Chapter Eighteen
“So, what do you know about the girl?” Albert asked his son. He had wondered for hours if there was a way to create a win-win situation. The longer he talked to his son, the more convinced he was Keith was innocent. And yet, he could imagine there were a number of wealthy families frantically trying to cover their behind. That was where he thought he could find a golden opportunity.
“You wouldn’t think she is rich if you saw her in public. I mean still pretty and dresses well, but you wouldn’t know she was a daughter of a Crawford family.”
“So, you have been following her?”
“Not like stalking. I swear, dad. I didn’t do anything creepy. I was just doing what you told me. That I need to look around and learn from those kinds of people.”
“Do you know about the circle of friends she keeps?”
Albert Lloyd prided himself on being a progressive father, who is able to hold transparent conversations with his son without alienating him. Years of practice and raising his son to have an open mind had created the perfect opportunity to have this productive discussion. Keith was neither cagey nor afraid. He knew he could trust his father no matter what.
“Lots of them are the same. Rich people. It is like what you say all the time. Bird of a feather flock together. They keep to themselves. They rarely mix with the rest of the students. I mean they go to class from time to time, but their social life revolves around their own circle. I mean it is like we are in the same school and not at the same time. She is friends with Caroline McKenzie, Senator McKenzie’s daughter.”
Sitting back on his couch and having the easiest of conversation with his son, about a topic that could have a far reaching implication on his son’s future, Albert Lloyd sprang to the edge of his seat on hearing the name of the Senator. He didn’t think highly of him. He was sure he weaseled his way into getting elected using his charm and connections. He had heard about the multiple allegations that surface about him, but nothing had seemed to stick. In some ways, he had envied the man from afar. From the little he knew of the Senator, he was sure he didn’t come from money. And yet he had made a name for himself, courted like he is the second coming of Jesus to save the Federal government from complete irrelevance.
“Think carefully now, son. Was this daughter of the Senator at the party?”
Keith worried for a second he might have said something he shouldn’t have. Again there was no anger or disapproval in his father’s face. The same eagerness that had accompanied all their conversation.
“Yes, she is kind of the leader of the pack. They call it a squad. Like one girl has a group of girls around her. In this group, Caroline is like the it girl. She is more popular than all the other girls. They kind of gravitate towards her.”
“So, both girls were at the same party? How could you tell if everyone was wearing masks?” It was a trick question. Keith had already answered, but Albert wanted to be sure.
“Dad, I have studied these girls. I mean I can see by the way they walk and their body shape who they are. They kind of look alike, but they are not. I mean, Caroline especially. She is kind of different from the rest. She is into all the student leadership stuff. If you see her, you would think she was one of the faculty, not a student. Always properly dressed. She is also a runner. I believe she is one of the leaders of the party. The secret party. Remember how I told you I was about to follow Alyson and the guy and some girls stopped me?”
“Sure,” Albert nodded.
“Caroline was one of them. I saw a lot of girls sleeping around. But not her. Not at least out in the open. She is kind of classy.”
“You are absolutely sure about this?”
“I swear dad. I am telling you the truth.”
“So, where was the Senator’s daughter when you woke up?”
“It was the craziest thing. I mean I swear the party was in Newton. In this big villa. I remember thinking it was a long way away from campus. I guess they wanted to keep it private. I mean from the outside, you don’t see anything. There is a gate and a winding road leading to the house. The two other parties have also been in that kind of secluded homes. They are all like in this quiet places where you wouldn’t think anything is going on. When I woke up, I was in another house. In Beacon Hill. I think that’s where Alyson lived. I was so confused. I knew it would be trouble if I stayed there longer because she was kind of not responding.”
The plot thickened right before Albert’s eyes. The detail about the house in Newton had emerged out of the blue. He knew from the best of investigators the trick to interrogation was this kind of extended telling and retelling of a story. The truth and lies eventually surface bit by bit. Having picked up his son from Beacon Hill, he had assumed that was where everything had taken place.
“Do you remember the address of the house in Newton?”
“Yes, of course.” Keith was eager to show his father about his recall ability and recited the address from memory, which Albert wrote down on the corner of his pocket sized notebook.
“Have you been to that house before?”
“Never.”
“Do you know who owns the house?”
“No idea. I mean there were men and women there. I could tell there were a few strangers in the place because I didn’t recognize their posture.”
Albert left his son in the study room and went to his office to make a call. Thank goodness for public records. He soon established the house belonged to Bernard Lindberg. The name didn’t ring a bell. He assumed it had to be a rich man for his investigation also revealed that the house was estimated at 4.6 million dollars. His son had certainly taken what he taught him to heart and stumbled up on people Albert hadn’t come across all his life. That was what all the hard work was for in trying to get his son into Harvard. He could already see the dividends of his decision. And he was blessed with such a gullible and attentive child.
He could already see a few opportunities to exploit. This Lindberg person, Senator McKenzie and his daughter, the Crawfords, and the Palermos. All wealthy and powerful individuals who have a vested interest in putting a lead on the story his son has been telling him about. At the very least, they would want to keep their hands clean. One thing he has known about being a lawyer is that there were plenty of legal ways to achieve one’s goals.
Albert wanted to hide his excitement when he got back to the study room after clearing his schedule for the coming week. There were no court dates or other immovable meetings. There was a lot more work to do. The only difference, this time, was the work had evolved more into an opportunity than merely protecting Keith Lloyd for being implicated in the death of Alyson Crawford.
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