Page 33 of Wolf's Whistle
Edward stood up with Richard. “Your Honor, Detective Stawski has no case against my client, and since Richard was on a plane, bound for New York when the murder occurred, he can’t possibly be a material witness. In all the time Richard worked at Lutz’s drinking establishment, he was never alone with Mr. Kasun. Mr. Kasun came to Richard’s residence and only after being threatened did Mr. Lutz give him the address. Which, of course, means that Mr. Kasun did not know where Richard lived until we found him on Richard’s doorstep. After we arrived to pick up Richard’s things, Mr. Daurensbourg’s assistants took him back to Lutz’s bar.”
Judge Booker perused the documents given to him by the loup garou lawyer.
Kellerman turned to Stawski. “Right now, you are in danger of being slapped with a suit for harassment, a charge we take seriously in New York.”
“He could be part of a conspiracy to commit murder,” Stawski insisted.
“Order, I demand order.” Judge Booker pounded his gavel. “Mr. Kellerman, do you have anything more to add?”
“Judge Booker, Richard Kerrigan’s problem with Mr. Kasun stemmed from his unwanted advances. Once Richard’s fiancé arrived from New York, and he found out about Mr. Kasun, Mr. Bellaire made immediate arrangements to take Mr. Kerrigan to his townhouse in Manhattan,” Edward told the court.
Stawski glanced at Richard. “Why wasn’t he with Kerrigan in Chicago, this fiancé that no one ever heard of?”
The judge addressed him with a frown. “Detective Stawski, you are out of order. If you speak in my court, you will do so with respect.”
Edward spat back, “Unlike you, Mr. Bellaire has morals. He will not make love to his intended until after they are married. The wedding is planned for next Saturday in Redmond, Washington at Mr. Bellaire’s home in that state so his parents can be in attendance.” Edward continued smoothly, “Mr. Kerrigan stayed in Chicago because he was a temptation that Mr. Bellaire could barely resist. That is why the wedding is taking place on next Saturday, instead of a month from now as originally planned.”
“And how do you know this, Mr. Kellerman?” Judge Booker asked.
“I have Mr. Bellaire’s deposition in front of me which Detective Stawski carelessly or willfully misplaced.” Edward gestured toward the bench. “May I approach, Your Honor, and have this deposition entered into evidence?”
Booker nodded and Edward approached.
By this time the baby prosecutor hastily assigned to the hearing was almost in tears.
Judge Booker roared, “Be careful Detective Stawski and Assistant DA Ryan, before I declare you in contempt of court. There is no misplaced evidence in my courtroom. Use your telephone and get the information given by Mr. Lutz to your partner and the Chief of Detectives and provide it to Mr. Kellerman and Assistant District Attorney Ryan. This subpoena was illegally obtained using false statements. I am in the process of having my clerk convey this information to the issuing judge. When my bailiff spoke to Judge Grant, the judge thought it strange that he didn’t remember you telling him about the eighty witnesses who can attest to Mr. Kerrigan’s whereabouts during the time the murder took place. You also failed to mention the fact that Mr. Bellaire’s guards dropped Kasun off at Mr. Lutz’s drinking establishmentafterhe harassed Mr. Kerrigan, quite alive. I believe that Judge Grant is about to throw your case out of his court, and I am about to throw you out of mine. Mr. Kellerman, maybe you should think about filing a harassment suit. Mr. Kerrigan is not a material witness. Nor is he the murderer as Detective Stawski is attempting to imply.”
The bailiff came out of chambers with papers in his hand and handed them to the judge. The judge regarded ADA Ryan and the Chicago homicide detective. “I have these faxes that my clerk just handed me with the witness statement of Mr. Lutz and several other patrons of Lutz’s Bar with a cover letter he gave to the judge. It seems the detective conveniently neglected to mention to the court that Mr. Kerrigan was in New York. Bailiff, give the ADA and Mr. Kellerman copies.”
“Detective Stawski and Detective Murphy,” Judge Booker looked at the faxes from his bailiff had handed him earlier. “Judge Grant has officially notified this court that the Chicago subpoena has been withdrawn because of the lack of credible evidence that Mr. Kerrigan could shed light on the murder. Detective Stawski, your subpoena was illegally obtained and therefore invalid. In his ruling, Judge Grant also mentions shoddy police work. I suggest you take the next plane home to Chicago where you probably won’t like what is waiting for you. The city doesn’t take kindly to a junior detective accusing the most charitable organization in Chicago of perjury, especially if there are sixty-four, plus the entire Board of Directors of Garou Industries and their husbands as witnesses who say otherwise.” The judge gestured for the bailiff. “The court officer will show you out.”
“I’ll get you, Kerrigan, you killed Kasun, and I’m going to get you back to Chicago to prove it.” Stawski strode toward the exit of the courtroom, but the court officer closed the door in his face preventing his escape.
“Be careful, Detective Stawski, or I’ll hold you in contempt. A night cooling your heels at Riker’s Island might be just what you need.”
Stawski sneered but wisely kept quiet.
On the way, out of the courtroom, Armand turned to Rémy and Julien. “I believe it’s time to call in the favors owed to us by Mr. Ferone. Julien, you stay at home with Richard. Rémy, we’ll take Henri with us. He is our Director of Security and needs to be read in on this.”
Julien cocked his head. “Ferone is in New York. How can he help us in Chicago?”
“Ferone’s organization has long tentacles. Some of his people are in Chicago, and he can find out who killed this Serbian scum and why. In the meantime, Richard, you are not to leave Julien’s home with anything less than four guards. Send for some from Oregon and Redmond if necessary, Julien. This is personal to that man.” Armand took his raincoat from Martin. “We have business to attend to. Let me know of any further developments.”
§ § §
Armand, Rémy, and Henri were in the limousine on the way to see Mr. Ferone when Rémy asked, “Why didn’t you bring Julien? It’s his Mate.”
“Right now, Julien’s temper is on a hair trigger. They haven’t mated yet, and this Stawski is attempting to take his Mate from him. How rational would you be in the same case with Ian?”
“You’ve made your point, Alpha.”
“I should hope so.”
“Martin,” Armand said to his Chief Beta, “Get Don Ferone on the telephone and tell him I wish an immediate meeting. Tell him I need a favor. That should have him salivating.”
§ § §
Don Ferone sat in the back of his Italian bakery. One of his associates came in from the back room where they headquartered their businesses and told him, “Mr. La Marche’s assistant is on the line. He wants to see you immediately. It seems he needs a favor.”
