Jack McCoy stood over Claire Kincaid's grave, a single red rose in his hand. He'd been doing this every week for over a year now, ever since her death at the hands of a drunk driver.
If I hadn't called her… if I hadn't all but demanded she come and pick me up at the bar…
"Jack…"
McCoy sighed at the sound of Ben Stone's voice, bent, and placed the rose in front of Claire's tombstone.
Should've known he'd come here…
Ben Stone came up beside him, and both men stood there, looking down at the grave.
"I'm sorry…" McCoy sighed.
"You're sorry?" Stone sounded startled. "You didn't kill her."
"Didn't I?" McCoy kept his eyes on the headstone. "If I hadn't called her…"
"It wasn't your fault, Jack," Stone looked down at the grave. "You didn't seduce a child. She was a grown, intelligent, educated woman, who made a choice to get involved with you; and it was her choice to do so."
Stone sighed as he looked down at the grave.
"I read all the reports and depositions, Jack. A drunk driver killed her. Not you. So, will you stop beating yourself up over it?"
I wish I could…
"Maybe we should get back to business now?" Ben Stone suggested. "We have Emory Chance to investigate."
Emory Chance, owner of the gossip rag, Stars in Our Eyes…
"Yeah…" McCoy turned away from Claire Kincaid's grave, aware of Ben Stone doing the same.
They had a case to prepare…
…..
"Our magazine provides a public service," Emory Chance sat at his opulent desk.
Tall, and ruggedly good-looking, to Jamie Ross, he looked more than a bit like a movie star himself; what with that thick head of wavy black hair, and those sparkling blue eyes.
"A public service," Ross looked back at Chance.
"The public has a right to know what the rich and powerful do, as much as any other public figure."
"Even if it means sorting through their trash?"
"Even if it means sorting through their trash," Chance nodded, blue eyes twinkling. "They don't get free passes for bad behavior here."
"Yes," Ross nodded. "But there have been some…disturbing incidents; cases where falsely planted incriminating evidence destroyed the career, and the life, of a major star. Adam Roberts was found to have been completely innocent of the crime for which he was convicted."
"I'd heard that," Chance sipped his coffee. "A tragedy. But what does that have to do with me?"
"As I recall, Stars in Our Eyes covered his arrest, and trial pretty extensively," Ross sat back. "The trial coverage, in particular, was heavy."
"It was a very newsworthy incident, Counselor. A major movie star slated to win an Oscar caught with coke in his mansion."
"Yeah…" Ross nodded. "But it's clear, now, that it had been planted there with the express intent to get Roberts arrested and convicted; and, even after his exoneration, his reputation was damaged beyond repair. His career was destroyed, and he killed himself."
"I know…" Chance sighed. "But they never found out the bastard who planted the cocaine, so-"
"Actually, we have him," Ross leaned forward. "We also have him on charges relating to the planting of phony evidence of Scifi writer Anais Van der Hooten, the purchase of a phony Life Insurance policy for a doorman at Van der Hooten's apartment, and the shooting death of that doorman."
"So, Ms. Ross?"
"Roger Hall planted cocaine in Ms. Van der Hooten's purse, made a call to alert the authorities about said cocaine. When that failed to result in an arrest, Hall, posing as Daniel Carrera, purchased a Life Insurance Policy worth two million, and named Anais Van der Hooten as the beneficiary. Then, he shot, and killed, Daniel Carrera. His prints were also found on the bag of cocaine that destroyed Adam Roberts' career, and there are indications that he wasn't working alone."
"Indications…" Chance sat back.
"It takes money to purchase cocaine, and it takes money to purchase a two million dollar Life Insurance policy. Hall is indigent."
"So…someone fronted the cash."
"Yes, Mr. Chance, and Roger Hall named you as the instigating agent. I would suggest getting an attorney if I were you."
"I will," Chance nodded. "You can be sure of that."