Character Witness (13 page)

Richard Jacobsen smiled pleasantly. ''You'll be stepping on my toes then, Gerry.''

''
Ah, it would be hard to even make you wince, Richard. We'll settle for the crumbs and be licking them up with style.''

Kathleen shifted from one foot to the other, unsure of what was passing between them, only sure that an undercurrent pulled them into some pool where they, and no one else, had treaded water before.

''
Yo, Gerry, I gotta go.'' All three turned toward the sound of Louise Booker's voice, surprised to find her still hovering on the outskirts of their oddly shaped triangle.

''
Louise, Louise my dear girl, I'm so sorry. Come here and meet Richard. Richard, this is the client on whose behalf Kathleen spoke so passionately. Louise Booker, the brave woman who is going up against All Life with O'Doul & Associates by her side.''

Richard Jacobsen's expression shifted, or so it seemed to Kathleen. It may have been a trick of the light, or a genuine look of concern, that flitted lightly behind those eyes, or it could have been a subtle look of surprise. But who didn't look surprised upon meeting Louise.

''
I hope your business with the court is finished now,'' he said politely.

''
Not likely,'' Louise shot back. She nodded. ''Nice to meetcha.'' She toddled off alone, seemingly satisfied with the day's proceedings. For a moment Kathleen wondered where Louise was going. For a second, Kathleen wondered if she'd be lonely. Then she realized that opportunity stood at her elbow and she paid attention to it.

''
Louise can be a little abrupt,'' Kathleen apologized, Richard Jacobsen turned his head toward her, but not until he apparently satisfied his curiosity about Louise Booker. He smiled at Kathleen as if to say they alone understood how things could be with difficult clients.

''
I trust the problem is as colorful as the lady herself?''

''
All the adjectives one could use for Mrs. Booker, you could use for her problem.''

Richard looked back to Gerry. Kathleen was thrown back in deference to the bigger fish in the pond.

''
Did I read about it in the papers, Gerry? The name sounds familiar.''

''
No, no you didn't. Perhaps the reason for the action was written up. An odd sort of thing. Louise's ex-husband committed suicide at the Tysco headquarters. Now she wants the insurance settlement that is being denied because of exclusion. If the poor man had only waited another day or two I'm afraid O'Doul & Associates would be out of a fee. One of those unusual things that keeps us in business, rest poor Lionel Booker's soul.'' Gerry chuckled. It was too small a thing to bore Richard with, and Richard had never had much of a sense of humor anyway. ''Kathleen will take care of it. Lovely way she's managed on the strategy. Chip off the old block. I wouldn't be surprised if her performance wasn't written up in the journals. ''

''
I'd look forward to reading about it.'' Richard stood up straighter and bowed slightly toward Kathleen. ''Best of luck to you, Ms. Cotter. I wish we had a few creative young people like you around my firm.'' He put his hand on Gerry's arm lightly. He didn't pat or squeeze, he made only a gesture to familiarity for old time's sake. Kathleen's eyes followed that hand and she noticed how attractive it was. Well shaped and beautifully manicured, it was uncluttered by rings. When she looked up again, he was still looking at her curiously before finally taking his leave. ''It was great seeing you, Gerry.''

''
Nice to see you, too, Richard.'' Richard Jacobsen melted away, swallowed up by the bodies milling about the long, linoleumed hall. Gerry watched even after he was gone and spoke into the space Richard had left.

''
Richard interned with me, Kathleen. That was many years ago when I was at the top of my form. Such a bright young man. So focused. So intense. I always thought I taught him everything, but there were some things he knew that I didn't. I still don't want to know those things in his head.'' Gerry fell silent. Kathleen looked toward the milling people but Richard Jacobsen did not reappear. Gerry reanimated himself and touched her arm. ''We parted company on a certain uncomfortable level. He went the way of an ambitious young man. I had my suspicions that he was walking an unusual path.''

''
It couldn't have been that odd, considering his success?''

Gerry looked at her, a wry little upturn of the lips transforming him into the man of the world Kathleen had seen as a child.

''
I think parts of Richard Jacobsen are made of rubber band - they bend and pull in odd directions, don't you know. And another part is made of quicksand because of the way he absorbs information, making it disappear as if it never existed then spitting back his own version. But mostly he's made of steel. One never knows about Richard, and I've long since been truly curious. We went our separate ways. Perhaps I should have gone with him.'' Gerry chuckled, and then thought again. ''Perhaps not. But we must do business with all sorts, mustn't we? Funny thing is, I can't really say what sort Richard is, other than powerful.''

Kathleen walked with Gerry. Louise was long gone. A hush had fallen over the now deserted halls. Those who had business with the court were either doing it or had been sent away. Richard Jacobsen had simply evaporated. He left behind him a sense that Gerry and Kathleen were now less than they had been that the triumph before Judge Kelley was minor.

While she may be on a new ladder with Gerry, Kathleen knew she was still on the bottom rung. Richard Jacobsen was on the top and he wasn't looking down. She'd have to climb some to reach him, but that was where she wanted to go. Maybe she wouldn't go all the way to the top, she wouldn't be that arrogant. But up. She wanted to go up. After this morning's performance she knew that she could. If she made it to the middle of that ladder, Kathleen knew she wouldn't ask for anything more.

''
Shall we stop for breakfast, Kathleen?'' Gerry asked as they stepped out of the courthouse. Gerry looked about, squinting into the sun, Richard Jacobsen forgotten. Kathleen had forgotten even Gerry for the moment.

''
We have an appointment, Uncle Gerry. We need to start on the Booker problem right away. The sooner we do, the sooner it will be over.''

And I can start climbing.

Marlene Wong was late. They were early so they cooled their heels in the coroner's gift shop. Gerry sat on the straight backed chair in the corner. He fanned himself with the three page catalogue filled with ghoulish gifts. Kathleen, her forehead dotted with perspiration, her hair slicked back behind her ears, held up a fluffy white beach towel resplendent with a black body outline. She refolded it remembering this was Los Angeles. She wouldn't want to give anyone of a number of questionable folks on the beach any ideas.

There was a mug.

A picture frame.

A call.

''
Gerry?''

Kathleen turned toward the door that led elsewhere in time to see Gerry smile and, looking cool as a cucumber, greet the woman with a kiss on the cheek. ''Marlene, it's been a long time.''

''
You've been out of the loop lately,'' she drawled. ''Like the last ten years. What've you been doing?'' White coat and clipped words couldn't hide her obvious affection for Gerry O'Doul.

''
Haven't I been working, Marlene! Sure, that's why you haven't seen me. How nice you missed me.''

''
I'll take a working stiff over a regular one any day, Gerry. Come on, I've got what you asked for.'' She cocked her head, her short black hair glinting in the fluorescent lights, the pink beaded chain attached to her glasses swayed as she moved.

''
Come, Kathleen,'' Gerry held out his hand. Marlene gave her a once over as she joined them. ''My niece and new associate. She's lead attorney on this, I'm only here to make myself feel useful.''

Marlene Wong sighed at his blarney. ''Then I guess you both better come. But watch out, we're full up and there's no place for tea.''

Gerry held the door. Kathleen looked straight ahead as she followed Marlene Wong down the hall to a glass enclosed office. There was nothing to see, but the mere idea that somewhere in this vast building was full up with dead bodies was enough to make her feel queasy. They entered a small, neat office.

''
Here we are. Got the file. Looked it over. Have a seat, Kathleen.''

Marlene Wong was already sitting down. Kathleen did as she was told, slinging her purse strap over the back of the chair and putting her hands in her lap. Gerry sat after the women were settled. Marlene Wong looked at Kathleen. ''What do you want to know?''

Kathleen looked quickly at Gerry who didn't look back. She was on her own and he waited patiently for her to say what it was she wanted.

''
I want to prove that Lionel Booker didn't intend to take his own life. So I guess what I'd like is any medical information that might help prove he was hoping to just get high. Is there any information you have that might help us prove that?''

''
That's pretty broad.''

Gerry stepped in, much to Kathleen's dismay. If he hadn't wanted her to handle this then he shouldn't have set her up.

''
Is there something in the toxicology reports Marlene that might lead you to believe the dosage was such that Mr. Booker simply wanted to pleasure himself?'' Gerry filled in, gently protective, Kathleen imagined, of her feelings. He needn't be. Kathleen was a quick and grateful study; all he needed to do was show her the way.

''
That's a tall order. I've seen kids in here who look like they've got everything to live for. Cheerleaders who jump off cliffs 'cause their horse has fleas. How in the heck am I suppose to know what this guy intended. Heroine was in his system, he died of an overdose. He could have misjudged the dosage, but then again he could have calculated it that way.''

''
Perhaps then, you could give us a run-through on the report. Anything that doesn't ring true to your educated ear, we'll listen.'' Gerry nodded as if encouraging her to take center stage at the recital for which she was ill prepared.

''
Okay.'' She took a deep breath through her nose, tipped her head back and her glasses down. ''It wasn't my case, remember. I didn't do the actual autopsy.''

''
Not to worry,'' Gerry murmured.

''
Just wanted you to understand. The great man himself did this one.'' Marlene practical and political to the last gave them both a look to make sure they understood. ''Guess that in and of itself is pretty bizarre. By the time they got Mr. Booker in here it was late, or early, depending on how you look at it. Doctor Greischmidt is usually out of here by five and doesn't come in until nine-thirty - which is his prerogative. He has so many administrative duties to attend to it must be exhausting.'' Marlene was muttering now, trying to convince herself that the top man's load was heavier than hers. With a tongue cluck she ran her finger down the report in the folder.

''
So I'd say that was pretty out of the ordinary. Not extraordinary, you understand, but somebody had to make a special request. He wouldn't come in without it.''

''
What was so special about Mr. Booker? I mean, why would Doctor Greischmidt take notice of anything at that time of the morning? He had to be called from home. Could we ask him about that?'' Kathleen asked.

Marlene gave Gerry a Cheshire grin that, until now, had been carefully guarded, but she talked to Kathleen.

''
Sure, and we'll invite him to tea.'' Marlene and Gerry laughed. ''Doctor Greischmidt isn't exactly a fan of mine or your uncle's. About fifteen years back Gerry pushed hard during a trial and embarrassed him a lot. A young girl was supposedly killed by her brother three hours after dinner. Doctor Greischmidt had thrown away the stomach contents which were pivotal to the prosecution. Gerry embarrassed the heck out of the good doctor by making a big deal about that.''

''
Did you manage to get the brother acquitted?'' Kathleen asked.

''
He did,'' Marlene answered for him.

''
What she's not telling you, Kathleen, is that the boy was guilty. That one made me think twice, I'll tell you,'' Gerry mused. ''Ah, the days of maneuvering like that, eh, Marlene. Kept me young.''

''
Kept us all young. Guess that's why Greischmidt lets us underlings do everything now. He sticks to the paper work. So, back to the work at hand. Let's see how good he was on the paper this time.'' Marlene was still smiling as she read. ''Stomach contents were saved. Booker hadn't eaten in a while. Pretty empty except for some grains. No alcohol. Heroine in the system along with an overabundance of vitamin C and E. Our man was a vitamin taker. That's kind of weird if he's a drug abuser.''

''
Would you say it was a massive overdose or a miscalculation?'' Kathleen asked.

Marlene raised a shoulder and cocked her head toward it nonchalantly. ''I'd venture to say just about anything would be considered a massive overdose. This guy had to play it safe.'' Marlene looked over the top of her glasses. ''Booker had an enlarged heart. Not a terrible problem on its own unless you're doing the kind of drugs he was doing. Then it will definitely disturb the balance of what was going on in his body. He wouldn't have been able to take the same dose as someone who started with a strong and healthy heart. Heroine shoots straight to the brain, signals shoot back down to the heart and boom.''

''
Then he might have committed suicide.'' Gerry's comment was matter-of-fact. It was too early in the game to throw in the towel, but Kathleen didn't want to consider it. She had not only convinced Don Kelley of the rightness of her stand, she'd convinced herself.

''
Or it could have meant he wasn't particularly smart,'' Kathleen offered. ''Is there some kind of manual who tells people how much they're supposed to use? I wouldn't know how much to use.''