Read Online Silent Witness by Michael Norman - Free Book Online Page B

to me. “I want you to call this guy. His name is Jim Reilly. He’s a good friend of Tom’s. He used to work at the DA’s office in the juvenile court. He went private about a year-and-a-half ago. He specializes in the practice of family law, adoption, child custody, that sort of thing.”
    The Tom she referred to was Tom Stoddard, her former boyfriend who worked in the Salt Lake County DA’s office. “Thanks for the lead. I’ll give him a call right away. Do you really think he can help?”
    â€œYou’re going to need a lawyer in Atlanta that’s for sure. But Jim can certainly answer questions and give us a clear picture of the legal procedures involved.”
    I liked hearing the ‘us ’ part. It felt like we were in this thing together—like I had a partner.
    ***
    We finished lunch and turned our attention back to the murder investigation. Besides the interviews with Rodney Plow, McConnell had also spoken at length with Ginsberg’s secretary and the other two CPA’s with whom he shared office space.
    â€œHave you found any inconsistencies between what Plow told you and what his business associates had to say?” I asked.
    â€œOnly one thing and I’m not sure how much credence to give it.”
    â€œWhat was it?”
    â€œIt has to do with the domestic tranquility bit Plow laid on us this morning. According to the secretary, all was not as rosy on the home front as Rodney would have us believe.”
    â€œHmm. What do you make of that?” I asked.
    â€œI’m not sure. It’s not unusual in murder investigations for the grieving partner to paint a rosier picture of the relationship than really existed. And most of the time, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s certainly not a valid indication of spousal involvement in the murder, that’s for sure.”
    â€œWhat exactly did the secretary say?”
    She glanced down at her notes. “The secretary, her name was Linda Beggs, said that over the past several months the victim had confided to her several times that he was growing increasingly unhappy with the relationship.”
    â€œYeah, but why?”
    â€œWhat do couples usually fight over? Fidelity and money. It seems that Ginsberg came to believe that a much younger Rodney might be sowing his oats, so to speak, with someone else.”
    â€œYou’d better find out if that’s true.”
    â€œI plan to,” said Kate.
    â€œAdd to that concern Ginsberg’s worry that Plow liked nice things and rarely bothered to look at price tags.”
    â€œSo, Ginsberg might have been under some financial strain. Have you had time to figure out who stood to gain from Ginsberg’s death?”
    â€œNot yet, but I’m working on it. I’ll keep you posted. Tell me about the autopsy.”
    I spent the next few minutes updating her on the preliminary findings from the delightful afternoon I’d spent at the medical examiner’s office. “You’re probably still a day or two out before Chandler-Soames gets you the final report as well as the tox results. I didn’t want to get into your chain so you’ll need to stop and pick up the physical evidence as well as the vic’s personal effects.”
    â€œMore work for the lab crew,” said Kate. “That reminds me, I need to call them later today and see how close they are to completing the forensics work.”
    I told Kate what I’d overheard during Gordon Dixon’s visit with his client earlier in the day. “I think Bradshaw may be directing things through his lawyer.”
    â€œReally. Are you sure you heard one of them whisper, ‘not here’?”
    â€œI’m not sure who said it, but I definitely heard it. And Jerry Branch actually observed Dixon give Walter the signal to keep quiet.”
    â€œWhat do we know about Gordon Dixon?” asked Kate.
    â€œNot much, but I’m about to find out