Chapter 7: Bait

ADA Ron Carver shook his head again. "I'm sorry, detectives, but you don't have enough for a warrant. You can't prove that napkin even came from the killer, and Mr. Carlson did have an explanation for his hair being in the victim's office. So far, everything you have is circumstantial."

"We talked to Mrs. Magda, and she confirmed that her husband did let her ex use his credit card. He could easily have copied the number and used it to rent the SUV," Eames argued.

"But wouldn't he think it was a little risky to use the victim's own credit card to rent the vehicle he used to kill him?"

Goren shook his head. "He didn't know he was being watched, and he planned to kill Kirk Magda before he could catch on."

Deakins listened to the discussion thoughtfully. "But what was his motive?" he wondered. "He left his wife for another woman, not the other way around. And by all accounts, they got along well."

"Envy, maybe," Goren answered. "Precisely because Kirk was so well-liked, so popular. Even his generosity to his wife's ex husband made Carlson...resentful."

"Or Kirk could have been having an affair with the latest Mrs. Carlson. Stranger things have happened," said Eames, drawing bemused looks from the three men.

"Well," Carver continued, "either you find more evidence, or discredit his alibi, or your suspect walks." He and Deakins left.

Goren rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I wonder if Mrs. Carlson knows her husband's a killer."

"She'd have to if she lied for him."

"Not necessarily. Some people have a remarkable capacity for self-delusion. I have an idea for getting her to turn on him. It will depend on you."

Eames smiled slyly. "You know I'm up for anything. What's the plan?"


Katla Carlson looked up from the orchid she was pampering when she noticed the large detective approach her through the greenhouse. "Mr. Goren, right? What can I do for you?"

"I just need you to answer a couple more questions. How well do you know Laurel Magda?"

"Um...as well as I can be expected to. Blaser and I spend time with her and her children at family gatherings, but we don't talk much. Why?"

"How was her relationship with Kirk?"

"They seemed very happy. Do you think she could have killed him?"

"I can't discuss that with you. Right now, I'm just getting some background."

"So you don't suspect my husband anymore?"

Goren shook his head. "No. He has an airtight alibi for the night Kirk was murdered."

"Yes. He was with me."

He hesitated for a long moment before saying, "We know that isn't true. He was at a restaurant. Mrs. Carlson, did you know your husband is having an affair?"

She froze in shock. "No. That's impossible. You're wrong. I would know."

"Did he tell you where he was Friday night?"

"He told me..." she trailed off, biting her lip. "Why would he be having an affair?"

"Who ever knows why? You really haven't noticed him staying out late, going places without you? Has he bought you jewelry or flowers for no reason lately? Men who are cheating on their wives will do things like that out of guilt." He was guessing, but he figured if he planted the idea in her mind, she'd be able to find suspicious behavior to support it. After all, her husband left his ex wife for her, so she knew he was capable of it. He could tell by the look in Katla's eyes that she was considering that, too.

"So...he was with her on Friday night?"

"Yes. The waiter at the restaurant positively IDed him. The waiter also remembered seeing him there with you at least once."

She frowned deeply. "The Taj Mahal? It wasn't at the Taj Mahal, was it?"

"As a matter of fact, it was. How did you...never mind."

She suddenly shook her head forcefully. "You're lying," she stated. "This is some kind of trick."

Goren looked at her sympathetically. "Katla, I talked to his girlfriend. She confirmed Blaser was with her. I'm sorry."

"No. Blaser was with me. All night."

Goren nodded sadly. "Well, thanks for your help, Mrs. Carlson." He started to walk away.

"Wait!"

He turned back.

Katla didn't look at him. She fixed her eyes absently on the flower in front of her. "What does she look like, this mistress you say he has?"

"She's...petite, sandy blond hair, brown eyes. Pretty. If you want to see her, she's having dinner with him at the Taj Mahal at six o'clock this afternoon."

"He's working then. He's very busy."

Goren knew that, of course. It would have spoiled the trick to tell her some time her husband planned to be with her. All she had to go on was her husband's word that he was busy at work. "Look, if you want, I can delay your husband this afternoon. I haven't asked him what he knew about his ex-wife's marriage yet. You can go to the Taj Mahal and see or talk to his mistress without being afraid you'll run into him." He shrugged. "I'll make sure he's at least fifteen minutes late. You can go there or not. It's your choice." He walked away.

Katla continued to stare unhappily at the flower in her hands.


At six p.m., Katla entered the lobby of the Taj Mahal, an upscale Indian restaurant that she and her husband frequented. They used to meet there secretly when Blaser was still married to his ex. She didn't want to believe the detective, but it was true that Blaser had been reluctant to tell her where he'd been Friday night. It was only after the police questioned him about Kirk's murder that he told her that he and Kirk got in a fight and he'd accidentally killed him and needed an alibi. What if he told her that to hide that he was seeing another woman?

She looked around the lobby and saw a blond woman who matched the description Detective Goren gave her. She was wearing a slim blue dress. Her hair was pulled into a twist with some loose strands allowed to fall across her face on one side. She kept checking her watch.

Katla took a deep breath and sat next to the other woman. She forced a friendly smile. "Looks like your date is late," she said.

"Yeah. It's not like him. Must be stuck in traffic or something." Her voice was deep and smooth. She looked up at Katla. "You waiting for someone?"

"Yeah. My...husband should be here any minute." She looked toward the door so the other woman wouldn't see the bitterness in her face. It was possible this woman wasn't her husband's mistress, but she was his type: blond, prim, intelligent. Katla was determined to find out the truth, but she wasn't sure how. "My husband just got off work. We decided to meet here after work, since we're both so busy with our jobs."

"Oh, I know what that's like. My boyfriend and I barely have time to see each other. Usually we meet right after work. He loves this restaurant."

Katla grimaced, but she hid it under a smile. "How long have you been dating?"

"A couple of months. How long have you been married?"

"Over a year. We knew each other for a long time before that. How did you meet your boyfriend?"

The woman paused for a moment, seeming to be trying to remember. "It was at a coffee shop. He spilled his drink on me."

"He doesn't like coffee," Katla blurted without thinking.

"That's right. He had tea." She gave her a strange look. "How did you know that?"

"Oh...I was...talking about my husband. Sorry. I shouldn't interrupt you."

"It's okay. My name's Allie. What's yours?"

"Katla."

"Katla?" Her eyes widened, like she'd suddenly realized something. She stood up. "I should go. I'm sorry." She started to walk away, but Katla grabbed her arm.

"Wait. Was he with you Friday night?" The other woman didn't answer, so Katla repeated more forcefully. "Was Blaser with you Friday night?"

"I really have to go." She yanked her arm away and speed walked out the door, pulling out her cellphone as she went.

Katla assumed she was calling Blaser to tell him what happened. She sighed angrily. So her husband wasn't a killer, but he was seeing another woman. She didn't know whether she was more relieved or disappointed.

"Carver," Alex said into her cellphone as she sprinted as fast as her high heels would take her to the waiting car, "Katla Carlson just admitted her husband wasn't with her Friday night."

"Nice job, Detective," the ADA said. "That should be enough to convince a judge to issue a warrant."