Page 130 of Maddy's Justice

“Detective?” they heard a voice say. All three turned to the source.

“Our guys found nothing at the woman’s house,” one of the officers said. “They checked with the neighbors and found out she’s a lawyer. We did a search and came up with the name of the law firm she works for.”

“Can I help you?” the receptionist asked.

“I hope so,” Clarice said. She held up her shield and said, “We’re detectives Walker and Childs with the Hennepin County Sheriff. We’re looking for the employer of a Melanie Stewart. We have reason to believe she is a lawyer here.”

The worried look on the receptionist’s face was enough to tell the two detectives they had found the right place.

“Yes, uh, ah, yes, Melanie works here. Can I ask what this is about?”

“Is she in?” Clarice asked.

“I’m not sure. Let me check.”

“Okay, thanks, I’ll tell them,” she said into the phone. She had called Melanie’s assistant and told her two detectives were here to see Melanie. The entire firm would know about it within an hour.

“No, she isn’t in yet.”

“Who’s in charge? Who’s the managing partner?” Childs asked much less politely than Clarice.

“Um, that would be Gavin Blake.”

“Call him. It’s urgent,” Childs told her.

Gavin sent his assistant to show the detectives to his office. Before they got there, they were met in the hall by Brandon Stafford and Cliff Spenser.

“We’ll take it,” Stafford told Blake’s assistant.

“Yes, sir,” he said then scurried off to tell Blake.

They introduced themselves then escorted the detectives to Stafford’s office.

“Come in, please,” Stafford said holding the door. “Gavin called me as soon as he was told you were here. Please, have a seat.”

“What about Melanie,” Cliff asked showing genuine concern.

“Well, we’re not quite sure,” Clarice began.

It had been decided between the two detectives to have Clarice tell them why they were here. This allowed Childs, the more experienced of the two, to study the lawyers for their reaction.

It only took five or six minutes to tell them what was found. Except, Clarice left out the part about bullet holes although she did tell them they suspected foul play.

“You believe someone tried to deliberately run her off the road? Force her car over a hill and crash in some trees?” Cliff asked.

“Looks like it. There are some black paint scrapings on her white Lexus. We may be able to identify the type of car. Do you know anyone who might have a reason to harm her? This looks like an attempted homicide,” Clarice said.

The two lawyers looked at each other, shook their heads, frowned and both said no to the question.

“Any cases she had where anyone is displeased, unhappy enough to do something like that?”

“Melanie doesn’t do much litigation anymore,” Cliff said. “She’s the assistant managing partner. Her supervisor is Gavin Blake, but for all practical purposes, she manages the place.”

The three of them continued to talk it over while Childs silently watched. After another ten minutes, the detectives were out of questions.

Cliff walked them back to Gavin Blake’s office and stayed while they went through the same routine with him. Of course, Blake knew even less than Stafford and Spenser.

“So, what do you think?” Childs asked his partner.

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