"There's no easy way to put this, Abbie. You've become a suspect in Robert's murder."
Abbie stared at Stamm. "Are you serious?" she asked with a confused smile.
"I'm very serious," Stamm answered quietly Abbie looked back and forth between the three men. Then her features clouded. "This is utter nonsense."
Geddes had been sitting back, legs crossed, observing Abbie's reaction.
"We have a witness who claims you solicited him to kill Justice Griffen and evidence to support his story."
"That's ridiculous. What witness? What evidence?" Abbie challenged.
"I'm not at liberty to say at the moment, but you can assist us in clearing up this matter by answering a few questions. Of course, I do have to warn you that you have a right to remain silent and that anything you say can be used to convict you in a court of law. You also have a right to consult with an attorney and, if you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one to assist you, free of charge. Do you understand these rights?"
Abbie stared at Chuck Geddes in disbelief. "Are you being intentionally insulting?"
"I'm being a professional," Geddes answered with unruffled calm.
Abbie turned to Stamm. "Is this for real, Jack? Am I a suspect?"
"I'm afraid so. And you should think seriously about talking to Chuck without counsel."
Geddes glared angrily at Stamm for a second, then regained his composure.
"I don't need a lawyer, Jack. I didn't kill Robert. Ask me anything you want to."
"Abbie . . ." Stamm started.
"She says she's willing to talk to us, Jack," Geddes interjected forcefully."Maybe she can clear up the confusion. If we're on a wild-goose chase, let's straighten this out, so I can go back to Salem."
Stamm did not regret warning Abbie, but he backed off. This was Geddes's case now.
"Mrs. Griffen, why don't you tell us where you were from nine to midnight on the evening Justice Griffen was killed?"
"I already explained that to Jack."
"I know, but Neil and I would like to hear what you have to say firsthand."
"I'm prosecuting a murder case involving a defendant named Jeffrey Coulter, who is represented by Matthew Reynolds." At the mention of Reynolds's name Geddes leaned forward slightly.
"Reynolds's forensic experts conducted experiments in the Franklin home recently. The results were favorable to Coulter. The night my husband was killed, a man called around nine o'clock and told me that Reynolds's experts manufactured evidence at the Franklin home. He wanted to meet me immediately at the rose garden at Lewis and Clark College."
"The rose garden is in an isolated area of the campus, isn't it?"
Geddes asked.
"That's right. It's on the edge of the campus behind the outdoor pool."
"Jack told me about your close call at the coast. Weren't you afraid of meeting someone in such a deserted spot so soon after being attacked?"
"I couldn't pass up the chance to nail Coulter. And I went armed. I was almost hoping it was the bastard who broke into my cabin."
"Did you think about bringing backup with you?"
"The caller told me to come alone or he wouldn't talk to me. I didn't want to scare him off. It didn't matter anyway, because no one showed."
"Can someone substantiate your story?"
"No. The parking lot was deserted by the time I got there and I didn't meet anyone."
"Mrs. Griffen, was your divorce acrimonious?"
"I don't want to discuss my private life."
"That's going to be a difficult subject to avoid."
"I'm sorry. Robert is dead. What went on between us is over."
"I can appreciate your reluctance, but this is a murder investigation.
How many times have you asked that question of a suspect or a witness?"
"Many times, but I won't talk about my personal relations with Robert."
"Okay. I can accept that, for now. What about your financial relationship?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is it fair to say that a divorce would have hurt you financially."
"Yes, but I knew that when I filed."
"Can you tell us about your relative financial positions?"
Abbie looked from Geddes to Christenson. Their faces showed no emotion.
Then she turned to Jack Stamm. Stamm was hunched forward slightly and he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but where he was.
"I don't like the tone of this conversation, Mr. Geddes, or where it's going, so I'm going to end it. Jack is right. I should consult an attorney."
"As you wish."
"What is my status, Jack?" Abbie asked. "Status?"
"Can I work? Am I suspended, fired?"
Stamm could not look Abbie in the eye.
"I think it's best if you take some time off with pay. You would have anyway, because of the funeral. I'll assign your cases to the other assistants."
"And if I don't want to take time off?."
Stamm looked up. He was in obvious distress. "You can't be at the office. You're under investigation."
"I see," Abbie said slowly.
"This isn't what I want personally, Abbie. For what it's worth, I'm sure you're innocent. That's part of the reason I stepped aside and turned over the investigation to the Attorney General. It's what I have to do as an officer of the law."
Abbie stood up. "I'm sorry if I was rude, Mr. Geddes. I'm very tired.
I'll contact you after I've spoken to my attorney."
"I understand," Geddes said with a condescending smile.
"This is very unpleasant for me as well, Mrs. Griffen, but there is one more thing." les Geddes held out his hand. Christenson was carrying an attach case.
He opened it and handed a legal document to Geddes. Geddes gave it to Abbie.
"This is a warrant to search your home."
"What!"
"I obtained it from Judge Morosco this morning."
Abbie turned on Jack Stamm. "You bastard. I thought you were my friend. I can't believe you'd do this."
Stamm's face flushed in anger. "I didn't know anything about the warrant, Abbie."
"That's true, Mrs. Griffen. I didn't inform Jack. Neil, please signal the troopers."
Christenson walked out the front door and waved a hand toward the far end of the block. Several car engines came to life and, moments later, three Oregon State Police cars pulled up in front of the house.
"I'd like you to confine yourself to one place in the house, Mrs.
Griffen," Geddes said. "Or if you prefer, you can visit someone. We're going to search your car, so I can offer you a ride."
Everything was happening so fast that Abbie had to fight to keep from being overwhelmed, but her anger gave her strength.
She looked directly at Geddes.
"I'm staying right here," she said, "and I'm going to watch every move you make."
Chapter THIRTEEN
"Mrs. Griffen," Matthew Reynolds said as he walked across his reception area, "there was no need to meet with me so soon after your husband's funeral. Mr. Coulter's case could have waited a few more days."
"I'm not here about the Coulter case. Can we go to your office?"
A look of curiosity and concern crossed Reynolds's face as he guided Abbie down the hall. As soon as they were seated, Abbie asked, "What can you tell me about Chuck Geddes?"
Reynolds didn't ask why Abbie wanted this information. Instead, he studied her while he gathered his thoughts. She was beautiful in black with a single strand of pearls, but she looked exhausted and sat stiffly, her hands folded, her face tight, as if she was afraid that she might break apart if she moved.
"Chuck Geddes is intelligent and single-minded, but he is rigid. As long as a trial goes as he's foreseen, he does a good, workmanlike job, but let the slightest thing go wrong and he can't bend with it.
"About four years ago, the La Grande district attorney called in the Attorney General's office to help in the prosecution of a complex murder case I was defending. Mr. Geddes was condescending to me at first.