Brady continued, “You remember ADA Yuki Castellano? She and I went to Bolinas last night.”
“Is that right?” Herman shot a glance toward the kitchen. Lily was singing to herself.
“We went to Marcia and Alan Kohl’s house with a search warrant. We found the dungeon where they kept Lily, and they’ve explained that you hired them to take care of her. We have them both in custody now.”
“What are you charging them with?”
“Kidnapping. Endangering a minor. A few other charges as we work through their statements.”
“I see,” Herman said. He looked at Brady. Dropped his eyes to Brady’s gun. Raised them again to Brady’s steady blue eyes. Then he looked at Lily as she came back into the study.
“Daddy, I forgot to tell you. I used the electric toothbrush this morning. It was fun.”
“Good girl, Lily,” Herman said. “I need to talk to Mr. Brady in private, okay? Daddy will be right with you.”
Chapter 90
THE CHILD TOUCHED her father’s cheek, then went back to the kitchen.
Herman said, “I’ll testify that the Kohls didn’t abduct Lily, if that’s what you want me to say.”
“So you brought the child to them?”
“Well, yes. I did that. It’s not a crime. It was only supposed to be an overnight stay. I was going back in the morning, but I got picked up—”
“I’m not arresting you for kidnapping.”
“Arresting me?”
“I am arresting you for the murder of Jennifer Herman. Anything you say can be used against you. You can call your lawyer, but as I said, I want to let you know where we stand so that you can make it easy on yourself and your daughter. I’m giving you a chance to come in with me and make a statement.”
“A statement about what? You have nothing on me for anything. Don’t buy anything Alan Kohl says about me. He’s a loser, a … a … desperado. He’ll say anything—”
“Let me stop you there. We’ve got your car at our forensics lab. Your wife’s blood and hair are in the trunk. The Beretta you bought last year was also in the trunk. It’s been tested against the bullet extracted from your deceased wife’s head. Alan Kohl will testify that he drove you back to this house the night you left Lily with him and Marcia.
“So you’re going down, Mr. Herman. You make a full statement, including how and where you murdered your wife, you save the people the time and expense of a trial, it will count in your favor. You see that, don’t you?”
“I’m not saying a word. You can talk to my lawyer, John Kinsela. See you in court.”
Something fell to the
floor in the kitchen. Lily said, “Uh-oh.”
“If that’s the way you want it, Mr. Herman. Your face will be all over the media again, every single day you’re in court. Just curious. Don’t you think you owe your daughter something? Don’t you think that if you spent the next two hundred years in jail, you still couldn’t pay her back for what you’ve taken from her?”
Herman looked at Brady, kept a steady gaze.
Brady stood up, took his cuffs in hand, and said to Herman, “Stand up and put your hands behind you, right now, or I’ll have a half dozen cops in here in ten seconds to drag you out.”
“And if I make a statement?”
“I’ll make sure you’re incarcerated at Folsom. There’s a nice little suburb around there. Your mother could move there with Lily.”
Herman stared out the window, his face expressionless, unreadable. Brady readied himself for whatever was going to happen in the next few seconds. He was watching for furtive movements. If Herman bolted for the kitchen, Brady had to get to him before he grabbed the little girl. If Herman rushed him, he’d have to take the man down.
Keith Herman stood up, turned around, and put his arms behind his back.
“Done,” he said.