Right to an Attorney: A Psychological Thriller

by Sims, R.

  CHAPTER 38

  Laura said, “I was wondering if you remembered anything else about your Dexter Parker employee that you may have left out when I interviewed you.”

  Reginald chuckled, almost laughed. “That doesn’t even sound right. Why don’t you make my day and tell me you called to talk to me about anything other than the Parker guy?”

  She stalled for a moment. “Can you travel to Harrisburg today?”

  “Certainly not to answer questions at a precinct or an FBI building.”

  Laura said, “I’ll be off at six today. Can you be at my apartment by seven tonight?”

  “Even if they close all the highways and cancel all the flights. Do I need to take a couple more days off?”

  She smiled. “That might be a good idea, Mr. Macon. And you better be worth my time.”

  ***

  When Danielle entered the house, Dana met her in the living room and said, “Whose car are you driving and why aren’t you in school?”

  Dana’s husband left the living room; he wasn’t interested in chic chat.

  Danielle tossed her handbag onto a love seat then sat on the sofa next to her mother. “Mom, I’ve been trying for months to get a job with Qualovefy. I was hired this morning as an online administrator. I can work from home or anyplace I have a computer and Internet access. I’m driving a company car now.”

  “That’s good news, and now you can pay back some of that tuition money I’ve shelled out.”

  “They started me off with $48,000 a year and a signing bonus of $4,000. Actually, they recommend using much of the bonus to purchase an updated, high-end computer, a smart phone, and Internet access for my laptop.”

  Dana said, “But I just bought you an expensive laptop for Christmas.”

  “Exactly, which is why I only need to dump my cell phone for a better one.”

  Dana smiled. She was happy for her daughter. “I guess you’re going to quit your part-time job at Wendy’s…”

  “I already have, but I stopped by to let the manager know. She’s a nice lady.”

  “The job better not interfere with your studies.”

  “Mom, I work from my computer three hours a day. I don’t have to show up at an actual building.”

  “Lucky you. Let’s go look at your new car.”

  “Wait. I have something else to tell you.”

  CHAPTER 39

  “I’m moving off campus and into my own apartment.”

  Dana said, “No the hell you aren’t! You’re not ready to live on your own.”

  “Mom, I’m eighteen. You were out and pregnant with me when you were seventeen. Besides, I don’t get along with Harold and neither do you. I want my own place so that you can come visit me or stay with me. Well, I know you’re never going to leave Harold, but you’ve been saying you are for years.”

  “I don’t want you to move out on your own,” Dana said. “Are you fixed on going against my wishes?”

  “Yes, because you’re fixed on not letting me make adult decisions. This is your fault, Mom. Why couldn’t we move out five years ago when you first saw Harold’s car parked at his girlfriend’s house? And what about the time when he lied about being on an out-of-town business trip? Should I keep going?”

  Dana said, “Only if you want a thorough ass-lashing. You’re not as old as you think you are.”

  “See? Why are you mad about the truth? You’re never going to leave that bum.”

  “Watch your mouth, Danielle. Show some respect.”

  The young woman shook her head with disappointment.

  “Danielle, it takes money to go through a divorce and move out. I saved enough money for your education. I’m no big-time lawyer; I barely got by with the clients I was fortunate enough to have.”

  “And now? What about now? Mr. Parker probably gave you a million dollars to represent him.”

  Harold had not been paying very close attention from the den, but he was certainly all ears now.

  “Dexter paid a decent retainer fee,” Dana said, “but I cannot spend that money yet.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m saving it so that I can buy a house flat out, paid in full, but I will need more because I have bills that need to be paid off as well.”

  Harold was overheated. He was still thinking about the fact that Danielle had called the guy Mr. Parker while his wife called him Dexter. How did they get on a goddamn first-name basis?

  Danielle said, “That sounds silly, Mom.

  “Why don’t you just call me a liar?” Dana said.

  “I would never do that. Harold does it enough.” She moved closer and laid her head on her mother’s lap. “Mom, get a place so I don’t have to move out. I’ll help you with the bills.”

  Dana’s eyes were gathering water now. She looked down at the side of her daughter’s face and said, “Go ahead and move out, baby. I can’t hold you back just because I’m not ready to move on.”

  “What are you waiting on?”

  Without hesitation Dana said, “Dexter. I need him to come out all right in his case.” What’s more, Gerald Parker, when initially retaining her, had warned her not to spend large sums of money until Dexter could set up a legitimate source from which the money could appear to come.

  “How long will it take for Dexter to beat the charges?”

  Dana said, “Somehow I don’t think things will turn out good for Dexter.”

  “Why do you feel that way?”

  “Because I’m not that lucky. Guys like him only come along in romance novels or thriller movies.”

  CHAPTER 40

  At 2:20 in the afternoon, Dexter cruised down Oakley Drive in the backseat area of a Harrisburg taxi. He paid no special attention to Sylvia’s Pet Care van as the cab driver drove past it.

  Dexter sat up when he noticed lots of items strewn across his brother’s front yard. Caroline’s car was parked in the driveway, and Gerald was sitting on the hood of it with his head in his hands. Clothes were all over the front yard. Dexter said to the driver, “The junkyard to the left, with the BMW in the driveway.”

  The driver nodded and pulled over curbside at Gerald’s place.

  Dexter paid the man a $50 bill. “Keep the change.” He got out of the car without luggage, although he’d been gone for a few days, and noticed two computers and a brand new flat panel television smashed in the front yard.

  Gerald hadn’t even looked back to see who had arrived.

  The taxi driver pulled off slowly. He was looking back and being nosey.

  Dexter said, “Gerald, what the fuck happened?”

  No response.

  Dexter walked up to the hood of the car and said, “Gerald, you okay?”

  Gerald lifted his head and said, “Go in your room and play the DVD player, then come back and tell me if I should be okay.”

  “Don’t tell me something happened to Caroline!”

  “Just look at the fuckin video and stop guessing shit.”

  Dexter hurried inside the house.

  Gerald stayed outside with his head in his hands.

  Six minutes later, Dexter was standing in the doorway with a DVD disc in his hand. “Gerald, you can’t really be mad about Caroline liking me. You don’t want the woman; you didn’t even want to marry her.”

  Gerald looked up again. “You’re…My brother’s fuckin my wife and he thinks I shouldn’t be mad, as if I have absolutely no feelings for the bitch. Is there any limit to what you won’t do?”

  “Who recorded this for you? Que?”

  “Probably. What the fuck does it matter? The video and audio is crystal clear, so you can’t deny a muthafucking thing. Caroline is on her way from her mom’s, and when she gets here I’ll see if you still want to fuck with her after I pound off in her face for five straight minutes.”

  Dexter shook his head. “Don’t jump on that woman. That’s not your style. Divorce her and let her do what she wants to do.”

  “You mean give her a pass and let her
keep fuckin you? Nah, I think I’ll go with Door Number 1. I’m fucking her up.”

  Dexter said, “Man, I can’t let you jump on that woman:”

  Gerald finally got off the hood of the car. “You’re right.” He calmly walked up the steps. When he was within striking distance, he suddenly stole Dexter with a hard uppercut to the chin, knocking his brother to the living room floor.

  From inside Sylvia’s Pet Care van, two surveillance agents watched as Gerald rushed inside the house to attack his brother. Because the front door was wide open, their long-range listening devices clearly picked up the rumbling, the banging, the bumping. Then, there was a pause for a moment until they heard one of the brothers fighting for air.

  With only one shoe, Dexter walked out of the house behind Gerald, forcing him outside with some sort of full nelson chokehold. It was the same hold that had gotten him a manslaughter conviction ten years ago.

  Gerald’s flailing arms made him look pitiful and defenseless.

  Dexter told him, “I don’t want to hurt you, but if you hit me again I’ll have to break your tough ass up.” He continued holding and choking his brother. “When I let you go, this shit better be over with. Okay?”

  Gerald didn’t respond — couldn’t respond, actually — but now he had water in his eyes and could barely breathe.

  CHAPTER 41

  Dexter heard a vehicle approaching. He saw that it was Caroline arriving in her rented Jaguar. He decided to let his brother go now.

  Gerald fell to his knees, gasping for air. Then he got up, traded evil stares with Dexter, and rushed toward the front door of his home. “I got something for both of you muthafuckas!”

  Dexter looked down at his left foot. He’d lost a shoe inside the house during the scuffle. He sped-walked toward the approaching Jaguar.

  Caroline stopped the car one house before reaching her own.

  Dexter opened the door and threw himself inside the front passenger’s seat. “Drive! Go, go!”

  Gerald ran out of the house aiming a .40 caliber handgun as the Jaguar was speeding off. He fired two shots at the car, piercing the license plate and hitting the trunk. He chased the car for another thirty yards and fired two more shots, missing the whole car.

  The Jaguar ran a stop sign and kept speeding.

  The surveillance agents were out of the van and running toward Gerald now. They were displaying credentials and handguns. They would have no choice but to arrest Gerald.

  ***

  Janet Ingram was on her way out the door when her home phone rang. She walked to one of her end tables and picked up her cordless handset. “Hello.”

  “Janet, change of plans,” Dexter said. “I need you on a plane to Italy tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow! Dexter, I need more time to prepare for that kind of trip. What happened to next month?”

  “Janet, you’re wasting time as we speak. You’re either coming or you aren’t. If you aren’t, tell me. I’ll see what I can do to hire another lawyer when I get off the phone. Can you make the trip or not?”

  “I’ll make the trip, Dexter.”

  “Good. Check your email in twenty minutes for all the instructions.”

  ***

  “Any idea why those assholes used the video when I made it clear that they shouldn’t?” Phillip asked Laura as she drove the Dodge Magnum. They were on their way to the FBI building in Harrisburg.

  “They obviously didn’t see your logic. They’re a surveillance team; they got bored and frustrated. Everyone wants to make a name for himself in this case. Word is, they think you’re here to soak up all the attention. I don’t think they like you as much as you think they should. I like you, and I agree that they shouldn’t have used that video.”

  Phillip wasn’t surprised. He’d experienced this before.

  “I’ll tell you something else. If they can get Gerald to give them a statement and agree to testify against his brother, this case will be pretty much over. Everybody agrees that Dexter is the mastermind behind the scam, even though the evidence suggests that someone has framed him.”

  Phillip said, “Dexter will have a dream team of lawyers, and his brother’s credibility will be flattened on that stand. They’ll claim he’s only lying because Dexter slept with his wife.”

  CHAPTER 42

  Laura did not respond to Phillip’s prediction. She was thinking about Reginald and how he could satisfy her tonight. She’d had no love life since becoming an agent, and that had to change.

  “…with the field supervisor. What do you think?” Phillip asked.

  She hadn’t been listening to him. “Listen. What’s done is done, and you can bet that the supervisor is going to demand that everything gets turned over to the prosecutor. You’re better off saving your argument until then. Some of my colleagues are acting funny towards me merely because I was fortunate enough to be partnered with you.”

  Phillip said, “Hey, it’s me. I was wrong. I can’t run every aspect of this investigation. We’ll work our leads and have no objections to the other teams working theirs.”

  “Good.” She whipped the car into the parking lot of the FBI field office. “Maybe they’ll look foolish in the end.”

  “Let’s hope not,” he said. “I don’t want the guilty to go free.”

  ***

  When Danielle drove away, Dana went back inside and found Harold sitting in the living room looking at the documents she’d left on the coffee table. She rushed over, scooped up the documents, and said, “Harold, you don’t fuck with my work! There’s nothing a sales executive can do to help out in a legal matter.”

  “Dana, sit down and let’s talk.”

  She smirked. “When was the last time you wanted to sit down and talk? I’m very busy.”

  “I want to talk about an uncontested divorce,” he said.

  Dana looked him in the eyes. She sat on the love seat across from him and said, “Suddenly I’m not so busy.”

  He leaned back and said, “You could’ve left years ago. I can’t stop you.”

  “Left how? Raising a daughter, saving up for college, leasing my office, and paying bills make leaving impossible.”

  Harold smiled. “So what you’re saying is you’re simply using me for financial stability.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying, and you’ve known this for years now. You knew I couldn’t make it with seven or eight small cases a year, which is why you became the dog you are.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Right. Get to the point; I have work to do.”

  Harold sat up and rubbed his hands together. “I understand one of your clients gave you a decent retainer fee. And if I didn’t know any better, I might be led to believe that he was more than just a client.”

  “Is there any male client of mine you haven’t felt that way about?”

  “Your printouts suggest that this new client of yours may be behind that big investment scandal. I’m not sure I believe that, because why would he hire a no-name lawyer who has never handled a trial that lasted more than two days?”

  “What does this have to do with an uncontested divorce? I’m waiting on you to tell me that you’re leaving me and that you’ll still make house payments for the next eighteen months.”

  He laughed then shook his head. “I had something more civil in mind. I’d like to buy an existing business and make it grow into something national or global. I’ll give you the house, the Audi, and the truck in an uncontested divorce if you can come up with $200,000 for me. Cash. Oh, and I’ll agree to make this $1,500 house payment for twelve months after I’m gone.”

  She stared at him. “How much time do I have?”

  “Ten days. I need to make the purchase within the next ten days.”

  “Get a lawyer and I’ll put the terms in writing. There’s a good chance that I can come up with that,” she said.

  CHAPTER 43

  After an 8-hour flight from New Jersey to Milan, Italy, Janet Ingram
rode in a white Mercedes taxi from Aeroporto Malpensa to Aeroporto di Linate. From there she took a flight to Genoa’s Aeroporto Internazionale di Genova, Cristoforo Columbo. She was sick of planes now.

  Italy was like another planet to her, but she had yet to fully appreciate its beauty or enjoy anything it had to offer. After entering another Mercedes taxi, she told the driver, “Portofino, please. Splendido Hotel. How long will that take?”

  The driver, whose English was more than acceptable, said, “Minutes, eh, thirty-five. I drive you the Riviera di Levante.”

  “Thank you.” Janet was tired and frustrated. She didn’t know why Dexter wanted her to fly to Italy alone. And if that weren’t enough, she wasn’t even going to see him until tomorrow.

  The driver’s seat was on the right, opposite of American-driven cars. He saw his passenger looking out the window. “First time visit Genova?”

  She mustered a smile. “First time visiting Italy.”

  “This is Liguria Region. Many mountains and hills reduce access,” he said in a rehearsed manner. He was working on a tip. He pointed to his left and swept his finger straight ahead as he said, “Genova continues many miles with the coast. You’re looking at classic slopes of old hills made of rock.”

  Janet noticed how the rock-formed hills slanted into the Mediterranean Sea. This was a relaxing scenic trip. She was dressed as if for a court appointment and wore a long leather coat that stopped just above her ankles whenever she was standing. It was forty-eight degrees outside, but inside the taxi the temperature was just fine.

  “The gardens of colors blooming from the rocks there include palm trees and other vegetation,” the driver said.

  “Lovely,” she said, but she was really thinking about being 6,200 miles away from home with no luggage. Of course she had cash and credit cards on her, but no luggage? Dexter said there would be a few new clothes and undergarments in the room when she arrived. Still, she wanted to select her own clothes and styles. Dexter also said she would go shopping tomorrow, but would she be wearing something ugly when they go?