Character Witness (37 page)

Michael nodded. ''And when I stopped being effective at Tysco, I could have walked out but I didn't. I was going to, though, when you guys didn't need me anymore. I wanted to sit and have a cigar with Gerry and tell him all the new things I was going to do.''

''
And now?''

''
Now, we stick together. We finish what we started with Louise and Sara. Then we find out what it is we're supposed to do together. Think you're up for it?''

Kathleen sniffed and raised her eyes. It felt as if she could never drain all of her tears. They swam to the surface when she looked at Michael.

''
Yeah. I can do that. I can, Michael.''

''
Good.'' They came together in one of those moments - no commercial moment this- but their very own. They kissed like lovers who've known each other forever and still loved. They clasped hands. Michael let them sit in silence for a moment and then said. ''I think I found out what was upsetting Lionel.''

Kathleen nodded. She stood up, shed his shirt and went to shower. It was time to work.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Gerry O'Doul would have loved his funeral. The press was there. Not in force, not the way it had been after the Road Warrior case, but two reporters and a photographer stood on the edge of the crowd that had gathered to pay their respects. The reporters were jotting their notes, writing the names that would mean something to the general public - a nostalgic piece. There was the comic who'd become famous insulting people in the fifties, now kindergartner's were crueler. There was the song and dance man who'd made a transition to television with a family sitcom. He was better singing and dancing. There was a talk show host whose radio show was syndicated and a sprinkling of lesser mainstream personalities that might make the PEOPLE page of 'Where Are They Now?' They were all at Gerry O'Doul's funeral along with those the general public wouldn't know from Adam. Kathleen Cotter and Michael Crawford thought those were the people more than worthy of note.

Richard Jacobsen had murmured the proper condolences but Kathleen felt a distance from him, as if he no longer found her interesting. She put such a dramatic change of heart down to the daze of her own grief. There were five or six others from Shay, Sylvester & Harrington including Craig Nelson, lead counsel on the environmental case on which Kathleen toiled. She appreciated the show of force from her employer; she just wasn't sure why it was necessary. There hadn't been a personal bonding with her colleagues. Kathleen had not burst upon their scene like a bright professional light. Few, she was sure, had known Gerry. They were too young. They had, no doubt, come out of respect for Richard. If he felt it was important to see Gerry O'Doul off, then it must be important. There were businessmen, most of whom Kathleen didn't know. But Michael knew at least one - Mr. Grossman. From Tysco.

There were women who introduced themselves and shook Kathleen's hand. She smiled and murmured pleasantries as they each claimed to be Gerry O'Doul's one true love at some point in his life. Through their tears, each lamented that it hadn't worked out. Henrietta came, walking with a cane, Bo still by her side.

There were no children standing on the green grass, afraid to step on headstones in case the long dead reached for them out of the ground. Kathleen thought that was sad. No nieces, nephews, grandchildren. Just her. She would have to do. She hoped he'd look down from heaven when he got his angel wings and see just how much she grieved for him.

''
Kathleen?'' Marlene Wong touched her arm. Kathleen smiled. The woman gave her a tight lipped grimace that was close to a smile. Marlene was sad, too. ''Nice service.''

''
Gerry would have liked Father Fallon's speech. I can see why they were great friends. Both of them knew how to lay it on thick.''

Marlene chuckled and slipped on a pair of sunglasses. They were big and pink and made her look like a bright eyed bug. She glanced around. People still stood about talking, slowly breaking up and heading to their cars. Kathleen followed her gaze. There wouldn't be many at the reception. Those in business would head back to it; those who had none would be the ones at the buffet table.

''
I heard you went over to Shay,'' Marlene noted, somehow managing to get Kathleen moving. The two women walked slowly away from the grave site. ''Gerry told me when he called last week.''

''
Yeah. It's different.''

''
More lucrative?''

''
Much,'' Kathleen assured her.

''
Good. If you're going to be in a morgue you might as well make some good bucks.'' Kathleen kept walking, staring at the black toes of her shoes as they came into view with each slow step. She remained silent, waiting for Marlene to lead the conversation. She didn't have to wait long. ''Look, I don't know if it means anything anymore, but Gerry was after me to find out exactly who called for Dr. G on that Booker thing.''

''
Did you find out?''

Marlene shook her head. ''Nope, and that's what I wanted to talk to Gerry about. I had gotten pretty far just running around the grapevine. I knew it was an attorney but the more I looked into it the more the grapevine closed down. The fact that it seems to be a big dark secret is something that's totally weird on its own and that's what I wanted to tell him about. I did check our logs. We got the call from the LAPD dispatching us at four-thirty-three in the A.M. The van rolled and everything was normal. Doctor Wipling was on duty; he signed the body, tagged and logged it. No big thing. Booker took his place in line. I finally got to talk to Wipling about it - he'd been on vacation - and he had his nose out of joint. Dr. G took over without any explanation. He showed up at eight and actually pirated the examining room where Wipling was just starting on another subject. He had Booker rolled in, ticked off to high heaven about having to dirty his hands, did a slap dash job on the body then instructed for it to be released. It was over in a couple of hours. Booker should have been with us about three days before anyone even looked at him if he was going through the process the way he should.''

''
Dr. Greischmidt never said why it was so important to him?''

Marlene shook his head, ''Last time he was out was for that model's murder. He likes the limelight. But if Gerry is to be believed, Booker was nobody.''

''
Believe it. There was no reason for special treatment.''

''
Well, it's not much, but it sure is suspicious behavior. The closest Wipling got to an explanation was that someone Dr. G thinks is pretty nifty in the private sector pulled in a favor. Maybe whoever is handling the estate wanted the body to disappear so they could probate fast?''

Kathleen shook her head, ''I can't imagine Tony Maglio showing that kind of interest. I'm not sure he'd have that kind of connection even if he did.''

''
I suppose you might be able to ask the good doctor G directly. What've you got to loose? Who knows what the connection is. I'm sorry, wish it was more.''

''
I'll think about it, Marlene. Thank you very much.'' Kathleen took her hand, knowing Greischmidt wouldn't give her the time of day. Marlene nodded and offered a few more words of condolence.

''
You know, Kathleen, I did the autopsy on Gerry. He didn't suffer. I thought you'd want to know. It was quick.''

''
Thanks.''

Marlene shook Kathleen's hand. ''If you're going to stick around this area, keep my number. Don't know what I'll ever be able to do while you're at Shay, but at least you can say you've got someone inside the coroner.''

Kathleen nodded and Marlene left. Richard was waiting.

''
Kathleen, it was a lovely service.'' He called out the compliment before he actually took her hand. He was smiling now. Funny that a funeral service should make him seem almost lighthearted. Maybe it was just being outdoors. Maybe it was Father Fallon. Maybe it was the fact she wasn't going to be in for a few days. ''I want you to know I meant what I said about time off. A leave of absence isn't unheard of in situations like this. Close up Gerry's office. I can suggest a few private practitioners who might be able to take up a few of his clients. Or, perhaps, you'd like to sell the practice. Just let me know, Kathleen. Whatever you need, take as long as you like.''

You don't want me anymore.

''
I appreciate that, but I won't be away long.''

I see it in your eyes.

''
I just don't want you to be pressured.'' He reached for her arm, as if he might give her an affectionate squeeze. Realizing what he was doing, he stepped back. ''Nice service. Very nice.''

Kathleen watched him go, keeping her eyes on him even when Michael came and took her hand. He was at his car and she was almost ready to turn away when she realized there was someone inside, waiting for Richard. There was a leg, an arm, part of a shoulder. There was a man in a gray suit whose dark head was shadowed. . Kathleen found the bits and pieces of him enthralling. Then it dawned on her. He was dressed in a sharkskin suit, that kind of fabric that shimmered. Gerry had a sharkskin suit years ago. She'd seen it in a picture. Now it had made a comeback. Vogue had shown it in the fall preview issue. Whoever was in that car was nothing, if not fashion forward. She looked back to the knot of people by the grave, to those who were heading to their own cars and then back to Richard's. Had he been there? Wouldn't she have noticed a man dressed like that?

But looking back now there was nothing to see. The passenger door was closed. Richard was already in the driver's side. There was a ring on the man's finger. Oval and dark. Onyx more than likely. But more importantly, it was a young hand. Not one of Gerry's peers, too dandy for an associate or partner. She would have remembered a man like that.

''
You ready?'' Michael asked, his hand lying protectively on the small of her back.

''
Yes, I think so.'' She wrapped her arm around his waist. ''Look, Michael. Someone was waiting in the car for Richard. Who do you think would sit through an entire service just waiting like that?''

''
I don't know. Maybe whoever it was didn't feel well.''

''
Maybe they didn't want anyone to see them, like they were afraid to show their face?'' Kathleen speculated as they turned toward the limousine.

''
Like who?''

''
I don't know, who wasn't here that we should have expected? Who wasn't at the service that Richard knew and Gerry knew?'' Michael shrugged and let his arm wind 'round her shoulder. ''I know,'' she said quietly. ''Carl Walsh. Carl wasn't here.''

''
They had words the day Gerry died.'' Michael said. There was no need to muddy the waters by pointing out they were about her.

''
I didn't know that. Still, do you think that would be enough to keep him from coming to Gerry's funeral? There was such a history there.''

''
I don't know, Kathleen. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what the little we do know means. We've got enough mysteries to deal with. Why don't you call Walsh and ask him where he was. You could do one of those girl things that make men think you're really worried about us.''

Kathleen laughed gently, ''One of those girl things, huh?''

''
Yeah. I like it when you do those girl things,'' Michael murmured and kissed the top of her blond head. ''So, we'll put the mystery of who was in Richard's car on the back burner, and you can tell me who that lady was you had your head together with.''

''
Marlene Wong. Assistant Coroner. She had a little twist to add to our story of Lionel Booker. Dr. Greischmidt actually threw another body off the table to get Lionel's autopsy done fast. A regular van was dispatched, everything was going by the book then he shows up, angry, muttering about favors and lawyers and misery.''

''
Lionel didn't know anyone in high places,'' Michael reminded her.

''
That's the point. Curiouser and curiouser, Michael. Maybe it was one of the Tysco attorneys who wanted to keep all this quiet. Do you think you could check that out?''

''
Are you going to ask me to walk on water next?'' He kissed her lightly on the lips.

''
I'll get you the names then you can call in an official capacity.''

He handed her into the back of the limousine. Inside Louise sat with her arm around Sarah who continued to cry quietly into a Kleenex that had seen better days.

''
Thanks,'' Kathleen said.

''
You two doing okay?'' Michael folded himself onto the back seat. Kathleen gave Sarah a pat and Louise a sympathetic look. Louise had outdone herself. It was probably better she had taken Sarah back to the car after the church service. Someone may have tried to push her into the grave after Gerry if they'd gotten a good look at her in the sunlight.

She was pale as a ghost, still shaken by Gerry's passing. Her eyes were red rimmed though no one had seen her cry. Her stiff upper lip was firmly in place only because she'd drawn it on with her lipstick. Her dress was black and, for the first time, her formidable chest was covered. Nonetheless it seemed as if the material was hard pressed to contain the mounds of flesh beneath it. She'd run her dark stocking and her nails were painted pearl with flesh colored praying hands tastefully airbrushed on each tip. Gerry would have appreciated the gesture. So did Kathleen.

''
Darn right, kiddo.'' Louise's voice was full of pebbles and Kathleen allowed her the little lie. ''We're fine. We got pictures of everybody through the window. We know who was here. There's someone out there who had it in for Gerry. You're not going to convince me otherwise.''

''
No, Louise, no,'' Kathleen assured her. ''Gerry fell in the tub. That's all.''