“No, no. You mustn’t blame yourself,” Bruce said, seeming somewhat comforted to be back in the role of fixer. “Anyway, they don’t have a signed waiver of his rights. I’m sure there’s a case to be made for coercion.”
She pressed a hand to her tumbling stomach. “Butwhatwas this person supposedly a witness to?”
“They aren’t required to be forthcoming with those details right now, unfortunately. They just said that the witness puts Richard near Frankie Callahan’s apartment at the time of the attack.”
“Attack?”
“I shouldn’t say ‘attack.’ That makes it sound— They were pretty light on details about the circumstances of the crime. I don’t know what they think happened to her, much less what they think he did. Frankly, it’s not in their interest to share what they have or don’t have.”
Gretchen cupped a hand over her mouth. Everything she could think to say—he didn’t do this, there’s an explanation, this isn’t possible—was excruciating. And pointless. She closed her eyes again.Get yourself together, Gretchen.
“I need to see him, then. Immediately.” She stood up as straight as she could, spine erect. “They’ve kept me waiting long enough.”
“See him?” Bruce rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Gretchen, you can’t see him. He’s been arrested for murder.”
She could feel her pulse in her fingertips. “I don’t understand. People get visitors in prison all the time.”
“Yes, once he’s been processed and is actuallyinprison, but not while he’s in a precinct holding cell,” Bruce said. “I know very little about criminal cases, but they did make it very clear to me that the next step will be the arraignment. But apparently there’s some emergency issue at the courthouse today—plumbing, or sewage.” He made a disgusted face. “Only in New York City. But they’ll get it fixed, presumably, and the arraignment will be in the next day or two, certainly. In the meantime, I did get them to agree to hold Richard here at the precinct, given that he’s not your average defendant. That’s good news for him in terms of conditions. But there are no visitors allowed here aside from attorneys, or parents, in the case of a minor. They just don’t have the proper security and screening procedures in place.”
“The next day or two,” Gretchen said. That was an eternity from now.
Bruce nodded. “And he’ll need a top-notch criminal defense attorney before then. Is that something you can manage?”
The insufferable tone was back. She was angry at Bruce all over again. But anger felt better than panic.
“Yes, obviously,” Gretchen snapped.
“Good.” He checked his watch. “Listen, I have to go.”
“Go?” Gretchen felt desperate for him to stay, even though she absolutely did not want him there a second longer.
“Yes, I have a…” He gestured vaguely. “But this will be okay. It will get sorted out.” He nodded. “Call me if you need help finding that attorney.”
And with that, Bruce was gone, walking briskly uptown on the quiet, early-morning sidewalk, his hands washed clean of the filth coating every inch of Gretchen’s skin. All Gretchen could do was watch him disappear.
“Gretchen!”
Scotty was crossing the street toward her. “My phone was off. I’m so sorry,” he called out. He looked so much younger and more capable than Bruce. Thank God for Scotty. “I came as soon as I got your messages,” he said when he reached her. “What the hell is going on?”
—
“This is going to be okay.” Scotty squeezed Gretchen’s hand reassuringly as they sat side by side on a bench in front of Tompkins Square Park, a few blocks from the Ninth Precinct. He had listened so patiently as she gave her lengthy recap, his puppyish brown eyes soft and sympathetic. What a relief to be with someone who cared about Richard as much as she did.
“Statements—what could he have told them, Scotty?” Gretchen said, searching his eyes.
“It doesn’t matter.” Scotty ran a hand over the back of his thick neck. He sounded confident, though. “We’ll get him to recant. And without a signed waiver, whatever he said will be useless anyway.”
“But still, why would he ever…”
“Listen, even brilliant people get overwhelmed talking to the police. You’re tired and confused, they woke you in the middle of the night. It’s the police’s job to turn people upside down, and they’re really good at it. It happens all the time to my clients who are just like Richard—brilliant, well-respected leaders who should also know better.”
“He needs to come home, Scotty. Right this instant.” She stamped a foot like a frustrated child. Oh, she had come so completely undone.
“I know, Gretchen.” Scotty’s voice was gentle. “Let me get in there, talk to Richard, and try to sort this out. I have a few friendswho handle cases like these. We’ll get him the best.” He put a warm hand on her shoulder. “Go home, take a shower. Change your clothes. Eat something, please. I’ll call as soon as I’m done talking to Richard.”
“Are you sure? I feel like I should—”
“What you need to do is take care of yourself, Gretchen. If Richard has been arrested, there’ll be nothing to do but prepare for the arraignment.” He stood. “I’m on this. You don’t need to worry.”
