Sunday morning Moran carried the thick newspaper out to his apartment balcony to relax with his coffee. Later he'd watch the game on TV and pop a couple of beers. Then he saw the editorial caption, Murder Investigation Broadens.
He studied the editorial. The mood had changed. The editorial page that previously had beaten the drum for a speedy trial had now taken an explicit step toward criticizing the conduct of the investigation; …the authorities must now assure us that the killer of our beloved senator doesn't escape prosecution because of an inadequate investigation.
The paper insinuated that the investigation was off track, and even went so far as to suggest that the police might not have the actual killer in custody. The paper intended to dig into it.
The newspaper knows something, Moran thought, possibly everything. In less than an hour, he was dressed and having a rare Sunday meeting at police headquarters with the chief and Goddard.
"Kagan phoned me Friday and told me to give Reid bail or else. Can you believe that? Said he was going back before the judge with a bunch of new information. I brushed him off. Then the newspaper runs this editorial. Something has definitely changed. Do you have Linda Call's home number, Chief? Let's find out what the paper is going to print."
The chief spun his Rolodex, dialed and handed the phone to Moran. "Larry Moran here. Yes, just fine. Can you give me Monday morning's headline?"
Linda replied, "I know what you're getting at Mr. Moran. You're not on the front page tomorrow. However, your investigation is the subject of a new series of articles. We're putting them together right now with all the names. I'm afraid you will not be pleased."
"How did you find out the names of the subjects in our investigation?"
"My sources are confidential. Believe me we have it all. We'll be sending it on to the AP wire for national distribution. TV will pick it up from there. Why don't you give me a statement now giving us your side? You're going to have to sooner or later, you know."
"No, and tell your editor I said the paper better be damn careful about printing a bunch of guesses." His throat was now so tight he could barely force out a polite goodbye. He slammed the phone down. "Damn. How'd they get those names?"
"My guess is the paper has heard all the names from Sandy Reid," Goddard had to admit. "She might even have talked to TV people."
"She runs around, and somehow everyone is willing to talk and help her," the chief said.