Fatal February (7 page)

“Please, tell me what you found out.”

Marian looked around as if an eavesdropper were about to come out of the woodwork. She sighed and reached in her purse. I thought she was about to hand me some evidence, but she retrieved a cigarette and a gold lighter. I have a big “please do not smoke” sign on my desk, but I was afraid she would spook and end our tell-all session.

“Well, I was in New York in the fall. I went with the Miami City Ballet. The whole board went for their performance at Lincoln Center; moral support, you know. Well, thank goodness, I was shopping by myself when it happened,” Marian said.

“Go ahead,” I said.

“I was coming out of Barney’s when I saw them.”

“Who?” My patience was wearing thin.

“Gary and that woman. They were holding hands. Just strolling along Madison Avenue, like no one would see them.”

“Who was the woman?”

“I later found out who she was. Maddie Rodriguez. She looked young enough to be his daughter. She was carrying a big Saks shopping bag, and looking at Gary
and giggling. I just stood there and stared. They didn’t even notice me. Too absorbed in each other. So I decided to follow them. They turned up Central Park South and went into the Park Lane Hotel.”

“Did you tell anyone else about this? Like Lillian?”

“I’d never tell Lillian, but I rushed back to my hotel and called Jack. I was so upset. I don’t know how I got through the rest of that trip.”

“What did Jack say? Did he tell Lillian?”

“As far as I know, no one told Lillian. At least I don’t think so, because she didn’t seem to have any problems. She was planning a trip to Scotland for golf for the two of them and they went two weeks later. Jack said he was going to take care of everything. He was going to confront Gary.”

“Did he do that?”

“When they got back from Scotland, they went up to Dartmouth for parents weekend, and then it was Thanksgiving and Christmas and their kids were home, and our kids and grandkids were here, and then there was a strike in France and the French shipments didn’t get in, so everyone was rushing around trying to fill orders at the business. But right after New Year’s, Jack came home one night and said he found out the redheaded bitch was actually a client from one of the hotels, and that he had had a sit-down with Gary.”

“Did Gary admit anything?”

“Well, sort of. He told Jack he was sorry. Jack told him to end this affair now or he would have to tell
Lillian. He also told Gary he should think about stepping down as president of the company, that Dad Brandeis would be turning over in his grave.”

“Marian, that sounds like blackmail. Give up the company or Jack would tell Lillian. Did Gary stop seeing Maddie?”

“Gary told Jack he would break it off. But I don’t think he did. We were at their house a few weeks ago. Our cousins were in town. Gary got a phone call. He left the table. When he came back, he looked upset. He looked guilty, if you ask me.”

“I need to ask you a tough question,” I said. “Do you think Lillian knew, and if she did, would she have gone a bit crazy and tried to hurt Gary?”

“I can’t picture her hurting anyone. She couldn’t even stand it when their dog got hurt. I had to help her get him to the vet.”

“I’m glad you told me, Marian. I know it wasn’t easy for you to come here. Now I know what I need to investigate. You did the right thing.”

“Please, don’t tell Jack that I told you. He’s such a private person and so protective of his family.”

“I understand. I’ll keep this meeting just between us.”

I walked her to the front of the building and waved as she drove off. So Jack had blackmailed Gary. I needed to know a lot more about Jack.

My morning schedule was already shot when Catherine buzzed me. “There’s a man here who says he’s Carlos’s cousin.”

“What’s his name, and what does he want?”

“He says his name is Franco, and he’s here to do something with your car. He’s in the parking lot.”

I called Carlos on his cell phones. Neither answered, so I tried the satellite phone in his car. He answered that one on the second ring.

“Who is your cousin Franco, and what does he want with my car?” I asked.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. I sent Franco over to put a new tire on your SUV. He takes care of all the cars in the family.”

“You didn’t have to do that. Is he really your cousin?”

“Well, not exactly. He’s my brother’s wife’s cousin. I told him to go over your car while he’s there. Make sure that no one has done anything else to it besides
the tire. And don’t try to pay him. It’ll hurt his feelings. Just give him the keys, and he’ll do his thing.”

I went out to the parking lot where a skinny kid was leaning against a truck that said Franco’s Auto Service. I guessed this must be Franco.

“Hi, Franco, I’m Mary. Here are my keys. It’s the red Explorer by the door. Thanks for coming over.”

“Are you kidding? It’s my pleasure. I’d do anything for Carlos. He said you were a great looking chick. He wasn’t exaggerating. Say, while I’m here, do you handle divorces?”

“Why, do you want one?”

“I’m thinking about it. My old lady’s getting on my nerves. I’ll let you know.”

He strode over to my car, opened the hood, and began taking things apart. I went back inside and prayed the car would start later.

Back in my office again, I reread the notes I had made during Marian’s visit. I hadn’t even finished the first page when Catherine approached my desk.

“There’s a lady in the waiting room who says she’s your mother. She looks just like you, only older, so I guess she really is your mother.”

I couldn’t believe it. I had put off telling Mother that I was in a new office, in a new relationship, and without Frank’s two-karat engagement ring. I ran a comb through my hair, and raced into the waiting room. It was Mother all right and she looked furious.

“Come on back and see my new space,” I said as I hugged her.

She didn’t return the hug and followed me into the office. I closed the door. Mother never raises her voice. She knows how to snarl without screaming.

“When were you going to tell me that you left Frank’s firm? I had to find out from the receptionist when I called there and they said they didn’t know how to reach you. I called Jonathan. It seems both your brothers knew all about your complete change of work and boyfriends, but you couldn’t bother telling me.”

The phone rang and Catherine suppressed a laugh. “Now your father is on the phone. He doesn’t sound too happy.”

My father does know how to yell, and he was proving that point as Catherine put him through.

“Mary, this is your father. Is your mother there? How could you upset her like that? She drove out of here like a maniac. Did she get there?”

“Yes, Dad, she’s here. Why didn’t you drive her, if you were so worried?”

“You know I can’t miss the men’s morning golf at the club.”

My parents sold the family house on Miami Beach when Dad sold the Katz Kosher Foods business. They shocked the whole family by moving to a gated development in Boynton Beach, two counties away. Dad’s new occupation since retirement is golf. My brothers
and I know if there is a family emergency, it must take place in the evenings when the golf course is closed.

“Mary, what are you trying to do? Break your mother’s heart? You couldn’t tell her that you broke up with Frank?”

I was holding the phone away from my ear to protect my eardrum. Mother grabbed the receiver.

“Abe, stop screaming. I’m okay. I’ll handle this.” She hung up the phone.

“Listen, Mother, I’m very sorry,” I said. “Everything happened so fast. Frank just wasn’t the person for me. I met Carlos and I realized Frank was a mistake. Carlos helped me get this great office, and then I had to get all my clients moved to my new practice, and I’ve got that big murder case that you saw in the paper, and then Frank sued me, but that case has been dismissed — well, you can see I haven’t had a minute.”

“Carlos? Carlos who?”

“He’s my new boyfriend. I’m sorry you’re disappointed about Franklin.”

“You’re wrong. I’m not disappointed about Franklin. I never liked him. He’s so stuffy. When can we meet Carlos?”

“Soon, I guess.” I was stupefied. “You didn’t like Frank, and you never said anything?”

“All I want for you is to see you settled down with a nice home and children. Your clock is ticking. Before you know it, your reproductive years will just be a memory.

“Now let me buy you a nice lunch and you can tell me all about Carlos. And why don’t you do something about your hair?”

The morning was gone. I hadn’t caught up on any work. I grabbed my purse and followed Mother out the door like a good little girl.

The next day was Lillian’s official arraignment. I had prepared several motions, as well. I called the condo, and was pleasantly surprised to hear Lillian answer. I reminded her that we needed to be in court promptly at nine o’clock. Her community control officer had also phoned to remind her.

“I’m doing better, Mary. The doctor has me on some tranquilizers. It’ll be good to get out of these four walls even though it’s a trip to court. The officer said she’d meet us there.”

“Shall I pick you up?”

“No, Sherry and Brett will be coming with me.”

“I have to prepare you. The media will be covering this. There will be reporters and TV cameras outside. The judge may keep them out of the courtroom, but you’ll still have to pass through them at the entrance. It will be easier if I pick you up. I can drive you into the underground garage and you can take an elevator up from there and avoid the reporters.”

“Okay, Mary, we’ll be waiting in front of our building whenever you say.”

The morning was one of the reasons snowbirds flock to Miami in winter. The sun rose early and by the time I picked up the Yarmouth clan, there was a rosy glow over Miami Beach. The sky and the water meshed into a turquoise blanket. Even the causeway traffic seemed subdued.

The contrast between Miami Beach and the Civic Center was never more evident. Cars crawled past the criminal courthouse searching out parking. Two large vans from the outlying jails were trying to plow through the traffic, their windows blacked out and barred as if they contained zoo animals. Nervous families dashed across the street in front of the courthouse, ignoring the cars and vans, concentrating on arriving in the correct courtroom to support their defendant relatives.

“I’m glad you picked us up,” Sherry said. “I didn’t know this would be such a scene.”

Lillian and Brett had remained quiet for the entire ride. Lillian was dressed in a dark suit that made her look paler than ususal. Dark circles rimmed her eyes. No amount of makeup could hide them. I kept my fingers crossed that she could get through the hearing without falling apart like a rootless tree in a windstorm.

We pulled into the garage under the courthouse. It was really the first floor of the building. Those entering
through the front doors had to march up thirty steps. The guard in the booth approached my window.

“José, it’s me, Mary. How’ve you been? Listen, I’ve got Lillian Yarmouth here, you know the big case in courtroom 6-1 today. I need to keep the media circus from trapping her.”

“
Oye,
Mary. You know I’d like to help you, but I’m not supposed to let anyone in here who doesn’t have a parking sticker. I could get in trouble, maybe lose my job.”

“José, you could never lose your job. You’ve been here through three different state attorneys. The place can’t run without you. I’ll square everything with the court. You know I’d never hang you out to dry.”

I extended my hand through the window and did the ten-dollar handshake. José pocketed the bill, raised the gate and pointed to a parking place near the freight elevator.

We boarded the creaky freight elevator. I pushed six and kept my finger on the number, hoping to bypass the other floors. We stopped anyway on the first floor, the doors opened, and the noise level exploded over us. I pushed “door close.” We made it to the sixth floor. Most of the crowd of curiosity seekers and media vultures were already in the courtroom holding down prime-time seating.

Lillian’s case had been moved to the ceremonial courtroom to accommodate the crowd. Metal detectors blocked the entrance.

“I thought all the security was at the front doors.” Brett finally had something to say. “That’s where they were when we came for the bond hearing.”

“They’re still there. These are a second set that they use whenever there’s a high-profile case,” I said. I was surprised that this case warranted the extra security, usually reserved for high-level drug dealers or racially inflaming cases.

Lillian and I took our seats at the defense table. Sherry and Brett were seated in the front row right behind us, after I asked “Moe and Curly” to move. Moe and Curly are two of the courthouse regulars. No one is sure of their real names. They attend trials almost every day, using the courts as their regular entertainment. Both appear to be in their eighties. Moe walks with a cane, and Curly is totally bald. They have their favorite lawyers to cheer on. I have been on their list ever since I won a case in which my clients, a retired couple, were accused of running a boiler-room operation selling water purifiers. Moe and Curly admire entrepreneurial skills in fellow retirees.

Karl Morris was seated at the prosecutors’ table flanked by two young lawyers. All three got up and started toward our table. I stood up and extended my hand as they approached.

“Good, morning, Mary. This is Charlene Montavo and Charlie Goldberg. They’ll be assisting me in this case. Lois McIver will be here from the appellate staff at a later time,” Karl said.

I shook hands with each of them. It reminded me of the coin toss before a football game. The big difference was that their team was a lot larger than ours. The bailiff interrupted our ritual.

“All rise. Court is now in session in and for Miami-Dade County. Judge Harvey Arnold presiding. Turn off all pagers and cell phones or they
will
be confiscated. Be seated.”