An Insignificant Case

Chapter Thirty-Five

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

A medic treated Guido at the farm. Then he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The good news was that Guido’s jaw was not broken. The bad news was that his nose was broken, his split lip required stitches, and there was some damage to his right eye.

Charlie called Henry Roman and told him what had happened at Sabatini’s farm. Roman sounded concerned, but Charlie wasn’t sure if Roman was worried about their client or upset that the kidnapping had failed. In any event, Charlie was relieved that Roman was still in California, because he didn’t want his cocounsel anywhere near Guido until he was certain that Roman wasn’t involved in Leon Golden’s sex trafficking ring.

Sally Blaisedale made certain that Guido had a guard outside his hospital room around the clock. The next morning, Guido’s doctor said he could be interviewed, and Sally notified Charlie, who sat next to his client while Sally and Gordon Rawls debriefed him about what had happened at the farm before he was rescued.

Blaisedale and Rawls were very professional, and they didn’t ask for any information that could have compromised Guido at his murder trial. As a result, Charlie only objected to a few questions.

When they had discussed what they wanted to cover, the detectives left Charlie alone with his client. Charlie waited to speak until Guido had taken a few sips from a glass of water. He moved his chair so he could look directly at his client and waited until he had Guido’s full attention.

“I am through fucking around, Guido. This ‘It’s for me to know and you to find out’ and ‘God is protecting me’ bullshit has got to stop. People are trying to kill you, and dumb luck, not the Holy Spirit, is responsible for you being alive. You also don’t seem to realize that good people have died or been injured trying to protect you. If you don’t turn over what you stole from Gretchen Hall’s safe, I’m through with you.

“When I leave this room, I will either be your ex-lawyer or I will be on my way to Bridget Fournier’s office to tell her that you are going to turn over the evidence that holds the key to putting a group of perverts behind bars where they deserve to be. So, Guido, what’s it going to be?”

Guido tried to smile, but his stitches pulled, and he grimaced. “I am so fortunate to have you as my attorney, Charlie Webb. It is further proof that God watches over me.”

Charlie started to speak, but Guido held up his hand.

“I have decided to follow your advice. When I am discharged from the hospital, I will give up the flash drive I took from the safe. But I have a few conditions.”

“What are they?”

“I will reveal them in Judge Noonan’s chambers the next time we are in court.”

Charlie tried to get Guido to tell him the conditions and reveal where he was keeping the flash drive, but Guido wouldn’t budge. When Charlie returned to his office, he was relieved that his client might soon be out of danger, but frustrated by his obstinacy.

He closed his office door and called Bridget Fournier.

“I might have really good news that may help you forget Unger’s suicide,” he said.

“I hear a lot of qualifiers in that sentence. Are you telling me that you may have news, but I shouldn’t get too excited?”

“Exactly. Leonardo da Vinci’s protégé has decided to turn over the item he took from Hall’s safe.”

“And?”

“He has conditions that will have to be met.”

“Like demanding that his artwork be displayed in the Louvre?” Bridget asked.

“That sounded sarcastic.”

“I’m not going to get my hopes up, Charlie. So, what are the conditions?”

“He wouldn’t tell me, but he promised to lay them out in Judge Noonan’s chambers as soon as he’s discharged from the hospital.”

“When will that be?”

“His doctors told me he’ll be out tomorrow. That’s why I’m calling. Can you rustle up protection for the trip to the courthouse? After what’s already happened, you shouldn’t have much trouble justifying a request for an armed escort.”

“I’ll talk to Sally and get back to you.”

“I’ll want a quid pro quo if you get the flash drive.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“You know Guido didn’t kill anyone. He’s the obvious victim of a frame. A guy with a super-genius IQ isn’t going to leave one of his paintings at the scene of a murder and keep the murder weapon in his house, where any half-ass search would lead to its discovery.”

“You want us to dismiss the murder charges?”

“Be honest. You only indicted Guido to pressure him into giving you the flash drive.”

“You’re getting cynical in your old age.”

“I’m just practicing the logic lessons I learned in the philosophy class I took in my junior year.”

“Let me think. I’ll get back to you when I’ve decided.”

“Keep your fingers crossed. This time tomorrow, you might have the key to winning your sex trafficking case.”

Moments after Charlie ended his call to Bridget, Elin walked in.

“What happened at the farm?”

“Max Unger sent men to kidnap Guido so he could find out where Guido is hiding the flash drive. This time, the police were ready, and they stopped Unger and his men cold. We had enough evidence on Unger to send him away forever, which gave us a massive bargaining chip. But it all went down the drain because Unger killed himself.”

“Oh no!”

“With Unger dead, it looked like we were back to square one. Without the flash drive, Bridget only has the word of some teenage girls that Golden kidnapped them and forced them to have sex. But all may not be lost. I had a heart-to-heart with Guido. I told him that I was going to quit being his lawyer if he didn’t stop jerking everyone around and turn over the drive.”

“Did he agree?”

Charlie smiled. “I think so. He says he has conditions, but he’ll turn over the drive if we meet them.”

“What are the conditions?” Elin asked excitedly.

“To paraphrase one of our client’s favorite phrases, ‘That’s for him to know and us to find out.’”