CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
* * *
Harold Ramsey leaned back in his chair, a grave look on his face. “I never imagined that anything like this could have happened here.”
McKenna and Chandler sat in Ramsey’s chambers. McKenna watched the chief justice closely. They seemed to make eye contact for a moment, and then McKenna looked away and glanced over at Chandler.
“Well, we don’t have any solid proof one way or another about whether Michael Fiske actually stole an appeal, or if there even was an appeal,” Chandler said.
Ramsey shook his head in disagreement. “After the discussion with Sara Evans, can there be any doubt?”
Discussion? Inquisition was more like it, Chandler thought. “It’s still speculation. And I would advise against going public with this information.”
“I agree,” McKenna said. “It could complicate the investigation.”
“I thought you were convinced that John Fiske was behind it all,” Ramsey said. “If you’re changing your position now, I don’t see how we’re any farther ahead than we were two days ago.”
“Murders don’t just solve themselves. And this one is a little more complex than usual. And I never said I had changed my position,” McKenna said. “Fiske’s gun was missing from his office. No big surprise there. Don’t worry, things are falling into place.”
Ramsey looked unconvinced.
“I really don’t see why waiting a bit will hurt,” Chandler said. “And if things turn out the way we hope, maybe the public never has to know.”
“I don’t see how that is possible,” Ramsey said angrily. “But I suppose it won’t make this disaster any more horrible by taking your advice. For now. What about Fiske and Evans? Where are they?”
“We have them under surveillance,” McKenna answered.
“So you know where they are right now?” Ramsey asked.
McKenna maintained his stone face. He wasn’t about to admit that in fact both Sara and Fiske had managed to elude his FBI surveillance team. McKenna had just gotten that message a minute before he had stepped into this meeting.
“Yes,” McKenna answered.
“Where are they?” Ramsey asked.
“I’m afraid I can’t give out that information, Mr. Chief Justice.” He added quickly, “As much as I’d like to accommodate you. We really need to keep that confidential.”
Ramsey looked sternly at him. “Agent McKenna, you promised to keep the Court informed about the progress of this case.”
“I did. That’s why I’m here right now.”
“The Court has its own police force. Chief Dellasandro and Ron Klaus are out right this very minute trying to solve this thing. We have our own investigation ongoing and it’s in the best interests of everybody that we have full disclosure. Now please answer my question. Where are they?”
“What you say makes a lot of sense, but I’m afraid I still can’t divulge that information,” he said. “FBI policy, you understand.”
Ramsey arched his eyebrows. “I think I should speak to someone else at the Bureau, then,” he said. “I don’t like going over people’s heads, Agent McKenna, but this is a unique situation.”
“I’d be glad to give you some names to call at the Bureau, starting with the director himself,” McKenna offered pleasantly.
“Do you have anything of actual importance to report,” Ramsey said dryly, “or is that it?”
McKenna stood up. “We’re trying as hard as we can to get to the bottom of this. And I’m convinced that, with a little luck, we will.”
Ramsey stood up too, towering over them. “A word of advice, Agent McKenna. Never leave anything to chance. Anyone who does that usually lives to regret it.”
* * *
Sara unlocked the door to her cottage and hurried inside. From her car she had tried phoning Fiske’s home and office; then had tried Ed Fiske too, but he had heard nothing from his son. She threw her purse down on the kitchen table, went upstairs and changed out of her wet clothes and into jeans and a T-shirt. She was nearing panic and she wasn’t sure what to do. If Dellasandro was in on this, that was bad enough. He was privy to what was happening with the investigation. The fact that FBI Agent Warren McKenna was also involved was potentially catastrophic. He was practically running the damn investigation. She could now see the subtle manipulations of the FBI agent at every juncture in the case. Fiske implicated, herself forced to quit the Court; all of it building motive for John’s killing his brother. It was all untrue, and yet, for someone just looking at the bare facts, it would make sense.