“And what does he do there?” Clarke ran his eyes over the files.
“Investigates divorce cases, by either digging up evidence on the estranged partner or…” Esther paused. “Digging up dirt on the opposition’s lawyer. There’s some unsavory practices happening in that firm.”
“Whoa.” Clarke raised his eyebrows. “This is looking tricky. So, I guess you know what my next question is then?”
“Five cases.” Esther said. “Either recently resolved or currently ongoing divorce cases between Vandenberg and Wolfe’s office and Stacey Fulbright’s clients. We’re looking into them now, but there’s one previous case which stands out. It’s an older case. Years old. Christoph King and his divorce from Cassandra Mills. Stacey represented Mills and took Christoph King to the cleaners for millions more than she should have. And he’s held a grudge ever since.”
“I know of Christoph King. Round guy. Loud voice. Ginger hair. He does some interviews for Fox News when they need a one-sided opinion on Chicago politics. A Republican man.” Clarke nodded. “Legally, what’s the approach?”
“There’s no witness to the event, nor any direct evidence that shows she did it.” Hunter said. “If we can find another potential suspect, someone with ties to the case and a motive, then we have a chance of convincing the jury that there’s not enough evidence to convict Stacey.”
The trio talked for the next hour, exchanging notes and information. Clarke was easy to talk with, unassuming, and had minimal ego. He had enough money to retire to the Bahamas and play golf for the rest of his life, but slowing down didn’t interest him. After more than an hour of discussion, Clarke collected the files, and thanked Hunter and Esther for their help.
“Stacey said you were good at your job, Mr. Hunter, and I’m very happy for you to continue as part of this case.” Clarke said as he stood. “Because with the names that you’ve suggested, I think danger isn’t going to be far away.”
Chapter 14
Ray Jones was waiting in Burnham Park, on the shores of Lake Michigan, relaxing on a wooden bench, taking a long drag on a joint. The sun was glistening off the dew on the grass, a breeze blew off the lake, and joggers hurried past on the track that hugged the edges of the water. There was a couple nearby, lounging on a picnic rug, enjoying a hamper for lunch. The horizon seemed to stretch on forever under the reflection of the sun, and Jones had his gaze locked onto it.
“Ray.” Hunter greeted Jones. “You looked relaxed.”
“Tex.” Jones took another long drag of the green tobacco, held the smoke in his mouth for a moment, and then blew it out. He moved the joint towards Hunter. “Want some?”
“No, thanks.” Hunter shook his head. “Not my thing.”
“I’ve been thinking…” Jones began, “about dinosaurs.”
“Okay…”
“Did you know that dinosaurs were only discovered two hundred years ago?”
“I didn’t.”
“Think about that for a moment, Tex—these creatures roamed our earth for millions and millions of years, and we only found out about them two hundred years ago. That’s crazy, right?”
“Right.”
“These giant creatures literally owned this planet for millions of years and we didn’t even know they existed. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Christopher Columbus, Isaac Newton, Napoleon, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Da Vinci, even Jesus’ disciples… none these people even knew dinosaurs existed. None of them. They’d never even heard of a T-Rex. These things were on our planet for millions of years, literally millions of years, and no one even know they existed.” Jones’ eyebrows creased together. “So I’ve been thinking—what else don’t we know? What will we discover in the next two hundred years? What will the people of 2200 look back on and say? Will they say, ‘Imagine living in a time where you didn’t know the spiritual world existed?’”
“Whoa. Ease up on the wacky tabacky there, pal.” Hunter smiled.
“But think about it, Tex. Really think about it.” Jones looked at the end of his joint. It was almost finished. “As humans, we think our knowledge is complete. We assume we know everything that’s happened in the past, or everything around us, or what’s likely to happen next, but it’s not true. It’s just not true. Just because we can’t prove something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Nobody could prove the existence of dinosaurs until 1820. If you had said dinosaurs existed before that, you would’ve been laughed at and told you were mad, probably even shipped off to an asylum.”
Hunter stared out into the lake as the thoughts processed through his head. “You’re talking about religion? Just because we don’t have proof but have faith?”
“I’m talking about everything. Religion. Spiritual healers. The power of the universe. There could be so many things we don’t know. There could even be more dimensions—a magnetic dimension, a spiritual dimension, a paranormal dimension, and a… well, whatever dimension. Possibly something we haven’t even thought of yet.” Jones didn’t take his eyes off the horizon. “And then our great, great, great grandchildren will be sitting here in two hundred years’ time saying—can you imagine the fifth dimension, the spiritual world, was only discovered two hundred years ago? Crazy.”
“Mind-blowing.” Hunter patted Jones on the shoulder. “Now, I’m too scared to even ask what you’ve found in Stacey Fulbright’s murder case. Evidence the murderer traveled from a different dimension, perhaps? That could prove she’s innocent.”
The joke broke Jones’ gaze, and he laughed heartily, before standing and moving towards his truck, parked in the lot behind them. He was a hulking giant of a man, and as he got older, his movements were followed by a loud grunt and moan. He walked over to his truck, opened the passenger door, and pulled out a file.
“Report on who Stacey Fulbright was representing in the divorce cases. Here’s a list of names. Nothing too much that I can find on the information databases. She was representing fifteen wives in various stages of divorce at the time of the murder, and they’ve all been handed over to her associate. She wasn’t representing any males at the time of the murder, but she’s represented many in the past. She was also talking to a number of women, her assistant said another five to ten women, but nothing official. I’ve got some of their names, but not all of them.”
“And the other side? The husbands?”
“All accused of domestic violence, so all of them have the ability to snap. The listed ones are mostly run-of-the-mill white-collar type guys. Successful, angry, but nothing that says they’re a killer. I’ve got a few more names to check, but at first glance, it doesn’t look like much.” Jones placed the file on the hood of his truck and opened it. “Do you really think a husband would take out revenge on a lawyer?”
“Who knows?” Hunter shrugged. “Maybe Stacey was empowering the women, and the husbands saw her as the reason the marriage was falling apart. Maybe they saw Stacey as a target.”
“Or maybe Joe Fielding had information for Stacey on one of the divorces?”
“And was trying to blackmail her? That’s possible.” Hunter drew a breath. “Any luck finding Joe Fielding’s assistant?”
“No trace of anyone named Rebecca White that matches her description. Nothing. It’s like she vanished into thin air.”
“We need to find her. Maybe she changed her name? She’ll have something to add to the case.” Hunter turned, placed his hands in his pockets and looked out to the distance. “Stacey has officially given the case to John C. Clarke, a very competent lawyer, so I won’t be the lead on this anymore. We’ll still do everything in our power to help, but it’s no longer our case.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“It’s the right decision. I don’t like it, but it’s the right decision. I’m too close to it. Too personally invested in getting her off. And that might mean I miss a really good chance to deal out, or take a manslaughter charge.”
Jones nodded. “How about Dr. Mackie’s case? How’d the depositions g
o?”
“Nothing of substance. The first witness was solid, the second questionable, but they stuck to their guns. I need something to connect all the witnesses together. That’s what we need to win. Something. Anything. Dr. Mackie’s determined to take this to trial, and at this point, it’s clear he’s going to lose. Jury selection is within a week, and I don’t like our chances of even getting a hung jury.”
Hunter watched a car circle past in the distance. It was the third time the car had slowly driven past the entrance to the parking lot.
“Well, you might be in luck. I had to do some digging, and I mean really deep, but in Wisconsin, in one of the earliest medical clinics that Christoph King opened, I might’ve found something.” Jones moved back to the passenger seat of his truck and took out another file. “He bought this medical clinic after some jostling, and it’s gone on to be one of his most profitable clinics.”
“And what swung the sale in favor of King?”
“Sexual harassment allegations against the previous managing director.”
“That’s good. That’s something we can work with.”
“What makes it even better is that the allegation was from a new patient.”
Hunter’s mouth hung open for a moment. “A set-up? If it’s worked before, then King could try it again. Do you have a name for the patient?”
“I’m working on it, but everything was signed with non-disclosure agreements and locked away. Her name has been wiped from just about everything.”
“Find me the name. We need to talk to her.” Hunter watched the dark car drive past again. It was too far away for Hunter to see the plates. He stepped forward, and the car soon drove away under Hunter’s stare. He turned back to Jones. “I have to go back to the office, but promise me you’re not going to drive in your current state. You’re so high that you’re a danger to everyone on the road. I don’t want to be defending you in court for vehicle manslaughter.”
“Too true. And I don’t feel like going anywhere right now.” Jones’ head drifted to the side a little, and then he looked over at the park bench. “Looks like a good place to sit for a few hours.”
Hunter smiled. “Just don’t go slipping off into another dimension. I need you in the real world.”
Chapter 15
Stacey Fulbright peered out the window of her living room. Like a nosy neighbor, she stared from behind the blinds, pulling them back just enough to look outside with one eye. The van was still there. It had been there all morning. It was a new white van, clean, but she hadn’t seen anyone drive it. Her husband suggested that the neighbors had bought it, but she didn’t believe him. She was starting to doubt everything he told her.
She was once so proud of her home, but as the days went past, she couldn’t find the energy to maintain it. The floor was dirty. The indoor plants were dry. The dust was beginning to gather in the corners. All she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and lay on the couch. Carl was doing his best to maintain the house, maintain some sense of normalcy, but he was juggling work, the children, and her sanity. He’d already taken all his vacation days. He’d already used up all his energy.
“Stacey,” Carl said as he approached her. He knew not to sneak up on her. There were enough broken plates and glasses in the house already.
As she leaned against the window, Stacey kept her eyes on the van.
“Stacey?” Her husband remained at the entrance to the living room, a safe distance away from his wife.
She turned.
“Stacey, this has to stop. You can’t spend all day at the window. You’re beginning to scare the kids.”
“Scare the kids?” She let go of the blind. “They should be scared. Someone set me up. There are killers out there who have targeted me. And I think they’re in the van.”
“They’re not in the van.” He sighed, and rubbed his brow. “Stacey, I need you to stop this. We can’t keep going on like this.”
“And what else am I going to do? I’ve been charged with murder, Carl. I’m looking at twenty-five years in prison. Did you hear that? Twenty-five years in prison. What else am I supposed to do? Play happy family and pretend like none of this has happened? Forget about it all until my court date?”
He looked away. “I don’t know what you’re going to do. But I’ve been thinking… it’s best for the kids and I to go away for a while. We’re going to stay with my parents in Florida. They’ve got enough room down there to put us up. It would be nice—”
“Nice? I’m facing a murder charge and you’re talking about ‘nice?’”
“It’s starting to affect the kids, Stacey.” His voice was firm. “They’re scared. They know something isn’t right. But if I go down to Orlando with them, then we can have fun at a theme park, let them forget all this for a while. It’s like Tex Hunter said, this trial is going to have a profound effect on them, just as his father’s had an effect on him. I don’t… I don’t think that’s healthy for them. I’ve got to take them away from this. My work has an office in Orlando, and I can work remotely from there for a few months until the trial’s over. Mom and Dad will look after the kids while I go into the office. They can do online learning down there. The school said they can send through all the work. It’s better than… it’s better than staying here with you.”
Stacey stared at the floor. At the time she needed him the most, he was walking away.
But he’d been walking away for years. Where had the excitement of their twenties gone? Where had the passion gone? Where was the desperate love they once had for each other? She looked at the photo of their wedding day sitting on the hallway cabinet. Her chest heaved up and down. They looked so happy. So in love. Where was that love now?
She knew she’d put their marriage on the back burner for years. She’d been just as guilty of ignoring the growing distance between them. Work, family, kids, responsibility—it all added up to the demise of their relationship. Life was hard, busy, and their marriage was the first thing to suffer.
“We’re leaving in the morning. Flight is at 10:05. I’ll get the kids packed now. They’ll miss you, but I’ve told them you need to stay here for work. You should read them a book tonight before they go.”
“You want me to face the trial alone?” She whispered.
“I’ve spoken to Mr. Clarke, your lawyer, and he agreed it’s the best thing for the kids. He’ll help you through this. He’s a good man. And your mother can help you. She’s only thirty-five minutes away by car. I’ve already talked to her—she said she’ll stay with you during the trial, if you want. She’ll be here every day.” He leaned against the wall. “I just don’t think that keeping the kids in Chicago will be healthy for them. The other kids at school are already teasing Noah about the charges, saying things like he’s the son of a murderer. That’s only going to become worse once the trial starts. I’ve got to take them out of this city, to a place where they can forget it all. The teachers have given them work to do. They’ll still be learning.”
“Don’t I even get a say in this?” She murmured.
He shook his head. His eyes lingered on her for a long moment before he turned and began to walk away down the dark hallway.
“Wait. Carl.”
He stopped and turned, leaning his closed fist against the wall.
“If this…” She folded her arms. “If this doesn’t work out the way it should, and I’m sent to prison, I want you to promise me you’ll look after our kids.”
“Of course.”
“Promise me, that if something happens to me, you’ll do everything you can for our children.”
Her husband stared at her, nodded his response, and then walked away.
Chapter 16
Ray Jones came through on his investigation into the purchase of a medical clinic in Wisconsin by Christoph King. He found the name of the woman who accused the practicing doctor of sexual assault, forcing the sale of the clinic, but she refused to talk via phone. When Jones offered to drive Hunter to Milwaukee, two
hours north, to interview her face-to-face, he was happy to accept and leave the office for the day. Hunter loved the city known for its beer and baseball, and he had great memories of heading north to Milwaukee in his twenties—especially the summer German festivals full of beer, cheese and Bratwursts.
After an easy drive on the I-94, Jones parked on the street in Downtown Milwaukee, and removed his jacket from the trunk of the car, still feeling the chill in the February air.
“What did she say when you talked to her on the phone?” Hunter asked, turning the collar of his coat up.
“Not much. She shut her mouth the second I asked about her previous appointments at the medical clinic. She said she couldn’t talk about it, and she was busy. After that, she hung up the phone.”
The two tall men approached the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, strolling past the valets, and through the double-glass doors. The foyer of the four-star hotel was impressive. The building was hollowed out in the middle, with an atrium that stretched to the top floor of the eighteen-story building. Glass elevators ran up and down the inside, providing a wide view over the internal courtyard.
“Welcome to the Hyatt Regency. Are you checking in?” The smile across the woman’s face was broad. She was tanned, brunette, and her smile was easy, full of genuine affection and care.
“Not quite.” Hunter stepped forward to the reception desk of the hotel. “We would like to talk to you, Miss Heather Monroe.”
“And who are you?” She raised one eyebrow.
“My name is Tex Hunter. I’m a criminal attorney. And I’m investigating your previous sexual assault claims against Dr. Lighten.”
She jolted back in shock. “Um…” Her eyes darted around the room, looking behind Hunter. She lowered her voice, and leaned closer to him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Saving Justice: A Legal Thriller (Tex Hunter Book 5) Page 8
