your trunk or Carrie’s disappearance there are a few matters we need to get out of the way.”
“Such as?”
“Do you want me to act as your attorney in this matter?”
“Yes. I need an expert in criminal law.”
“Okay, then. If I’m going to be your attorney I’ll need a retainer. Fifty thousand dollars will be adequate for now.”
“That’s fine.”
“You understand that the fee will be much more if they charge you with murder.”
Blair nodded.
“Good. Now you need to know some of the rules involving the attorney-client relationship.”
“My corporate attorneys have told me about that.”
“I’m sure they have, but I want to go over the rules again in the context of a criminal matter. Anything you tell me is confidential. I am forbidden by law to reveal the information to anyone, and no judge can ever force me to reveal it, even if you tell me you killed Carrie.”
“I did not kill Carrie.”
“Of course. I never thought you did. I’m just making a point. And another point I want to make is that no other person may have this same relationship with you. If you talk to a friend, your secretary, a member of your board of directors, and you say something that can be used by the police, those people can be subpoenaed by a grand jury and forced to reveal what you told them, no matter how much they like you and want to protect you. So, from now on, think of me as your protector and your shield. Do not speak to anyone about anything to do with this matter without consulting me first. Do you understand?”
“I understand completely.”
Benedict smiled. Horace Blair thought the smile signified Benedict’s satisfaction in knowing that he understood the information Benedict had just imparted, but Charles Benedict was smiling for a different reason. From this moment on, Horace Blair would be isolated from all outside influences and would do anything Benedict told him.
“Let’s get down to business. The detectives want to interview you. I advise you very strongly to refuse to let them. But it’s your decision.”
“After the way they’ve treated me, the last thing I want to do is talk to those two. I’m a friend of the chief of police and I have a good mind to call him about their conduct.”
“That might be a good idea somewhere down the line, but let’s hold your contacts in reserve. Now, let’s you and I discuss strategy.”
“Is your client ready to talk?” Stephanie Robb asked as soon as Benedict stepped out of the interrogation room.
“Absolutely not,” Benedict said. “And you two should be ashamed of yourselves for tricking Mr. Blair.”
“Oddly, I’m not,” Santoro said.
“I assume you’re going to let my client leave now,” Benedict said.
“You assume wrong, Benedict,” Robb answered with a smirk. “He’s going to cool his heels tonight. Maybe after a taste of jail, your fat-cat client will be a little more cooperative.”
Benedict was delighted. This was exactly what he’d hoped for.
“What’s the charge?” he asked.
“We’ve got him dead to rights on the thirty-eight, Charlie,” Santoro interposed so Robb would have a chance to cool down. “We’re treating Blair no differently than we would any other person in the same situation.”
“All right, Frank, but don’t put him in the general population. Put him in isolation while I arrange bail.”
“Why should we?” Robb asked belligerently.
“I’m doing this for you two,” Benedict said. “You have no idea how well connected Mr. Blair is. I’m pissed at you for tricking him into opening the trunk, but I know you well enough to know that you thought you were doing the right thing. If this blows up in your face, it could jeopardize your careers.”
“Is that a threat?” Robb demanded.
“No, it’s me trying to help you.”
“He has a point, Steph,” Santoro said. “And Blair will be out on bail soon, in any event. There’s no sense putting him in danger.”
Santoro turned to Benedict. “I’ll arrange for a cell in the isolation wing.”
“Thanks, Frank. I’ll let Mr. Blair know how considerate you were.”
As soon as Benedict left, Robb turned on her partner.
“Why are you kissing Blair’s ass?”
“There’s a lot of evidence against Blair, but it’s not enough for an indictment. We can’t even prove that Mrs. Blair’s dead. Blair’s going to be furious anyway, but his lawyers will go ballistic if he gets hurt in population.”
Robb calmed down long enough to see that Santoro was right.
“Okay, call the jail and get him a cell in isolation. But the gloves come off the minute we have probable cause