Karski said, “If only.”
“Got it,” said Judy Grobel. To us: “We hated the whole thing—Walter working Alberts. He because he knew it was a joke and me because I had to live with him. Shortly after, we both retired from the Bureau.”
Karski said, “She worked national security.”
Grobel said, “Not as hotshot as it sounds. I liaised with TSA, basically visited airports trying to ensure the stupid was kept to a low level.”
“She’s selling herself short.”
She kissed his cheek. “I’d offer this guy to you on loan but I generally like his company.”
Both of them walked us to the door and continued outside the house.
Walt Karski said, “Good luck.”
Judy Grobel said, “That always helps.”
Chapter
29
We drove down to Main Street, found a space in front of a small antiques mall, and parked.
I said, “Karski thinks he told us nothing but he’s wrong. Bettina goes way back with Heck.”
“How about that?” He worked his phone, found Bel Geddes’s profile on her law firm’s website.
“Got her degree nine years ago from Cal, so she was a rookie when she represented him on Alberts.”
“Like Karski said, there could be more to their relationship than attorney-client. And that got me thinking. The woman at the alibi hotel with Heck was never identified because Heck said she was married and he refused to name her. And given how things unfolded, there was no reason to push it.”
“You think it could be Bel Geddes? What got you to that?”
“You told me all the video revealed was a blond head, which is exactly how Karski described her ten years ago.
“L.A.’s not short on blondes.”
“True, but Heck’s chivalry was puzzling, given that he was facing a murder charge. What if he endured two days in jail knowing he had a rock-solid alibi because Bel Geddes told him to.”
“Why would she do that, Alex? And why the hell would he listen to her?”
“If she was the woman at the hotel, both of them knew Heck could be exonerated immediately. False arrest, PTSD, what better setup for a massive civil arrest suit? Hang in there for a couple of days, Mike, and you’ll never need to work again. Neither of us will.”
He swiveled in the driver’s seat and stared. “The way your mind works.”
“Not likely?”
“Damn likely,” he said. “With enough payoff I can easily see Heck chancing it.”
“I know the lawsuit’s been hanging over you. Prove Bel Geddes colluded to obstruct a criminal investigation and your problem’s over.”
“Thatproblem’s over,” he said. “Assuming she’stheblonde. Which is still a big if, Alex. Meanwhile, I’ve got three whodunit murders and Heck’s been confirmed as a link between Martha and Sophie. Screw his alibi, I’m back to he coulda hired someone.”
Walt Karski had raised a good point:What’s the motive?I kept that to myself and said, “As long as the lawsuit’s an issue, your access to him is nil.”
He went through a series of face-contorting grimaces. Wider repertoire of tortured muscles than I’d ever seen.
Sighing, he pulled out his phone and put it on speaker.
