Read Online Silent Witness by Michael Norman - Free Book Online

a guy named Chad Emery, who seemed to be there for moral support. Rodney and Emery sat across from us on a sun flower print couch huddled together holding hands. Each had a partially consumed cup of java sitting on the glass coffee table. A box of tissues sat on the seat cushion next to Plow.
    After condolences, Kate began. “Mr. Plow, when we spoke yesterday, I didn’t have the opportunity to ask you whether Arnold ever gave you any indication that he might be having problems or be in conflict with someone? Could anyone in your social circle or among his business associates have been threatening him?”
    He pondered the question for a moment before answering. “Nothing comes to mind. Arnie never had an enemy in the world. Everybody who knew him loved him. That certainly included our friends as well as his business clients. You probably don’t know this but many of Arnie’s business clients were also our friends.”
    â€œTell me about that.”
    â€œWell, several of Arnie’s corporate clients are travel agencies. If you know anything about the travel industry, you know that many people who own and work in the travel business come from the gay community. I’ll bet Arnie prepared most of the individual tax returns for gay travel agents in Salt Lake City.”
    â€œInteresting,” said Kate. “And aren’t you a travel agent? Is that how the two of you met?”
    He gave Kate a big toothy grin. “Yes and yes. I was employed at Rocky Mountain Travel, and Arnie handled their corporate taxes. Like a lot of other travel agents, I started having him prepare my individual tax returns, and well, one thing led to another, and pretty soon we were an item.”
    â€œAnd how long ago was that?” replied Kate, returning the big friendly smile.
    Tears welled in the corners of his eyes. He reached for a tissue. “I was just thinking about that this morning. It was exactly three years ago this month,” he said, choking back a sob.
    Kate gave him a moment to compose himself and then continued. “I know this is difficult for you, Mr. Plow, but just a few more questions and we’ll be finished. Back to my previous question, you aren’t aware of anyone who might have been a threat to Mr. Ginsberg?”
    For the moment, he seemed to have regained control of his emotions. “The one thing Arnie worried about was having to be a witness against that awful man, you know, the guy who robbed and killed those people outside the Target store.”
    â€œAnd you know this because……”
    Plow interrupted before Kate could finish the question. “He told me so, several times in fact.”
    â€œTold you what?”
    â€œThat he was afraid of having to testify in court against that man, Bradshaw, I think his name is. He said this Bradshaw was a member of a violent group of Mormon fundamentalists who probably hated gays. And I don’t think it was much comfort to Arnie that Bradshaw was in jail.”
    â€œAnd why was that?”
    â€œBecause the police never caught the rest of them,” said Plow, a touch of anger and accusation in his voice.
    â€œThen you believe Mr. Ginsberg was killed by members of Bradshaw’s gang?”
    Plow hesitated. “Well, of course, I don’t know who killed him for sure, but yeah, the church freaks would seem like a pretty good bet, don’t you think?”
    Kate nodded.
    â€œHow would you describe your relationship with the victim?”
    More tears. Out came another tissue. “It was extremely close and loving. We were committed to each other for life.”
    â€œDid you ever have fights?”
    â€œAlmost never. Oh, we’d have the occasional quarrel, but it never amounted to much.”
    â€œOne last question,” said Kate, “and please don’t be offended. It’s a routine question that we have to ask in these kinds of cases. We need to know your whereabouts around the