Animal Instinct by Rosenfelt, David (novels for students TXT) 📕

“‘It’s getting worse. Gerald doesn’t think that Rico will do anything. I think he’s crazy.… Rico doesn’t just dispense this stuff for nothing. He’s a dangerous guy; he’s connected to people. I’m afraid to leave my house.’”

“Based on this email, written not long before her death, would you say that Lisa Yates believed she was in danger, physical danger, from someone named Rico?”

Pete nods. “I would, yes.”

“And would you also say that Lisa believed someone named Gerald was involved in this, and in danger himself, also from someone named Rico?”

“Yes.”

“During the course of your investigation of this case, have you encountered another Gerald besides Gerald Kline?”

“No.”

“Captain Stanton, are you aware of earlier testimony by Stephanie Downes saying that Richard Mahler’s nickname was Rico? That he was called that going back to high school?”

“I am.”

“During the course of your investigation of this case, have you encountered another person named or nicknamed Rico besides Richard Mahler?”

“No, I have not.”

“Captain Stanton, based on this information, will you be interviewing Richard Mahler?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“He’s dead. He was found hanged in his home a few days ago. The death was ruled by the medical examiner as a suicide, but the investigation is ongoing.”

“Thank you. No further questions.”

Dylan gets up quickly, intent on cleaning up the mess that Andy created for him. “Captain, let’s read the email again, if you don’t mind.” Dylan points to the paper. “This paragraph will suffice.”

Pete reads, “‘It’s getting worse. Gerald doesn’t think that Rico will do anything. I think he’s crazy.… Rico doesn’t just dispense this stuff for nothing. He’s a dangerous guy; he’s connected to people. I’m afraid to leave my house.’”

“After you read this the first time, you said that it meant that Lisa Yates was saying that Gerald, whoever he might be, was in danger. Can you tell us where in the email it says that?”

“It’s an inference I made.”

“Ah, an inference. For the purpose of this part of your testimony, can you just stick to the facts?”

Andy objects that Dylan is badgering the witness, and Judge Wallace sustains. Dylan then asks, “Is there anything in there that says that Gerald is in danger?”

“Not specifically, no.”

“And either way, this would be Lisa Yates’s opinion, correct?”

“Correct.”

“You said that you were not aware of other Geralds in this investigation, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Is it possible that she was not referring to Gerald Kline?”

“Possible. I consider it unlikely.”

“Do you know how many Geralds there are in the United States?”

“I have no idea.”

“Would you be surprised if I told you that census records list more than five hundred and fourteen thousand people named Gerald?”

“I told you I had no idea; therefore I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“As long as we’re talking about things for which you have no idea, do you know why Richard Mahler committed suicide?”

“No.”

“To your knowledge, was Richard Mahler in the house the night Gerald Kline was killed?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you know how Richard Mahler might have come into possession of Mr. Douglas’s clothing and kitchen knife?”

“I don’t.”

“Thank you.”

Judge Wallace turns to Andy to see if he has any more witnesses to call. I almost want to grab him and say that I changed my mind, and that I insist on testifying, but I don’t.

So all I do is listen as Andy says five of the scariest words I’ve ever heard: “Your Honor, the defense rests.”

“I can’t find anyone who knows her,” Sam says.

He’s calling me on the way home from Somers Point and reporting on his quest to connect me with friends of Doris Landry’s.

This is exactly what I was expecting. “You asked her neighbors?”

“I did my best. Her house is empty; somebody obviously cleared it out. But the whole neighborhood is mostly abandoned; they’re going to be knocking it all down to put in an extension on a highway. So there aren’t many people left, and the ones who are still there have no idea who I am talking about.”

“Okay. Thanks for trying, Sam.”

“When I get back, I can do more research … maybe access her phone records.”

“Not necessary. I’ll take it from here.”

When we get off the phone, I call Andy. Laurie gets on the extension, and I tell them about my conversation with Sam.

“So you think this proves your theory?” Laurie asks.

“Absolutely. One hundred percent.”

“You have a tendency toward overconfidence,” Andy says. “You think you can handle this from here?”

“With my teammates? One hundred percent.”

“There’s that overconfidence again.”

“It’s part of my charm.”

I get off the phone and call Don Crystal, my pajama-wearing, Tang-drinking buddy. Like last time, he answers with “Yo.”

“You ready to help bring down Jason Musgrove?” I ask.

“What do you mean ‘bring down’?”

“Send to jail, destroy … think of it in those terms.”

“Man, if that’s what you’re talking about, you don’t even have to buy me a meal.” Then Crystal adds, “Unless you want to.”

“When this is over, it’s all-you-can-eat.”

“Just point me in the right direction.”

“Okay, there will be more, but start with this. You were right; it’s an insurance scam. You got a pen?”

“Hold on.” Then, “Okay, go ahead.”

“There are three people. Doris Landry of Somers Point, New Jersey; Samuel Devers, of Springfield, Massachusetts; and Eric Seaver of Brunswick, Maine. I want to know what insurance companies Ardmore sent their medical information to.”

“I don’t work there anymore. I can’t get into their system.”

“Bullshit. You can get in.”

He pauses for a few moments. “Yeah, I can get in. Just keep it between us. It ain’t legal.”

“That’s okay. What Musgrove did ain’t legal either. Get back to me when you have the information. But soon.”

DYLAN stands to make his closing argument.

He pauses as if to show the heavy weight that his words will carry, so he wants to choose his words carefully. My guess is he has rehearsed every word of it and only wants it to appear spontaneous and heartfelt.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve participated in a lot of trials. They have included a lot of different charges against defendants from all walks of life. Some of those trials have been quick, and some have dragged on endlessly. And