Secrets (26 page)

I didn't kill my wife. Bill looked grim, repeating the same words he'd said over and over again.

Do you think she was still in love with you? They were just fishing now.

I don't know ' we cared about each other a great deal ' a long time ago. His voice was soft and they were recording everything he said. She's been in no condition to care about anyone for a long time.

Do you know who her lovers were?

No.

Were you jealous of anyone in her life?

They were watching his reactions carefully. No. I don't even know who was in her life.

We've been told she was turning tricks.

Bill said nothing at all. How does that make you feel?

He looked the interrogator in the eye. Sad for her.

And mad? ' does it piss you off, Bill?

He controlled himself. Not anymore. It was all part of her sickness. They were getting nowhere with him, and eventually they sent him back to his cell.

And after that they went to see Mel. He was tight-lipped and displeased and said he knew nothing of Bill's personal life. He also told them that he was unable to tell them whether or not Bill would be continuing with the show. They were shooting around him that week, but they would have to stop shooting completely within the next few days, unless he was released. They reported it to Bill, when they told him they were extending their hold on him.

How does it look? he asked his attorney desperately that night.

Not good, I'm afraid. Nothing else has turned up. They can't find anything on her, and none of the neighbors saw anyone go into the house that night.

Jesus H. Christ, Ed, this is incredible. How can they do this to me? For lack of anything else, they're going to charge me with killing her? Just because they don't know who really did? He wondered too if it had hurt him that Gabby had lied for him.

That's possible. He was inured to the injustices of the criminal code. He dealt with it every day. Although he felt vaguely sorry for Bill. He suspected he probably hadn't killed the girl, but he was going to have a hell of a time proving it. You have a damn good shot at a trial. It was the only encouragement he could give. Because they would have to convict you beyond a reasonable doubt, and there's plenty of doubt in this.

Do you think it'll go that far? He looked shocked. And the man in his cell had threatened to kill him again the night before. He was beginning to wonder if he would survive the ordeal. Maybe he'd never even get to trial. Maybe they would kill him right here, in jail. It had happened before, to other unsuspecting souls.

It could go that far, Bill, the lawyer said. We'll know tomorrow sometime. And they did. The district attorney filed charges against him, and the only compromise they made for lack of concrete evidence or a definite motive on his part, was that they reduced the charges to felonious manslaughter, assuming that maybe an argument had broken out, and they had fought, and maybe he'd killed her without intending to, although they would have liked to charge him with murder one, but they were afraid it wouldn't stick. And the manslaughter charges were much more believable, and would be harder to fight.

He stood dumbstruck as they read the charges off to him and announced that he was being held on fifty thousand dollars bail. He called Harry as soon as he could, and Harry promised to get him out. It would take five thousand dollars cash, and he had to put up a bond for the rest. He was only grateful that he could. A preliminary hearing had been set for two weeks hence, and he was released at eleven o'clock that night. Bill cried as he walked outside, and Harry put his arms around him, unable to believe what had happened to him.

Bill was reminded of the first day he had gone to see Mel as he waited in the reception area, and it seemed an eternity while he was waiting. But there wasn't the same joyous anticipation this time. Instead, there was a leaden feeling in his stomach. Wechsler's office had told Bill's agent that he was not to report work to on Friday, he was to go and see Mel instead. At nine o'clock in the morning.

And it was nine fifteen when the secretary finally called him. Her face was blank, despite the fact that he had been on the news and in the papers every day that week. She acted as though she had never seen him before. And he was certain that Mel was going to can him on the spot. He had every reason to, and worse yet, he had grounds for suit. Bill had lied to him about his marital status when he signed the contract.

Hello, Bill. Mel's eyes were polite, but there was no warmth there this time. And Bill suspected that he was livid.

Hello, Mel. Bill sat down quietly across the desk from him. He looked neat and well shaven, although pale. It had been a grisly week and he hadn't slept in days. It seemed incredible how much had happened. And there had been photographers waiting outside his house that morning.

Mel looked into the younger man's eyes for a long time, and got to the point right from the beginning. I'd like to know why you lied to me, I mean about being married.

I feel very bad about that. I knew it at the time. I was scared, I guess. Sandy was in such bad shape. And our marriage had always been a secret from the first.

Why? Was she into drugs when you married her? He had been wondering if Bill was too, or had been then. A lot of questions had crossed his mind in the last three days, since Bill had been arrested.

No, she wasn't. But she was on Sunday Supper. Mel had read that in the papers the day before, and he thought he remembered her. A pretty young girl, who looked a little like Gabby. He wondered if that had anything to do with Bill's constant animosity to her. It might have been a transference of his anger at Sandy. Her agent felt it would blow her image if she was married. She was supposed to be fifteen years old on the show. And she looked it. I wasn't too crazy about the idea, but I went along with it. She wanted me to, and' He shrugged. I don't know ' then she got into drugs and got kicked off the show. One thing led to another and we kept the marriage a secret. And then she was in and out of trouble with drugs. She went in the hospital, but she kept going back to the drugs when she got out. It was awful. He felt like crying but he controlled himself. He didn't expect Mel to feel sorry for him.

What about you? Were you involved in drugs with her? He felt he had a right to know, and he was furious with Bill.

No, sir. He appeared deadly honest as he looked into Mel's eyes. I swear to you that I wasn't. I tried to get her to clean up but it was hopeless. The day before you called me last summer, she got busted for drugs, and prostitution, and she had spent the very last dime I had. I was desperate. And when you asked if I was married, I lied to you. I didn't want you to find out what kind of shape she was in, and we were just breaking up.

Did you get divorced?

He shook his head miserably. No. By then, I was afraid of the publicity for me if I did. I didn't want you to find out I'd been married, so I didn't. And I lost track of her. She just kind of disappeared while we were in New York, and I never saw her again, until a few weeks ago. I wanted to ask her for a divorce then, but she was in such bad shape I never brought it up. She hit me up for some money, and then she called me the other day ' I guess you know the rest. I came home and found the cops, and ' His eyes filled with tears and for a moment he couldn't continue.

Mel's voice was very quiet in the room. My lawyers have advised me to sue you, Bill. And nothing in his demeanor said that he wouldn't.

Bill looked at him with anguished eyes. I understand. He couldn't argue with the man. He was guilty of fraud. But not murder.

But I'm not going to. For now. Bill stared at him in disbelief. And Mel didn't tell him that it was Sabina who had turned him around, and had begged for mercy on Bill's behalf. I think you have enough trouble on your hands without that. He was mouthing Sabina's words to him. But you could hurt the show. Very badly. Very badly. If you're convicted of killing her, it's going to hurt our ratings. In fact, it could destroy us. Bill was agonized with guilt as he listened.

I didn't do it, Mel' . Honest to God '

His eyes filled with tears and they spilled over on his cheeks as he looked at the older man. I didn't kill her.

I hope not. Mel was sincere. He honestly liked him.

I offered to take a lie detector test for the police, and I'd be happy to take one for you. They had refused him, but Ed was going to have him take one anyway, to show to the district attorney, whether it was admissible or not. He had nothing to hide from them.

That's up to your attorneys, Bill. Where do you stand legally? Mel looked tired. This had been a strain on him too. It had been hard on all of them. But hardest on Bill, who looked ravaged.

I go to a preliminary hearing in two weeks, and we're still hoping they'll drop the charges then.

And if they don't? He was realistic, and he had a show to produce. A big one.

I go to trial ninety days after that.

When's that? Mel frowned as he picked up his glasses and read the calendar on his desk. Sometime in June?

I think so.

Mel nodded. He was thinking of the show. Of all of them. He had been thinking about it all night, all week, and all that morning. I think what we'll do is continue shooting. You can have time off for the hearing, of course. And the hiatus begins on June first. He paused, gnawing on the end of his glasses. We're going to shoot two final scenes, one according to the schedule we have now. And another one in which you get killed. If we need to, we can run that next year, and explain your disappearance. It was still a poor second choice for him. A wife killer was hardly going to become America's hero. If you're acquitted, we may ask you back after the hiatus, as planned, at the end of August. If you're not, we'll have the final show we need. But I want some time to think this out. If you're acquitted, you and I are going to have to talk. About honesty, your goals. You can't just expect to drop a bomb like this on us and have us welcome you home with open arms. He still wanted to fire him, but Sabina said it would be bad for the show, and she felt sorry for him. He was just a kid in her eyes and this was such a terrible thing for him.

I understand that. He did, but he was griefstricken anyway, and he was sure they wouldn't have him back after the hiatus. Why should they?

This has been hard on everyone. And you most of all. Who is your attorney?

Ed Fried. He's a friend of my agent.

I want you to speak to Harrison and Goode.

Tomorrow. And we expect you back on the set on Monday.

I ' uh ' I'll see the attorneys in the afternoon, if they're willing to meet me on a Saturday. Mel raised an eyebrow, and Bill fought back tears again. Sandy's funeral is in the morning.

Mel looked away. The pain in the man's eyes was almost more than he could bear. Maybe Sabina was right ' the poor kid' I'm sorry, Bill.

Bill nodded and wiped his eyes. His whole life had come apart in a matter of days. It was truly a nightmare.

I also want to make clear to you that if we don't ask you back after the hiatus, there will be no severance. We want you to sign a release to that effect now.

Yes, sir. He would have crawled, done anything, to mollify Mel now. He would have given his right arm and left foot if he wanted them. But he didn't.

But I also want you to speak to our attorneys to see if they can help you. Criminal law isn't their thing, but I'm sure they can refer you to the right people. Mel cleared his throat and put on his reading glasses again. They were little half-moons that made him look older than he was, and somehow like the principal in a boys' school. They seemed strangely appropriate for this meeting, and Mel always frowned when he wore them. We'll cover your attorney's fees. Sabina had pressed him to do that too.

And Bill looked stunned. I couldn't ' Mel '

We want to. For two reasons. For the good of the show, it's important that you get acquitted, but also his voice softened a little as he looked at the frightened man sitting across from him because we give a damn about you. Everyone is sick that this happened.

This time the tears spilled over and he stood up to shake Mel's hand. I don't know how to thank you.

Be back on the set on Monday, and get yourself acquitted at the trial.

Yes, sir. He waited, but the meeting was over. He shook Mel's hand again, and closed the door softly as he left the office. And as he walked downstairs, he felt as though one load had been lifted from his shoulders and another one had been added. He hadn't been canned effective immediately, but he realized that it was likely he would be during the hiatus. That final scene they were planning for him, where he would be killed, was a powerful thing for them to have, and he knew it was likely they would use it. But he was also deeply touched that Mel was supplying him with attorneys. He knew they would be the best, and he prayed that they could help him.

He got in his car outside Mel's office, and drove to the set. He felt awkward when he got out, and a little afraid to see them again. But he had to eventually, and he knew he had to talk to Gabby. He hadn't seen her since the night she had come to the jail with Zack and Jane, and he had to ask her why she had lied for him. If nothing else, he wanted to thank her for the effort she had made, however misguidedly.