Part 25 (1/2)
I nodded That had all been part of our Operation Payback plan
”Once he'd killed your husband, Brenner only had to get rid of Luis Oh, and cancel the car and the other items purchased with the extortionlayer of lawyers and accountants, of course, but he eventually recoveredif not thorough Unfortunately for hiet his accountant to blab everything”
I sat there in silence, trying to o through all that trouble? Why not kill Kip in a dark alley, ?”
Katz shook his head ”Brenner couldn't risk having so up his own drawers You had to be implicated, Mazie Spouses are always the priht out of central casting-young, pretty, a woman scorned It didn't help that youryou as Satan's spawn or that Brenner got you the world's”Soto be set free?”
”There'll be a hearing A Superior Court judge was scheduled to review your case nextpleased with hiet it moved up to next week”
”Next week? How did you-”
”I pulled strings It's the least I could do There are now three separate govern the for up in Mexico, arrests are beinglike a rose My boss is recalling me to New York”
He shook his head ”Too bad I was just starting to like cheese that squeaks”
Escape tip 34: If you ht person
”Mazie Maguire Vonnerjohn,” intoned the Superior Court judge, a gray-haired woman so short she probably had to sit on law books to see over her own desk ”In light of evidence that has recently coment of this court that you did not commit the crime for which you were convicted and imprisoned You are hereby released froranted your full and unequivocal freedom”
Freedom Is there a sweeter word?
I stood in front of the courtroo, certain I was about to pass out Bonaparte Labeck, who'd held ainst hi war too hard, because he had two very tender healing ribs, battle scars froratulations,” he whispered, and although I was pressed against his chest and couldn't see his face, I could hear the smile in his voice
I shook ratulations”
Labeck stroked circles on h anyway, Mazie Life gave you lemons, you made lemonade”
This was the man who'd believed in my innocence from day one, who'd kicked open lockers, hot-wired cars, wrestled the bad guys to the floor, and adoptedIf he wanted to spout the occasional cliche, he was entitled
Someone cleared his throat behind us I looked up to see US Deputy Marshal Irving Katz standing there A jolt of terror shot throughto be sent back to prison!
”Relax, Mazie,” Katz said, and he s you back to the slaone back to New York”
”I flew back for your hearing To ht”
I returned Katz's siven an unconditional release”
Katz nodded ”Any other decision and the judge would have heard fros up”
”My pleasure”
There was soleam in the dark eyes-that made me think that Katz felt a rather personal interest in ood turn?” Katz tilted his head toward the courthouse entrance, where the noise of the waiting h a double set of doors ”How do you feel about trying to push your way through that pack of piranhas?”
”I'd sooner face Vanessa's hoe of courtroo So I could go out front and let the piranhas chew on me while you and Mr Labeck sneak out below”
”Deal”
Labeck and Katz shook hands Then Katz turned to me ”Stay out of trouble, Mazie”
”I'll try” I it with a kiss on the cheek ”Thank you For everything”
Looking pleased, Katz strode off to offer himself up as a human sacrifice while Labeck and I descended into the tunnel beneath the courthouse We hurried along daht of steps and exiting through the back door of theourselves only a half block froen was parked