An Insignificant Case

Chapter Thirty-Six

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

As soon as Guido was discharged from the hospital, Guido and Charlie were driven to the Multnomah County Courthouse in a motorcade surrounded by armed police officers. The cars stopped next to a rear courthouse entrance, and an armored and helmeted SWAT team surrounded Guido and Charlie as they got out of their car. The protective detail hustled the lawyer and his client into an elevator that took them to the floor where Judge Noonan held court.

As soon as Charlie alerted Bridget Fournier that Guido was prepared to turn over the flash drive, she had told Sally Blaisedale, Gordon Rawls, and Thomas Grant. Henry Roman was back from San Francisco, and he was waiting with the detectives and the prosecutors in the judge’s chambers when Charlie and Guido walked in. Everyone looked nervous. Charlie wondered who was anxious to get the evidence that would expose the participants in a monstrous crime and who was worried about being exposed.

“Good morning, Mr. Sabatini,” Judge Noonan said. “I’ve been briefed about your narrow escape at your farm. How are you feeling?”

“Thank you for your concern, Judge Noonan. As you can see, I am not as handsome as I have been in my previous appearances in your honorable court, but I am healing nicely and should be able to paint again quite soon.”

“Good to hear. And now I understand you have decided to give the authorities an item you took from Gretchen Hall’s safe.”

“Mr. Webb has convinced me that, with the exception of the miscreants whose identities will be revealed, it is in everyone’s best interest for me to do so.”

“I also understand that you have conditions that must be met before you will give the item you took from the safe to the authorities.”

“I do.”

“What are your conditions?” Judge Noonan asked.

“It has become obvious that powerful people want to destroy the flash drive I took from Gretchen Hall’s safe. Numerous attempts have been made to kidnap me so I could be forced to reveal the drive’s location. It has also become obvious that one or more of these powerful people may be involved in my trial.”

“Now, wait one minute,” Thomas Grant said. “Are you accusing me or someone in my office or the police of being involved in these kidnapping attempts?”

“I am just stating the obvious. So, I have decided that I will turn over the drive to the only people I trust besides Mr. Webb.” Guido turned to Judge Noonan. “I will turn over the flash drive to you at my farm tomorrow at five o’clock.”

“You want me to come to your farm?” the judge said, obviously surprised.

“You and one other person must come. No one else can be present.”

“That makes no sense, Guido,” Charlie said. “There are still people who want to kill you.”

“I am aware of that, and the authorities can post guards all around my farm. But I will only turn over the drive to Judge Noonan in my barn tomorrow afternoon.”

“You just said that there is another person who has to be present. Who is that?” Bridget asked.

Guido smiled. “The charming Miss Elin Crane.”

“What?!” Elin Crane exclaimed when they were in Charlie’s office with the door closed.

“He said that he won’t give the flash drive to Judge Noonan if you aren’t there,” Charlie said.

“But why? I only met him that one time, at his farm, and that didn’t go very well.”

“I know. I gave up trying to figure out our client a long time ago. Guido is a wack job. He operates in a universe that only parallels ours. But that begs the question. Will you go?”

“I sort of have to, don’t I? The flash drive may be the key to busting Golden’s sex trafficking ring.”

Elin paused. She looked worried. “Will I be in any danger?”

“I’d be lying if I told you that you won’t be. The people we think are named on the drive are desperate. But there will be a huge police presence around the farm, and you should be safe.”

“‘Should be’ is not what I wanted to hear.”

Charlie put his hands on Elin’s shoulders and looked in her eyes. His heart was beating double time in his chest, and his throat was dry.

“If I thought that the police couldn’t protect you, I’d tell you to refuse to go, no matter the consequences.” Charlie swallowed. “It would kill me if anything happened to you.”

Elin stared back at Charlie. She could feel him shaking. Then she leaned forward and kissed him. Charlie was stunned. Then he let nature take over.

“God, I’ve wanted to tell you how I feel about you since the first time you were in my office,” Charlie said when they came up for air.

Elin touched Charlie’s cheek, and he felt an electric charge go through him.

“I’ll go,” Elin said.

Charlie opened a drawer in his desk and took out a small handgun he’d gotten from Gary Schwartz. Elin stared at the weapon.

“What’s that for?”

“It’s for you. This is small enough to hide on your person when you go to the farm.”

“I… Charlie, I don’t want it. I’ve never had a gun. I’d end up shooting myself.”

“It’s not that difficult, Elin. You just point and shoot.”

Elin laughed. “I appreciate why you think I should have it, but I don’t want it. The only time I would need it is if the bad guys were able to fight their way through a squad of highly trained police. What chance do you think I’d have against mercenaries who were skilled enough to do that?”

Charlie blushed. “You make a good point.”

Elin touched Charlie’s cheek again. “I appreciate the gesture and your belief that I could take on a battalion of trained ninjas, but I’m going to pass on the gun.”