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Chapter 21
Iwas in the middle of answering a question when the pitter-patter of rain drumming against the attorney general’s meeting room window caught my attention. I’d been like this ever since Mila had left a few weeks ago. Foggy, down, and always lost in deep, dark thoughts.
Arlene Gager, Attorney General, was representing the state against Andrei Kowitsch in all the charges filed. She turned in her chair to follow my gaze out the window. Her pantsuit was spiced by intensely pink pumps—the symbol of the bark this old lady was famous for.
“It seems to rain all fucking summer,” she groaned and turned back to face the row of men sitting around the long, solid wood table. Among them was the chief, Robert—the little prick—a bunch of attorney assistants, Wilson from the FBI, and some dude named Murphy, who didn’t really say where the hell he was from, but honestly, I didn’t care. The only thing that held my interest about him was his outfit; he had the balls to show up in swim shorts, a stained shirt, and flip-flops. I supposed it was only a step ballsier from my own I-don’t-give-a-damn gardening outfit of worn sneakers, muddy pants, and shirt.
“Officer Carter,” Wilson pressed me. “Could you please answer the question?”
I played with the pen in front of me, then adjusted my position in my chair.
“No,” I said, in all honesty.
“No?” Wilson repeated. “Andrei Kowitsch never gave any clues or hints as to what his real profession was?”
I shook my head. Nervously tapping his fingers on his chair, Robert scooted so close to the table that it poked his belly. Every wrinkle in his face was a reflection of how pissed he was. Probably the most pissed out of everybody. I’d caught him peeking at Murphy a few times, nervous, submissive. But I was too disengaged at this point to care what connection they had and assumed that flip-flop guy was some high-profile government man who was behind Robert’s involvement in this whole operation.
“No, huh?” Robert snapped at me. “And the girl? Mila Kowitsch? Anything from her end that could help us in the slightest bit?”
The whole table was staring at me, only Robert’s nervous finger-tapping interrupting the silence. I looked over at my chief. He was tense like everybody else, but he looked at me with sympathy and kindness.
This was the moment where I should tell them that she knew, confirm that Mila did, in fact, confess that Andrei Kowitsch was a killer, the monster they all wanted to paint him as in the eyes of the public.
“Nothing,” I lied.
Robert’s hand slammed onto the table, startling the attorney general.
“You seriously want us to believe that she had no idea who her brother was? That she never mentioned any of his killings? Anything from their past that could help us here...at all?”
Trying to look interested and as disappointed as the rest, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table.
“As much as it pains me, I have to answer with no again.”
Robert was about to explode. His face was red, his jaw trembling. But Arlene Gager stepped in, clearing her throat.
“Is there anything,” she said in a calm and confident tone, “anything that could help us in this investigation?” She leaned back, throwing me a darting look.
“The evidence we found in his hotel room turned out to be a two-edged sword. A statement released by the Kowitsch family lawyer has already pointed out that the rifles and guns discovered in Andrei Kowitsch’s room that night were protected under Maine’s gun laws.
Open and concealed carry are legal in Maine without a permit. Any person twenty-one or older who can legally possess a firearm is allowed to carry openly or concealed.”
“He had a selection of eight firearms in his room,” one of the paralegals, a young woman in a black suit, added.
The attorney general shrugged. “That means nothing. His lawyer states that Andrei was preparing to visit a shooting range the next day. He provided years of evidence of this hobby in pictures and purchased tickets.”
“What about the newspaper that was found?” the young paralegal asked. “Didn’t it have the picture of Congressman Hughes circled with a red marker?”
Gager shook her head. “Kowitsch’s attorney provided evidence of hundreds of such newspapers as well as books that have the same circles in them, stating his client is simply circling articles and facts of interest to him. I’m afraid without finding Andrei Kowitsch, we have nothing to try him for. Absolutely nothing.”
This was more than Robert could handle. He shot to his feet, his finger pointing at me like a gun.
“I know you’re hiding something, you asshole. Fucking that girl’s brains out for weeks must have revealed more than you’re giving us!”
“Robert!” the chief slammed his fist onto the table. “That’s enough! Officer Carter has risked his life in this investigation and, as far as I know, is still in danger for as long as Andrei is out there on the run. So either sit down and shut up or get the hell out of here!”
Robert glared at me in hatred. I couldn’t help but grin back at him.
That’s right. Looks like whatever deal you made behind closed doors is going to wash down the drain.
