one of their lawyers worked me over pretty good on a drug case several years ago when I was working vice. We busted a congressman’s son for dealing heroin, and his slick lawyer, a McAllister & Finch lawyer, got him off. They are what you would call an old-money law firm. My guess is that the senior partners charge five hundred bucks an hour, and their clients can afford to pay it.”
“I take it that they aren’t on your Christmas card list.” Brantley chuckled. He downed the last of his soda and screwed the top back onto the empty bottle.
“No lawyers are, but especially these,” Dodson replied as he finished off the last of his lunch. “You about finished?” he asked Brantley.
“Yeah.” Brantley tossed his empty bottle into a nearby trash can. “You were right about that Polish sausage,” he added as they passed the kiosk again on the way to the front door of the building. He took a deep breath and patted his stomach. “It is the best in town.”
As they entered the building, Dodson noticed a wreath that hung on the tinted front door. That’s probably the only recognition they’ll give her , he thought as he held the door open so Brantley could enter before him.
“I can see why they charge five hundred an hour,” Brantley said as he entered the building and moved toward the receptionist’s counter.
Dodson followed.
“Everything is gold plated,” Brantley added.
Dodson detected the sarcasm and smiled.
After they announced the purpose of their visit to the first-floor receptionist, Brantley and Dodson were ushered into the penthouse office suite of the senior partner, Reese Finch. He was a diminutive man, advanced in years. His half-lens spectacles, wispy white hair, red bow tie, and suspenders gave him a scholarly appearance. Reese’s office was expansive, and it had the best view in the building. He shook hands with each detective and invited them to sit down.
“That’s okay. We’ll stand,” Dodson said.
“Nothing like this has ever happened to an employee of our office,” Reese said miserably. “My own grandfather was one of the founding partners of this firm. He’s probably rolling over in his grave at the attention we’re receiving as a result of this.”
Dodson was immediately disgusted. The guy was obviously more concerned with the impact Jessica’s death might have on his precious law firm than he was with apprehending the culprit.
“Is there someone in the office who can give us a list of clients who might have had contact with Ms. Caldwell in the last several days?” Brantley inquired.
“That is a very delicate situation, Officers,” Reese explained as he sat down behind a desk that appeared to be too large for a man of his size. “We represent a clientele that expects us to maintain complete confidence, even to the point of not disclosing their names.”
“We appreciate the confidential nature of your services, Mr. Finch.” Dodson sneered, aggravated by the old man’s lack of cooperation. He crossed his arms and glared at Reese. “But we’ve got an investigation to run. If you don’t help us, you know we will be back in an hour with a search warrant, and we might stay here for days looking for information. Why don’t you make it easy on all of us and let us speak with someone who can help?”
Reese stared at the detectives. Neither flinched. He tapped several times on the top of his desk with the end of an ink pen, then tipped back in his chair.
“That would probably be her secretary,” Reese said, relenting after a couple of minutes. “And at this point I’m only willing to let you talk to her and no one else.” His voice was methodical and stern. “If you want any more information, you’ll have to get that search warrant. I’ll have our office manager locate Jessica’s secretary for you. I’m not sure who she is. We have over one hundred lawyers in our office, so it’s difficult to get to know all of them, much less their staff.”
Reese’s
“I take it that they aren’t on your Christmas card list.” Brantley chuckled. He downed the last of his soda and screwed the top back onto the empty bottle.
“No lawyers are, but especially these,” Dodson replied as he finished off the last of his lunch. “You about finished?” he asked Brantley.
“Yeah.” Brantley tossed his empty bottle into a nearby trash can. “You were right about that Polish sausage,” he added as they passed the kiosk again on the way to the front door of the building. He took a deep breath and patted his stomach. “It is the best in town.”
As they entered the building, Dodson noticed a wreath that hung on the tinted front door. That’s probably the only recognition they’ll give her , he thought as he held the door open so Brantley could enter before him.
“I can see why they charge five hundred an hour,” Brantley said as he entered the building and moved toward the receptionist’s counter.
Dodson followed.
“Everything is gold plated,” Brantley added.
Dodson detected the sarcasm and smiled.
After they announced the purpose of their visit to the first-floor receptionist, Brantley and Dodson were ushered into the penthouse office suite of the senior partner, Reese Finch. He was a diminutive man, advanced in years. His half-lens spectacles, wispy white hair, red bow tie, and suspenders gave him a scholarly appearance. Reese’s office was expansive, and it had the best view in the building. He shook hands with each detective and invited them to sit down.
“That’s okay. We’ll stand,” Dodson said.
“Nothing like this has ever happened to an employee of our office,” Reese said miserably. “My own grandfather was one of the founding partners of this firm. He’s probably rolling over in his grave at the attention we’re receiving as a result of this.”
Dodson was immediately disgusted. The guy was obviously more concerned with the impact Jessica’s death might have on his precious law firm than he was with apprehending the culprit.
“Is there someone in the office who can give us a list of clients who might have had contact with Ms. Caldwell in the last several days?” Brantley inquired.
“That is a very delicate situation, Officers,” Reese explained as he sat down behind a desk that appeared to be too large for a man of his size. “We represent a clientele that expects us to maintain complete confidence, even to the point of not disclosing their names.”
“We appreciate the confidential nature of your services, Mr. Finch.” Dodson sneered, aggravated by the old man’s lack of cooperation. He crossed his arms and glared at Reese. “But we’ve got an investigation to run. If you don’t help us, you know we will be back in an hour with a search warrant, and we might stay here for days looking for information. Why don’t you make it easy on all of us and let us speak with someone who can help?”
Reese stared at the detectives. Neither flinched. He tapped several times on the top of his desk with the end of an ink pen, then tipped back in his chair.
“That would probably be her secretary,” Reese said, relenting after a couple of minutes. “And at this point I’m only willing to let you talk to her and no one else.” His voice was methodical and stern. “If you want any more information, you’ll have to get that search warrant. I’ll have our office manager locate Jessica’s secretary for you. I’m not sure who she is. We have over one hundred lawyers in our office, so it’s difficult to get to know all of them, much less their staff.”
Reese’s
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