Scotty Kaplan.When Gretchen went to answer it, the phone slipped through her fingers and crashed to the floor.
“Hello? Gretchen?” Scotty asked when she finally managed to get the phone to her ear. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes.” Her jaw was clenched so tight it was hard to speak. She drove a finger into the muscle, massaging it. “What’s happening? How’s Richard?”
“He’s fine. In great spirits, actually. He was cracking jokes with me.”
“But, Scotty, that’s the way he always—”
“I know, I know—believe me,” Scotty said sincerely. “But I poked around, pressed him. He’s convinced this is going to get sorted out. He’s not looking forward to weathering the storm, but he’s ready for it.”
Gretchen believed Scotty. Or rather she believed that Scotty believed. But part of Richard’s charmwashis infectious optimism.
“Has he eaten? Because if he’s not eating, then—”
“He’s eating. He thinks he’ll put weightonin there. That’s one of the biggest benefits of being held at the precinct until arraignment. A lot of sandwiches, but the food’s much better than it will be—so yes, he’s eating and he’s hydrated and he even got some sleep.”
“But why did they arrest him? Was it his statements?”
“No, they didn’t seem to be anyone’s focus. I did have him recant, for what it’s worth. That might not be effective, but I got the sense from Richard that what he said was hardly a confession anyway.”
“Then whatistheir focus? That witness?”
“They do supposedly have someone who puts him near her apartment. But that alone wouldn’t be enough.” He paused. And there was something so awful about the silence. Finally, Scotty exhaled noisily. “Apparently they also found some kind of evidence at your apartment during the search.”
Gretchen grabbed the counter to steady herself as she looked around the bathroom like she might spot something incriminating still there, something horrifying but in plain sight.
“What evidence?”
“Who knows? It doesn’t matter,” Scotty said dismissively. “So much of what prosecutors do at this stage is just grandstanding. They weaponize secrecy. Bottom line: They had probable cause to make the arrest even without Richard’s statements, which isn’t great. But that doesnotmean they’ve got a fraction of what they’d need for a conviction. The standards are completely different. And before we even get to any of that, we’ll get Richard out on bail.”
“Did they say when the arraignment will be?”
“Unfortunately, not until Monday morning. The courthouse has reopened, but now there’s a huge backlog. I actually think that’s not the worst thing. Buys us a little time.”
“He needs to be home, Scotty.”
“Gretchen, this is all going to be okay,” Scotty said. “I promise. Whatever this— Obviously it’s all some kind of idiotic mistake.” He hesitated again, but only for a second. “Full disclosure, I’m a little concerned about how the police ended up at your apartment so quickly. Butsomethingsent them there in less than twenty-four hours. An eyewitness wouldn’t know Richard’s name, presumably, or his address. Did any of the officers say anything about that to you?”
“No,” Gretchen said. “Why would they?”
“No, no—that’s what I figured. I just thought maybe off-handedly a uniformed officer might have…Sometimes they let things slip,” Scotty said. “The question didn’t occur to me until after I’d left Richard. I’ll just ask him next time. Not to worry. Also, I have a call in to three different criminal defense attorneys; that’s why the time might be helpful.”
“I don’t understand. Youarea criminal defense attorney.”
“If this was insider trading, I’d be your guy. But we need someone who handles murders. Don’t worry—we’ll get someone really good.”
“ ‘Get someone’?” she asked. “Why are you making it sound like we’re auditioning?”
“In a way we are. These violent-crime guys—they like to choose their clients based on the complexity of the case or how high-profile the client is. The press that might come their way. They can afford to be selective.”
“Good Lord.” Gretchen was disgusted. She did not want to be mixing with people who tried to capitalize on others’ misfortunes.
“You should get Elizabeth and Becks home, too.”
“Why would I do that?” One small bright spot was that they were far away from this mess.
“They’ll need to be here for the arraignment,” Scotty said. “Whoever we get to represent Richard, that’s going to be one of the first things they say, I’m sure.”
