Media Justice Page 13

  “It’s a tired, old, story,” Miller said attempting to look both weary and annoyed. “It’s a constant problem with the defense bar. None of them can resist getting in front of a camera and making outrageous statements they can’t back up.

  “Sheriff Cale is absolutely right. Brittany Riley has and will be treated no differently than any other citizen accused of a crime. I’ve known Sheriff Cale for a long time, he is a true professional. And, it is the strict, carved-in-stone policy of my office that we will not try cases through the media.

  “Defense lawyers love to hold press conferences to talk about their case. We will not do that.”

  “Can you tell me if Brittany Riley is the subject of an investigation into her daughter’s disappearance?” Gabriella asked, turning back to Cale as did Kyle’s camera.

  “I will not discuss an ongoing investigation,” Cale said. This is the answer that the authorities always give when the answer to the question is yes, Gabriella knew. Otherwise, the cops will just say no and move on.

  The impromptu interview wrapped up after that. Gabriella thanked them both and Patty Dunphy led them back to the front door and pleasantly said good-bye.

  Before Gabriella and Kyle were out of the building. Cale and Miller were having a brief meeting in Cale’s office.

  “What exactly did your guys get out to them?” Miller asked referring to their media contacts.

  “Just what we had, so far,” Cale replied. “We don’t have much, just enough to let them know we’re not buying her story about Bob Olson.”

  “Okay. Let’s start putting out the things we do have. Put special emphasis on her not reporting the kid missing for ten days. This Gabriella chick,” Miller said, “is someone talking to her?”

  “Yeah, Stu Doyle.”

  “Good. Make sure he tells her about all of the lying Brittany did. We need to ratchet up the heat on her.”

  “We’re working on it. Don’t worry. In a couple weeks no one will buy her story,” Cale said.

  By the time Gabriella and Kyle were onto Highway 55 for the drive back to the Cities she found Marc’s business card and was dialing his cell. He was back at his office going through the pile of mail on his desk when the phone went off. Marc checked the caller ID, saw who it was and politely said hello.

  Gabriella told him about her interview with Cale and Miller, what they said and asked if he wanted to respond. Marc thought about it, then simply said, “no comment”.

  “Off the record?” he asked.

  “Sure,” Gabriella replied.

  “I’ll watch the news and think about it. Call me tomorrow.”

  It was almost midnight when Bob Olson finally turned off his television set. He had set his DVR for Melinda’s show and for the 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00 o’clock newscasts.

  Melinda’s indignation and borderline hysteria for the missing kid was the best part. She was practically accusing Brittany of at least being involved with the kid’s disappearance and she walked right up to the line of saying Becky was dead and Brittany did it.

  He put the empty beer bottle on the coffee table, loudly belched, smiled and headed for the bedroom.

  TWENTY ONE

  Marc and Maddy parted company in the small parking lot behind Marc’s office. Marc had a pile of work waiting on his desk and Maddy had other clients to check in with. She was developing a steady stream of business doing background checks on individuals for various reasons. Initially her clients were mostly women checking on potential lovers and future husbands. Lately, with the help of a P.I. friend of hers, an ex-cop named Tony Carvelli and Marc, she was expanding into business and corporate work. It paid the bills but her real love, what really got her juices going, was helping Marc with criminal cases. It was interesting, rewarding and a lot more fun than checking up on boyfriends. And, it didn’t give her the sleaze factor she got from doing the occasional divorce case.

  Marc got off the phone with Gabriella, finished going through the pile of mail on his desk then used the office intercom to ask the office paralegal, Jeff Modell to come in. Marc gave Jeff instructions to open a case file for Brittany and draft a discovery request, including the video of the interrogation of her while in custody. As Marc was finishing, his landlord and good friend, Connie Mickelson came into his office and took the chair next to Jeff.

  “So you’re getting yourself into another one of these high profile clusterfucks,” Connie said. “When are you going to learn?”

  “Do not light that cigarette in my office,” Marc admonished her as she put it in her mouth. Jeff laughed, stood up, asked Marc if he had anything else and left when Marc shook his head.

  “You know smoking isn’t allowed in Minnesota. Why do you do it?”

  “Just to piss off the do-gooders,” she replied. “What about your new case?” she seriously asked. “Where’s it going?”

  “Not sure,” Marc said. “Right now she’s charged with child neglect but I’m pretty sure they’re going to try to nail her for the kid’s death.”

  “You figure the kid is dead?”

  “Don’t you? Yeah, unless and until they find her I’m going to start working this as a homicide of some kind. Not sure what yet.”

  Barry Cline, another lawyer in the office came through the open door and sat next to Connie just as she asked, “If you march her in and plead guilty to the child neglect charge, wouldn’t double jeopardy attach?”

  “No,” Barry answered her. “They can still charge her with the murder. It’s a separate act and can be charged separately. What’s going on? Are we going to have another extremely unpopular client around here?”

  Marc leaned back in his chair, frowned, shrugged his shoulders and said, “We might. I’ve been retained for the child neglect charge only. If she’s charged with more serious stuff, I could get out of…”

  “The hell you will!” Connie growled. “You do what you have to.”

  “Agreed,” Barry said. “Even if business gets a little tight, we’ll manage.”

  “Do you believe she’s innocent?” Connie asked.

  “I don’t know yet,” Marc said. “My gut tells me yes but, I’ve been fooled before,” Marc said.

  “Carl Fornich!” both Connie and Barry said in unison.

  “Thanks for the reminder,” Marc said with a smile.

  At that moment Carolyn yelled through the open door, “Hey Marc, there’s a Robbie Nelson on the phone for you…”

  “We have an intercom, or so you keep telling me,” Marc yelled back.

  “I think I like this one better. The one you normally use. Anyway…”

  “Who’s Robbie Nelson?” Marc asked.

  “He says he’s a TV producer for that show, The Court Reporter, the one with that person,” Carolyn hesitated, “that b-i-t-c-h, Melinda Pace.”

  “There aren’t any kids here and we can all spell, Carolyn,” Connie yelled back laughing.

  “He wants to talk to you about an interview on the show,” Carolyn said ignoring Connie. “What do you want me to tell him?”

  “I’ll take it,” Marc said as he reached for the phone. When he did this Connie and Barry started to rise and Marc said, “No, stay. We’ll see what they have to say. Marc Kadella,” he said into the phone. Connie gestured to him about closing the door but Marc just shrugged to indicate his indifference.

  “Mr. Kadella, my name is Robbie Nelson and I’m the producer of The Court Reporter on Channel 8. Do you remember it?” Marc heard the young man ask.

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure Gabriella Shriqui interviewed me for the show a couple of months ago about a case I handled.”

  “Yes, in the government center on the walkway bridge,” Robbie said. “Gabriella interviewed you for the news broadcast. That was me and a cameraman who filmed you for The Court Reporter.”

  “Oh, okay,” Marc said. “I remember that now. That was you who asked to watch?”

  “Yes sir,” Robbie replied. “I’m calling first of all, to find out if you’ve been retained b
y Brittany Riley and, if so, would you be willing to appear on the show for an interview?”

  Marc had placed the call on the phone’s speaker so Connie and Barry could listen in. Connie silently mouthed the words to Marc that he didn’t have to answer that.

  “I put the call on speaker,” Marc said to Robbie. “There are two other people here with me. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all, sir,” Robbie said.

  “When does she want me?” Marc asked.

  “Whenever it’s convenient for you. There’s been a lot of news coverage and Ms. Pace thought you might be interested in giving Brittany Riley’s side of things.”

  “Just a second,” Marc said as he turned off the speaker and said to Connie and Barry, “What do you think?”

  “Might not be a bad idea. The press is already crucifying her. Wouldn’t hurt to throw some cold water on that,” Connie answered.

  “Never a bad idea to get some free publicity,” Barry said.

  “Never? Remember Carl Fornich?” Connie asked. “This could turn into another one of those. That case damn near bankrupted both of you guys.”

  “True, but, business took a big jump once it was over,” Marc reminded her. “Besides, here’s a chance to take a shot at the Dakota County Sheriff’s office. I know damn well they’re leaking things to the media and then acting so pious and indignant about it.”

  Marc picked up the phone and agreed to do the show the next day. Robbie gladly accepted and told Marc the time for the taping.

  “We won’t be live for this,” Robbie explained. “We always like to tape these things if time and circumstances permit. So if 10:00 o’clock tomorrow morning is okay with you, we’ll see you then.”

  Marc, being a defense lawyer and not a prosecutor, was used to being required to be punctual so it had become habitual. He arrived at the Channel 8 building in Minneapolis fifteen minutes early. Marc checked in with the very professional receptionist, took a seat and picked up the sports section of the morning Star Tribune. Marc had barely started reading about the Twin’s latest loss when a familiar looking younger man came out and introduced himself as Robbie Nelson.

  Robbie led Marc back to the same set on which Melinda had ambushed and humiliated Brittany a couple of weeks ago. Marc, having been out of town at the time, had not seen that show but, of course, had heard all about it. Robbie introduced Marc to everyone on the set whose names he immediately forgot except for the striking Cordelia Davis whom Robbie introduced as an associate producer.

  Marc was directed to a chair off camera and a woman began to prep him with makeup to dull the bright lights. While she did this, Robbie explained to him how the taping would go so he would know what to expect.

  “I understand my client was interviewed on this show a couple weeks ago. I didn’t get a chance to see it. I’d like to get a copy of it on a DVD format,” Marc said to Robbie while the woman worked on his face.

  “Um, I’m not sure I can do that,” Robbie answered. “I’ll have to check with…”

  “I can get a subpoena,” Marc said with an authoritative look.

  “Get him a copy of the show,” Marc heard a woman’s voice say.

  Marc tilted his head to look behind Robbie and saw Melinda Pace walking toward them. Marc had seen her show, or at least parts of it, several times enough to recognize her. She always appeared to be an attractive woman, borderline beautiful even. Seeing her in person, Marc thought the cameras did not do the woman justice.

  “Melinda Pace,” she said introducing herself as she extended a well manicured hand toward Marc. They shook hands and Marc was immediately impressed with the firmness of her grip and her obvious take charge attitude.

  “A subpoena won’t be necessary,” she said as their hands separated. “We’ll be happy to get it for you, won’t we?” she said smiling at Robbie.

  “Sure, no problem,” Robbie answered. He turned to Cordelia who nodded and walked off.

  “Robbie explained everything to you?” Melinda asked Marc.

  The make-up woman indicated she was finished and Marc stood up and said, “Yes he’s been very helpful.”

  “Good,” Melinda said with a dazzling smile as she hooked her left arm through Marc’s right arm to guide him to the set. She led him to the same chair Brittany had used and the two of them took their seats. At that point Marc was glad he had worn his best looking suit, a light gray Armani pinstripe and Hermes tie Margaret had bought for him in Paris.

  The crew completed the sound and light checks then Melinda started the show and introduced Marc. She explained who he is and reminded the audience of two infamous cases he had handled recently.

  The two of them amiably chatted for almost ten minutes about those cases. Melinda even gave Marc a little ego boost by complimenting him on the job he had done on both cases.

  “It was pretty obvious,” Melinda said, “that Judge Prentiss was guilty of murdering his wife…”

  “He maintains his innocence and I believe he is innocent,” Marc replied.

  “Seriously? Even after the guilty verdict. I mean twelve jurors heard and saw all of the evidence and they agreed with me,” Melinda said.

  “Agreed with you? That’s an interesting way of putting it,” Marc said with a smile.

  “You know what I mean,” Melinda lightly said in rejoinder. “Are you handling his appeal?”

  “No, I don’t do appellate work. He has an excellent lawyer working on his case.”

  “You made some serious accusations about the Dakota County sheriff and county attorney’s offices leaking reports to the media,” Melinda said abruptly changing the conversation.

  “Yes, I did. And I saw the sheriff and county attorney being interviewed by Gabriella Shriqui. They both did an excellent job of appearing indignant especially when he claimed his office always acts professionally and follows appropriate procedures. I was quite impressed. Of course, if it was me questioning him, I would have asked him if it is proper procedure to show up in the middle of the night like the Gestapo and pound down a young woman’s door, then trash her apartment searching for evidence of child neglect, which is what she’s charged with and at gunpoint, make her kneel down while they put handcuffs on her, dragging her out in her pajamas in the middle of the night in front of a horde of media who just happened to be there.”

  Marc turned away from the camera, looked at Melinda and said, “You wouldn’t happen to know how all of those news people found out about the arrest of a twenty two year old girl, at midnight, would you?”

  “No, I really don’t. But, even if I did, I couldn’t tell you,” Melinda answered him.

  “That’s right. Whoever leaked this to the media gets to hide behind the journalist shield laws. And I’m sure this leak didn’t come from Sheriff Cale’s office,” Marc added with obvious sarcasm.

  “Those are all excellent points, Marc. I’m glad you brought them up,” Melinda said. She turned and said to the camera, “We’ll be back after a short break.”

  The filming stopped while the makeup woman checked over both of them. As she was doing that, Melinda said, “Marc that was fabulous. The audience will eat it up and you made some great points. Keep it up.”

  When the filming started again, Melinda turned to Marc and said, “The audience has a right to know: What is Brittany Riley’s involvement in the disappearance of her daughter?”

  Marc, a little stunned by the question and wondering if she was joking, just stared back at her for a full fifteen seconds. Realizing she was serious, he finally said, “Melinda, I understand you have a law degree and even practiced for a while. Is that true?”

  “Yes, it is,” she answered him.

  “Then you know I can’t possibly answer that question.”

  Getting the answer she knew she would get, the answer she wanted, Melinda quickly moved on before Marc could explain.

  She spent a few minutes asking him questions about the Riley family, how they were holding up and the searches being conduc
ted. Melinda asked about a possible reward for finding Becky, a subject Marc knew nothing about. At one point Marc looked at a clock on the wall and noticed they had gone beyond the amount of time the show would be aired. It was then that Melinda asked, “Isn’t it true that many criminal defendants look at their lawyer as a sort of father figure?”

  “Sometimes, I guess,” Marc answered wondering where this was headed.

  “Did Brittany confess to you and tell you where her daughter is?”

  An exasperated Marc looked at her and said, “Melinda, stop it. You’re not going to get me to talk about something that is covered by attorney-client privilege. You should know better.”

  “The audience wants to know and I have an obligation to ask,” she said. Melinda then stood up as did Marc and they shook hands again.

  Marc said. “Are we done?”

  “I’ll film an ending but yeah, that’s it. You were great and came across really well. I’d love to have you back. In fact, how about dinner sometime soon?” she asked still holding his hand.

  “Are you asking me out for a date?” Marc said coyly.

  “Sure, why not? You’re an attractive, interesting man.”

  “Um, well, that’s flattering,” Marc said as they released their hands. “But, I’m involved with someone.”

  At that moment Robbie Nelson joined them on the set, handed Marc a DVD in a plastic case as Melinda said, “Too bad. But, if you change your mind, give me a call.”

  With that Robbie led Marc back out to the reception area, thanked him and said goodbye. When Robbie got back to the set, Melinda was beginning to film the closing sequence.

  “I asked him if Brittany Riley was involved in her daughter’s disappearance and if she had told him where her daughter was. Like any good lawyer, he refused to answer either question. But, remember something. He didn’t say no to either one of them. I’ll let you decide for yourselves what, if anything, that tells you.

  “This is Melinda Pace and you’ve just seen The Court Reporter.”