Connections in Death (In Death 48)

She would have, Eve thought as she opened the door to Interview, when she pried the damn name out of Cohen.

“Record on. Dallas and Peabody entering to resume interview.”

She sat, noted Cohen’s eyes were a little red against a face paler than before. Fear could squeeze out a few tears.

In one go he drank half the water Peabody set on the table.

“You’ve had your water and your thinking time.”

“I … Hypothetically. If I had information regarding certain criminal activities and enterprises, and volunteered this information to the authorities, would this result in immunity from any inadvertent connection to those activities?”

“‘Immunity’? Are you serious?”

“By providing this information—again, hypothetically—I’d put my life in danger. With immunity, I’d be able to relocate out of harm’s way.”

An operator to the end, Eve thought. Just what she’d counted on. “You’re going to relocate to prison. Stop wasting my time.”

“Information I provide could and should lead to the convictions of multiple violent criminals.” His voice took on a desperate edge now. “I’m sure the prosecuting attorney’s office would be interested in this information. By granting immunity on the gray area of my business practices, the PA, and the federal government, would break the back of a notorious gang.”

Frowning, Eve sat back. “I’m not going to be able to work immunity, not with the feds or the PA. At the end of the day, the Bangers are pretty small change.”

“Three murders,” Cohen insisted. “They want the people really responsible.”

She frowned again, showing him the face of a cop conflicted between duty and dislike. And reluctantly letting duty win.

“I can cite cooperation, and push harder if that cooperation leads to arrest and conviction, but immunity’s never going to happen. You’ve been cheating the federal government, Sam. They get really pissy about that.”

He wiped his lips with the back of his hand. “If I knew the location of illegals with a street value of more than a hundred thousand dollars, and the equipment used to make false identifications and to conduct identity fraud, they might be less pissy.”

Eve drummed her fingers on the table. “They might be marginally less pissy, but that won’t get you immunity.”

Peabody leaned over to whisper in Eve’s ear, said the words “Witness Protection” just loud enough to carry.

Eve drummed her fingers again, then leaned back to Peabody. With a nod, Peabody rose.

“Peabody exiting Interview,” Eve said. “We might be able to deal down some of the charges, depending on the information. Are you going to stipulate that Eldena Vinn was unaware of your activities in this matter, had no knowledge of the fraud or tax evasion, was, in fact, duped into signing documents, and that you took her money for same under false pretenses? Otherwise,” Eve said when he hesitated, “the feds are going to haul her in and mine her for information, and that information’s going to add weight to the charges already against you.”

“There’s no need for that. I can stipulate that I handled the household finances.”

“Do better, or I won’t even step up to the plate much less go to bat for you.”

“She was unaware. I was looking out for her financial interests.”

Eyes flat and steady, Eve leaned toward him. “Cop to this, Cohen, or I walk out of here, go pick up Jones, and that’s the end of it.”

“All right, all right. I used her, I’m not proud of it. It’s not my fault she didn’t read the papers I put in front of her.”

“You defrauded her. You used funds you took from her under the guise of household expenses to fatten your own bank accounts and listed her income, without her knowledge, to secure loans for real property.”

“I gave her a very good life,” he began, then stumbled over his words as Eve started to rise. “I lied to her. I’ll admit that. I used her income to secure loans without her knowledge. My records are very clear on what monies I took from her, and she can have it back. Minus, of course, reasonable living expenses.”

A few tears did swirl in his eyes as Eve started to stand again. “All of it! She can have all of it. It’s not important. What does it matter? I’m prepared to give you information on much more. Valuable information. I’ll take Witness Protection.”

As if on cue, the door opened to Peabody and APA Cher Reo.

16

“Detective Peabody entering Interview with APA Reo.”