Cory's Flight Read online

  Cory stepped off the elevator into the wood-paneled lobby of the Worth and Colby Law Firm. It was stuffy and conservative, but Cory had had his fill of slick entertainment lawyers. This lawyer wasn’t cheap, but Cory joked to himself, maybe Worth was worth it.

  Shown into his attorney’s office, Cory was concerned that Worth was seated wearing his suit jacket. This guy was a stiff. How would this guy believe him if he couldn’t connect with him?

  Worth rose, buttoning his jacket. “Mr. Lupinski, how are you?”

  “Okay.”

  “I heard the release went as planned.”

  “I thought you would be there.”

  “My associates are very capable. Sit. Can we get you anything?”

  “No. I’m good.”

  “We’ll get started then.”

  “I can’t wait to straighten this out. It’s some kind of a misunderstanding.”

  “The DA views it otherwise.”

  “But we’ll explain I had nothing to do with it. They need evidence, don’t they?”

  “Yes. The burden of proof lies with the state; however, I must advise you that the allegations are supported by two witnesses that place you at the scene of—”

  “How can that be? I wasn’t near his house. Who said they saw me?”

  “Yes, we examined their sworn statements, and they’re ironclad.”

  “How can that be?”

  “We’ll take a further look at the witnesses, but—”

  “Who are these guys?”

  “Their names are Thomas Rizer and Robert Ford. Both men work in the area. We’re looking into them, and we’ll write up their biographical profiles.”

  “This is all one big misunderstanding or something. How long is this going to take to clear this up?”

  “It’s difficult to predict the nature of a case. If a plea can be negotiated, it would dramatically shorten the process.”

  “What kind of deal?”

  “You’re charged with the first-degree murder of Mr. Stein, meaning it was premeditated.”

  “That’s frigging ridiculous.”

  “That may be. However, your prior, uh, encounter and business relationship with the victim support the charge.”

  “Just because I confronted the bastard about the money he stole from me, I’m the guy they think killed him?”

  “I should add that the DA mentioned a blood sample that was collected at the crime scene and which did not match the victim’s.”

  “That’s super! Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “They’re running DNA testing and will compare the sample taken when you were processed, to the blood collected at the crime scene.”

  “Go for it, man! That’s it. They’re gonna drop the charges.”

  “Not necessarily.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “A nonmatch would be good news, but in and of itself, it’s not proof you’re innocent.”

  “But whoever’s blood it is, he’s the killer.”

  “Not necessarily.”

  “Well, then whose is it?”

  “It serves no purpose to speculate. Why don’t we firm up your whereabouts during the time the murder took place?”

  “Okay. What do you want to know?”

  “Where you were during the day of October 9th?”

  “I got up around seven, and you know, we have two kids. I made Tommy, he’s six, breakfast and we played a little. Then I worked on a new song. I had to go to Quad Recording Studio, on Seventh Avenue. They hired me to lay down a track on a Willow Man tune. I thought the other player sounded good, but I was glad to get the gig.”

  “What time was that?”

  “I got out of there about one.”

  “Where did you go?”

  “I headed back to Brooklyn to teach. I give lessons seven days a week and have quite a few students. It helps pay the bills.”

  “I’ll need their names and addresses.”

  “Sure.”

  “Where in Brooklyn do you teach?”

  “All over. I go to their houses. Most of them are kids, but I have five or six adults I teach.”

  “What parts of Brooklyn were the lessons on the nineteenth?”

  “Um, I started out in Bay Ridge, and you know, then went to Bensonhurst. This kid Billy is going to be something, and um, yeah, I went to Fort Hamilton and, uh, then finished up downtown.”

  “Downtown Brooklyn?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What time was this?”

  “About four p.m.”

  “Near Brooklyn Heights?”

  “Uh, I guess so.”

  “I’m sure you know Mr. Stein lived there, right off the Promenade, and the time of death was established between the hours of three and five p.m.”

  Chapter Four

  Cory came into the apartment. “Hey, guys.”

  “Daddy!”

  Linda was playing Trouble with Tommy at the kitchen table.

  Cory kissed the top of his son’s head. “Hi, little man.”

  Pushing the game’s bubble, Linda saw her husband’s face. “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Tommy, I need to talk to your father. Can we finish this later?”

  “Okay.” The kid picked up his iPad and went into the living room.

  “What did the lawyer say?”

  “I don’t know about this guy.”

  “You said he was good, that you liked him.”

  “I know, but it’s like he sees the bad in everything.”

  “That’s what lawyers do. What did he say?”

  “He said they have two witnesses. Somebody said I was by Stein’s house.”

  “But you weren’t, you can prove that.”

  “But I was close by. That kid Freddo I teach, he lives on Remsen Street by Borough Hall. Stein is on Hicks Street, a couple of blocks away.”

  “But that’s okay. Don’t worry. You didn’t go there, right?”

  “No, I didn’t. You believe me, don’t you?”

  Linda grabbed Cory’s hand. “Of course, I do. We’ll get through this. What else did he say?”

  “That they found blood at the crime scene and it wasn’t Stein’s.”

  “It’s got to be the killer’s!”

  “That’s what I said, but Worth said it wouldn’t prove anything.”

  “How can that be?”

  “He’s got a negative vibe. It’s like if the blood matches my DNA, it’s a problem, but if it doesn’t, it don’t mean anything.”

  “You don’t have any cuts, right?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Cory jumped off the couch and rolled the sleeves of his sweater up. “No! See?”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “Nobody believes me.”

  Linda put her arms around Cory. “I believe you. I know you’d never do anything like that.”

  Cory shrugged. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

  “I know. By the way, how was Stein killed?”

  “He was suffocated.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “He got what he had coming to him.”

  “Cory, don’t say that. The poor man is dead.”

  “He screwed me when he was alive, and now the bastard is haunting me from the grave.”

  Cory opened the door to a cabinet and Linda said, “Cory, please don’t start.”

  “I’m just gonna have one.”

  “You’re doing so good, and it’s only four o’clock.”

  “I’m too wound up to think straight.”

  “Promise me you’ll only have one.”

  “Don’t worry.”

  “I am. You’re under a ton of pressure, and you can’t go back to hiding behind a bottle.”

  Cory poured a glass of bourbon. “I’m okay.”

  “Why don’t you get some help, at least until all this blows over.”

  “I don’t need it.”

  “
Maybe some group therapy.”

  “I’m not going to some AA thing. I can handle it on my own.”

  “I didn’t mean AA. Just that everybody needs help.”

  Cory sat down with his drink. “I’m not everybody.”

  “Come on, Cory, an attitude like that is going to get you in trouble.”

  “Yeah, well, I can’t be in any deeper shit than what I’m in.”

  Linda sat beside her husband. “I know you’re upset. We all are. Just don’t make things worse than they are, okay? Can you promise me?”

  “Okay, okay already.”

  “Why don’t you call Donny? It’d be good for you.”

  “Yeah, he left me a couple of messages.”

  Cory took out his phone, and as he was dialing, a call came in. “Hello?”

  “Cory Loop?”

  “Yeah?”

  “It’s Mish from Rolling Stone. How you doing, man?”

  “What do you want?”

  “We’d love to talk to you, get your side of the charges against you.”

  “Look, I didn’t do anything, it’s one big mix-up.”

  “Are you saying you didn’t kill Lew Stein?”

  “Of course, I had nothing to do with it.”

  “Our sources tell us that witnesses, maybe two, put you at the scene.”

  “That’s bullshit.”

  “Is it true that you had to dip into the assets of the Reach for the Stars Trust to make bail?”

  “I had no choice; the bail was set too high.”

  “That’s because you’re charged with murder.”

  “And I’ll be exonerated.”

  “Will you claim it was in self-defense?”

  “No, I didn’t kill Lew Stein. I had nothing to do with it.”

  “We’ve heard rumors that your record label, Dream Weavers, is going to drop you.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I haven’t done anything wrong. Just wait till this gets cleared up, you’ll see.”

  “We’d love to do a long-format interview. It’ll give you an opportunity to get your side of the story out. What do you say?”

  “Look, I got to go, but I have your number. I’ll think about it.”

  Cory tossed his phone on the table. “That was Rolling Stone, they said Dream Weaver is gonna dump me.”

  “How could they?”

  “Oh no. Is this going to screw up my bail thing?”

  “You think so?”

  Cory reached for his phone. “I have no clue. I gotta call Baffa.”

  “He’d know what to do.” A loud sound came from the other side of the apartment. “Call him, I gotta check on Tommy.”

  Linda came in holding her son’s hand as Cory finished the call with his manager. Cory hung up, saying, “Hey, little man. What did you do in there”

  “I tried to get a book, but it fell over.”

  “He stepped on the shelf and it tipped over.”

  “Me and Mommy cleaned it up.”

  “Good.”

  “What did Baffa say?”

  “He said there’s a clause in the contract, some morality thing, and they can drop me.”

  “That’s so unfair. Did he hear from them?”

  “Not yet.” Cory reached for his phone. “It’s Worth.”

  “Hello . . . Yes, I’m free, what’s going on? . . . What? That can’t be.”

  Chapter Five

  Cory hung up and collapsed onto the couch.

  “What’s going on?”

  Cory pulled a pillow over his head.

  “Daddy’s playing hide-and-seek. Come on, Mommy, let’s hide.”

  “Tommy, go hide in the bedroom. Mommy needs to do something first.”

  The kid scampered off, and Linda sat on the edge of the couch. “Cory, tell me what’s going on?”

  “The blood . . . they found at Stein’s house.”

  “Yeah, what about it?”

  “They said it matches mine.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The blood, they say it’s mine.”

  Linda put a hand to her mouth. “Oh my God.”

  “It’s bullshit.”

  “What does this mean? I mean, how can it be?”

  “They’re trying to frame me.”

  “Who? Who’s framing you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Just that, are you sure you weren’t there? I’m not saying you did anything but how—”

  “Jesus, if you don’t believe me . . .” Cory got off the couch.

  “I believe you. I’m just trying to understand all this. Who could have framed you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You have to have some idea, no?”

  “I never hurt anybody. I mean, I screwed up big time with stealing the songs from Jay Bird, but that was a couple of years ago.”

  “Could it be that? You think somebody went nuts?”

  “You mean a fan or something?”

  “I don’t know. People are crazy these days. Or maybe somebody who believes you screwed them out of royalties.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that, but he had no family to leave money to.”

  “But what about somebody who made money off him? Like a manager or agent? Or even a band member.”

  “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that. What about Riley?”

  “The guy who played with you?”

  “Yeah, he played rhythm guitar. I never trusted him. He played with Jay Bird for years.”

  “He replaced somebody, right?”

  “Kind of. I wanted Vince, but he was touring with the Pinkletons, and Dave got Riley.”

  “What would he have lost? Jay Bird was dead. You gave him a slot in the band.”

  “I know, he made some money when we were hot.”

  “You think he could be mad that you moved into children’s music?”

  Cory shrugged. “I haven’t used him for anything.”

  “Has he been gigging a lot?”

  “I kind of lost touch. Let me call Donny, he’d know.”

  “Good idea, let me play with Tommy while you talk to him.”

  Drink in hand, Cory was on the couch when Linda came in. “What did he say?”

  “I left him a message.”

  “Cory, please don’t drink too much. It’s going to make things worse.”

  “Worse? Do you think it could get any more fucked up?”

  “Shush. Look, I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be, but cursing and drinking aren’t going to help. I won’t have the kids exposed to that. I’m telling you.”

  “Okay, okay. I’m sorry, all right? This isn’t easy to deal with.”

  Cory’s phone rang. “Hey, Donny.”

  “Man, are you all right?”

  “Yeah, got out this morning.”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “You? It’s a frigging nightmare.”

  “You didn’t do it, right?”

  “No. It’s either one giant mistake, or somebody is framing me.”

  “Framing you?”

  “Yeah. What’s Riley been up to?”

  “Riley? You think he has something to do with this?”

  “I don’t know what to think.”

  “He got along good with Stein when he was managed by him.”

  “Stein worked for Riley?”

  “Yeah, you didn’t know?”

  “No, this is huge.”

  “Hold on, I can’t see Riley doing it. Why would he kill Stein?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe they had an argument or something. I got to call my lawyer. I’ll get back to you.”

  “Linda!”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Stein used to manage Riley. It’s got to be him.”

  “But why frame you for it?”

  “I don’t know, they probably had a fight and it got out of hand. He figured he’d pin
it on me.”

  “I guess it could be, but how did your blood get in Stein’s house?”

  “I don’t know. I’m going to call Worth and let him know.”

  “Okay. I’m taking Tommy to gymnastics. We’ll be back in two hours or so. I have to stop at Shoprite.”

  “All right. When is Ava getting home?”

  “She’s got dance after school. We’ll see you later.”

  * * *

  “Cory. Wake up!”

  Cory rolled over. “Uh, what time is it?”

  “Six fifteen.” She turned to Tommy. “Go put your stuff in the hamper and wash up.”

  Linda picked an empty bottle of bourbon off the table. “You can’t be doing this.”

  “I’m sorry. Everything just overwhelmed me.”

  “I know it’s hard, but I’m warning you, I won’t stand for it. I’m not putting this family through that again.”

  “Okay, okay.”

  “What did Mr. Worth have to say?”

  “He never got on the phone. I have an appointment tomorrow morning at ten.”

  “That’s good, I think. He should know about Riley.”

  “Yeah, and you know, it hit me—what about Bonner? He had it in for me from day one, blackmailing me over the songs.”

  “You think he set you up as revenge for shooting him?”

  “Hell yeah. I mean, I should have fingered him first.”

  “Did he know Stein?”

  “I have no idea, but he’s been in and out of every recording studio in the city. But it doesn’t matter if he knew him, he knew about me and Stein.”

  “Yeah, Bonner makes more sense than Riley to me. Bonner’s an evil man.”

  “The fact he wouldn’t stop with the extortion shows he doesn’t know where to draw the line.”

  Chapter Six

  Cory stopped at the corner newsstand and bought a bottle of water. He popped two Excedrins and guzzled the water. Crushing the empty bottle, he tossed it in a can and pushed through the doors of his lawyer’s building.

  The elevator’s rise upped the pounding in his head. A wave of nerves swirled in his belly as he announced himself to the receptionist.

  Worth, in a dark blue suit and red tie, was writing on a legal pad. The attorney was seated at a round table in the corner of his office. He lifted his head, picked up a Dictaphone, and spoke a note before saying, “Please, have a seat. I’ve been reviewing your case.”