CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Elin was waiting for Charlie when he walked into the reception area at nine thirty.
“When did you get here?” Charlie asked.
“When the office opened at eight.”
Charlie’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment. “Come on back,” he said as he led Elin down the hall to his office. He waited until she was seated across from him.
“I’m impressed by your initiative, but I don’t have that many cases going now, and I tend to get in late. Let’s agree that I’ll call you when I need you. I cleared it with the managing partner, so you’ll have your own office. If you have a project, come in when you want to. Otherwise, let’s coordinate.”
Now it was Elin’s turn to look embarrassed. “Sorry. I didn’t know when you’d want me, so I thought I should be here.”
“No need to apologize. I appreciate the initiative. I should have set some ground rules.”
Elin thought she should change the subject, so she pointed at Guido’s painting. “That’s new, isn’t it?”
Charlie turned toward the painting, then back to Elin. “It’s a gift from Guido.”
“I sure hope we can clear his name, because he’s one hell of a painter.”
Charlie’s cell rang. It was Bridget Fournier.
“I have to take this,” he said.
Elin started to stand, but Charlie waved her down. Charlie had the speaker function on, and Elin heard Bridget ask Charlie how he was doing.
“I slept okay last night. How about you?”
“I’m back to work. That’s why I called. I learned some interesting information about the men who attacked us.”
“Oh?”
Bridget filled Charlie in about the killers’ employment history with National Security and Rene LaTour’s visit to Sabatini’s farm.
“Whoever sent LaTour to Charlie’s place also sent the assassins who tried to kill us,” Charlie said.
“That’s obvious.”
“Do you think Unger is responsible for murdering Hall and Makarov?” Charlie asked.
“I don’t want to discuss our case. I just thought you should know what I found out about the men who tried to kill us.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have said anything about Guido’s charges. Thanks for sharing. I appreciate it.”
Bridget ended the call, and Charlie sat back and tried to digest the information Bridget had given him.
Elin looked excited. “You think the men who tried to kill you also murdered Hall and Makarov, don’t you?”
“I think it’s possible. I have to call Henry Roman to tell him what I just learned. We might want to argue that the killers at the barn also murdered Hall and Makarov to raise a reasonable doubt at Guido’s trial.”
“That could work,” Elin said.
“Thanks for coming in, Elin. I don’t have anything for you to work on right now, but I’ll try to get some work for you to do, and I’ll call you when I’ve figured out something that won’t waste your time.”
Elin left, and Charlie called Roman.
“So, you think we have a viable suspect to give the jury if we want to raise a reasonable doubt about our client being the only person with a motive to kill Hall and Makarov?” Roman asked.
“Don’t you?”
“This is good ammunition, Charlie. Let me put my investigators on Unger and see what they turn up.”
Charlie felt his chest swell when the call ended because he’d made a positive contribution to Guido’s defense.
Charlie hadn’t spoken to Bob or Gary since the shoot-out, and he felt bad that he hadn’t checked in with them, so he drove to their garage instead of heading home. He found them working on a German sports car. He held out an envelope stuffed with cash.
“I come bearing gifts.”
Gary wiped his hands on a rag before opening the envelope and counting the cash Charlie had stuffed inside.
“I figured you’d prefer cash to a check,” Charlie said with a smile.
“What Uncle Sam don’t know can’t hurt him,” Gary said.
“How did the cops treat you?” Charlie asked.
“One guy was an asshole because of the sawed-offs, but that nice DA lady straightened him out,” Gary said. “Everyone else was real appreciative after she explained that she and the other detective wouldn’t be alive if we hadn’t come to the rescue.”
“Count me in that group,” Charlie said.
“We only saved your ass because you hadn’t paid us yet,” Bob said.
“That’s why I didn’t pay you up front,” Charlie answered with a smile.
“Fucking lawyers,” Gary said.
“Seriously, I do owe you my life, and so do several other people.”
“Hey, we aim to serve and protect,” Gary said.
“Booyah!” Bob added.
“How do you feel about continuing in that vein?” Charlie asked.
“You want us back on guard duty?” Gary asked.
“I thought the cops had that covered,” Bob said.
“They have two officers watching Guido, but the men who attacked us had military training.”
Charlie filled in his friends on what he’d learned about Max Unger and National Security. “I’d feel a lot better about Guido’s future if you two were watching his back.”
“This sounds like it’s above our pay grade,” Bob said. “We only had to deal with three men. Next time, there could be a whole platoon.”
“I’m not asking you to die to protect Guido. If the next group that comes after him is too big to handle, bail.”
“Let us think on it, Charlie,” Bob said.
“Deal. And thanks again for what you did.”
“For a guy who almost died, you sound pretty chipper,” Gary said.
Charlie blushed. Gary looked at Bob.
“It’s got to be a chick,” Bob said.
“Fuck you,” Charlie said.
His friends started laughing.
“Spill,” said Bob.
Charlie realized that it would feel good to talk to his friends about Elin. “Okay,” he admitted. “There’s this woman. She came to see me about a restraining order.”
“Did you restrain her?” Gary asked.
“You’re an asshole, Gary,” Charlie said.
His friends cracked up again. Charlie gave them the finger and started to leave.
“Wait,” Gary said. “I’m sorry. We’ll be serious. I promise.”
Charlie hesitated.
“Come on,” Bob said. “You know we always have your back. So, this is serious, this woman?”
“No. It’s nothing like that. She’s just really good-looking and really nice. And she volunteered to work on Guido’s case to help me out.”
“For nothing?” Gary asked.
“She’s thinking of going to law school, and she thought that seeing how a murder case is tried might help her decide.”
“And you like her?” Bob asked.
“I think so. Yeah.”
Gary clapped Charlie on the back. “Well, good luck, then. And if you need any advice on how to get the fairer sex in the sack, I’m your man.”
“Jesus, Gary, you are the last person I’d ask for relationship advice.”
“Too true,” Bob said. “All the women he fucks leave in the morning after they sober up.”
“And on that note, I think I’ll end this conversation,” Charlie said. But he had a big smile on his face during his ride home.