Gibson & Clarke (Failed Justice Series Book 2)

by Rick Santini

  “Yes, sir.”

  ***

  “How did you know? I told no one.”

  “It’s a public corporation, Professor. Your name, your family’s name, and the trust that also owns stock are a public record. If I’m going to try a case and win, I want to know all the facts and who has the most to gain. Follow the money. It’s that simple, sir.”

  That was the first of many victories. Billy had a nose for knowing when something did not smell right. He was now getting that smell in his own office. He wasn’t sure who was more guilty, Jack or Marta.

  They can’t possibly be plotting against me; they hate each other too much.

  While Billy was feeling uncomfortable, Marta was having a pleasant lunch with the office’s wealthiest client and his sister.

  CHAPTER 55

  “This place is most delightful. I am pleased you have invited both of us to join you.”

  Marta acknowledged the compliment by Xiang and turned her attention to Mei Ling.

  “It’s been quite a while. Tell me all about your new life.”

  Mei Ling looked embarrassed. She did not like to draw attention to herself.

  “As you know, my brother has divorced himself from the filthy opium business and has pledged he will do whatever he can to help abused women and children here and in our original home. He has seen the error of his ways and is now on the path of true enlightenment. I still consider Manhattan home, but for now, I stay with Xiang in his home.”

  Marta was listening hard to see if Mei Ling was merely mouthing the words or really meant it. It sounded like she believed it.

  “May I assume, as far as the two of you are concerned, my services are no longer necessary?”

  For a split second, Marta saw a look of uncertainty in Mei Ling’s eyes.

  “We still consider you a close friend, one that was instrumental in bringing us together. We would not want to lose that friendship,” Mei Ling responded.

  “I feel the same,” Marta reassured her.

  Something’s not right. I can feel it. She doesn’t want Xiang to know. I have to arrange a private meeting with her to find out.

  “Shall we order, ladies?”

  Xiang was clearly trying to change the subject.

  It was obvious to Marta that Mei Ling was not the only one troubled. She knew Xiang was thinking of the ramifications of the sale to Scalesci. He had quietly handed her a rather large envelope when he first walked in the door. He knew his future and all his promises depended on what advice Marta gave him. Certainly, he always made the final decision, but what good was paying for advice if he did not accept it?

  It was Mei Ling that made the first move.

  “May I ask where you buy your clothes, Marta? They are so, so casual and appear to fit perfectly.”

  Marta knew where the conversation was going.

  “There are several shops in the Village that always seem to have just the right look. I would be happy to meet you and go shopping one afternoon. What about this Saturday? We could have lunch and then go on a spending spree. I hope you have a credit card that needs a good workout.”

  Xiang sat and said nothing. He was not particularly pleased, but there was nothing he could do.

  “Saturday would be perfect.”

  Mei Ling turned to her brother. “Would it be all right if Jabor drove me into the city on Saturday, about eleven in the morning?”

  “Of course, my precious little sister.”

  The balance of lunch was consumed in relative quiet. Each was thinking of what Saturday would hold.

  ***

  It was not until late afternoon that Marta dumped the pile of papers on her empty desk. She had closed the door. That meant she was not to be disturbed.

  Marta was not a contract attorney, but it did not take a law review scholar to read the agreements. Xiang had done all he was required to do. He had turned over his lists of distributors, introduced the seller to the supplier, and signed a personal non-compete agreement, all of which were unenforceable in any court in the United States of America. In addition, the contract was signed in Switzerland, the parties were actually in Switzerland, and the transfer of funds took place in a Swiss bank in Switzerland. If there were a law suit, and Marta was betting her last dollar that was not how disputes of this nature were settled, the proper venue for jurisdiction would have to be Switzerland.

  In reading the documents a second time, just to make sure, Marta found a loophole an NFL lineman could run through.

  I’m shocked Winthrop did not think of this. He could be sued for malpractice.

  Again, drug lords did not settle matters like this in a court of law. That’s why Scalesci hired people like “‘Two Potatoes” Barcolli and “Gin Gin Johnny” Nunziono.

  I’m not sure it’s relevant, but I have a legal obligation to inform Xiang of this.

  Marta’s mind now switched to Rod. She had not talked to him in a few days. In her mind, she already knew she was going to join him for sun, sand, and most definitely sex. She was anxious to meet his family and friends. The question was how. How could she justify taking ten days off work after just coming back from a fourteen-day rehabilitation vacation?

  Think, Marta, think.

  ***

  “Rod, it’s me. Call me tonight on my cell phone.”

  She was about to hang up when she added, “I miss you.”

  As she was putting all the Yeung/Scalesci papers in an unmarked file in the locked drawer of her desk, a call came through from Xiang.

  “Good afternoon, Xiang, I was just about to call you. What can I do for you?”

  In a most uncharacteristic manner, Xiang inquired as to whether Marta had an opportunity to review all the documents. For a patient man, one who waits for information to come to him, he appeared anxious, almost unnerved. Totally not his normal modus operandi.

  “Xiang, I have read the documents, twice. First of all, there is no bad news. In fact, I have good news, and if the circumstances change significantly, even better news.”

  Marta could feel the anxiety on the other end of the phone.

  “First, you have honored every provision of the contract. There is absolutely nothing Mr. Scalesci could sue you for, assuming he could find a venue to even bring an action. From a practical point of view, you are one hundred percent in the clear. Spend your money any way you want. You will never have to repay it.”

  “Thank you, Marta. I assumed as much but feel better hearing it from an attorney, namely one I trust without question. Now what is the other good news?”

  Marta waited a second before answering. “I would prefer to discuss that with you in person. I do not like or trust telephones. Perhaps you can come in on Monday or Tuesday of next week.”

  “I would much prefer it be sooner.”

  There was no way she was going to his place. She looked at her desk calendar.

  “What about nine tomorrow morning? It shouldn’t take more than five to ten minutes, but I want to make sure you understand fully.”

  They talked for another minute or two, reconfirmed the time, and hung up.

  He seems very nervous. Why?

  CHAPTER 56

  “Hi, I’ve been waiting for your call.”

  Marta was spread out on the bed, wearing a pair of ten-year-old Seton Hall sweats. Her hair was not brushed, and she had taken off her makeup an hour ago. She had propped the pillow against the headboard, thinking how great it would be not to have to get dressed up and wear makeup for a full week, maybe longer.

  She did not dwell on the subject, but she was a natural beauty. Sure, the lipstick and the makeup helped, but it was like the lacquer applied to the finished paint job. It was unnecessary but added a bit more luster.

  Rod mentioned he had been very busy with three high-end charters from wealthy customers from Boston. They wanted to bring back a prized sailfish and didn’t care what it cost them.

  “If they drank a little less and concentrated a bit more, they could have caugh
t their prize in the first or second hour. As it was, we stayed out for seven straight hours until they got their fish. I also got a thousand-dollar tip. I’ll have the fish mounted and shipped up to them in a few weeks.”

  Marta closed her eyes and tried to picture the scene. She had a strong feeling Rod did most of the work. She was one hundred percent correct.

  “What’re you doing now?”

  “Having a cold beer, listening to some smooth jazz on FM, and just relaxing. I’ve got to think about provisioning the boat in the next few days. Will I be sailing solo, or will I have a first mate on board to keep me company?”

  Marta was dying to say yes, but she needed a reason, an acceptable reason, for taking off. One Billy Jo would buy.

  “Give me a day or two. Please.”

  Rod realized she was in a high-pressure job; one where you could not call in sick for four or five days in a row. A job that required not only attention to details but being available to your clients. One that also robbed that person of the freedom to do what they wanted when they wanted.

  Is money that important? Sure I know we all have to make a living, but when is enough enough?

  “I understand. The job comes first. You know when I am leaving. Just give me enough time to buy a few more six packs and a few dozen more eggs.”

  Marta smiled. She knew Rod had eggs every single morning. The only question was how he would prepare them. She was also thankful he was more than understanding of her situation.

  “Thanks, Rod.”

  What kind of excuse can I tell Billy? He sees right through me. I hate to lie, especially to him.

  The conversation, mostly about nothing, ended forty-five minutes later. Neither wanted to hang up. Each wanted to say something, something important, but it was far too early in the relationship.

  Am I really in a relationship? she wondered.

  She closed her eyes with that thought in mind. Marta did not bother to get up to wash her face and brush her teeth. She slept comfortably in her sweats. She had set the alarm for six a.m. She wanted to be in the office no later than eight thirty. Xiang had a nine o’clock appointment. That meant his black sedan with Jabor driving would be parked outside her office by eight forty-five.

  At the very latest.

  Marta had no idea of the newest bombshell to fall.

  ***

  Mei Ling could see it, sense it, almost feel it in her bones. She was afraid to tell anyone. Marta was her only hope. Saturday could not come quickly enough. The phone call her brother received merely confirmed her suspicions something was very wrong. She could not make out the words, but even six feet away, it was obvious the person on the other end of the line was screaming. Xiang excused himself from the table and walked quickly to the garden. He returned clearly agitated and mumbled something about a misunderstanding, not really important.

  After dinner, instead of their habit of having tea together, Xiang excused himself, saying he was not feeling well, and went directly to his private study. He informed staff he wanted no tea, a most unusual command, and was not to be disturbed for any reason. He had several important phone calls to make.

  Mei Ling was not in the habit of spying, least of all on her own brother, but she walked by the closed doors of the study several times. She could clearly hear Xiang raising his voice.

  Since we have been reunited, he has been the model of self-control. Regardless of the circumstances, he has never once yelled or appeared angry. This must be something very serious. It must be about that trip he just took to Switzerland.

  ***

  “I must ask you a most important question and I need an honest answer.”

  Marta was shocked. Xiang was disturbed, edgy, and grossly impolite. There had been no exchange of greetings, no small talk, nothing. He closed the door, sat down, and demanded an answer.

  “Have I ever lied to you? Have I ever misled you? Have I ever given you an occasion to be insulted like this? I have no idea why you are so upset, but if you feel you cannot trust me, and I have never given you cause, perhaps you should leave my office now and find a new attorney.”

  Marta was now livid. She was no one’s scapegoat.

  They were now at an impasse. He was demanding an answer, and she refused to be treated like a common thief. Each sat, staring at the other. Marta refused to blink. She was ready to get up and ask her client, maybe her soon to be former client, to leave when Xiang stood up, bowed deeply, and asked her to forgive him.

  “I am truly sorry. Please forgive a stupid old man for taking his frustrations out on one who has been so loyal and respectful. I do not blame you if you want me to leave.”

  “The thought had crossed my mind. Tell me what the problem is, and maybe I can help.”

  Xiang now looked like an old man. His shoulders dropped, his jaw line sagged, his eyelids were heavy, and he appeared to have no energy at all. It seemed like an effort to sit upright in the leather chair.

  “Did you tell anyone of my trip to Zurich? Anyone at all.”

  “No, of course not. Why? What’s this all about?”

  “Who in your office knows where I was and who I met?”

  “Jack’s secretary knew he was going out of town for two or three days. Jack told her he was going back home to West Virginia to visit some old college buddies and would be in no condition to answer his cell phone. I read the file you gave me but told no one—I mean absolutely no one. Billy knows you are thinking of getting out of the business and knows you wanted me to join you, but that’s about it. Again, why are you asking?”

  Xiang then went on to relay the phone call he had received the night before from Simon Winthrop, the Wall Street attorney who accompanied him on the trip. He went on to mention someone from the US Attorney’s office had been tailing him and knew all the parties that were there, including where they were staying. Now Winthrop was nervous he had done something wrong.

  “That’s impossible. First of all, Winthrop did nothing wrong. The nature of the business was never spelled out. Even if it was, the attorney cannot be responsible for the acts of his client. How does he know the individual was actually a Fed? Anyone can print up a fake ID, and the government does not contact targets of an investigation by hanging out in front of a Greek restaurant. It makes no sense. Someone who knows where Winthrop was is pulling his chain.”

  Xiang appeared to relax, just a bit.

  “Even if the Feds know, there was no crime committed. Both the buyer and seller were off-shore corporations. You have no legal obligation to report the profit to the IRS. What did you tell Winthrop?”

  “I told him I did not know what he was talking about. I told him I have been discreet for the past thirty years and I was not going to change now. The words became somewhat heated. Finally, I hung up; I have never done that before. Again, please excuse my insulting attitude. Of course I trust you with my life. Now what is the good news you have for me?”

  Marta felt herself begin to unwind.

  “Do you remember the non-compete agreement you signed?”

  “Of course I do. There is no way Scalesci would have bought my business if I could become his competitor the very next day. Not that I have any intention to.”

  Marta had a thin smile on her face.

  “I understand, but let me point out something I believe everyone appeared to have missed.”

  As Marta explained, Xiang’s mind became engaged. He too had a thin smile on his face.

  “You have been most helpful. You are a very good lawyer. I think I can go home and rest easier today. Also, there will be a bonus for you personally, for making this old man feel better.”

  With that, Xiang stood, gave Marta a kiss on the cheek, and departed the room.

  Who the hell is posing as an Assistant United States Attorney?

  Marta had a damn good idea.

  CHAPTER 57

  It takes a great deal of energy and effort to get a hundred-car freight train to begin moving. It takes even more energy and effort to
get it to stop—quickly. That’s why there are so many train wrecks.

  Jack Renaldo realized there was no way to stop the train wreck he had started. His purpose, his sole purpose, was to get the US Attorney from going further in their investigation of Salvatore Bonnonnos. He needed a quid pro quo. As to collateral damage, namely Anthony Scalesci, it was none of his business.

  In fact, it was most definitely his business. He was an equal if not named partner in the firm that represented Xiang Yeung, the other half of the transaction. By ratting—what other word was there—on Scalesci, he put his own client in jeopardy.

  Even very smart people do very stupid things. Now it appeared Jack had put Xiang, his own client, in a difficult situation. What was now more important, his loyalty to his client or his obligation to the firm? He knew he couldn’t have it both ways.

  At some point, it will come out—it always does—who spoke to the Feds. Then where the hell am I?

  Jack Renaldo rarely sweated. He rarely looked disheveled or without a presence of strength and confidence. This was not one of those times. He knew in his haste, he had screwed up, big time.

  “Miranda, it’s me, Jack. I seem to have caught the bug. I don’t feel great. Think I’ll head home and take a few pills. If anyone wants me, I should be in the office by noon tomorrow. Thanks.”

  Maybe a few shots of my old buddy, Jack Daniels, will help.

  ***

  “Mommy, Mommy, a strange man gave me some money. He told me to give it to Daddy and tell him to buy me a present with it. Will Daddy buy me a present, Mommy?”

  With that, seven-year-old Jeremy Winthrop handed a one hundred Swiss franc note to a very startled Mommy.

  Dorothy Winthrop did not understand. Yes, her husband Simon had just come back from Zurich, but why would some man give her son Swiss money? She called Simon at work. Surely he would understand.