Scam

said.
    “The worst. Look, here you are, charged with murder. Ordinarily, a murder case, I’d jump at it. But, guess what? I just finished a murder trial. And it wasn’t nearly as much fun as I thought it would be. Now you offer me another? Your timing is the pits.”
    “That’s real funny, Richard. You really cheer me up.”
    “Hey, don’t be such a grouse,” Richard said. “You know why I’m kidding around? You’re in here charged with killing that talent agent. Well, guess what? I happen to know you didn’t do it. So, whatever the case, it’s a minor problem, and one that will go away.”
    “You happen to talk to the cops on your way in?”
    “No. Why do you ask?”
    “I was caught with the murder weapon.”
    Richard made a face. “Usually, a bad move. What possessed you to do that?”
    “What do you think?”
    “Someone planted it on you?”
    “Bingo, right on the button.”
    “Any idea who?”
    “I happen to know who.”
    “Care to share that thought?”
    “How does the investigating officer grab you?”
    Richard made a face again. “Well, now we’ll know if this room’s bugged.”
    “Huh?”
    “If it is, you’ll get a nice roommate shoves a shiv in your gut.”
    “Richard—”
    “What makes you think what you just said? And try to be nonspecific in your answer.”
    “Remember what I told you—about the personality clash involved?”
    “Yes, I do. You think that’s it?”
    “Why don’t I just tell you what happened.”
    “That might be a good idea.”
    “The cops had Mary beep me, sent me to an address in Queens. Turned out to be the agent’s house, she turned out to be dead. Turns out she’s got a second office in her home with file cabinets full of resume photos, and the cop sets me to work going through them looking for the topless dancer. While I’m at it, he goes out and gets a search warrant for my person and my car. The good news is there’s nothing on my person. The bad news is, there’s a gun in my car.”
    “And it must be the murder weapon, otherwise they wouldn’t have charged you,” Richard said. “Well, that seems simple enough.”
    “Simple?”
    “Sure. They’ll arraign you for murder and I’ll get you out on bail. Piece of cake.”
    “Richard—”
    “Only problem is, if the same gun killed what’s-his-name—your dead client—you’ll be charged with that too.” Richard frowned. “Two counts is bad. Plus, it’s a different county, so it’s a separate arraignment. With each judge looking at the other one.”
    “What do you mean, looking at the other one?”
    Richard shrugged. Chuckled. “Well, I’m arguing before this judge, Hey, my client’s no flight risk, let him out on bail. And the prosecutor’s pointing out you’re also wanted for murder in Manhattan—oh, sure, please do release him, Your Honor, because the cops are waiting to arrest him all over again on another murder count.”
    “Yeah, I know. So, what can you do?”
    “Hey, did I say I couldn’t do it? Relax. I’ll get you out. I just want you to understand. At an arraignment hearing, we’re not trying the case. The only points I’ll be making are what a swell guy you are and how you pose no flight risk.”
    “Not the fact that I might be innocent?”
    “Oh, no one cares about that. In the eyes of the law, you’re innocent until proven guilty. In the eyes of the public, you’re guilty the minute you’re charged. Who cares? In point of fact, you’ve been framed, but that’s incidental now. Even if I could prove it, I wouldn’t. It would be bad form, and it’s not what anyone wants to hear. No, you’ll be arraigned, you’ll be bailed, you’ll be back on the street, and if the case is as bullshit as it seems, eventually the charges will be dismissed.”
    Richard shrugged. “In the unlikely event this ever came to trial, then we’d have to take a look at the merits of the case. Of which there appear to be none. The frame’s clumsy as hell and it isn’t going to stick. I wouldn’t let it worry me.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I’m not in jail.” He pointed. “You, now maybe you should worry.”
    I groaned. “Hey, Richard.”
    “What?”
    “Better work on your timing.”

32.
    M ACAULLIF MADE A FACE WHEN I walked in. “You shouldn’t be here.”
    I shrugged and dropped into the chair next to his desk. “Where else can I go?”
    “Indeed,” MacAullif said. “I suppose you’re lucky to be anywhere at all.”
    “Richard was