Dirty Rotten Tendrils (13 page)

Protect him from what?

Louden said, “Do these emotional events have anything to do with Lila not being here? A rift in your relationship, perhaps?”

Cody sat forward, lacing and unlacing his fingers as he said earnestly, “No, man. Lila and me, we’re doing great. Couldn’t be better.”

“So the reason she’s not here is . . . ?” Louden waited for Cody to supply the rest, but it was Hess who jumped in.

“I felt it was in my client’s best interests.”

What was that supposed to mean? That it wasn’t in Cody’s best interests to share the spotlight with Lila?

“Let’s discuss the reason you’re in town,” Louden said. “I think our viewers are aware of the lawsuit filed against you, but let me review the allegations. And just to make it easier, I’ll refer to the plaintiff in the case by his name, Andrew Chapper. All right, here we go. First, Andrew Chapper is alleging that he cowrote the song ‘Code Blue,’ which won the contest on the TV show
America’s Next Hit Single
. Second—”

“That’s a total lie, by the way,” Hess declared earnestly.

Louden paused, looking annoyed by the interruption. “Second, Andrew alleges he was not given credit for the song or allowed to share in the subsequent royalties. Third, and maybe most importantly, Andrew is seeking damages in the amount of five million dollars and punitive damages in the sum of fifty million dollars. That’s a lot of money, Cody. Are you prepared to pay if the ruling goes against you?”

Before Cody could open his mouth, Hess said, “It’s simply not going to happen, Guy. As lead counsel, I have every confidence that we will prove the plaintiff’s claim to be frivolous. My client won’t have to pay a dime.”

I could tell Louden was losing patience with Hess. He wanted Cody to talk. That was who the audience had tuned in to see. “Cody, I’m sure the death of your attorney, the late Kenneth Lipinski, came as quite a shock to you.”

“Yeah, man. I’m still not over the shock,” Cody said, trying, but not quite succeeding, to arrange his expression to look like he was suffering. He seemed jumpy, one of his knees bouncing up and down, as though he couldn’t wait to stand up. He sure lacked the spark that I’d seen when he was onstage.

“Do you think Attorney Lipinski’s death will impact this lawsuit in any way?” Louden asked him. “Are you worried about losing?”

Hess immediately answered, “It won’t have any effect whatsoever. I’m prepared to mount a strong defense and win the suit. All this, Guy, is just one more case of someone being jealous of a star’s fame and trying to capitalize on it.”

“Are you claiming there’s no merit to the allegations at all?” Louden asked Cody.

‘None whatsoever,” Hess answered for him. “These types of suits are a dime a dozen.”

“Let’s allow Cody a chance to respond,” Louden said pointedly. “Cody, you’re claiming Andrew Chapper had no hand in composing the song that won the contest. Are you referring strictly to the melody or does that include the lyrics?”

At that moment Simon launched himself onto my lap, startling me. I grabbed the straw he’d left by my feet and tossed it, then leaned forward to hear Cody’s answer.

“It’s the whole song, Guy,” he said, his knee bouncing faster. “Look, Andy and I were best friends in high school. Sure, we had jam sessions with our guitars and wrote a few tunes together, but ‘Code Blue’ is one hundred percent mine.”

Louden glanced at his notes. “As I understand it, the two of you performed as Chapper and Verse for several years, up until the time you left to attend UCLA. That’s more than just jam sessions—wouldn’t you agree?”

Hess was practically shredding his lower lip in an effort not to jump in with answers. He finally unwrapped a stick of gum and stuck it in his mouth, chomping furiously on it.

Cody crossed one ankle over his other knee and sat back, trying to give the impression of nonchalance, but his fingers tapped out a rapid staccato on the side of his shoe. “We had a few gigs, sure.”

Louden let it ride. “What is your relationship with Andrew now? Have you seen him since you’ve been back in town? Spoken with him?”

Simon scratched my pant leg, trying to get my attention. I picked the straw up and tossed it again just as Cody answered. “No, man. I tried to talk to him, but Andy’s not the same guy. He’s changed. It’s all about money with him now.”

“I understand Andrew had to drop out of college to help care for his grandparents,” Louden said. “Do you think that might have motivated him to file this lawsuit?”

“Sure. He needs money. He’ll take it any way he can get it, even by making up ridiculous claims.” Cody looked straight at the camera, which zoomed in close enough to catch the perspiration on his face. “Listen, buddy, just come see me, all right? I’ll lend you money for school. You don’t need to sue me, man. Maybe I can even find a job for you.”

How magnanimous. I wished I could call Marco and tell him to watch the show, so we could dis Cody together, but if Marco had worked late, he’d want to sleep in.

Louden said to Cody, “Just so you know, our producer has invited Andrew to appear on our show tomorrow morning to present his side. We’re waiting to hear from his attorney as to whether that will happen.”

Cody shrugged. “Hey, it’s a free country. Andy can do what he wants. Give him his fifteen minutes of fame.” He shrugged again, or maybe it was a nervous twitch.

Simon scratched my pant leg. I tossed the straw, but this time he ignored it and just stared up at me with big sad eyes. “What, Simon?”

He meowed a tiny kitten meow in an effort to seem pitiable.

“Just a minute,” I said, and reached to scratch under his chin. He ducked my hand.

“I couldn’t help but notice your security guards,” Louden said as the camera switched to a shot of two behemoths standing off to the side. I recognized them as the men who’d tried to stop me as I crossed the courthouse lawn Monday morning. “Do you typically have bodyguards with you?”

“I do now, man,” Cody said. “I mean, someone knocked off my lawyer. I could be next. I’m not taking any chances.”

“Whoa,” Louden said, sitting back as though stunned. “All we’ve been told is that the police are investigating Mr. Lipinski’s death. Are you saying he was the victim of foul play?”

“Don’t answer that,” Hess said to Cody.

Ignoring his attorney’s advice, Cody said, “That’s what I’m telling you, man.”

“Let me get this straight,” Louden said, clearly realizing the potential for a major scoop. “You believe your former attorney was murdered, and now you fear for your own life?”

“Totally.” Cody thought about it again, then nodded. “Yep, totally.”

“Do you believe Mr. Lipinski’s death is connected to your lawsuit?”

“Totally, man.” Cody shrugged off Hess’s hand on his arm.

“Then if you believe that Kenneth Lipinski’s death came as a result of defending your lawsuit,” Louden said, “and you also believe the killer might be after you, it sounds as though you’re accusing Andrew Chapper of murder.”

Scott Hess jumped to his feet and walked toward the camera, waving his hands to block the view. “That’s it. This interview is over.”

I
muted the volume and sat back, trying to process what I’d just witnessed. Why was Cody so certain the Lip had been murdered? And why had he seemed to agree with Louden’s outrageous suggestion about Andrew being the killer? If Andrew had been that incensed over the lawsuit, wouldn’t he have gone after Cody rather than the Lip? Did Cody really fear for his life or had he said it merely to create more media buzz?

At that moment, NEWS BULLETIN flashed on the screen in giant letters, so I unmuted the volume as the local news anchor came on.

“We’re interrupting
The Morning Show
to bring you this special bulletin. New Chapel police have just announced that attorney Kenneth Lipinski’s death is now being deemed a homicide. The police spokesperson would not comment on potential suspects but said they are seeking witnesses who passed by the Lipinski law office building after five o’clock Monday evening and noticed a vehicle in the lot or a person or persons entering or leaving the building. Anyone with information should contact the New Chapel police at the number shown on your screen. To repeat, Attorney Kenneth Lipinski’s death has been ruled a homicide—”

I turned off the TV. Cody must have known beforehand that Lipinski had been murdered. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to make such bold declarations without some basis. His new attorney must have gotten word before they set foot on that stage.

Now newshounds from all over the country would descend on New Chapel, hungry for a juicy story of murder with a celebrity tie-in. The local reporters were probably already calling Dave and Andrew for comments.

Simon meowed again, then trotted toward the kitchen, pausing to wait for me to follow. He led me to his food dish, where he posed prettily, tail wrapped around his body, giving me his
I’m starving
gaze. He tried this ploy at least once a week, hoping I’d forget that I’d already fed him.

“Not going to happen, big boy,” I told him.

Simon stalked off, white tail whipping back and forth to show his annoyance. My cell phone began to ring, so I grabbed it, checked the screen, and saw Dave’s name.

“Abby, I hope I didn’t wake you. I wanted to have a chat before I head to my office.”

“You didn’t wake me. I was just watching TV and saw the news bulletin about Lipinski. Have the reporters started calling you yet?”

“No, I’m still at home. What bulletin is that?”

“His death was officially ruled a homicide.”

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that. I had my beefs with the man, but no one deserves to have his life taken away. At least now I see why I’ve been called for another interview.”

“The detectives want to see you
again
?”

“Yes, ma’am, at nine o’clock this morning. Martha’s going to have to reschedule all my appointments. I have no idea how long I’ll be there.”

“I’m so sorry about letting it slip to that weasel of a reporter that you went to see your mom. I had no idea he would seize that and run with it. I hope it’s not my fault that you’re being called back in.”

“Forget it, Abby. The information was bound to come out—just maybe not so soon.”

“Are you the only one the detectives are talking to?”

“I don’t know. Darnell is running things, and he’s being tight-lipped at this point. I suspect he’s looking for a motive, and because of what happened in court with my exhibit, it would appear I have one.”

“You can’t be the only attorney who’s ever had evidence stolen by Lipinski.”

“Definitely not. His thievery is legendary.”

“What happened at your meeting with Lipinski?”

“Not much. We sat down in his office, I confronted him about the exhibit, he refused to admit he took it, so I told him I wouldn’t withdraw my complaint. Then I left. That was the extent of it. The secretary who had been at the desk outside his office was gone by that time, as was the receptionist in the lobby. I didn’t see anyone in the parking lot.”

“Just out of curiosity, did Lipinski drink anything during your meeting?”

“He had a drink on his desk, but he didn’t touch it while I was there. The reason I called, Abby, is that Marco mentioned that you visited Whispering Willows yesterday. Did I understand correctly that you spoke with Nadine and she didn’t remember seeing me Monday evening?”

“Right. But I had to get in her face before she noticed me, so I’m not surprised that she didn’t see you.”

“Nadine can be oblivious.”

“Not a good trait in a receptionist. I’m still shocked that there’s no guest log.”

“It would certainly help strengthen my alibi,” Dave said. “Would you be able to go back to Whispering Willows to find witnesses who saw me there Monday evening?”

“Of course I will, and by the way, someone did see you. A woman from Whispering Willows called yesterday evening while I was out, but didn’t leave her name. I’ll find her and hopefully others who can testify on your behalf.”

“Thanks. That’ll be great. At this point I don’t know if I’ll need alibi witnesses, but I’ll feel better knowing I have them. Martha will fax over a copy of a photo of me so you can show it around. Some of the residents know me by sight but may not connect the name. Visiting hours start at ten a.m.”

“I’m really glad I can help, Dave. And by the way, prepare yourself for calls from reporters about some remarks Cody Verse made on the morning cable TV show.”

“I’ll alert Martha. What did Cody say?”

“He said someone knocked off his lawyer and might be coming after him next. He hinted that Andrew killed Lipinski.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Cody wouldn’t elaborate, and when the host tried to get him to be more specific, his new attorney jumped in and ended the interview.”

Dave sighed. “I’ll have to give Andrew and his grandparents a call. I’m sure they’ll be upset when they hear about it.”