“Are you kidding?” Mary asked, astounded. “It’s been, like, two days! This is ridiculous!”
“I know, and of course he’s pushing the fact that John has been murdered. He even suggested to the Human Relations Commission that they coordinate their investigation with the police, given that ‘we may be suspects’ in his murder.” Bennie made air quotes. “He claims that John’s statement in the Complaint could be proof that we had a motive to kill John, so he wouldn’t testify against us.”
“Geez, he stops at nothing!” Mary gritted her teeth. “He has no decency whatsoever!”
“They want to interview us separately and they want the first interview on Wednesday. DiNunzio, why don’t you take it? I’m on trial, and Judy needs some time. That’s only one day after John’s memorial service.”
“I’ll go, I want to. I’ll give them an earful!”
Roger put up his hand like a traffic cop. “There’s no reason to get bent out of shape.”
“I’ve been bent out of shape for seven months,” Mary shot back. “And you don’t know Machiavelli like I do. This is just the kind of stuff he does. He presses forward on all fronts. He never lets up. He’s seriously demented. He’s got no family, no friends. He never married or had kids. His job, his firm, his ego, is all he’s about and he hates to lose.”
“I understand,” Roger said, calmly. “I know how to deal with him.”
“Oh really?” Mary tried to check her tone, but she felt angry. “Did Bennie tell you that we almost got fired this morning because our denial wasn’t strong enough in the press release?”
Roger blinked, his mouth a grim line. “Yes, and we’ve discussed that. Allow me to remind you that we agreed that I will conduct this litigation as I see fit.”
“Yes, we did, but I know more about Machiavelli than anybody here and you don’t seem to be listening to me.”
“I am, but I’m staying the course. I have reminded Bennie of her agreement to let me do so. I would ask you to do the same.” Roger hesitated. “Mary, I understand your emotion, but it’s misdirected. You’re not angry at me, you’re angry at Machiavelli.”
“I’m angry at you both,” Mary said, though she wondered if Roger were right. “We’re getting whipsawed, don’t you see that? Machiavelli will use John’s murder against us in the reverse-discrimination case, and I bet if he has his way, the police will use the reverse-discrimination case in the murder case, maybe even against Judy.”
Roger shook his head. “You’re getting carried away. The police think Judy’s motive is a lover’s quarrel.”
“Two motives are better than one, and they were fighting about the reverse-discrimination complaint.” Mary glanced over at Judy, who looked upset, so she let it go. “Look, Machiavelli will go lower than you can ever think. You guys have been working on the reverse-discrimination complaint, haven’t you? Have you seen any connection between the three plaintiffs and Machiavelli?”
“None,” Roger answered, patiently.
“We tried,” Bennie chimed in, her expression resigned. “Machiavelli is their lawyer, but as far as we can tell, that’s the only connection. The three plaintiffs never worked for him or never met him.”
Mary wasn’t buying it. “I know he’s behind it. I know he manufactured that lawsuit.”
Bennie waved her off. “Let it go, DiNunzio. We don’t need it anyway. We have our hands full.”
Roger nodded. “More than full.”
Mary couldn’t let it go. “I want to see those resumes, and any of the documents on the reverse-discrimination case. Will you email them to me? I just can’t believe there’s no connection. Machiavelli will stop at nothing, nothing. Let me give you another example.” Mary slipped her hand in her pocket and showed them her phone, with its photo of the reporter. “Do you recognize this woman with the spiky hair? She was at our press conference here. Just now, she was also outside of the Roundhouse, asking us questions. She said she was a freelancer, does anybody remember?”
Bennie leaned over, squinting at the phone. “I do.”
Anne nodded. “She’s the one. That’s definitely her.”
Mary felt validated, which only made her angrier. “That’s what I thought, and you know what else? I bet she’s not an independent freelancer. I bet that Machiavelli hired her.”
“You think so?” Bennie asked, skeptical. “You think she’s a proxy, too? And the plaintiffs?”
Roger smiled slightly. “Mary, that does seem somewhat paranoid.”
“No it isn’t.” Mary had been thinking it over in the cab. “It’s too coincidental that she’s everywhere we go. Her questions aren’t typical reporter questions, they’re shouted accusations.”
“Really?” Bennie cocked her head.
“Yes, think about it. We know he uses the press. He gets himself on camera. She’s just a proxy for him, and there’s probably others.” Mary showed Lou the picture. “Lou, can you find out who this woman is? Do you have any way to do that?”
“Let me see, Mare.” Lou took the phone from Mary’s hands, squinting at the photo through his bifocals. “I could give it a shot. If she came to our press conference, she would have to sign in and show ID at the security desk.”
“Unless she used a fake name, but please check.” Mary took her phone back. “And you know what else I want to know, Lou? How did she know that the police called us to the Roundhouse? Does Machiavelli have somebody leaking police information to him?”
Anne interjected, “If she freelances, she could have been there already. Maybe it’s not about us.”
Lou folded his arms. “I’ll look into it, Mare. How did it go at the Roundhouse, about Shanahan?”
“Good, and thanks for the information. I suggested to Detective Krakoff that he look into Shanahan, and he agreed.” Mary turned to Bennie and the others, filling them in on John’s draft complaint with DHS and Shanahan’s abusive history.
Bennie’s blue eyes narrowed. “So you think this Shanahan is the killer? Not a burglar?”
“I think it’s certainly possible, and we’re concerned that William could be in jeopardy, if John told him that he was going to file a complaint against Shanahan.”
“That would be risky for Shanahan,” Bennie said, dubious.
“I agree, but we don’t want to take any chances. William is more vulnerable now than ever, alone and without a legal guardian. If Shanahan wanted to hurt William, now would be the time. Shanahan might want to make the whole problem go away, with William. And if Shanahan wanted to press the feeding tube issue, he might try that now too.”
“Agree.” Judy nodded, worriedly. “I’m going to the group home to get William now. I want him with me before the police start investigating Shanahan, and the funeral’s tomorrow anyway. I have to get him a suit and shoes, and I’m also going to call John’s aunt and uncle, the Hodges, and talk about temporary guardianship, so Shanahan doesn’t try to preempt me on the feeding tube. I wanted to apply for it myself, but I’d have to disclose that I’m under suspicion of John’s murder, and no court will award me guardianship of William in those circumstances.”
“Right.” Bennie checked her watch. “Okay, I gotta get to work.”
“So do I.” Roger nodded. “Unless Mary would rather I stay?”
“No, thanks, Roger.” Mary felt a guilty twinge. “Sorry I snapped, but I want to go on record as having new doubts that your way is going to work with Machiavelli.”
“I hear you.” Roger smiled, starting to go. “I’ll keep an open mind if you will.”
“It’s a deal,” Mary said, but she didn’t mean it.
“Good-bye.” Roger headed out, and after he was gone, Mary finally exhaled.
“Bennie, are you really going to stay with The Way of the Guru? It’s not working. We’re getting handled by Machiavelli.”
“Let’s stay the course. We gave Roger our word, and we have to stand by that.” Bennie turned to Judy, placing a hand on her shoulder. “How are you holding up, Carrier?”
“For a person of interest, pretty good.”
“So go get William, then. You’ve got me worried about him now.”