“Well, I’m busy right now.”
“So am I. Look, we can step outside and have a chat, or I’ll stop by your house tonight. Eight-one-six Devon Street, right, on the Point?”
They went outside and stood between two parked cars. “What the hell is this?” Nunzio growled.
“Relax, okay?”
“Are you a cop or something?”
“Or something. No, I’m not a cop. I’m an investigator for the district attorney, Mr. Jesse Rudy.”
“I know who the DA is.”
“Okay, off to a good start. He and the judge, you remember Judge Oliphant, right?”
“Yep.”
“Well, the DA and the judge are curious about the verdict two weeks ago in the Ginger Redfield case. They suspect the jury was tampered with. You do understand jury tampering, right?”
“You accusing me?”
“No, don’t be so touchy. I simply asked if you understand jury tampering.”
“I suppose.”
“It’s when someone outside the courtroom tries to influence a decision by the jury. Could be by threat, coercion, extortion, or old-fashioned bribery. That happens, you know? Someone might offer a juror something like, say, two thousand dollars cash to vote not guilty. I know it’s hard to believe, but it happens. And the bad part is that both parties are guilty. The guy who paid the bribe and the juror who took it. Ten years in prison, fine of five thousand dollars.”
“I think you’re accusing me of something.”
Gene looked deep into his nervous and troubled eyes and said, “Well, I think you look guilty. Anyway, Mr. Rudy would like to talk to you, in his office, a private meeting. Tomorrow after work. He’s in the courthouse, just down the hall from the courtroom.”
Nunzio took a deep breath as his shoulders sagged. His eyes darted from side to side as he tried to think. “What if I don’t want to talk to him?”
“No problem. It’s up to you. Either go by tomorrow, or wait until he calls in his grand jury. He’ll subpoena you, your wife, your bank records, employment stuff, everything really. He’ll put you under oath and ask some tough questions. You do understand perjury, don’t you?”
“Another accusation? Seems like I might need a lawyer.”
Gene shrugged like a real smart-ass. “Up to you. But they cost a lot of money and usually screw up things. Go talk to Mr. Rudy and then decide about the lawyer. Thanks for your time.” He turned and walked away, leaving Nunzio confused, frightened, and with plenty of questions.
The bluff continued the following afternoon when Nunzio appeared at the office of the district attorney, without a lawyer. Jesse showed him to his office, thanked him for stopping by, and made small talk. That ended when he said, “Judge Oliphant is getting some reports of jury tampering in the Redfield case, so he’s planning to talk to the jurors. I’m sure you’ll be getting a call soon enough.”
Nunzio shrugged as if he had nothing to worry about.
“He feels like I proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt, yet three jurors didn’t see it that way. The other nine thought it was an open-and-shut case.”
“I thought our deliberations were confidential.”
“Oh, they are, always. Gotta keep them private. But, word usually leaks out. We know that you, Paul Dewey, and Chick Hutchinson voted not guilty, which is disturbing in light of the overwhelming evidence you heard. The three of you did a fine job of hanging the jury. The question is: Did Paul and Chick get money too?”
“What are you talking about?”