You mentioned drug use. Is the defendant addicted to drugs?
My husband is a cocaine addict.
Does this affect his judgment?
His behavior has become increasingly erratic during our marriage.
Did you recently witness erratic behavior on the part of your husband during an incident involving a nurse at St. Francis Medical Center named Mary Sandowski?
Yes, I did.
Please tell Judge Brody what you saw.
When Justine finished recounting Cardoni's assault on Sandowski, Scofield changed the subject.
Dr. Castle, do you have any reason to believe that the defendant would be a flight risk if he is released on bail?
Yes, I do.
Please explain to the judge why you believe the defendant might flee.
I have filed for divorce. My divorce attorney has been trying to locate my husband's assets. Almost immediately after I filed, my husband tried to withdraw large sums of money from our joint accounts and our investment accounts. We were able to anticipate some of these moves, but he still sent a lot of this money to offshore accounts. We also believe that he has accounts in Switzerland. These accounts would provide him with enough money to live in luxury if he was to flee the country.
The cords in Cardoni's neck were tight with anger. He leaned his head toward Frank without taking his eyes off Justine.
You asked me who would want to set me up, Cardoni whispered. You're looking at her. The bitch has access to my office at the hospital, and she has keys to my house. It would have been easy for Justine to steal the coffee mug, the scalpel and the videocassette. And Justine knew Grant.
You're suggesting that Justine was Grant's partner?
She's a surgeon, Frank. Harvesting those organs would be a piece of cake.
What about murder? Do you think she's capable of that?
As capable as she is of lying under oath. I never raped Justine and I don't have any offshore accounts. Her whole testimony is a lie.
What happened? Amanda asked as soon as Frank walked through the door to her office.
Bail denied, her father answered. He looked exhausted. I wasn't surprised. Cardoni couldn't come up with a single character witness, and Scofield's case is very strong.
How did Cardoni take the judge's decision?
Not well, Frank answered without elaborating. He had no desire to relive Cardoni's tirade, which was peppered with threats against Justine Castle and every member of every branch of government that was involved in his prosecution.
Where do you go from here?
I' m already working on a motion to suppress, but I don't have much hope that I'll win.
Let me take a crack at it, Amanda asked eagerly.
Frank hesitated. Amanda took a breath and plunged in.
Why did you ask me to come to work for you, Dad? Were you being charitable?
Frank was taken aback by the question. You know that's not it.
I know I don't need charity. I was law review at one of the top schools in the country, and I just finished clerking for a federal appeals court. I can get any job I want, and I' m going to start looking if you don't give me some responsibility.
Frank looked angry and started to say something, but Amanda pressed her case.
Look, Dad, I might be a neophyte in a trial court, but I' m a sixth-degree black belt when it comes to legal research. You tell me where you could get someone better to work on this motion.
Frank hesitated. Then he threw his head back and laughed.
You're damn lucky you're my daughter. If any other associate talked to me like that, I' d kick their ass into the center of Broadway.
Amanda grinned but held her tongue. One thing she knew from watching tons of appellate arguments was that you shut up when you' d won.
Come down to my office for the file, Frank said. An idea occurred to him. Since you're so anxious to get your hands dirty, why don't you keep Herb Cross company when he interviews Justine Castle, Cardoni's wife? She killed us at the bail hearing. Her testimony at a sentencing hearing could send Cardoni to death row.
Is Castle a doctor?
Yes. Why?
And she's very attractive?
A knockout.
I've met her.
Chapter 16
Every weekday morning Carleton Swindell rowed the Willamette, then showered at his athletic club. His hair was still a tad damp when he entered the anteroom of his office at seven-thirty sharp a few days after Vincent Cardoni's bail hearing. As soon as the hospital administrator walked in the door, Sean McCarthy stood up and displayed his badge.
I hope you don't mind my waiting in here, Dr. Swindell, McCarthy said while Swindell inspected his identification. There wasn't anyone around.
No problem, Detective. My secretary doesn't get in until eight.
McCarthy followed Swindell into the administrator's office. Diplomas from several prestigious universities, including a medical degree and a master's in public health from Emory University, were prominently displayed next to photographs of Swindell posing with President Clinton, Oregon's two senators and several other dignitaries. A tennis trophy and two plaques for rowing victories graced a credenza under a large picture window with a view of downtown Portland, the Willamette River and three snow-capped mountains. McCarthy did not see any family photographs.
I don't have any overdue parking tickets, do I?
I wish it were that simple. I assume you know that one of the doctors at your hospital has been charged with murder.
Swindell's smile disappeared. Vincent Cardoni. He shook his head. It's unbelievable. The whole hospital's been talking about nothing else.
So you were surprised by the arrest.
Swindell looked thoughtful. Why don't you sit down? he said as he walked around his desk. When he was seated, Swindell swiveled toward his view, leaned back and steepled his fingers.
You asked if I' m surprised. The type of crime a mass serial killing of course that shocks me. How could it not? But Dr. Cardoni has been a problem for this hospital since we hired him.
Oh?
Swindell looked pensive.
Your visit presents me with a problem. I' m not certain I can discuss Dr. Cardoni with you. Confidentiality and all that.
McCarthy took a document out of his inside jacket pocket and held it out across the desk.
I had a judge issue a subpoena before I came. It's for Dr. Cardoni's records.
Yes, well, I' m sure it's in order. I'll have to have our attorneys review it. I'll expedite the matter, of course.
Thank you.
Shocking. The whole business. Swindell hesitated. May I speak off the record?
Of course.
Now, I don't have proof of anything I' m going to tell you. It's what I believe you call deep background.
McCarthy nodded, amused by the TV cop lingo.
A week or so ago, Dr. Cardoni attacked Mary Sandowski, one of our nurses. Swindell shook his head. I read that she was one of the poor souls you found in that mountain graveyard.
McCarthy nodded again.
He's a violent man, Detective. Last year he was arrested for assault, and I've had complaints of abusive behavior from our staff. And there are rumors of drug use. Swindell looked grim. We've never substantiated the rumors, but I've got a gut feeling that there is something to them.
Another doctor who worked here was found in the graveyard.
Ah, Clifford. Swindell sighed. You know, of course, that he was in danger of losing his privileges here?
No, I didn' t.
Drinking, Swindell confided. The man was a hopeless alcoholic.
Did Cardoni know Clifford Grant?
I assume so. Dr. Grant was supervising Justine Castle's residency until we convinced him to take a leave of absence. Dr. Castle is married to Vincent.