That La Jolla Lawyer

by Robert Rogers

  The police car stopped and two officers jumped out. “What’s going on, sir?” Matt heard an officer ask.

  By that time, the neighbor who had called them was standing in her doorway watching. She hurried across the street.

  “I heard a noise and looked out my window. Three big guys were beating up Mr. Dawson. They drove away when they heard your siren.”

  “Is that true, Sir?” One policeman asked Matt.

  “Yes,” Matt mumbled and got to his feet. “You know why?”

  “No idea.”

  They followed Matt inside and watched as he cleaned his face of blood and covered the cuts with band aids. He winced with pain from bruised ribs and arms as he did.

  “We’ll need a statement, Sir,” one of the officers said when he’d finished patching himself up. “And, you probably should go to the emergency room for X-rays. You need a ride?”

  “No.”

  Matt gave them a brief statement. He had no reason why anyone would have attacked him. Nothing was taken. They didn’t even try.

  After they left, the lady across the street came inside and helped with his first aid. She found a Tylenol and got him a glass of water. She also noticed a couple of cuts on his head which he’d missed.

  Those went with a number of lumps which had already begun to throb. He also felt pain from several bruises on his arms, ribs and back. Overall however, he didn’t think anything was broken and elected not to go to the emergency room. Maybe a slight concussion.

  He thanked the lady and fell into bed hoping he’d wake up the next morning. He’d heard that concussions might result in internal bleeding which could kill him.

  Too damned bad if it does.

  He fell asleep. Tossed and turned away from first one pain then another until morning finally arrived. He got up, staggered into the kitchen and had coffee and one of Sarah’s left over Danishes. Cat joined him, cautiously, slowly wagging his broken tail and rubbing

  against his leg, as if somehow knowing what had appened.

  Triplett rolled up during his second cup.

  “What happened?” he asked and smiled broadly. “Did a disappointed client get out of prison and come by to say hello? You look like the mummy from one of those bad movies kids love.”

  He was referring to how Matt’s wounds had been wrapped. When he had run out of band aids to put over his cuts, the neighbor lady wrapped gauze strips over his wounds. And, even though the band aids and gauze wrappings had helped, the wounds still bled through. As a result, he looked like a refugee from a war zone, wrapped in white gauze with red splotches.

  Matt answered Triplett’s supposition about a disappointed client. “I doubt it was a disappointed client. But, if it was, he brought big friends.”

  Triplett leaned in for a closer look at Matt’s face. What’s with the face hair? You looked more natural with your homeless growth. I’ve heard only people with something to hide have beards and mustaches.”

  Matt whispered, “I’m trying to hide from cops who can’t

  think.”

  “Don’t push your luck, asshole. You’re on my to-do list so I

  was sent to investigate the attack. I don’t want to waste all day

  doing it. Too bad they didn’t finish you. I could have closed two other cases.”

  “They had it in mind.”

  “Anything you want to add? Suspects? A description might be useful.”

  “There was some light from the street lamps, but not enough to see clearly, especially with three guys beating the hell out of me with their fists. One guy had one of those little bats. I think he had killing me in mind. All of ’em looked like they were used to beating people up. Pros. The siren of the police car saved me.”

  “I’ll tell them you sent your thanks.”

  “Cela va sans dire.”

  “You cursing me in some foreign language?” he asked.

  Matt laughed.

  Triplett stormed out.

  Chapter 13

  Denise called. “I saw the story on our newswire. Three guys beat you up in front of your house last night. Are you okay? What happened?”

  “I’m okay. Cuts and bruises for the most part. A couple of lumps on my head. I’ll need a few days to recover.” He gave her a blow by blow account of what had happened in case she wanted it for a news report.

  “Why? Do you have any idea?” she asked.

  “None. As you know, I’ve been trying to find out who killed Sarah. That’s the only thing out of the ordinary I’ve been doing. If pushed, I’d say that investigation triggered it. However, I can’t discount the fact that somebody knew Sarah stayed here and might have told me something about a story she was working on. The guy with the bat told me to mind my own business.”

  “That sounds like you have ruffled feathers with your investigation.”

  Matt agreed and told her “no” when she asked if she could do anything to help.

  Carter sent an email to say that his friend told him how three goons had tried to kill “his buddy” Dawson, last night. That failed but Dawson was beat up pretty bad.

  Under the circumstances, Carter thought an email might work better than a call. He asked if he could do anything and wondered when he might drop by to check on things.

  Matt emailed back that while he had major cuts and aches, nothing was broken and he was ambulatory. He had had two cups of coffee and was seriously contemplating getting back into bed.

  Carter replied that he’d be by at beer-time that afternoon.

  Matt lay across the bed to doze for an hour before getting up and taking a shower, after a very careful shave. “I look like a train wreck.” he said to himself, looking in the mirror.

  He sat at the back and stared at the beach for a while. People walked their dogs, their children and grandchildren. Too early for regular fun, cookouts, guitar-playing and horsing around. Farther down, what looked like a support group of some sort was meeting.

  Trying to figure a way to get on with their lives, he imagined.

  He got back in bed and didn’t stir until Jennifer’s phone call got him up. “Matt, you bastard!” she shouted before he could say anything.

  “What’d I do?” He smiled.

  “You know very damn well what you did. You told Franklin a big lie. Why’d you do that? He was livid. He accused me of lying

  to him!”

  “Why? Doesn’t he trust you?”

  “Shut up, Matt. No man ever completely trusts his wife. You know that. You and I did spend a lot of time together during the trial and he knows it. ‘Sleeping with that shyster son of a bitch.’ That’s what he accused me of, among other things.”

  “That was about the only thing we didn’t do. Every time I got close, you went into your stall.”

  “I was in love with Franklin, Matt. Still am. Women are not like men. We don’t sleep around with every man who comes along. Even a man doing everything he can to keep me out of jail.”

  Yeah, yeah. I don’t like it, but hell, the man looks like Cary Grant in his prime and that pisses me off.

  That’s what he thought. What he said was, “I gathered. I agree with you about men. We are definitely a bad bunch. It’s the way we are put together. It’s our lot in life. Go forth and multiply. Says so right in the Bible. I think a case could be made that we have His approval to do what we do.”

  “That’s bull. Men come with discipline just like women. It’s there to be used, not abused. Women use it. Men don’t.”

  “Point taken. You probably told him you were just being nice to keep me focused on your case. That must have kept him in his

  cage until the trial was over. I can understand that. What I can’t understand is why you told him I was begging and whining over our noodle and sake dinner. Is that something women do? Lie? That didn’t seem fair at all, Jennifer. In fact, it was a big lie, speaking of which.”

  ”Not as big as yours, Matt. To start with, he didn’t like the fact that I went to dinner with you, as simp
le as it was, noodles. So, I had to lay it on some. You know how that goes. That’s how you’ve spent your entire career. I watched you, every damn day of that trial. Laying it on.”

  “They teach us that in law school, but I never did it to someone who had practically given their life to keep me out of jail. I spent everything I had during that trial, destroyed my practice, didn’t sleep more than five hours a night. I loved you. You know that. You knew that! How could you ignore all of that?”

  “Okay. I was wrong. You’re right. I shouldn’t have done it. I’m sorry but I can’t change the way things were. I didn’t tell you to fall in love with me,” she said.

  “I don’t recall you telling me not to either. In fact -”

  “Yeah, well, that’s history. This is now. I told you Franklin

  and I were not getting along all that well but that didn’t mean we’re going to split up. He’s busy and I am too. And, I have to tell him what I think will get us through the rough patch we’re in just now. I didn’t know he’d turn around and tell you what I’d said.”

  Matt scoffed and said, “Well, that’s where we differ. I figured he would tell you what I said and I was looking forward to his reaction. You lied to me during the trial. About how much we meant to each other. Bullshit!”

  “You did most of that talking.”

  “Yeah? You were always quick to say we just had to wait until it was over. I think there was a strong inference in that. Then, when it was all over and I’d saved your butt, old Franklin showed up and walked you out the door and down the aisle. The little jab I gave

  him on the phone was just a sample of what I wanted to give him.

  Did he tell you he threatened to beat me up?”

  “No! He threatened you?”

  “Yep. Said he was coming over here and beat my ass. I think those were his words. If he does, I’ll give him the rest of the

  sample.”

  “Maybe you will or maybe you won’t. I’ve heard that you’ve

  had some brawls over the years. But Franklin is younger and in better shape from what I saw of you the other day.”

  “Even so, Franklin won’t walk away smiling. By the way, for your information, right after he threatened me, three goons, one with a baseball bat, attacked me. It’ll probably be in the next edition of the Light.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “No. I have the lumps to show for it.”

  “It wasn’t Franklin. I’m sure if Franklin intended to have it out with you, it’d be man to man not goons.”

  “He didn’t tell you?”

  “Not about his threats or about having somebody else do it but he stormed out this morning without saying goodbye. I thought I had calmed him down last night. Now, I’m not so sure.”

  “Hell, he’ll calm down. What choice does he have? You’re still a beautiful woman. Probably making more money than he is. Giving him more prestige and social standing than he could ever have gotten on his own. Divorce lawyer! Shit! And he sure as hell is living in a bigger house than he did before. And, you’re still as deceitful as ever so you’ll figure something out.”

  “That’s insulting.”

  “Accurate would be a better description. You tried to bullshit me over noodles to gain time to pay me what you owe. Maybe stall long enough for me to let it go, knowing you. Then, you lied to Franklin to keep him happy. I’d call that deceitful wouldn’t you? Lord only knows whether you told me the truth about Aaron. I’m

  beginning to wonder.”

  “I’ve been tried for that crime, so wonder all you want. And, I’m going to pay you everything I owe you. Forget what Franklin said. Sure, he doesn’t want to give up that much money, but I said I’d pay you and I will.”

  She hung up.

  “I think I’ve rattled two cages and both rattlings felt good.” He was so charged, he went for a slow walk along the beach.

  He was sure a couple of people wanted to get up and help him back to whatever rocker he’d left.

  Chapter 14

  One look at Matt all bandaged up stopped Carter in his tracks at the door. “Damn,” he said. “They might near beat the hell out of you.”

  “They had it in mind. I was lucky they didn’t kill me.” He described the guy swinging the baseball bat.

  Carter followed Matt inside. Matt plopped into a chair at the table and pointed at the refrigerator. “Get me one. I’m infirm.”

  “I can see that. If you were on the street with a hat in front of you, I’d put a fiver in it.”

  “Yeah. A beer’ll do fine for now,” Matt replied

  They drank them in the cool overhang that shaded the back porch area.

  “Who do you think did it?” Carter asked.

  Matt shrugged. “Warner is at the top of my list on general

  principles. But hell. I don’t think he even knows I exist. Well, maybe he does. If he knew Sarah was staying here, he might have assumed she told me something.”

  “Only if he killed her. Speculation be damned, we don’t have a damn thing that says he did,” Carter said with a frowning glance at what was left of his beer

  “Stone called, pissed off about my dinner with Jennifer. He threatened to come over and beat the hell out of me.”

  “Not a big surprise, but would he go out and hire three guys to do it for him?” Carter asked.

  “I don’t think he had time.”

  “Unless they were already around.”

  “Next thing, Jennifer called. She wanted to raise hell about what I told Stone. You know, bullshit about how I slept with her. I was trying to rattle the son of a bitch. She said he stormed out this morning. I felt pretty good about it.”

  “Revenge is sweet, no matter if it comes in small doses.

  However, you gotta figure, Matt, that whoever hired ‘em, somebody, ain’t going away. ‘Bout time we got you some protection.” He pointed with his hand and wiggled his trigger finger.

  “Yep. If you have an extra, bring it over. On another subject, I had dinner with Denise last night.”

  “You’re a busy man. Did you use your irresistible charm?” “Ha, ha. I don’t have irresistible charm, Carter. At any rate, I

  was friendly if that’s your question. I think she appreciated it. I trust her.”

  “She must be okay if you trust her. I doubt you’ve trusted many in your day. Of course, I won’t bring up Jennifer Schofield,” Carter grinned as he said it.

  “I appreciate not being reminded of that failure, old buddy. Let me give you a ravel to pull. Sarah and the congressman were in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago for a fundraiser, big hitters, at the Mark Hopkins. Denise doesn’t know what, if anything, happened, but when they came back, Jeff Warner verbally attacked

  Sarah, threatened her in some fashion. Denise thinks he threatened to kick her off the campaign. May have threatened more. That’s why she was afraid. You told me about it. Now, I’m putting a story behind it,” Matt said.

  “She could have been using the argument as an excuse to move in with you. It might have been nothing more than nerves in a tight campaign,” Carter surmised.

  “Could have been. I haven’t dismissed either thought, but we have to cast about some. Sometimes we have to shake the tree to get an apple.”

  “Okay, I’m convinced. Let’s shake the damn tree. You’re good at that. Any ideas about the argument? Creative or otherwise?” Carter asked.

  “Denise got vague on me. Sarah had sworn her to secrecy. I did get enough out of her to conclude that Sarah might have been

  having an affair, or at least a one night stand, with the congressman. I wouldn’t have thought it of Sarah, but ambitious people bend their own rules now and then. I guess I’m a living testament to that.”

  “No comment. But that’d fit with Warner’s reaction. The congressman’s running as a bedrock family man; wife and family, church-going, the works. A man we can depend on to do the right thing in a world filled with corruption and moral indignities.”


  “Well said, Carter. Maybe you should be helping in the campaign.”

  “Fat chance. Nevertheless, an affair could sink him in a hurry and Merlin would be out a ton of campaign contributions.”

  “Plus the contracts they’re betting will come if Reid wins.”

  Carter rubbed his almost bald head and stared out the front window. “Can you imagine the payoff to Merlin over a senator’s six year term? Plus the contracts, once signed, could last a lot longer. Hell, those contracts could be worth in the billions. Shit fire and save matches!” He slapped his thigh and laughed.

  “And, if he’s reelected, the beat goes on. I’d like to know what went on in San Francisco involving Sarah, but if Warner knows about it, chances are it has already been covered up.”

  Carter left mumbling to himself about getting a shovel for digging.

  *****

  “I’m in San Francisco, Matt!” Carter told him that evening.

  “What the hell are you doing up there?”

  “Following up with my damned shovel. What’d you expect?

  Right now, I’m ‘bout to lay a hundred on a bellboy at the Mark Hopkins. The boy was on duty the night of the fracas, the night of the fundraiser. I’ll call you if I finish early enough.”

  “Let me know even if you finish late. I’m impressed.”

  “I’d be surprised if you weren’t. Hell, I impress myself ‘bout once ah coon’s age.”

  *****

  Matt’s phone rang a few minutes after eleven. “I’m boarding the plane for San Diego. I have a story, but it’s too juicy to tell over the phone especially with people around. I’ll see you first thing in the morning. I think you’ gonna like it.”

  “Tell me something, Carter. Hell, I won’t be able to sleep.”

  Carter laughed. “Let me say in flagrante delicto involving

  your late … friend and my new place of busy work. Okay?”

  “It’ll have to do, I guess. I hear the boarding announcement.”