Fugitive: A Novel Page 21

  Amanda opened the front door and started to punch in her alarm code. The alarm wasn’t on. She paused, her fingers over the keypad. Amanda hadn’t slept well because of the events at the courthouse. She decided that she’d probably been so tired that she’d forgotten to set the alarm when she left for work. She flipped on the lights, left the sushi on the kitchen counter, and headed toward her bedroom to change. Halfway through her living room, she froze. A slender black man was watching her from her couch.

  “Not to worry, Miss Jaffe,” Nathan Tuazama said in his lilting African English. “I have no intention of hurting you.”

  Amanda took a closer look at her visitor. His suit was expensive and his shoes were shined. She thought his tie might be silk. This was definitely not the attire of a cat burglar.

  “I think you should explain why you broke into my apartment before I call the police,” Amanda said, keeping her voice calm while she scanned the area around her for potential weapons.

  The intruder’s lips curved upward but there was something unnatural about his smile. Amanda was reminded of the rictus she’d seen on the faces of corpses in autopsy photos.

  “I assure you that Charlie won’t want the police to learn of our conversation.”

  Amanda pulled out her cell phone. “I just punched in a nine and a one. If I don’t get a good explanation for this break-in, I’m finishing the call.”

  “Please, Miss Jaffe, sit down. I know it must be unsettling to find someone in your home but I won’t be here long and you are perfectly safe. It’s your client who should be worried.”

  “If you want to talk to me about my client, I have an office and business hours.”

  “Long hours, to judge from the time I’ve spent waiting for you. I’m pleased to see that Charlie has such a dedicated advocate. But let’s get to business. It’s late and you must be tired.

  “I am Nathan Tuazama, the director of President Jean-Claude Baptiste’s National Education Bureau.” Amanda felt her stomach roll. “You have heard of President Baptiste?”

  Amanda nodded. “Charlie’s also mentioned you.”

  “I imagine he has.”

  “What do you want with me?”

  “President Baptiste would appreciate some assistance with a problem.”

  “And that is?”

  “Charlie took something that did not belong to him when he left Batanga, something that belongs to President Baptiste. If Charlie was still in Batanga I would be having this conversation with him in the basement of the executive mansion, and the problem would be solved quickly.”

  Charlie had told Amanda what happened in the basement of the mansion, and it took every ounce of Amanda’s courtroom training to maintain her composure.

  “Unfortunately, I am in America, so I am here to ask you, on behalf of my president, to act as our intermediary and convince Charlie to return what he has taken.”

  The box! Tuazama had to be referring to the contents of Charlie’s box.

  “Assuming I can get this property to you, what happens to Charlie?”

  “Once I have the property, President Baptiste will have no further interest in your client,” Tuazama lied. “Charlie is an insignificant and easily forgettable individual, but he will become significant to me should he try to retain the president’s property. Tell him that. Tell Charlie that he will become someone of great interest to me if I do not get what I want. And tell him I am not a patient man when it comes to my president’s interests.”

  “What is it you think Mr. Marsh has?”

  Tuazama stood. “That need not concern you. In fact, the less you know, the better off you are. Believe me, you do not want to involve yourself in this business other than as a messenger.”

  “How will I contact you to tell you what Mr. Marsh wants to do?”

  “Don’t trouble yourself about anything but communicating President Baptiste’s wishes to your client. I know the number of your cell phone. Rest assured, I’ll be in touch soon. It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”

  Amanda set her alarm the moment her door closed behind Tuazama. Then she sat down until her nerves settled. Amanda had no idea what Charlie was into but she was convinced that Tuazama had been responsible for the chaos in Charlie’s hotel room. Amanda wondered if Tuazama was the sniper and if he’d missed on purpose to frighten Charlie. He’d certainly frightened her.

  HALF AN HOUR later, Amanda was seated on the sofa in the sitting room in Charlie’s suite.

  “Do you remember telling me about Nathan Tuazama, the head of Baptiste’s secret police?”

  Charlie’s eyes shifted nervously and a sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.

  “I just got a chance to meet him, Charlie. He broke into my apartment.”

  “He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Charlie asked with genuine concern.

  “No, but he made it pretty clear that he’s going to hurt you unless you return what you stole from President Baptiste.”

  “I didn’t steal anything.”

  “Then what is Tuazama doing here?”

  Charlie looked ill. “He’s after the contents of the box I gave you.”

  “And that is?”

  “Some diamonds I smuggled out of Batanga,” Charlie answered, his voice barely above a whisper.

  “How many diamonds?”

  “I don’t know exactly.”

  “Guess.”

  Charlie looked down, unable to meet her eye. “A lot. I haven’t had a chance to show them to anyone who can tell me what they’re worth.”

  “Do the diamonds in the box belong to President Baptiste?”

  “No, not really.”

  “Then why did Nathan Tuazama say they did?”

  “Uh, it’s a law thing.”

  “Humor me, Charlie. Pretend I’m a lawyer who might be intelligent enough to understand what you have to say.”

  Charlie licked his lips. “Well, in the U.S., women have a lot of freedom. I mean, look at you. You can vote and go to law school. Stuff like that. In Batanga they have all these tribal laws. Husbands sort of own their wives and once they’re married anything the wife owns becomes the husband’s property.”

  “They were Bernadette’s diamonds?”

  “He treated her like shit, Amanda. He can’t get it up, so he’d take it out on her. When we were in bed, she would cry. I saw the marks.”

  “And you took advantage of her and got her to give you these diamonds?” Amanda said, not even trying to disguise her disgust.

  “It wasn’t that way,” Charlie protested. “They belonged to Bernadette and she gave them to someone who gave them to me.”

  “Who?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “Why can’t you tell me?”

  “I can’t tell you that either. Believe me, I would if I could, but I swore I wouldn’t talk about it.”

  “You don’t think I’ve earned the right to the information after Tuazama’s visit?”

  “Please, Amanda, don’t ask me anymore about the diamonds.”

  “Am I in danger, Charlie?”

  “If Tuazama thought you knew anything you wouldn’t be here. As long as he doesn’t know I gave you the diamonds, you’re safe.”

  “Would Tuazama have the nerve to kill you in the States?” Amanda asked.

  “Oh, yeah. This guy is pure evil. I’m not completely convinced he’s human.”

  “Do you think he was the sniper?”

  “He could have been. I wouldn’t put it past him to miss on purpose to put the fear of God in me. Did you know he was in the courtroom?”

  “At the bail hearing?”

  Charlie nodded.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t want you involved.”

  “Well, I am. You involved me when you gave me the diamonds.”

  Amanda thought for a moment. Then she looked directly at her client.

  “Let me give him the diamonds, Charlie, if it will make him go away. They won’t be worth anything to you
if you’re dead.”

  “What if I don’t? What can we do? Can’t you report him for breaking into your apartment?”

  “The only crime Tuazama has committed is trespass. He didn’t break in to commit a crime. He just asked me to ask you to give back the diamonds. Trespassing is a misdemeanor. He’d be out on bail immediately and a lot madder than he is now. Don’t screw around with this guy, Charlie. Baptiste may have a legal claim to the gems. Give him the diamonds.”

  Charlie worried his lip. He looked at the floor. Then he shook his head.

  “I can’t do it.”

  “Why, for God’s sake? Are they worth your life?”

  “If I give back the diamonds it’s like Bernadette died for nothing. Baptiste thinks he’s invincible, that he can hurt people on a whim without any consequences.”

  Charlie stopped to take a deep breath. Then he looked directly at Amanda. “If I keep his diamonds it won’t be much, but it will be something.”

  “Charlie, there are diamond mines in Batanga and Baptiste controls them. He can get all the diamonds he wants.”

  “But he can’t have these diamonds. I know it doesn’t make sense to you, but I know Baptiste. He can’t stand the idea that someone might stand up to him or outsmart him. That’s why my diamonds mean so much to him. Not having them will drive him crazy.”

  “From what you’ve told me, he’s already crazy and he has no respect for life. If Tuazama is as dangerous as you say, there’s a good chance he’ll kill you.”

  Charlie broke eye contact with Amanda. His shoulders hunched and he wrung his hands.

  “I just can’t do it.”

  “You might have to if it will save your life. Tuazama will be calling me to learn your answer and I don’t think he’ll wait long.”

  Charlie stared at the floor.

  “There’s something else we should discuss,” Amanda said when it was clear that she’d make no more headway with this subject tonight. “I was going to talk to you about it tomorrow, but I’m here, so we might as well talk about it now. What do you want to do about Mickey Keys?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I had a talk with him in the hallway when he was leaving. He’s really upset and he seems desperate. He threatened to go to Burdett if you didn’t make things right with him. Is there something he can tell the DA that can hurt you?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Keys was in the limo with you on the ride to the Westmont. Would he know what happened to the murder weapon between the hotel and the club?”

  “I…I don’t know.”

  “Is there something you’re not telling me about the gun, Charlie?”

  “No. I don’t know what happened to it after I got out of the car. I just know I didn’t have it.”

  “Can you do anything to placate Keys so he’ll talk to Kate?”

  “You mean like give him a cut of my earnings? That’s what he wants.”

  “Keys gave me a copy of his contract with you. Contract law isn’t my specialty but we have attorneys in the firm who can look at it to see if it’s binding. If you’re going to lose in court, we might as well cut a deal with Keys and keep him happy.”

  “The bastard sold me out to the feds.”

  “From what I know about Inner Light, the feds would have found out everything he told them anyway.”

  Charlie rubbed his eyes and sighed. “I’m beat, Amanda. Let me get some sleep. I can’t think straight.”

  “All right, we’ll talk in the morning, but you’re going to have to decide what I’m going to tell Tuazama. I don’t think we can stall him.”

  CHAPTER 36

  Kate Ross shut the door to Amanda’s office before sitting next to Mickey Keys on one of Amanda’s client chair.

  “Thanks for coming to see us,” Amanda said.

  “No problem. So, is Charlie going to honor his contract?” Keys asked eagerly.

  “Mr. Keys, it will be impossible for you to continue as Charlie’s agent. You must see that.”

  “I don’t see that at all.”

  “Agents can help a client because of contacts. You haven’t been an agent for a dozen years. How many people do you still know in the publishing industry?”

  “With Charlie as a client, making contacts won’t be difficult, believe me.”

  “You’re also a potential witness against Charlie. If he’s prosecuted for his part in the Inner Light scam, there will be a conflict of interest.”

  “I don’t care about any conflicts of interest. Charlie hung me out to dry when he split. I lost everything. He’s loaded and he owes me.”

  “I’ve had an attorney in my firm look at your contract and he doesn’t think it’s enforceable.”

  “Well, he wouldn’t, would he, since he’s working for Charlie?”

  “Agents have a fiduciary duty to their clients,” Amanda said calmly. “When you told the feds that Charlie was involved in tax fraud and revealed your business dealings with him, you breached that duty and lost the right to be his agent.”

  “I had no choice.”

  “Of course you did. You could have protected your client by refusing to cooperate.”

  “Yeah, and gone to jail for ten years.”

  “In any event, we don’t think you can enforce the contract.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  “You can hire an attorney and go through lengthy litigation you’ll probably lose,” Amanda said.

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  Keys started to get to his feet.

  “Or we can resolve this problem another way,” Amanda said.

  Keys sat down. “I’m listening.”

  “Charlie doesn’t recognize any legal obligation under the contract but he’s not unsympathetic to your situation. He’s willing to settle your claim without going to court.”

  “How much are we talking about?” Keys asked, trying to look nonchalant and failing miserably.

  “Charlie is willing to give you a check for fifty thousand dollars if you relinquish all claims under your old contract.”

  “Fifty! That’s nothing. I read Variety. I know how much he got from the publisher.”

  “A good part of his advance will be used to fund his legal defense. And don’t forget the IRS. They’ll come after Charlie just like they came after you. So he might not end up with anything. Fifty thousand dollars is much more than fifteen percent of zero.”

  Kate and Amanda sat quietly while Keys weighed his options. His body language broadcast his anguish better than words ever could. When he finally spoke, his shoulders sagged with resignation.

  “Make it seventy-five,” Keys said.

  “Done,” Amanda said after hesitating long enough to make Keys think she was struggling with her decision. That morning, Charlie had given her authority to go as high as one hundred thousand dollars to buy off Keys.

  “I want a check today.”

  “That won’t be a problem. Are you willing to answer a few questions about Charlie’s case after I give it to you?”

  “Yeah, ask away,” Keys answered. He sounded tired.

  “I’ll draw up the check while you read this,” Amanda said as she handed Keys a document in which he agreed to give up the right to be Charlie’s agent.

  As soon as he signed, Amanda handed Keys the check. Then it was Kate’s turn to take the floor.

  “Mr. Keys, how did you and Mr. Marsh meet?”

  Keys laughed. “That’s a good story. Charlie was a hot property after the prison standoff, but no one could get to him. Technically, he was still a prisoner and the cops had him under wraps in the hospital.” Keys flashed a proud grin. “Know what I did?”

  “I can’t begin to guess,” Kate answered.

  “I slipped a nurse a few bucks for the number of his room and one of those ID tags you clip on. I switched my photo for the photo of the doc on the tag. Then I dressed up. I had this clipboard and stethoscope and the white coat.” He shrugged. “It was easy as pie. T
he cop on the door took a quick look at the ID tag and I was in. Charlie liked my moxie. I guess he figured if I could con my way past the cops I could con the publishing and movie people. And I already had some good ideas for merchandise.”

  Keys paused. He looked thoughtful. “Charlie made the right choice. I did great by him. I mean, we made out like bandits.” Keys paused again. “I guess I shouldn’t use that phrase, huh? What with the IRS and all.”

  “Whose idea was the Inner Light scam?”

  “I thought it up. I had the accounting background.”

  “Did Mr. Marsh ever protest?” Kate asked.

  “You want to know if I had to twist Charlie’s arm?”

  Kate nodded.

  “Don’t forget why Charlie was in prison. He’s been a con artist his whole life. He’d just never operated on this scale before.”

  Amanda asked Keys to outline the scheme. When he was finished, Kate asked Keys about the evening of the shooting.

  “Who was with you and Charlie at the country club?”

  “Let’s see, it was me, Charlie, Delmar Epps, and…there was someone else.”

  Keys thought hard for a moment. Then he rolled his eyes. “I forgot Moonbeam.”

  “Who?” Amanda interjected.

  “This groupie.” Keys shook his head. “She was an obnoxious little twit who attached herself to Charlie. I have to believe she was the greatest lay in history because I can’t think of any other reason Charlie put up with her. Anyway, she was in the car with us.”

  “What do you remember about the fancy revolver that was used to shoot Congressman Pope?” Kate asked.

  “Some broad Charlie banged in Texas gave it to him. Her husband was an oil tycoon who was ancient and he collected guns. Charlie saw it when he was at her house and took a shine to it. She gave it to Charlie when he was leaving. I bawled him out about taking it. He was on parole, for Christ’s sake. Possessing a weapon could have sent him back to prison.”