An Insignificant Case

Chapter Twenty-Seven

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Charlie’s euphoric feeling only lasted until Elin Crane called two hours later.

“What’s up?” Charlie asked.

“I found out something you’re not going to like.”

Charlie looked at his watch. “Why don’t you tell me over lunch?”

“We need a place where we won’t be overheard,” Elin said. She sounded nervous.

Charlie named a bar a few blocks from his office, and Elin walked in shortly after he arrived.

“What did you find?” Charlie asked after the waiter left with their order of burgers and beers.

“I ran an internet search looking for connections between Roman, Grant, Hall, Makarov, Golden, and Unger, all of the people involved in some way in Guido’s case.” Elin paused. “Henry Roman represented Max Unger in a civil case three years ago.”

“Unger is Henry’s client?”

“He was. I haven’t found any other case where he represented him since then.”

“Henry didn’t tell me.”

“There’s more. With the exception of Makarov, everyone I named is a member of the Westmont Country Club.”

“That makes sense. It’s Portland’s most exclusive club. Hall, Golden, Roman, Grant, and Unger are wealthy or prominent members of Portland society.”

“If Roman represented Unger, it’s logical to assume that they interacted at the Westmont, but Roman didn’t tell you about the connection,” Elin said.

“Maybe he didn’t think it was important,” Charlie said. “You said it was a three-year-old case.”

“Is he still a client if the case is over?” Elin asked.

“I’m not sure. I mean, he would be for the old case, but… I don’t know.”

“You should ask him.”

“I will. And you did good work.”

Elin beamed. “Thanks, Mr. Webb.”

“Charlie,” he corrected. “And I appreciate your initiative.”

“Thanks.”

Charlie would have stayed with Elin all day, but he had to ask his cocounsel why he hadn’t told him that Max Unger was a client. So, he reluctantly ended their meeting and headed back to his office.

“I’m glad you called,” Roman said as soon as he answered Charlie’s call. “I was going to call you. We have a problem. Guido isn’t writing his bio, and he refuses to discuss his life story with the associate I sent to his farm. Can you talk to him? You seem to be able to get through to him.”

Charlie sighed. “I’ll try, but he’s tough to move once he gets his mind set on something. Uh, there was a reason I wanted to talk to you. Remember I told you that the men who tried to kill me worked for Max Unger at National Security?”

“Yes.”

“Uh, well, I just found out that you represented Unger in a civil suit three years ago.”

“I did?”

“Yeah. Do you think that’s a problem?”

“Okay, I remember now. The case involved his accountant, who was claiming he’d been fired because of discrimination. I didn’t handle the case. One of my associates did. The matter was over very quickly, and I haven’t seen or talked to Unger since I closed the case.”

“Not even at the Westmont? I’ve been told that you’re both members.”

“What’s up, Charlie? This sounds a lot like a cross-examination.”

Charlie was embarrassed about bringing up the relationship, but he knew he couldn’t let the matter drop.

“No, it’s not like that. I’m just worried that you might have a conflict if we try to argue that someone connected to Max Unger murdered Hall and Makarov.”

“I don’t see any problem.”

“Should I check with the ethics counsel at the bar to see what he thinks?”

“Sure, if you want to. But I don’t think I have a conflict.”

“Yeah. Okay. But I thought I should ask you.”

“I’m glad you did, Charlie. Like I said before, we need to work as a team.”

Charlie felt much better when the call ended. He decided that he could call the bar later, and he’d just thought of a way that might get Guido writing his bio.