That La Jolla Lawyer

by Robert Rogers

  The young man pointed in the direction of a row of offices at the rear. “There, in the corner office with a shirt and tie.”

  He was at a desk, talking on his phone.

  “How about Congressman Reid?” Matt asked the young man.

  People were in other offices, all talking on phones but none looked like Reid. However, there was a large office at the opposite end of the room, twice as big as the others with a wood enclosure.

  The door was closed.

  Must be the Congressman’s office.

  “He’s not in today. Speaking to a group in La Costa. Tonight he’ll be speaking in La Jolla.”

  “Stays busy?”

  The young volunteer smiled. “He sure does.”

  Matt walked back, smile firmly in place. Warner’s office door was closed but he opened it without knocking. Warner looked up when he heard the door open. His rough, square face immediately took on a frown.

  “Ever been told to knock? What the hell do you want? I’m busy and only give interviews I’ve approved.”

  Matt frowned. “I have been told that about knocking. I don’t think it applies to walking in on assholes.”

  The man came out of his chair.

  He’s big all right. Must be six and a quarter feet tall. Two hundred pounds. Muscles like they’re going to burst out of his shirt. Has some flab around the middle though. He’ll be a tough son of a bitch to bring down. Eyes look like they belong to a predator on the prowl for something to kill; dark and cold. Carter wasn’t wrong about the guy.

  He exhaled loudly and said, “Look, I’m Congressman Reid’s campaign director. I’m busy making sure he wins. I don’t have time to exchange bullshit with every jerk that walks in the door without an appointment. Sorry if that comes across as blunt, but time is always of the essence in a political campaign. So, state your business and leave.”

  “I like a man who gets right to the point, Jeff. I’ll do the same. I bet you and the congressman get along fabulously.” He deliberately used Warner’s first name to rile him.

  “Your business!” He sat down and glanced at the stack of papers he’d been reading. “Who are you?”

  He handed the man one of his newly printed cards. “My time is also important, Jeff.”

  Warner stared at it, frowned, and asked, “A lawyer? What the hell is this? Dawson? That name sounds familiar. What do you want?”

  “Don’t get defensive. The public wouldn’t want to hear that

  Congressman Reid has a snarly bastard running his campaign. You know how lawyers are, always stirring up trouble. I might call up the Union and give them a story.”

  Warner rose out of his chair again and pointed a finger at Matt. “You’re trying my patience, Dawson. What’d you come to say?” He pushed an unruly strand of his dark hair back off his forehead.

  Matt gave the story he’d concocted for the interview. “I talked to the folks in your corporate headquarters. They say you’re their

  boots on the ground down here. And, you have all the information I need. If Congressman Reid is elected, I understand that Merlin stands to pick up some huge government contracts to upgrade all those software driven systems. That –“

  “Wait a minute! Who in the hell sent you to me?”

  “Whoops. If that’s a problem, maybe I should keep names to myself. I know that you are a big shareholder and stand to gain if Reid is elected. I had the notion that you’d be willing to pass on some of what you know to my client,” Matt said, bluffing. “It’s common knowledge that Merlin — you too, I assume — has already benefited from Congressman Reid’s past elections. I was given to believe that the largess would continue big time if he becomes senator.”

  Warner pointed at Matt and said, “My personal life is nobody’s business but mine, Dawson. I’m not in the business to advise investors! I want Congressman Reid to get elected because he’s the best man for the job and will be good for our country. Now, get the hell out of my office!”

  “Well said. I like honesty in politics. But, just between us, won’t Merlin be in line for a little payback if Reid’s elected Senator? It didn’t hurt you guys when you helped get him elected to Congress.”

  “I said get out!” He took a step toward Matt.

  “Okay. Okay. You don’t want to give away secrets. I understand that. So, keep your shirt on long enough for me to ask you one last question, nothing to do with Merlin’s prospects.”

  “What is it?”

  “Sarah Bush was working for the congressman when she

  died.”

  “Is that the question? Of course she was.”

  “Nooo,” he said slowly, “that’s not the question. This is the question. Why did you threaten her? Right after you threatened her, she was murdered. I want to nail down all the connections before I start filing lawsuits for her wrongful death. I represent her estate.”

  Warner opened his mouth to object but Matt interrupted him,

  “I’d name you of course, threatening her like you did. And

  the congressman’s wife, Dr. Reid. She got in her licks. The whole damn bunch of you, including the congressman, bare ass and all. The publicity probably won’t help Reid’s campaign much.”

  The man’s face turned red with rage as he stormed around his desk, his fists clenched. Matt, anticipating the move, charged into Warner’s stomach head first, knocking him backward over his chair. The blow momentarily stunned the man who rolled over and got to his feet, still enraged. Matt prepared himself for the next rush. He moved back a step to brace himself on the corner of the desk.

  From there, he’d launch his shoes at the man’s knees. I should get one. That’ll slow him down. A one-legged man is not much good in a fight with a two-legged man.

  But, the next round never happened.

  “Mr. Warner,” a voice came from the doorway. It was Carter, holding a hammer and an election placard.

  Be damned.

  “We’ve finished the first batch, Jeff. Do… Oh, are you … what’s going on?”

  Carter’s sudden appearance shocked Warner back to his senses. His fists came unclenched.

  “I…fell,” he said with a gesture at Matt. “This man was leaving.”

  Matt turned to leave.

  “Now I remember who you are, Dawson. You’re that shyster who got that murdering woman off. Went nuts after it was over.”

  Is there anybody in this damn state who doesn’t know about that?

  “Show him the door,” he pointed at Carter. Then scowling at

  Matt, he said, “You start filing malicious lawsuits and you’ll pay the price for it!”

  “I believe, you got that last part wrong, Jeff. You’ll pay the price. I hope to see you again. It isn’t often I have this much fun.”

  Warner scoffed and flexed his shoulders to straighten his

  shirt.

  *****

  Matt’s phone rang before he got his car started.

  It was Carter. “The kid at the front called the warehouse to say that Warner was shouting at some guy in a suit and it looked like they were going to fight. I figured that guy was you so I hauled ass

  to get out there and save your butt.”

  “You made it. He’s a big son of a bitch all right. I figure he could bench press pickup trucks. I can see why he scared the hell out of Sarah.”

  “Did you get anything out of him?”

  “Not much. By implication, he more or less admitted Merlin had benefited from Reid’s status as congressman. That’s okay for

  talking, but legally it isn’t worth a shit.”

  “Yeah. I sneaked a peak after you walked away. He was on the phone raising hell with somebody.”

  “Probably trying to find out who sicced me on him. Nobody did. I didn’t even say they did, but he’ll have to think some to figure that out. From the look on his face, I’d say he had in mind stringing my body parts all over the building. Thank you for bringing the hammer. A sledge hammer might have been better.”
r />   Carter laughed. “Wonder what he’ll do, if anything. You might want to pick up a pistol. I’m gonna check around for one.”

  “Yeah. See you later for a cold one.”

  The last time he’d handled a gun, even thought about one, was during Jennifer’s trial, her twenty-five automatic.

  What the hell happened to it? I may have it. I picked up the evidence bag after the trial. I must have it in a box someplace. It belongs to Jennifer. Next time she calls, I’ll ask if she wants it.

  He heard from Denise later. “Wow, Matt, you rattled Warner’s cage. He practically threatened to have all of us arrested. After he did all his threatening, he asked me to do some research on you. I printed out some Internet stuff, your mysterious collapse after the trial and the suggestion that it may have had something to do with your client. Maybe unrequited love.”

  “I gave him a card so he would assume I’ve resumed my practice. Did he say anything about Sarah?” Matt asked.

  “Yes! He looked at me like he was with the Gestapo, holding a pair of pliers and asked me what I knew about Sarah. ‘After all, you were friends. She would tell you what she was doing,’ he said.”

  “Good question.”

  “I tell you, he scares me. I told him she was interviewing you about the aftermath of the Schofield trial.”

  :What’d he say about that?”

  “He wanted to know why she was staying with you. That struck him as odd. Was she sleeping with you? I laughed at that suggestion. I told him she told you some kind of story so you wouldn’t suspect what she was up to.”

  “That was true,” Matt said.

  “He wondered if maybe we had both volunteered to help the congressman so we could get a story on him for ANN.”

  “I had wondered if he’d jump to that conclusion,” Matt said.

  “I got up, tried to look indignant and shouted that if he felt

  that way, I’d pick up my stuff and leave. I told a stars-in-the-eyes story about why we volunteered. How we wanted to do some good for our country. That’s what Sarah would have done. I learned a few things from her.”

  “Did that calm him down?”

  “It seemed to, but you never know with that guy. He keeps a straight face except when he’s riled up.”

  “Are you still after Sarah’s story?” Matt asked.

  “Padgett thought I should, but with him dead, I’m not sure.

  The temporary guy hasn’t said anything yet. He knows what we were doing. He’s still trying to get up to speed. For sure, I won’t be snooping around Warner’s office or anybody’s for a while.”

  Chapter 19

  When Carter showed up for a beer that evening, Matt told him, “Denise said Warner’d interrogated everybody including her separately. He hinted that Sarah was a plant at the campaign headquarters to get a story on the congressman.”

  “I wonder how long he’d been thinking that,” Carter said.

  “Me too.”

  They sat on Matt’s back porch and watched the activities on the beach. The evening air was cool. Stars were out. Night birds sang as if they’d just discovered how. On the beach, a group of partiers had a bonfire going and a grill; one for looks and one for cooking.

  Bottles of beer were grabbed from a cooler. A long-haired guy pulled a guitar from its case and began strumming a tune. Right away, two girls in string sized swimsuits gathered around and began gyrating. That brought the boys closer.

  “We were young like that once, Matt.”

  “I can’t remember, but I guess you’re right.” Cat strolled up and plopped down at Matt’s feet and began to purr. His funny looking tail stuck out at an odd angle but all was right in his world; he’d been fed. Carter was pleased the cat no longer snarled at him.

  “Warner asked if any of us had said anything to anybody about Sarah. He didn’t mention threatening her. We all played dumb, including Denise. She was aggressive though, suggested he give us

  lie detector tests. He said he’d consider it. He swore we’d regret it if we repeated any gossip that we’d heard about the campaign. I think he was threatening to kick us off the campaign team.”

  “I imagine that caused great despair.” Matt said it tongue-in-cheek.

  “Ha! Not for me, but we all swore allegiance. The

  browbeating session calmed him down. He retreated back into his office and spent the rest of the afternoon with the phone stuck in his ear. Lord only knows who he was talking to.”

  “Probably his lawyers to see if the campaign had any exposure for Sarah’s death. Anticipating damage control. By the way, can

  you get me a copy of Reid’s local appearances? I want to show up and ask a couple of questions.”

  “Damn, Matt. You are a troublemaker. You know he takes a security force with him to handle protestors. Big guys. Not in Warner’s weight group, but big enough. He and Traynor’s campaign manager hire people to go around and heckle each other.”

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

  “Watch yourself. I won’t be there with my hammer.”

  “I will. By the way, I assume that big office at the other end of the building is the congressman’s,”

  “That’s right. He holds court in there when he’s in the building. Meets important people,” Matt said with some contempt.

  “I can imagine. People like Sarah.”

  “I wouldn’t know about that, but leopards don’t change their spots do they?” Matt laughed.

  “Be right back,” Carter said and disappeared inside for two more beers. On his return, he handed one to Matt, sat down and said,

  “There was one other thing. I was holding it back. Reid’s wife came by the headquarters this afternoon. I was on cleanup detail out front. They met in the congressman’s office, door closed, for

  about an hour. I assume she sat at the Congressman’s desk, in charge. Strikes me as the type who’d want to be on top, if you know what I mean?”

  Matt laughed at Carter’s quip. “I can guess what they were

  meeting about,” Matt said after turning his bottle up for a long drink.

  “Like, what’d Sarah tell that shyster lawyer about San

  Francisco?” Carter said. “She didn’t look happy when she left. He didn’t either. I think you ruffled their feathers.”

  Matt smiled. “I guess I’ll start locking my doors. Warner

  looked like he’d be capable of killing anybody who got in his way.” He stared out at the beach remembering Sarah.

  “Right now, Matt, you might be standing where Sarah was standing,” Carter said.

  That snapped Matt out of his reverie. “Not a hell of a lot I can do about it, but I will be watching my back.”

  Carter looked at him and said.” You know what I remembered last night?”

  “No idea.”

  “The throwaway phones. Somebody used one to call Aaron Schofield the night Jennifer shot him.”

  “Told him a man was sleeping with his wife. Got him over there,” Matt answered.

  “Got him killed. I figure somebody probably did the same thing with Sarah. Used a throwaway phone to set up a meeting with her.”

  “The sleaze bags know all the tricks don’t they? I had the same

  thought, but it got away from me. I’m glad you reminded me.”

  “Great minds and all that shit.” Carter said.

  A couple of beach dogs gathered around the grill, tails wagging to the cadence of the guitar, sniffing the offering. That brought the girls back and the boys followed, leaving the guitar player to plunk all alone.

  Matt looked at Carter and said, “I remembered that I still have the evidence from the trial. The police gave it to me after the trial. Strange, huh? I have Schofield’s phone and Jennifer’s automatic.”

  “You’d have thought your client would have asked for

  them.”

  “I think everybody just wanted to forget the whole thing.”

  “Including you and your fee,” Carter scoffed.
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  “Yeah. I feel like my old self, Carter. Today was fun.”

  “Is that what it was? It might near got both of us reduced to

  hamburger meat. Organic.”

  “I was ahead after the first round,” Matt added with a smile.

  Carter smiled. “I’d never bet against you, old buddy. Talking ‘bout the evidence reminded me that I’d like to do a postmortem on that damn Schofield case. There’s some shit that still bothers me. The neighbors said the lights didn’t come on until after they heard a shot. I know your client was a gutsy woman, but who in the hell goes downstairs in the dark to check on a strange noise? Would you?”

  Matt shook his head, thinking. “She said she turned on the lights at the bottom of the stairs and saw Aaron coming at her with the cell phone. She panicked and hit him in the shoulder with her

  first shot.”

  “That’s also what happens when you shoot somebody in the dark, like the DA claimed.”

  “Looking at it now and not in the heat of battle, I’d say you have a good point,” Matt agreed.

  “I thought the DA made a damn good argument about her second shot. She shot him in the back of the head. Hell, Matt, the man was trying to get away. From the angle, he was on his knees crawling. Why’d she shoot at all?”

  “That was a cornerstone in the DA’s case,” Matt said. “However, Carter, all that abuse he’d inflicted on her over the years kicked in and she lapsed into insanity and didn’t know what she was doing. All my experts agreed and they looked the jurors in the eyes when they said it.”

  Matt smiled.

  Carter grinned and shook his head derisively. “I never believed it for a minute.”

  “I’m glad you weren’t on the jury.”

  “The DA was way overconfident,” Carter said as he headed for

  the door.

  Matt agreed. “He was thinking he had another Elizabeth

  Broderick case. Slam dunk.”

  Matt was referring to the case where the spurned wife killed her husband and his mistress and got 32 years in prison. That was the result Matt desperately wanted to avoid for his client, the woman he thought he’d marry afterward.