Silent Witness by Michael Norman

news?” He nodded.
    â€œBesides Robin, Mr. Ginsberg was the only other witness in the case. Now, he’s dead, and Robin is missing. We’re afraid she’s next, and I think you can help us find her. Do that for her sake so that she doesn’t end up like Ginsberg.”
    He relented. “Okay. Robin called me a little while ago and asked me to get the car for her.” He glanced at his watch. “She’s supposed to call me back in about an hour and fifteen minutes, and then we’re supposed to meet someplace.”
    â€œDid she tell you where?”
    He shook his head. “She acted pretty paranoid about the whole thing. Now I guess I understand why. She said we’d figure out a place to meet when she called back.”
    â€œWhere did she call from, do you know?”
    He shook his head again. “She didn’t say and the number was blocked.”
    â€œThis is what I need you to do, Michael. When she calls, tell her you’ve got the car and set up the meeting. I’ll go with you, and we’ll bring her in together.”
    He considered this but only for a moment. “I won’t do it. I won’t deceive her like that, I just can’t.”
    â€œChrist, Michael, how are you going to feel if you don’t help us find her, and she ends up dead like Arnold Ginsberg? Can you live with that?”
    He thought some more and then proposed a compromise. “What if, when she calls, I try to talk her into coming in? I’ll even let you talk to her.”
    It wasn’t what I wanted, but it was the best deal I was going to get, so I agreed.

Chapter Fifteen
    An hour later, Michael Baker, Kate, and I were sequestered in McConnell’s office when Baker’s cell phone rang. We could only hear one side of the conversation, but he looked decidedly uncomfortable, and his voice sounded strained.
    â€œHello. Hi, Rob. I need you to listen to me. I got stopped by the cops trying to get your car. I know what’s going on, and I’m worried about you. The cops are too. No, I’m not under arrest. I’m okay. But I think you need to let us come and get you. It’s the only way you’ll be safe.” He talked in a whisper, and we could barely hear him.
    There was a long pause during which Baker listened. “Hold on, don’t hang up. I want you to talk to this detective. I think you can trust him.”
    He handed me the phone. “Hi, Robin, my name is Sam Kincaid, and I’m a police officer. We’ve been trying to find you for a couple of days. We have good reason to believe that your life is in danger, and we can’t protect you if you don’t come in.”
    Silence. “Like you protected Arnold Ginsberg,” she finally said.
    She had a point. “Listen to me for a moment. We didn’t know you or Ginsberg were in danger until after he was killed. We’ve been looking for you ever since.”
    â€œWhat makes you so sure that I am in danger?”
    â€œBesides Ginsberg’s murder, your apartment has been broken into and tossed—same for your car. Somebody was sitting in the U parking lot yesterday watching your Honda. I know that because I ran him off, but the guy got away. He was driving a stolen car and left a sawed off shotgun on the front seat as a calling card. I think you’re in real danger, Robin, and I think these guys play for keeps.”
    When she didn’t respond, I continued.
    â€œWe have to assume that Walter Bradshaw’s gang of crackpots is behind this, unless you can tell us something different. Is there anyone you can think of who might be stalking you—angry boyfriend, ex-husband, anything like that?”
    â€œNo, and I want you to leave me the hell alone. I want you to stop meddling in my life. I haven’t asked for your help, and I don’t want it. Am I making myself clear?”
    She sounded rational and relatively unemotional. “Perfectly, but I’m