thing. The notes are confessions. The murder weapons have the member’s fingerprints. If the police had them, they’d have a list of all the members and an airtight case against each one for murder. I want you to negotiate with Harvey. I’ll go with you. We can meet in a public place so we’ll be protected. The Westmont would be perfect.”

William looked at Tim’s bandaged head. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

“We have to act now. I told Hunter that Maria was insanely in love with me but I rejected her and she killed Ally Bennett to frame me. I said that she must have gotten my prints on the gun when I was unconscious and that she wrote the note. But the lab will analyze the note. Any minute, Hunter could learn that it’s my writing. I’ll be back in custody. That’s why we have to meet with Harvey tonight.”

“What do you want from Harvey?”

“A promise that he won’t hurt my family. I won’t help the authorities if he leaves everyone alone. I’ll fight the murder charge but I’ll take my medicine if I get convicted.” Tim hung his head. “I’ll deserve what I get, anyway.”

Then Tim looked up. He seemed very determined.

“You tell Harvey that he has to promise not to hurt Cindy or Megan. If he won’t agree I’ll do everything I can to destroy him.”

fifty-three

Harvey Grant was in his chambers when William Kerrigan called him on his cell phone from Tim’s hospital room.

“How’s Tim?” the judge asked.

“He’s being released in half an hour.”

“That’s wonderful. I’ve been really worried.”

“Have you, Harvey?”

“Of course. All it said in the paper was that Maria Lopez tried to kill him. No one’s been able to tell me how he was doing, until now.”

“Well, he’s doing fine. In fact, he wants to have dinner with you and me at the Westmont tonight.”

“Doesn’t he want to be with Cindy and Megan?”

“Yes, but it’s more important that he makes sure that they’re safe.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I think you do. Tim and I had a long talk. He told me about the visits he paid to you recently.”

“I see.”

“I don’t want to discuss this over a cell phone. Do you?”

“No.”

“Then let’s get together at the Westmont at eight. And Harvey, I think you should wait to hear what we say before you do anything rash. Tim’s figured out how to bring down your whole house of cards.”

“What are you talking about?”

“He’ll tell you tonight. He’s already committed his thoughts to paper. Peter Schwab will have it as soon as I leave here.”

“I’d never do anything to hurt Tim. I think of him as a son.”

“I’m glad, Harvey. Keeping thinking of him that way.”

“How can Tim hurt us?” Gregaros asked, after the judge told him what Kerrigan had said.

“Did you tell Tim that the other members of the club sign suicide notes when they join?”

“Yeah.”

“If the police get their hands on the notes and the weapons they’ll have an open-and-shut case for the murder each member confessed to. Someone will cut a deal. Then it won’t just be Kerrigan’s word or Maria’s word against ours.”

“Kerrigan doesn’t know where they’re hidden.”

“They’ll get a search warrant for my house. They’ll tear it apart looking.”

“Then we have to get rid of the evidence.”

“No. If we destroy the confessions we’ll lose our hold on the others. Fear keeps them in line. We just have to move the evidence off my property. Don’t worry. I’ve worked everything out. We have to act quickly, so we’ll do it tonight, before Kerrigan can tell anyone.”

A few hours later, Harvey Grant put the suicide notes and the guns into a large carton, which Victor Reis, his assistant, carried into the kitchen. A door from the kitchen opened into Grant’s garage, so no one watching the house could see what they were doing. As soon as Reis put the carton in the trunk of Grant’s Cadillac, he drove Grant to his meeting with the Kerrigans.

Stone pillars marked the entrance to the Westmont. Reis drove through them and up the winding driveway, then pulled up in front of the clubhouse. The parking valet opened the door for the judge then went around to the driver’s door. Reis was already out of the car. He gave the valet the keys to the Cadillac. He had a second set in his pocket, which he would use later.

As Grant and Reis walked toward the main dining room, Burton Rommel walked up to them.

“We have to talk about Tim,” Rommel said. “I’m hearing rumors that he’s in trouble. This could affect our decision to have him run for Harold’s seat.”

“I’m having dinner with Tim and Bill, Burt. I’ll straighten everything out.”

“Good.”

“Call me tomorrow and I’ll tell you what happened.”

“I will. This is something that we have to do right now,” Rommel said emphatically.

“I agree completely. It won’t do to wait around and let events take their course.”

“Glad we’re on the same wavelength.”

The Kerrigans walked in a minute after Rommel walked away.

“I’ve arranged for us to eat in one of the private dining rooms,” Grant said.

A narrow hall led to the back of the Westmont, where there were three private rooms. The one in which they were meeting had been swept for bugs shortly before the judge arrived. When they were all inside, Grant closed the door.

“I’m going to insist that Victor check you for listening devices before we talk.”

William stiffened, but Tim laid a restraining hand on his forearm.

“It’s okay, Dad. Let him frisk us so we can get down to business.”

Reis was quick but thorough. When he was done, he shook his head.

“Victor, will you please wait outside and make sure that we’re not disturbed.”

“How are you feeling, Tim?” Grant asked as soon as the door closed behind Reis.

“Maria was acting on your orders, Harvey,” Tim answered, “so you can cut the shit.”

Grant stopped smiling. “What is it you want?”

“Your assurance that Cindy, Megan, and my father won’t be hurt if I keep my mouth shut.”