9 AM ACROSS TOWN, PALAZOLLO’S OFFICE
Palazollo is watching a videotape of the Van Susteren interview. As Kari Holmes’ face appears on the screen, he scowls. Outside his office, Ben Charnquist is sitting. His normal belligerent manner has been replaced by one of nervous uncertainty. He looks up as a man opens the door. “Mr. Palazollo will see you now.”
As
Charnquist enters, Palazollo pauses the tape before swiveling his chair to
face him. “So, what do you have to say for yourself?” he says coldly.
Ben wisely remains silent.
Palazollo smiles, but it does not reach his eyes. He sits back in his chair. “No explanation for your stupidity in hanging on to Gagomiros’s gun, linking his name with yours? And murdering Walsh or Smith or whatever his name is? Setting the FBI sniffing in my direction! What were you thinking?!” He slams his fist on the desk.
“You told me to handle the Kimble situation. Smith was a loose cannon. I didn’t know Kimble was going to show up.”
“Yes, he has a nasty habit of doing that.
But you were careless, Ben. Too careless! Its time for you to disappear.”
He notes Charnquist’s discomfort at his choice of words. “I have one more
job for you. If you do it right, I’ll see that you leave the country with
enough money to keep you in style. I need a man with your talents for a new
operation in
“
Palazollo
gives him an icy stare. “Not funny, Ben. Don’t even think about blackmailing
me. There are a lot of very painful ways to die. You of all people should
know that.” Palazollo notes the sudden fear in Ben’s eyes. “Good, we do understand
each other,” he says with a satisfied smile. He points to the TV, where Kari’s
face is frozen on the screen. “That b…is looking into Crystal Clear. I want
her…eliminated.”
Ben stares at the screen in recognition. “She’s on the task force. I know her from somewhere.”
“How?” He puts up his hands dismissively.
“You know what? I don’t want to know. It’s your problem. Yes, just one
more problem we have since you botched that kidnapping. It’s time we cleaned
that up.” Palazollo pauses in thought. “So…she’s on the task force. If we
could get her and Kimble together…kill two birds with one stone…I can leak
information to the FBI about a big shipment to the warehouse in
Ben is thoughtful. “Get her to the warehouse on Halloween. I’ll make sure Kimble is there.”
“How? Invite them both to a masquerade party?!” Palazollo sneers.
“Leave that to me.”
Palazollo looks thoughtful. “Renee is in
Ben smirks and shakes his head in the negative. Palazollo shrugs. “Well, that’s up to you. She’s your wife. Now get out of here. Joey will get you some traveling money.”
Dismissed, Charnquist walks out, closing the door behind him. Palazollo stares after him for several seconds, drumming his fingers on the desk. Then he reaches for the phone. As a voice answers, he says, “He bought it, here’s what I need you do…”
10 AM ACROSS TOWN, JIM BOWERS OFFICE
Eve and Kari are outside the entrance. “Remember,” Kari warns, “we cannot mention anything about the terrorist connection. Stick to Palazollo and the diamonds.” Eve nods and pushes open the door.
Eve approaches the secretary. “We’re here to see Mr. Bowers,” she says, both of them flash their badges.
“Please go right in. He’s expecting you.”
Jim
is seated at his desk, Becca in the chair to his right. Eve and Kari sit down.
Jim leans forward. “Now, what’s this all about?”
Kari begins, “Mr. Bowers, the FBI has uncovered evidence implicating Crystal Clear Water in diamond smuggling. Given their connection to Ross Industries, we would like to have Ms. Ross’ cooperation in investigating the connection with the company. I understand you’re working for your father again?” she asks Becca.
Jim and Becca exchange looks. Jim ponders his response before answering. “Why the request? You don’t need permission.”
“That’s correct. But we would prefer to handle this without arousing Mr. Palazollo’s suspicions.”
Becca leans forward. “Do you believe Ross Industries is directly involved?”
Eve replies, “We don’t know how deep this goes. That’s why we need to be discreet.”
“Agent Hilliard, I want to be up front with you. I was involved in the initial evaluation of Crystal Clear for possible acquisition by Ross Industries. My findings as to their business dealings led me to reject them unequivocally as a prospect. Unfortunately, I left the company shortly after that and my recommendation was overridden. I just discovered the connection since I went back to work for my father. Do you suspect his involvement?” she asks flatly.
Eve replies, “We can’t answer that. We were hoping you might be able to convince your father to cooperate.”
Bowers interjects. “Agent Hilliard, are you aware that Richard Kimble discovered a connection between Charnquist and diamond smuggling? Do you think there is a connection here with Helen Kimble’s murder?”
Kari interjects, “Yes.” They all look at her in surprise, especially Eve. “I’m sorry, Hilliard, but if we expect help we need to lay our cards on the table. I believe what happened to Helen Kimble was directly linked to the diamonds. Ms. Ross, you nixed the deal initially. I suspect Palazzolo wanted to eliminate you from the picture. Ben Charnquist misunderstood your importance. He just thought they needed a Ross daughter.”
Bowers looks pointedly at Kari. “I understand the evidence of your new witness is being undermined by the girl’s mother, who claims she is prone to confusing her make believe world with reality.”
Kari responds, “Mr. Bowers, I see you’re well-informed. Yes, the girl’s mother was quite upset that I took her into protective custody and nobody knows where she is but me and that is how it will stay until I deem it necessary for her to make her identification. I assure you though, as a psychologist, this girl is telling the truth. Her mother is scared and wants to pretend that it never happened. Well it did. Helen Kimble is dead and Richard Kimble got blamed for it and the truth will speak at the appropriate time.”
Bowers
shakes his head. “Don’t be naïve, Agent Holmes. The outcome of a trial has
nothing to do with the truth. It depends on what a jury will believe. At this
point, your witness is hardly creditable enough for me to win an appeal.”
Kari raises her eyebrows and says, “Mr. Bowers, with all due respect, I am far from naïve. Without sounding arrogant, I haven’t lost a case that I worked since 1994. Why do you think I put her in protective custody? If I thought her statement would clear Richard Kimble at this point in time I would have marched her into the DA’s office long before now. Of course we need more evidence. I am only saying that she corroborates Richard’s story but in light of her age, I agree we definitely need proof for why Charnquist was in the Kimble apartment to begin with.”
Everybody in the room is silent for a moment as though realizing that they are all on the same page. Bowers turns to Becca. “If we work together, our investigations could uncover something that would support Richard’s allegations about the one-armed man.”
Becca hestitates. “How does Captain Gerard
fit in this investigation?”
Kari replies, “Nowhere. This is strictly an FBI investigation.”
“Then I think I can help you!”