Worst Fears Realized

time ago that I’d be glad to cooperate in any way I can.”
    “Yes, Yes,” Brougham said, wresting his hand from Stone’s grasp. “If you’ll just have a seat, Mr. Barrington, I’ll try to get to you soon.”
    Eggers spoke up again. “Marty, could I speak to you privately for a moment? I have some information that might bear on this case, and I’d like to convey it to you before you convene the grand jury.”
    “Sorry, Bill, I don’t have time right now; maybe later today.” He turned and started into the jury room.
    “I did try to reach you by phone yesterday,” Eggers called after him. The door closed behind Brougham.
    The reporters crowded around Eggers. “What information do you have for the DA, Mr. Eggers?” one of them asked.

    “I think I’d better convey it to Mr. Brougham before I discuss it with you,” Eggers said to the man. “Please excuse me.” He sat down next to Stone. “He’s going to have to call you to testify, now,” he whispered. “If he doesn’t, the press will practically assassinate him.”
    Stone sat quietly and waited. Other witnesses for the grand jury filed into the hallway and took seats. Stone exchanged greetings with a uniformed sergeant from the Nineteenth Precinct, Tim Ryan, whom he had known for years. As they were chatting, Stone’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me, Tim,” he said to the cop. He walked to the end of the corridor and took out the phone. “Hello?”
    “It’s Dino.”
    Stone could hear him grinning. “What’s up?”
    “We went into Tom Deacon’s apartment an hour ago, and guess what we found?”
    “The murder weapon, I hope.”
    “We weren’t quitethat lucky, but we did find Susan Bean’s diary.”
    “Oh,that’s good!” Stone said. “Have you read it?”
    “You bet I have; it’s telegraphic, but it lays out her knowledge of the doctored tapes in the Dante trial.”
    “Does the diary implicate-Brougham?”
    “Not directly, but it’s hard to see how, if Bean knew about the tape, Marty didn’t. Anyway, it’s a first-rate motive for Deacon; the very fact that he had possession of the diary is incriminating. It makes him our number one suspect and Mick Kelly an accessory after the fact. At the very least, I can get Kelly bouncedfrom the force for not reporting Deacon’s presence near the scene of the murder.”
    “Have you picked up Deacon?”
    “Not yet, but we’re looking for him; Kelly, too. I haven’t put out an APB yet; I don’t want to spook either of them.”
    “That’s great news, Dino, and it comes at a very good time for me.”
    “Have you testified, yet?”
    “I’m waiting to go in, now.”
    “Give Brougham hell for me.”
    “You bet I will; can I use what you’ve told me?”
    “Go right ahead. See you later.”
    “You coming to Bianchi’s for dinner tonight?”
    “I’ve been invited,” Dino said.
    “See you there.” Stone hung up and returned to the bench.
    “What’s up?” Eggers asked.
    “You’re not going to believe…” Stone was interrupted as the door to the grand-jury room opened and a bailiff stuck his head out.
    “Call Stone Barrington!” he yelled.
    Stone stood up. “Right here.”
    The man opened the door and ushered Stone inside the grand-jury room.
    Stone walked quickly to the stand and sat down. He was faced with the members of the grand jury, ordinary-looking people seated on raised tiers before him. Martin Brougham stood, looking confident, his hands folded before him. The bailiff swore in Stone.
    “State your name and address for the record,” Brougham said.

    Stone did so. He added, “I would like to state for the record that I have not been subpoenaed but have volunteered to appear before this panel.”
    “Yes, yes,” Brougham said irritably. “Mr. Barrington, how do you earn your living?”
    “I’m an attorney-at-law,” Stone replied.
    “You were once a police officer, were you not?”
    “I was. I served fourteen years with the NYPD, finishing as a detective second grade.”
    “And what were the circumstances of your leaving the department? Why didn’t you serve until you could take retirement benefits?”
    “I was wounded in the line of duty and, as a result, discharged from the department for medical reasons—with full pension and benefits.” This seemed to bring Brougham up short. Apparently, Stone thought, he hadn’t been prepared for this answer.
    “I see,” Brougham said, recovering himself. “Were you acquainted with a Susan Bean before her