The Last Chance Lawyer

by William Bernhardt

  “Nah. Kid stuff. But I always wanted one of these. For some reason, I thought Aquaman was the coolest. Probably because I loved water sports. Never got one, though. We didn’t have money for that kind of stuff.”

  “No cash for toys? Heavens to Murgatroyd. That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  He kept admiring it. “You like these...Mego dolls?”

  “I think they’re hideous. But extremely valuable. Back then, that’s all there was for the serious superhero fan.” He checked his watch. “I wasn’t expecting you back for at least another hour.”

  “The interview with Emilio’s right-hand man didn’t take that long.”

  “Because he didn’t know anything?”

  “Because he threatened to have me killed. I thought it might be smart to exercise the better part of valor.”

  “Just as well,” Jimmy said. “We don’t need to lose another teammate. I was surprised when you texted that you wanted to see the mayor.”

  “Luis name-checked her. They have some kind of connection. Worth a visit.”

  “A hard visit to get. But of course, I’ve arranged it. Ready to go?”

  “You already got us an appointment?”

  “I did. But please don’t get us thrown out or threatened, okay? Maintain your cool demeanor.”

  He walked to a nearby shelf and pointed to a huge game box. “Is this the Gloomhaven game you keep talking about?”

  “It is indeed.”

  “This box looks bigger than my travel luggage.”

  Jimmy laughed. “There are lots of parts. But it ships with more than ninety quests. So you can see why it would.”

  He had only the vaguest of notions what that meant. “You’ve played all ninety?

  “We’re about halfway through. We normally play on Saturdays, if everyone’s free.”

  “And you’re the dungeon master?”

  “Gloomhaven ships with prewritten scenarios, so you don’t actually need a dungeon master. Maria always ends up in charge, telling the rest of us what to do.”

  He wasn’t surprised. “So did you join this law firm because you needed a job or because you needed playmates?”

  “Both. As you may have noticed, I’ve had some of these collectibles a long time. I used to play with this stuff with my dad. An affection for nonsense was about the only thing we shared.”

  “I’m sorry. He’s gone?”

  “No. Well, not the way you mean. He’s still alive. Big, burly guy. Worked most of his life as a stevedore down by the pier. We didn’t have much in common. Except this stuff.”

  “But...no more?”

  Jimmy gazed at the wall. “My dad hasn’t spoken to me since I came out. And that was many years ago.” He smiled a little. “But I’m keeping the toys close at hand, just in case he changes his mind.”

  THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Dan and Jimmy stood in the lobby of Mayor Camila Pérez’s City Hall office. He had to admit he was impressed. If Jimmy could get them in to see her this quickly, he had some serious sway.

  A young African-American woman sat in the outer lobby. After she verified that he and Jimmy were on the schedule, she punched a few buttons, confirmed that the mayor was ready, and let them inside.

  Mayor Pérez met them in the corridor. “Hello, gentlemen. Please come in.” Dragonfly brooch. Slight tummy. Frozen hair. Lots of teeth. She was shorter in person than she looked on television. Barely five feet tall, and even then he wondered if she might be wearing lifts. She looked good, especially for someone who was just sitting around the office. She was clearly of Latinx descent, but spoke without an accent.

  The mayor spoke first. “I understand you’re an attorney working on the Trademark case. You represent the accused.”

  “That is correct.”

  “I must tell you that my friends at the District Attorney’s Office tell me your client is guilty.”

  “Did they say they have a rock-solid case?”

  “Those were their exact words.”

  “That’s what I would expect them to say to the mayor.”

  She nodded. “I know from experience, having lived in St. Pete all my life, that the police do not always get it right. But since we are part of the same team, I have to assume that they are handling matters as best they can.”

  “That may be. But it doesn’t prove my client is guilty.”

  “Understood. We will agree to disagree. As the city’s highest official, I must take a firm stance against violence.”

  “I understand,” Jimmy said, easing into the conversation. “Tragedies like this leave everyone feeling unsafe. They weren’t even in a particularly bad part of town.”

  “Exactly,” the mayor replied. “They were in the tourist district. And we cannot afford to chase away the tourist trade. The city would crumble. We must be perceived as taking a strong stand against violence.” She paused. “Would you gentlemen care to join me for a stroll on the beach?”

  That caught him by surprise. He knew they were close to the ocean, but he didn’t expect to go beachcombing with the mayor.

  “I try to walk a mile each day,” she continued, “but I haven’t done it yet. And the beach just outside is my favorite walk. Join me, please.”

  He couldn’t complain. Even though he lived on a boat, he didn’t spend as much time on the beach as he should. St. Pete had the best beaches in the world, in his opinion, not as crowded as Waikiki and some of the other candidates.

  Ten minutes later he was on the beach, inhaling the salty air and feeling sand crunch beneath his Air Jordans. The sun shone and the sea spray lifted his spirits and he could almost forget why he had come.

  Maybe that was why the mayor brought them here.

  “Thank you for indulging me,” she said. “I spend far too much time locked up in offices.” She turned slightly toward him, catching his eye. “And the problem with offices is that they are full of people. And people have ears. Now what was I saying?”

  “Something about taking a stand against violence,” he said. “I may have helped you appear to be taking strong and swift action. We’re going to trial in about a week.”

  “So I understand. Do you think that is wise? Speedy justice is good, but if it’s rendered too quickly, we open ourselves to charges of unfairness.”

  “I understand your concerns,” he said. “This must be a difficult situation for you. Tricky. You can’t play favorites, but you also have to be careful not to alienate anyone.”

  The mayor did not disagree.

  “So you’re performing a difficult tightrope act. Not alienating minorities, distancing yourself from violence, being perceived as proactive. Almost impossible.”

  The mayor smiled. “That would be a good description of my job, virtually every day of the week. Almost impossible.”

  He returned the smile. He couldn’t help but like her. If nothing else, she was exceptionally honest. Refreshing in a politician. “I understand you’re going forward with the expansion of The Meeting Place. Bulldozers go to work on Monday morning.”

  “You’ve been talking to members of my staff?”

  “No. But on the drive up, I read your Facebook page. And your Twitter feed.”

  “What a world we live in. When social media is the best source of information about a politician’s activities. Welcome to the twenty-first century.”

  “This park expansion is going to be expensive. You need all the support you can muster.”

  “That is true every day. But Albert Kazan gave us a masterpiece with The Meeting Place. The best thing to happen to St. Pete in decades. It would be a crime not to finish it.”

  “You’ve worked closely with Kazan, right?”

  “Dr. Kazan both designed and helped raise the funds. He has vision.” She stopped walking. “Do you like bright colors, Mr. Pike?”

  “Well, I have a kaleidoscope in my backpack.”

  “Good for you. Bright colors make people happy. They increase joy. Studies have shown that people exposed to ligh
t and color are happier and more productive. That’s why I made sure the new downtown government offices were painted with vivid, electric colors. Fuchsia and magenta. They make people happy.”

  “As I recall,” he said, “you got a lot of grief for that in the press. People asked if you were building an office or a kindergarten.”

  “Happy people work harder and live longer.”

  “And vote the mayor in for a second term.”

  “That is not as important as spreading joy.”

  “I recommend toys,” Jimmy said. “People surrounded by toys are happy.”

  The mayor laughed. “I can see that you think like me. When people lose their inner child, they become unhappy. They think growing up means giving up everything that makes them smile. The result is a joyless world. People who wake up in the morning but are not particularly happy to be there, who have nothing to look forward to. That’s not the kind of city I want to run.” She pointed. The Meeting Place was just visible from the beach, over the horizon. “People questioned this new park, but to me, creating a safe haven for children, bringing joy to people of all ages, is worth a billion dollars. In fact, it’s worth a great deal more.”

  “Some of your opponents disagree.”

  “And they always will. That is why they are called opponents. But the people of the city elected me. And I intend to make them glad they did.” She smiled. “As much as I enjoy talking about myself, I feel this is probably not why you came. You would like to get back to what happened at the Trademark.”

  Again the blunt honestly. Impressive. “I just finished speaking to a man named Luis González. He seems to be Emilio Lòpez’s right-hand man, although I think in his mind he may be Emilio’s replacement. He heads a business called Southside Imports.”

  “I know the man of whom you speak.”

  “He dropped your name during our chat. I was surprised he knew who you were, much less that he considered you a powerful ally.”

  The mayor gazed out at the ocean. The tide was coming in. “He has donated to my war chest. We are already preparing for my reelection campaign.”

  “And you’re comfortable taking money from him?”

  She spread her hands wide. “So far as we are able to tell, he is running legitimate businesses, profitable ones. That is exactly the kind of donor we try to attract.”

  “I’m surprised he would even be on your fundraising radar.”

  “Actually, it was Dr. Kazan who suggested him as a possible revenue source.”

  The architect suggested they secure funds from a gang lord? That seemed unusual, to say the least. He made a mental note to follow up on that later. “Whatever surface businesses he runs are probably for laundering money. The real dough is coming from the drug trade.”

  “I believe that may have been true when Emilio was running the organization. But we have reliable information indicating that Luis has cleaned up the operation. And I applaud that. I want to support it.”

  “And you want it to support you.”

  “Now you are being unkind. There is nothing wrong with taking money from a legitimate business person. Of course, if any links to organized crime or gang activities are proven, we will distance ourselves and refuse further donations. But for the time being, I see no problem. St. Pete needed this park and now it needs the expansion. Luis has been most generous.”

  Jimmy stepped in. “You’ve also engaged in some real estate deals with Luis’ companies. I found the records in the court clerk’s office. Some of them look a little...” His voice drifted off. “Shady?

  The mayor smiled, but the smile did not strike him as being as genuine as the ones that came before. “I am trying to persuade Luis to invest in our downtown renovations. To bring more corporate activity to St. Pete. We have a serious unemployment problem. The more people offering jobs, the less reason anyone has to join a gang. Surely you can see how that benefits the city.”

  “And you,” he added. “Especially at reelection time.”

  The mayor smiled. “Mr. Pike, I see that you are a, well, what is the nice way of putting it? A cynical son of a bitch. But I don’t see how challenging me helps your client.”

  She might be right. But there was something going on here that he hadn’t uncovered, something that might concern Gabriella. It was possible the mayor knew more about this than she let on. And people on the defensive sometimes said more than they planned. “I want to know everything I can about Emilio and Luis’ activities. And what went down at the Trademark. If you know anything that could bear on that subject, please share.”

  She gave him a steady gaze. “I can assure you that I know nothing other than what the district attorney has told me.”

  “Then I thank you for your time.” He kicked at a small sand dune. “But I also warn you that I will continue to investigate. I will leave no stone unturned. I don’t have time to be genteel or deferential. I will find the truth. Whatever the cost.”

  The mayor tilted her head slightly. “Oh now, Mr. Pike. I’m sure you don’t mean to cause trouble.”

  He smiled. “Then you don’t know me very well.”

  Chapter 24

  Dan made it to the courtroom ten minutes before the hearing was scheduled to begin. Nonetheless, when he arrived, Jazlyn and her cast of thousands were already set up at the prosecution table.

  This was worrisome. It was only a motion in limine, after all. It didn’t require the whole office. Sometimes, for minor hearings that didn’t involve a jury, prosecutors would make a great show of running in at the last possible moment, papers flying from their hands, reminding the court how incredibly busy and overworked they are, begging them in advance to forgive any failings because they have such an impossible workload but their incredible efforts are all that stands between us and the collapse of civilization.

  Drama queens. All prosecutors were drama queens.

  Except Jazlyn did not appear to be playing that game. This was one more indication that the prosecution was taking this case extremely seriously.

  He dropped his backpack on his table and approached her, smiling big. “Good morning, Jazlyn. You look tired. Worried?”

  “No. Up too late. Fundraiser for St. Teresa’s.”

  “Which is?”

  “A girl’s prep school. I’m on the board of directors. Like I have time for charity work.”

  “You make time for it.”

  “Right. And now back to reality.” She didn’t look as irritated as she acted.

  “Any news on your immunity agreement with Emilio?”

  “Haven’t quite clinched the deal,” she replied. “But we’re getting there. You know who he’s represented by?”

  “I do.”

  “Well, he’s an even bigger pain in the butt to work with than you, if such a thing is possible.”

  “I will take that as a compliment.”

  “Exactly how it was meant. Want to withdraw your motion and save us all some time?”

  “Nah. I had my suit cleaned.”

  “I think the judge likes people who don’t clog her docket with pointless motions practice.”

  “Probably right. But I’m poor at predicting judges. I prefer to give everything my best shot and then see what happens. I’ve pulled off underdog motions more than once in my life.”

  “Not planning any big surprises today, are you?”

  “Nope. Just the usual scintillating legal argument.”

  “Marvelous. I love a good show.”

  He returned to his table and got his papers in order. Barely a minute later, the bailiff asked them to rise. Judge Le entered the courtroom and got straight to it.

  “We have a motion in limine,” she said, pushing on her reading glasses. “The defendant moves to restrict all evidence regarding the discovery of a gun. Is that correct?”

  He rose to his feet. “It is, your honor. The gun was found—”

  She raised a hand, cutting him off. “We’ll get to that. I just want to understand what we’re doin
g. Is there any question about the fact that the gun in question is the murder weapon?”

  “No,” he said, “but there’s a big question about—”

  Again, the raised hand. “Patience, counsel. Patience. This is the murder weapon, regardless of who might’ve fired it or who might’ve left it where it was found.”

  “That’s just the point,” Jazlyn said, clearing her throat. “Regardless of the facts surrounding its discovery, we all know the effect on a jury if the prosecution can’t produce a murder weapon.”

  “That’s not an element of any of the crimes with which my client has been charged.”

  “Yes,” Jazlyn said, “we all know that. Motive isn’t an element either, but if you don’t give the jury one, they feel like they don’t know what happened and they won’t convict, even if there’s overwhelming evidence of guilt. It’s the same for a murder weapon. If you can’t produce it, jurors feel like the story is incomplete.”

  “That’s no excuse for admitting prejudicial or misleading evidence.”

  “But this is neither. This is the murder weapon. The police did have a warrant to search the yard. And it does have your client’s prints on it.”

  “All right,” the judge said, “let’s start at the beginning. Mr. Pike, this is your motion. No more than five minutes, and please remember, I have already read your brief.”

  Which is what judges always said, regardless of whether it was true. Today though, the judge did seem to grasp the points of contention. But he still was going say anything he thought would help. “Your honor, we’re not disputing at this time whether this was the murder weapon, although we may take that up at a later date, because there are some questionable details in the ballistics report I have not had a chance to track down yet. But let’s assume for the purpose of this motion that it is the murder weapon. That doesn’t tell us who fired it.”

  The judge cut in. “The gun was purchased by and registered to your client, right?”

  “That’s correct. But she had not looked at it in months.”

  “And she was at the scene of the crime, right?”