Free An Unacceptable Death - Barbara Seranella by Unknown Page A

her
citizenship, and whether she was a public official, employee of a
financial institution or school, member of the military service, a
representative or affiliate of the media, or a party to or in
position to be a party to privileged communications, such as a member
of the clergy, a physician, or an attorney.
    After she had said no to everything, he smiled
apologetically. "As I said, many of these clauses are
nonapplicable, but we need to go through the list."
    " By all means," she said, smiling to put
him at ease, "dot your i's."
    "Are you now or have you ever been a substance
abuser?"
    She looked at him, then at the camera, then back at
him. Deciding this would look shifty as hell, she resolved to keep
her attention focused solely on Bayless. She didn't know to whom this
videotape would be shown, or how much that audience would understand
about recovery. "I used drugs years ago. I have been completely
clean and sober for nine years."
    " Do you have any relatives in law enforcement or
under their employ?"
    " Not to my knowledge," she said.
    He twitched. "Can you clarify this statement,
please?"
    " I have no living relatives that I know of."
She wanted to add that she was a self-made orphan, but didn't think
this the time for her to reveal her wit. Not everyone got her. Major
understatement.
    " Is your decision to aid in this investigation
voluntary, and will the information you provide be truthful?"
    She hesitated only a second. "Yes."
    " The Los Angeles Police Department will strive
to protect your identity."
    She nodded. At least he wasn't making any promises he
might not be able to keep. They paused while she initialed pages.
    He cleared his throat. "I have some additional
instructions."
    She was again seized with the desire to alleviate his
angst. Maybe that was his game.
    " First," he said, "you must abide by
all instructions."
    " Okay." She almost smiled. Ask any
mechanic; instructions were the things you read when all else failed.
    " You are not an employee of the LAPD and you
must not represent yourself as such. This means you can't enter any
contracts or make any promises on behalf of the department."
    " Fine." She wondered what past cluster fuck
had made that rule necessary to spell out.
    " You can't carry a gun, controlled substances,
or engage in any criminal activity."
    " I wasn't planning on it."
    " The department cannot guarantee any rewards,
payments, or other compensations to you in your role as a
confidential informant, or CI."
    Or snitch, Munch thought. She looked at the camera
and said, "That's not what I'm about."
    Bayless held up his index finger as he continued to
read from his crib sheet. "ln the event that the Cl receives any
awards, payments, or other compensation from the justice Department,
the CI is liable for any taxes that may be owed."
    "Oh, that's just beautiful," Munch said.
    " I'll need you to sign a confidentiality
agreement, also. Please read it carefully."
    Munch waded through the legalese. Basically, she
agreed in signing this last document that she would not divulge the
information she was about to receive under penalty of jail time
and/or fines. She wondered if those fines were tax-deductible.
    " All right," she said, pushing the last of
the papers back to him. "What do you want me to do?"
    Bayless turned off the camera and brought his chair
around so that the table no longer separated them. "The cocaine
business has brought in a lot of money to the city. With money comes
temptation."
    " I'm sure that's true." Munch tried to keep
her posture relaxed and nondefensive. She was here to expose the
truth and prove to this guy that Rico wasn't dirty, but she didn't
want to appear close-minded.
    Bayless picked at an imaginary nit on the knee of his
slacks. "Are you familiar with the CCE act and the asset seizure
laws?"
    " Sort of. What does CCE stand for?"
    " Continuing Criminal Enterprises?
    " Sounds like a rock band."
    Bayless went on as if she hadn't spoken. Not even a
smile. "When