Read Online The St. Paul Conspiracy by Roger Stelljes - Free Book Online Page B

that the senator didn’t come forward. It could do irreparable harm to his political career. Gary Condit came immediately to mind. If there were a murder trial, not coming forward would not be good for a potential jury pool.
    The other approach would be to come forward voluntarily to the police. A man walking in front of Daniels’ place had seen him on the street. The police probably had the senator by now, and while reluctant to call him in, they would eventually do so. If they went in voluntarily, offering information they had available, it might prove to be helpful to the investigation. Going this route, Lyman could get them to play ball, keep Mason’s name out of the media. Lyman may be a defense attorney, but he had defended St. Paul police officers on numerous occasions. He knew Charlie Flanagan well and could ask for discretion and would get it. Flanagan was as straight a shooter as there was, and he had no love for the media. If they went this way, it could save the senator’s career. And if there were a trial, at least he’d be able to say the senator came forward voluntarily. If nothing else, he might look better in front of a potential jury pool.
    There was a knock on the office door. Summer Plantagenate, an associate specializing in criminal law, stepped into his office. She had assisted him on a number of occasions where he had represented St. Paul police officers. Her last couple of hours had been spent calling her contacts in the department.
    “Come in. Care to refresh?” Lyman asked, holding up the bottle.
    “Yes.”
    Lawyers. The only bar they ever passed was the one for a license to practice law. Lyman filled a glass with Scotch and walked it over to Summer, who had taken a seat in one of the deep leather chairs in front of Lyman’s desk. “Have your contacts been of any help?”
    “No,” she said disappointedly. “I tried every way I know how, but the people I know aren’t involved in the Daniels case.”
    “Have you learned anything?”
    “The detective running the case is named McRyan.”
    “Michael McRyan?”
    “Yeah. Do you know him?”
    Lyman smiled. “That I do. Mac’s fairly young, but he’s been a detective for a few years, I think.”
    “In any event,” Summer continued, “he’s met with Chief Flanagan twice today. The last guy I talked to told me that he heard McRyan was up meeting with the chief tonight, along with District Attorney Anderson.”
    “Anything else besides McRyan?” inquired Lyman.
    “They’re keeping a tight lid on this one. Nobody seems to know anything.”
    “Hmmmm. Does that seem unusual to you?”
    “Yes, a little.” Summer took a sip of her drink. “You can usually get something, but nobody involved directly in the investigation is talking.”
    “Do you think they have our client’s name?”
    “If I were going to Vegas, I’d say yes.”
    “Because nobody’s talking?”
    “Yes. That, and the fact that the district attorney is meeting with Flanagan. That’s not something that happens on a normal case this quickly.”
    Lyman got up and went over to the bar to freshen his drink. He raised the bottle towards Summer. She waved him off. He put the top back on the bottle. He sipped his Scotch and looked in the mirror over the bar. He walked back over to his desk and picked up the phone and dialed.
    “Jordan? Lyman.”

    * * * * *

    Viper took the elevator up to the office. The boss would be waiting for a status report. Viper had worked for him for over twenty years, and the man always loved his status reports. It wasn’t that he tried to quarterback things. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, he always wanted to be informed. It’s why he had always been so successful, which had now made Viper a wealthy man and a loyal one as well. In fact, the boss had looked out for Viper for over the last twenty years. He’d do anything for the man.
    It had been an exhausting twenty-four hours, and he was ready to go home and get some sleep.