also know that the Steeles had some marital problems in the past, but everyone I’ve spoken to indicated that those problems were resolved.” Murdock smiled at that and reclined even further, putting his feet up on the desk.
“Man, it’s funny,” he began. “I remember her calling me and setting up the meeting. She came in and we talked. She gave me some papers and she left. We’d planned to meet again. She made an appointment, but, of course, I never saw her again. I also remember that she called me the next day or a couple of days later just to tell me that she’d had some documents sent to me. Fed Ex.”
“What did she come to see you about?”
Murdock held his gaze for a second and then put his feet back on the floor and leaned forward. “Look, I don’t need any trouble. I agonized over this when it happened. And after Steele was convicted, I figured it was all over.” He stopped for a second and, though still staring at me, seemed to be looking at something far off in the past. “I remember it was all over the news on that Sunday. When I came in on Monday, the Fed Ex guy showed up with an envelope from her. I really didn’t know what to do.”
Murdock sat back again. “So I didn’t do anything. I put it all in that file you saw and I stuck it in storage. I figured I’d deal with the ethical issues when and if someone ever showed up to ask questions.” He laughed out loud and slapped his palm on the desk. “Shit! I never thought it would be twelve years later.”
I crossed my legs and said, “Why were you concerned? Did she tell you something?”
Murdock shook his head and gave me a look that said, you don’t know a damned thing, kid. “You know, I didn’t really play golf this morning. I came in here and stared at the file for about an hour. I was going to open it and find out what was in that envelope, but I’m pretty sure I already know. Well, I don’t know exactly, but generally. I debated whether to say anything. But it’s been twelve years and Steele’s a free man now. That concerns me.”
“So you did know something relevant to the murder.”
“Shit, kid.” Murdock scratched the back of his head. “Did I know something? I can’t be sure, but I’ve got a pretty good idea.” The room went quiet while I watched Murdock struggle with himself.
“So why did she come see you?” I finally asked.
“Shit,” Murdock uttered, with a tone of resignation. “I’m only telling you this because Steele’s out.” I said nothing, merely letting the rationalization hang impotent in the air.
“Okay,” Murdock began. “What I remember is that she called to make an appointment and wouldn’t tell me what it was about. She just said she needed me to block off a couple of hours, that she would pay me for my time, and write me a retainer check if she decided to hire me. She sounded kind of crazy or — not crazy — but stressed, worried.”
I just nodded and listened.
“Anyway, I had no idea who she was. I remember she showed up, very well dressed, looking sharp. She looked like the kind of woman who had a lot of money. Real money. You learn to spot that quick in a town like this. She said her husband was James Steele, the senator, and that she wanted to divorce him.”
Murdock paused, watching me, letting it sink in slowly.
I asked, “Why did she come see you? No offense, but this seems kind of out of the way.”
“That’s the first thing I asked her. I’m not one to turn away a paying client, but something about it seemed weird right away. That’s a pretty high profile case and I’ve done some big ones over the years, but there are plenty of guys in LA who could handle that for her. So I asked her ‘Why me?’ and she said it was because she needed someone who wouldn’t have any connection to her husband or any of his cronies. She seemed scared, more than just worried. I represent a lot of women in big divorce cases, they always worry about the outcome of the case, but she wasn’t. She was worried about something else.”
“What do you think it was?”
“Well, I think we both know what it was. She got killed didn’t she?” The