Page 77 of Feared

“We’ve been better,” Mary answered, since Judy had been subdued in the cab, nervous that she had given the samples and obsessing over her fingerpads, which now bore telltale black ink from the fingerprinting process.

“I’m officially a person of interest,” Judy answered quietly.

“But I told Detective Krakoff about Shanahan,” Mary interjected quickly, trying to buck up Judy’s sagging spirits. “Meanwhile, what’s going on here? Is something the matter?”

“Yes, Machiavelli’s upping the ante.” Bennie frowned. “Roger got a letter from our case investigator at the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. They want to interview the three of us as soon as possible.”

“So soon?” Mary didn’t get it. “We didn’t even answer the Complaint yet.”

“Machiavelli’s been lobbying them. He’s accused them of dragging their feet in the investigation. He just sent them a letter to that effect, copying Roger.”

“Are you kidding?” Mary asked, astounded. “It’s been, like, two days! This is ridiculous!”

“I know, and of course he’s pushing the fact that John has been murdered. He even suggested to the Human Relations Commission that they coordinate their investigation with the police, given that ‘we may be suspects’ in his murder.” Bennie made air quotes. “He claims that John’s statement in the Complaint could be proof that we had a motive to kill John, so he wouldn’t testify against us.”

“Geez, he stops at nothing!” Mary gritted her teeth. “He has no decency whatsoever!”

“They want to interview us separately and they want the first interview on Wednesday. DiNunzio, why don’t you take it? I’m on trial, and Judy needs some time. That’s only one day after John’s memorial service.”

“I’ll go, I want to. I’ll give them an earful!”

Roger put up his hand like a traffic cop. “There’s no reason to get bent out of shape.”

“I’ve been bent out of shape for seven months,” Mary shot back. “And you don’t know Machiavelli like I do. This is just the kind of stuff he does. He presses forward on all fronts. He never lets up. He’s seriously demented. He’s got no family, no friends. He never married or had kids. His job, his firm, hisego,is all he’s about and he hates to lose.”

“I understand,” Roger said, calmly. “I know how to deal with him.”

“Oh really?” Mary tried to check her tone, but she felt angry. “Did Bennie tell you that we almost got fired this morning because our denial wasn’t strong enough in the press release?”

Roger blinked, his mouth a grim line. “Yes, and we’vediscussed that. Allow me to remind you that we agreed that I will conduct this litigation as I see fit.”

“Yes, we did, but I know more about Machiavelli than anybody here and you don’t seem to be listening to me.”

“I am, but I’m staying the course. I have reminded Bennie of her agreement to let me do so. I would ask you to do the same.” Roger hesitated. “Mary, I understand your emotion, but it’s misdirected. You’re not angry at me, you’re angry at Machiavelli.”

“I’m angry at you both,” Mary said, though she wondered if Roger were right. “We’re getting whipsawed, don’t you see that? Machiavelli will use John’s murder against us in the reverse-discrimination case, and I bet if he has his way, the police will use the reverse-discrimination case in the murder case, maybe even against Judy.”

Roger shook his head. “You’re getting carried away. The police think Judy’s motive is a lover’s quarrel.”

“Two motives are better than one, and they were fighting about the reverse-discrimination complaint.” Mary glanced over at Judy, who looked upset, so she let it go. “Look, Machiavelli will go lower than you can ever think. You guys have been working on the reverse-discrimination complaint, haven’t you? Have you seen any connection between the three plaintiffs and Machiavelli?”

“None,” Roger answered, patiently.

“We tried,” Bennie chimed in, her expression resigned. “Machiavelli is their lawyer, but as far as we can tell, that’s the only connection. The three plaintiffs never worked for him or never met him.”

Mary wasn’t buying it. “Iknowhe’s behind it. Iknowhe manufactured that lawsuit.”

Bennie waved her off. “Let it go, DiNunzio. We don’t need it anyway. We have our hands full.”

Roger nodded. “More than full.”

Mary couldn’t let it go. “I want to see those resumes, and any of the documents on the reverse-discrimination case. Will you email them to me? I just can’t believe there’s no connection. Machiavelli will stop at nothing,nothing. Let me give you another example.” Mary slipped her hand in her pocket and showed them her phone, with its photo of the reporter. “Do you recognize this woman with the spiky hair? She was at our press conference here. Just now, she was also outside of the Roundhouse, asking us questions. She said she was a freelancer, does anybody remember?”

Bennie leaned over, squinting at the phone. “I do.”

Anne nodded. “She’s the one. That’s definitely her.”

Mary felt validated, which only made her angrier. “That’s what I thought, and you know what else? I bet she’s not an independent freelancer. I bet that Machiavelli hired her.”

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