Cardoni lived in a sprawling yellow-and-white Dutch Colonial on half an acre of land shaded by beech, oak and cottonwood. When Amanda drove up she saw black-jacketed PPB officers scouring the grounds. Police cars were blocking the garage, so Cardoni parked his Porsche in the street and Amanda parked behind him. Sean McCarthy was waiting for them at the front door.
Frank, McCarthy said with a smile.
Good to see you again, Sean. This is Dr. Cardoni, and this is my daughter, Amanda. She's an attorney with my firm.
McCarthy nodded to Amanda and extended a hand toward Cardoni, which the surgeon ignored. McCarthy seemed unconcerned about the rebuke.
I apologize for the intrusion, Doctor. I've given strict orders to my men to respect your property. If there's any damage, please notify me and I'll see that you're compensated.
Cut the bullshit and get your men out of my house, Cardoni responded angrily.
I can understand why you're upset, the detective answered politely. I' d be too if I found strangers prowling through my home. McCarthy withdrew a document from his jacket and handed it to Frank. However, we do have court authorization to search. All I can promise is that we'll be out of your hair as soon as possible.
Is that legal? Cardoni asked.
I' m afraid so, Frank answered after reading the search warrant.
You have a very pleasant den. Why don't we go in there and talk? It will be warmer, and we won't be in the way of my men. That will speed up the search.
Cardoni glared at the detective. Frank placed a hand on his arm and said, Let's get this over with, Vince.
McCarthy led them down a hall and into a comfortable wood-paneled den where several other men waited. McCarthy introduced them.
Frank, this is Bobby Vasquez. This is the Milton County sheriff, Clark Mills. And this is Fred Scofield, the Milton County district attorney. Gentlemen, this is Dr. Vincent Cardoni and his attorneys, Frank and Amanda Jaffe. Dr. Cardoni, why don't you have a chair?
Thanks for inviting me to sit down in my own home, Cardoni replied. Amanda heard the edge in his voice but wasn't certain if it came from anger, fear or both.
What's going on here, Sean? Frank asked.
I'll answer you in a minute. First I' d like to ask your client a few questions.
Go ahead, Frank said to McCarthy. Then he turned to Cardoni and told him to wait to answer each question until after they consulted.
Dr. Cardoni, do you know Dr. Clifford Grant? I believe he also practices at St. Francis.
Cardoni and Frank leaned toward each other and had a whispered conversation.
I know who Dr. Grant is, Cardoni said when they were through. I've even spoken to him a few times. But I don't know him well.
Do you know a woman named Mary Sandowski?
Cardoni looked disgusted. He didn't bother consulting with Frank before answering.
Is this about Sandowski? What happened? Did she swear out a complaint?
No, sir. She didn' t.
Cardoni waited for more explanation. When it did not come, he answered McCarthy.
I know her.
In what capacity?
She's a nurse at St. Francis.
That's it? Vasquez pressed.
The interruption seemed to annoy McCarthy. Cardoni's eyes swung slowly between the vice cop and McCarthy. Cardoni was so focused and tight that it made Amanda uneasy.
What's going on here? the surgeon demanded.
When was the last time you were at your cabin in Milton County, Dr. Cardoni? McCarthy asked.
What the fuck are you talking about? I don't own a cabin in Milton County, and I' m not going to play this game anymore. Either tell me why you're ransacking my home or get the fuck out.
Frank raised his hand to quiet Cardoni.
I' m going to instruct my client not to answer any more questions until you explain the reason for them, he said.
Fair enough, McCarthy replied. He walked over to a television and VCR that sat in a gap between books in a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf and turned on the TV. There was a videocassette on top of the VCR. McCarthy took the cassette out of its case and put it in the machine.
We found this cassette in your bedroom, Dr. Cardoni. I' d be interested in your comments on the contents, if your attorney gives you permission to give them. It appears to have been shot in a basement room in a house in the mountains in Milton County. We found several items at the house that bore your fingerprints. One of the items is a scalpel that looks a lot like the scalpel you'll see on the tape. By the way, the cassette has already been dusted for prints, and yours are on it.
So what? I have dozens of videocassettes in the house.
Vincent, from this point on, I don't want you talking to anyone but me unless I say it's okay, Frank said. Understood?
Cardoni nodded, but Amanda could see that he was upset by the restriction. McCarthy turned on the set and the VCR. Amanda noticed that none of the law enforcement officers was looking at the TV; they were all focused on Cardoni.
A woman's terrified face filled the screen. She was saying something, but there was no sound on the tape. The camera panned down her naked body. She was gaunt, as if she had not eaten in days. The camera focused on her breasts and zoomed in on the woman's left nipple. It was flaccid. A gloved finger moved into view and stimulated the nipple until it became erect. The finger withdrew, and the woman's face filled the screen again. Suddenly her eyes grew impossibly wide and she screamed. Amanda froze. The woman screamed again and again. Then her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out.
The gloved hand slapped the woman's cheeks until she came around. She began to sob. The camera was still tight on her face, and Amanda could read her lips. They formed the word please, and she said it repeatedly as tears streamed down her cheeks.
The camera moved, and the woman's face disappeared from the screen as it panned the surroundings. Amanda saw concrete walls, a sink, and a refrigerator. Then the camera returned to the woman. It pulled back and showed her from a side view. Blood was trickling down her heaving ribs. The camera shifted upward for a shot above the woman. There was a red puddle on her chest. The camera moved in. The nipple was missing.
Amanda's breath caught. She squeezed her eyes shut, and only a great effort of will kept her together. When she was under control, Amanda opened her eyes, making sure that she was not looking at the screen.
All the blood had drained from her father's face, but Cardoni's complexion had not changed. The detective switched off the set. Cardoni turned slowly until he was looking directly at McCarthy.
Will you please tell me what the fuck that was all about? he asked in a hard, emotionless voice.
Recognize the woman? the detective asked.
Frank regained his composure. He reached out and grabbed Cardoni's forearm. Not a word. Then he stared at McCarthy. I thought better of you, Sean. This is a cheap trick, and this interview is at an end.
McCarthy did not look surprised.
I thought you' d be interested in the type of person you're representing.
Frank stood. He still looked shaky, but his voice was steady.
I didn't see Dr. Cardoni in that horror movie. I assume you didn't either or you would have shown us a different segment.
You'll receive full discovery, including a copy of this tape, at the appropriate time.
McCarthy switched his attention to the doctor. Vincent Cardoni, I must inform you that you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford to retain an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. Do you understand these rights?
Cardoni stood up and glared at McCarthy.
You can kiss my ass, he said slowly and distinctly.
Frank stepped between his client and McCarthy.
Are you arresting Dr. Cardoni?