“Because I know John. He was a prudent and fair-minded lawyer. He would have talked it out and tried to settle it with Shanahan before he filed. If he couldn’t do that, then he would’ve told Shanahan he was going to file because that’s what any good lawyer would do. I believe John told Shanahan and I bet if you asked Shanahan, he would not be completely surprised.” Mary kept her purpose in mind. “Detective Krakoff, Shanahan is somebody that you need to be investigating. I know that you guys decide who you ‘like’ and who you don’t, then confirmation bias sets in and before you know it, the wrong person has been suspected of murder, even charged. I will not stand by and let that happen to Judy Carrier, who is completely innocent.”
“So you think Shanahan killed John to keep his job at a group home in the suburbs?” Detective Krakoff leaned backwards. “That’s a stretch, don’t you think?”
“I did at first, so I asked Lou Jacobs, a former cop and our firm’s investigator, to do some legwork for me. Lou found out that Shanahan has a history of violence.”
Detective Krakoff’s dark eyes flared briefly open. “How so? A criminal record?”
“No, but Shanahan has had three protection from abuse, or PFA, applications filed against him by his now ex-wife, named Jody Shanahan. She alleges that he assaulted her and has anger-management issues. These three incidents took place within the past two years, though she filed for divorce six months ago, which is approximately when Shanahan took the job at Glenn Meade.” Mary gestured at the envelope. “A copy of the court docket is included in the packet I just gave you.”
“So was he charged?” Detective Krakoff set the notebook aside and opened the manila envelope.
“No, because his ex-wife dropped the application after she filed it, each time. That’s why Glenn Meade didn’t pick it up on a reference check before he was hired. We ran a basic computer background check, and he has no criminal record, so you may not have his fingerprints on file or in any database.” As Mary spoke, Detective Krakoff took the papers out of the envelope and started reading, so she kept going. “I strongly suggest that you investigate Shanahan and get some samples from him. It may very well be his fingerprints and other trace evidence that you find on the base of that lamp. Because I know it will not be Judy Carrier’s. And you’ll know that too, as soon as the lab analyzes the samples they’re taking now.”
Detective Krakoff turned to the docket sheets that Lou had printed off the computer. They hadn’t been hard to find, since court records were searchable by party.
Mary picked up her bag. “Detective Krakoff, the only thing I ask is that you give me prior notice before you go visit Shanahan.”
Detective Krakoff looked up sharply. “I don’t notify defense counsel of the steps I take in an investigation.”
“I’m asking out of concern for the safety of John’s brother, William.”
“The reason doesn’t matter. It’s not procedure.”
“Please, reconsider, for William’s sake.” Mary spoke from the heart, still raw at the memory of William’s sweetness, as well as his pain. “I’m assuming that Glenn Meade doesn’t know about these allegations against Shanahan or they wouldn’t have hired him. Shanahan will probably lose his job when this comes to light, whether from you or me. Now that I know that Shanahan may be violent, I’m concerned that he may retaliate against William for my coming to you, even if he hadn’t been told before about the complaint, by John. Either way, I don’t want William in harm’s way because we’re about to expose Shanahan.”
“I still don’t see the need to notify you.” Detective Krakoff’s attention returned to the papers.
“But you wouldn’t have this information if I hadn’t given it to you. I came in a spirit of cooperation, hoping we could coordinate our approach and—”
“How many ways do I have to say it? Police business is confidential.”
“But, obviously, I won’t reveal anything. I’m worried about William’s safety.”
“I’m not informing you of what I do.”
“But he’s an innocent person, whose brother was just murdered. He’s alone in the world. Vulnerable.”
“Not my problem,” Detective Krakoff said without looking up.
“You know, I wanted to give you a second chance after that stunt you pulled with the ring. I was hoping you could be trusted.” Mary rose to go. “But since you can’t, let me give it to you straight. If anything happens to William because you talked to Shanahan without telling me, then I will hold you personally responsible and sue you blind.”
Detective Krakoff snorted. “You don’t scare me, Mary.”
“That’s because you see what I look like, not what I can do. I may have a bellyful of baby, but I’m one of the best lawyers in the city.” Mary crossed to the door. “And if William gets hurt, you’re going to find out what I’m capable of. It will cost you your house, your car, your pension, and every last penny you have.”
“And how is that exactly?” Detective Krakoff looked up, his expression amused.
“I just recorded everything you said.” Mary showed him her phone. “Imagine how callous and awful you’ll sound to a jury, or judge, or even your boss, if something happens to William.”
Detective Krakoff fell quiet.
And Mary turned away, smiling.
*
Ten minutes later, Mary and Judy were hurrying to the glass exit doors of the Roundhouse, bracing themselves for the throng of media. The story of the triple homicide in the Northeast had blown up, with one suspect in custody and a citywide manhunt for another under way, and the Police Commissioner had been giving periodic updates from a makeshift lectern in front of the entrance, which was Philly’s idea of a classy press conference.
Mary and Judy hustled out of the building and past the reporters, keeping their faces down to avoid being recognized. They stepped off the curb behind the empty lectern, and just then Mary heard a female reporter shout, “Hey, Mary DiNunzio! Judy Carrier! Why are you back? You’re suspects in the murder of John Foxman, aren’t you? Where’s Bennie Rosato? Any comment? Any comment?”
The other reporters joined in, calling out questions. “Any comment, Mary?” “Are you suspects in the Foxman murder?” “What’s going on?” “Give us a comment!”
“No comment!” Mary hurried away as fast as she could, and Judy bolted ahead of her toward the street, breaking into a jog and flagging down a cab at the parking lot entrance. The cab lurched to a stop, and Judy opened the door, climbing in and sliding aside for Mary, who waddled like a duck on steroids.
“Mary, when are you going to make a statement?” shouted the same female reporter, dogging her steps. “What about Judy and Bennie? Are you going to confess? Are you trying to get a deal? What’s going on with the Foxman murder?”
Other reporters called out, “Any comment, Mary?” “Are both of you suspects?” “Come on, just one comment!”
Mary glanced back to see the female reporter who had started the questioning, startled to recognize her as the scruffy woman with the gelled spiky hair, who had been at the press conference.
“Come on, Mary!” “How about a comment? Just one comment?”
“No comment!” Mary ducked into the cab, raised her phone quickly, and snapped a picture as they took off.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Mary and Judy got off the elevator, passed the Rosato & DiNunzio sign, and hustled down the hallway toward their offices, surprised to find Bennie, Anne, and Lou talking with Roger in front of the conference room.
“Hi, Roger,” Mary and Judy said, in unison.
“Hello. Sorry to have missed you both.” Roger hoisted a trim leather messenger bag onto his shoulder. “How are you?”
“We’ve been better,” Mary answered, since Judy had been subdued in the cab, nervous that she had given the samples and obsessing over her fingerpads, which now bore telltale black ink from the fingerprinting process.
“I’m officially a person of interest,” Judy answered quietly.
“But I told Detective Krakoff about Shanahan,” Mary interjected quickly, trying to buck up Judy’s sagging spirits. “Meanwhile, what’s going on here? Is something the matter?”
“Yes, Machiavelli’s upping the ante.” Bennie frowned. “Roger got a letter from our case investigator at the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. They want to interview the three of us as soon as possible.”
“So soon?” Mary didn’t get it. “We didn’t even answer the Complaint yet.”
“Machiavelli’s been lobbying them. He’s accused them of dragging their feet in the investigation. He just sent them a letter to that effect, copying Roger.”