Free RK02 - Guilt By Degrees by Marcia Clark Page B

fold.” He shook his head. “When I went to the bank that day, I’d made the smallest weekly deposit ever. I was in a pretty bad mood.” Yamaguchi stopped, realizing what he’d said, then looked at me steadily. “But I’d never kill someone. Never. And I didn’t kill that guy.”
    I watched him as I returned his gaze. I decided to test the waters some more. “You willing to take a poly?”
    “Sure,” Yamaguchi immediately replied.
    At that same instant, Walter erupted, “No! I do not trust those things, and I will not allow it.”
    Frankly, for my own reasons, I didn’t trust them either. If Yamaguchi was a real martial artist, he might be able to control his breathing and galvanic responses enough to pass, or at least to give an inconclusive result. Maybe Yamaguchi knew that too. But if that were the case, I would’ve expected him to bring up the idea of taking a poly first, not to wait to see if I did. The fact that he hadn’t, and that he’d readily agreed to take it, meant either he was the slickest con artist ever or he really was innocent and eager to prove it.
    Yamaguchi gave his lawyer a perplexed look but didn’t argue.
    “Look, Ms. Knight, why don’t you at least let me bail out?” he suggested. “Put a cuff on me, whatever. I can promise you, I’ll stick around. I need to get back to work. Every day I spend in here, I’m losing customers. I lose enough customers, I get fired.”
    I was definitely leaning toward letting this guy go. The case against him was unraveling more and more by the minute. But I wasn’t quite ready to cut him loose. Because if I let him go and he turned out to be the killer, both Bailey and I would have our necks in a noose.
    “Seriously, Ms. Knight.” Yamaguchi leaned forward, his body tense. “I won’t run. I can tell you’re reasonable. Not like that other douche—” Yamaguchi stopped as Walter put his hand out.
    I barely suppressed a smile, and I could see Bailey’s lips twitch too. Brandon Averill was a douche.
    “Tell you what,” Yamaguchi continued, “you let me make bail, I’ll give you a free massage. Hour and a half. You know you need it. What do you say?”
    “I say you just added a count of bribing a public official,” I deadpanned.
    Yamaguchi stared at me, stricken.
    I shook my head. “Kidding.”
    Yamaguchi blew his breath out through his mouth and sat back. “You guys have a sick sense of humor, you know that?”
    “It’s been suggested in the past,” I admitted.
    I looked over at Bailey, who nodded. We were on the same page.
    “Tell you what, Mr. Yamaguchi, I need to check out a couple of things. I’ll have an answer for you in no more than two days.” I stood up to go. “Thanks for talking to us.”
    Yamaguchi replied, “I know you’ll do the right thing.”
    I would, but that wouldn’t necessarily be good news for him.
    “What’s the name of your bank?” I asked.
    He gave it to me, along with the exact address, and I motioned to the guard that we were done.
    “I’m going to stay a little longer,” Walter said. “You’ll call me?”
    “Absolutely,” I agreed, and Bailey and I walked to the door. As the guard opened it, Yamaguchi spoke again.
    “Hot, wet rags.”
    I looked at him, puzzled.
    “For the neck and shoulders. It’ll do wonders,” he said sagely. “At least until you can get in to see me.”
    My muscles were in such a bad knot, I was tempted to make the appointment right then and there. Then again, it might be a little soon. After all, he was still in custody for murder.

16
    Maxwell Chevorin was flying in. Sabrina had called the lobbyist to let him know the package was ready. Give him enough time to get the two million in cash. And if he was smart, a hefty bonus to reward them for a home run of a job. Compared to the money Chevorin would make for delivering Congressman Rankin’s swing vote on offshore drilling, even three million was pocket lint.
    Sabrina stared out across the L.A. skyline from the