Dead Lawyers Don't Lie: A Gripping Thriller (Jake Wolfe Book 1)

by Mark Nolan

  “Yes but it’s just my habit to joke around with everybody. I say a lot of stupid remarks that don’t mean anything. But I promise I’ll try to be more serious and less irreverent with Oxley and Reynolds from now on. Since they obviously can’t take a joke and they act like the religious police.”

  “Maybe you bring it out in them. You always challenge people in authority, and then you’re surprised when they act in an overly-authoritarian way toward you,”

  Bartholomew stood up and knocked on the door. When Reynolds opened it he said, “All finished here. Thank you Agent Reynolds. Where may I find Sarah Chance? She’s my client too. I’d like to see her now.”

  Reynolds spoke to an agent in the hallway. “Take this attorney to see Sarah Chance. She hasn’t said a word anyway.”

  While the door was open for a moment, Jake overheard the conversation about Sarah. He smiled at this bit of good news. Sarah was a tough and resourceful woman. She hadn’t started up her own business from scratch by being weak or easily pushed around.

  Before Bartholomew closed the door, he looked back at Jake. “Hang in there. Patience is a virtue. Smile and be polite.”

  Jake nodded. “Okay, but I’m still kind of hungry.”

  Chapter 96

  Agent Knight finished talking on the phone with his wife and kids, and he returned to the interrogation room. He joined Oxley and Reynolds as they went back inside where Jake remained seated with his hands cuffed to the table.

  Reynolds had overheard Jake’s parting words to Bart. “So you’re hungry? Good, maybe if you get hungry enough you might remember something you wanted to tell us.”

  Jake nodded. “I do want to say one thing. I want to apologize to all of you for joking around. I’m sorry. It was nothing personal. The problem is, I don’t know anything that could help you. If I did, I’d tell you. In the past whenever I’ve had any helpful information I’ve always called Agent Knight and passed it along to him. He can confirm this. It’s also on record in your very own bureau files which can be subpoenaed in any court case I might be involved with.”

  Knight looked at Oxley and Reynolds. “That’s true. Jake has provided useful tips to the bureau. Some of his tips resulted in arrests that made the bureau look good. I even got a call once from the director telling me to continue my work with Jake, and that he was considered a valued media source.”

  Oxley scowled at Knight. He saw everything as black and white, no shades of gray at all. He thought Knight was probably lying about the director calling him.

  Jake said, “Reynolds it looks like you and I have something in common. I understand you served your country overseas in the Middle East. The work of the FBI there was important. Although hardly anyone knows about it. I’d just like to say thank you ma’am for what you did.”

  Reynolds just looked at Jake and didn’t say anything, but there seemed to be a more thoughtful look in her eyes for a moment.

  Knight’s phone vibrated, and he answered it. “What? That doesn’t make any sense. Fine, go ahead and show him in.”

  “Show him in? Who are you talking about?” Oxley said.

  “Apparently a special agent from the US Secret Service is here to see Jake Wolfe.”

  Jake smiled. “I sure hope he or she is bringing me something to eat.”

  “Why did they call you instead of me?” Oxley said. “I’m the agent in charge. This is my case.”

  “I don’t know. The FBI operator said a Secret Service agent named Easton from their San Francisco Field Office was here. He was asking for me by name. I have no idea who he is, but maybe the Secret Service found my phone number in Wolfe’s call records.”

  A few moments later, Special Agent Easton was escorted into the room. He was dressed in a well-made dark suit, a crisp white shirt with a grey tie, and black calfskin shoes. He had a commanding presence about him and was a man of few words who did not say hello or introduce himself.

  Easton held up a strange looking high tech phone and compared Knight’s face to the photo on his phone, then presented his credentials to Knight. He glanced at Jake and looked around the room, quickly taking in the details with a trained professional’s eyes.

  Knight looked at the ID and slid the “cred pack” over to Reynolds. She studied it and handed it to Oxley. He glanced at it in disbelief, then grunted and flicked the cred pack so it skidded across the table back to Knight.

  “Agent Easton, please have a seat,” Knight said, handing the ID back to him. “What can we do for our fine colleagues at the US Secret Service?”

  Easton remained standing, and placed his ID back into his pocket. “I’m here to take Jake Wolfe into Secret Service custody at this time.”

  Jake looked somewhat bemused at this turn of events, but he just returned Easton’s appraising gaze and said, “Sure why not. This kind of thing happens to me every day. Do you guys have any food at the Secret Service building?”

  Oxley laughed. “No way Easton. This is our case and our jurisdiction. Nice try, though. Now get out of here.”

  Easton did not react to the challenge except to reach into the inside left breast pocket of his suit coat and remove a business envelope. It had the U.S. Presidential seal on the upper left corner. He opened the envelope, unfolded a letter on White House letterhead and handed it to Knight. “By order of the President of the United States, I hereby request that you immediately relinquish Jacob T. Wolfe to the custody of the United States Secret Service.”

  Knight held the letter gently like it might burn his fingers. It was definitely from the White House. It had the Presidential Seal, and it was signed by the President. The letter said that Jake Wolfe was not to be detained by any city, county, state or federal law enforcement agencies. It was a top secret matter of national security. All intel was on a need-to-know basis. Failure to obey the Presidential Emergency Order could result in serious fines and imprisonment.

  Knight wondered what trouble Jake had gotten himself involved in now. He silently handed the letter to Reynolds. She read it and gave it to Oxley.

  “This letter is obviously a fake,” Oxley said. “You guys from Washington DC can fabricate any kind of documents you want. I’m not buying this letter or your story.”

  “I’m from the San Francisco Field Office, not from Washington,” Easton said. “But there are people in DC who are expecting your full cooperation.”

  Easton tapped on his phone display and sent a text message, then stared hard at Knight again as if waiting for him to do something.

  Knight wondered why Easton was staring at him, and then his phone buzzed with an incoming call. When he answered it his eyes opened wide in surprise. “Yes sir, Director Walker, one moment please,” Knight said. He turned on his phone’s speaker, increased the volume and set the device down on the table.

  When Oxley and Reynolds heard the name of the FBI Director, they stared at the phone in surprise. Walker was a legend in the bureau and in the nation. Everyone from the President on down was highly impressed with him. He had exceptionally good leadership skills and uncannily smart crime-solving instincts. The last thing any of the agents wanted to do was make a bad impression on their famous boss.

  An authoritative voice on the phone’s speaker said, “This is FBI Director Thomas Walker in Washington DC. Can everyone hear me clearly?”

  “Yes sir,” all three FBI agents said in unison.

  “Who is in the room at the moment?” Walker said.

  Oxley said, “Special Agent in Charge Brad Oxley. Along with FBI Agents Reynolds and Knight, Secret Service Agent Easton and suspect Jacob Wolfe.”

  “Is anyone monitoring or recording what is said in the room?” Walker said. “If so, turn all devices off, now.”

  Oxley pressed some buttons on a control pad. “All microphones and cameras are now off sir.”

  “It is currently three hours later at night here in Washington than it is there in California. I’m a family man calling from my home so let’s make this quick. Tonight I had a conferen
ce call with President Kaufman and the director of the US Secret Service. It was regarding the incident involving the wife of Congressman Anderson. I believe you have a letter from President Kaufman in front of you right now.”

  Walker let that sink in for a moment. Nobody in the room spoke, and he continued.

  “There is more going on here than a paintball prank, more than you could imagine. I have assured the President that you will give your full cooperation to our colleagues in the Secret Service, and release Jake Wolfe into Agent Easton’s custody immediately. This is a matter of national security. This intel is top secret and it shall not leave this room or there will be hell to pay. Is that understood?”

  “Yes sir,” the FBI agents said.

  “Oxley, I was informed by the director of the Secret Service that one of their agents named McKay sent you a report by email. It explained that Jake Wolfe had been impersonated and framed by a man who is wanted for murder. McKay also called you and left a voicemail. Why didn’t you respond? Why are you holding Wolfe instead of pursuing the actual criminal?”

  “I must not have gotten the memo sir.”

  Oxley’s hand involuntarily moved toward the paper printout in his jacket pocket, but he quickly jerked his hand away. Knight and Reynolds both noticed Oxley’s hand movement and the embarrassed look on his face.

  Walker said, “Well you’re getting it now Oxley, directly from me. You will follow my orders immediately if you want to continue working for the bureau. You will also drop any charges against the veterinarian named Sarah Chance, and release her from custody.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Special Agent Knight, what do you have to say for yourself?” Walker said

  Knight took a deep breath, but Jake interrupted him. “Pardon me Director Walker it’s Jake Wolfe here sir. Agent Knight had nothing to do with this misunderstanding. In the past, I’ve provided tips and leads to Knight that have helped the FBI solve federal cases. He was only here to see if he could help straighten out this confusing situation.”

  “Good work Knight, I remember you now. I want you and Wolfe to keep on working together whenever possible. We can always use some more eyes and ears in the news media to help us solve and prevent more crimes.”

  “Yes sir,” Knight said.

  “What about you Reynolds? Is there anything else I should know about this situation?”

  “I was following orders sir, the way I’ve been trained to do,” Reynolds said. “The Bureau put out a reward on Wolfe, and we were told to capture him immediately. That’s exactly what we did sir, and I believe the FBI database still lists Wolfe as a wanted criminal suspect.”

  “Reynolds I’m putting you in charge of getting that changed in the database. Get it done within the hour and send me a memo when it is completed.”

  “Yes sir, I’ll take care of it immediately.”

  Jake spoke up then and said, “Pardon me, sir, it’s Jake Wolfe again, and I’d just like to add that Reynolds was doing her job and acting according to protocol. I’m a big supporter of the FBI. You have the very best people working for you. Knight, Oxley and Reynolds are all good examples of that. I know you must take great pride in them.”

  “I appreciate that there are no hard feelings Jake,” Walker said.

  “None at all sir. I admire what you said in an interview about making sure the FBI agents uphold the Constitution, and how you want to be careful that nothing like what the bureau did to Martin Luther King ever happens again,” Jake said. “That showed the nation you are a man of integrity. I have the utmost respect for you.”

  “Thank you, Jake. President Kaufman told me some interesting things about your background. The next time you’re in Washington DC you’ll have to stop by my office, have a cup of coffee and tell me a few war stories.”

  “I’d be honored to Director Walker. I’ll look forward to it. Thank you, sir.”

  “Goodnight,” Walker said, and he ended the call.

  The three FBI agents sat there with surprised looks on their faces.

  Easton held out his hand. “The keys to the handcuffs please.”

  Oxley scowled. “I recommend you keep the suspect handcuffed until he’s out of the building.”

  Easton just stared at Oxley and held out his hand. The look on his face indicated that he didn’t care what anybody might recommend. He had his orders to follow.

  Knight sighed, “Oxley are you deaf? Director Walker said Wolfe is not a suspect. He told us to release him immediately and remove him from the suspect database.”

  Oxley reluctantly handed over the keys to Easton, and he glared at Knight while he did it.

  Easton unlocked Jake’s hands and feet. “You’re going to behave yourself Wolfe.” It wasn’t a question.

  Jake rubbed the indentations made on his wrists by the handcuffs and said, “When have I ever misbehaved? That’s just a rumor.”

  Chapter 97

  Jake rode the elevator down with Easton and Knight. They arrived at the ground floor and walked toward the front door. Jake knew that the Secret Service must want something important from him. He decided he’d try to milk it for all it was worth. He turned to Easton. “Is this about me serving my country again?”

  Easton just nodded his head.

  “Well there are a few things I need help with first. Quid pro quo. Otherwise, you can tell McKay I’m not going to give her a damned thing.

  “Such as?”

  “First of all, where’s my dog? Is Cody okay?”

  “Police lieutenant Terrell Hayes took Cody home with him.”

  Jake took a deep breath and let it out. “How soon can you get Sarah Chance out of here?”

  “She’s already free. Your lawyer is driving her home.”

  “A limousine driver was arrested by SFPD Inspector Denton. It was my fault. I want him released, and the charges dropped.”

  “My intel is that he was bailed out by a big man named Mo. We can work on getting the charges dropped.”

  “Thanks. You want to be on the good side of big Mo.”

  “I know everything there is to know about the Amborgetti family. Including your past employment at their restaurant, and your recent fugitive recovery work as a bounty hunter for their bail bonds agency.”

  “The door to Sarah’s clinic was left broken open.”

  “Inspectors Hayes and Cushman had it repaired by a locksmith. You owe your friends some money.”

  “My jeep was blown full of holes, then impounded by the police. Any idea of the current status?”

  Easton checked his phone as he walked along. “Your Jeep is out of impound. We have a mechanic working on it.”

  “Two friends of mine own a taco truck. They helped me find the assassin. Denton arrested them because she has a personal grudge against me. Can you bail them out and get the charges dropped?”

  “I’ll make some phone calls. Anything else?”

  “The FBI agents took my leather jacket, two of my pistols, my KA-BAR knife and my phone.”

  “Those are at the front desk.”

  “Thanks for doing all of this and for getting me out of here,” Jake said. “Even though I’ll probably regret this later, right?”

  Easton nodded wisely.

  “How do you Secret Service guys know every detail of what’s going on everywhere?”

  Easton didn’t answer. He’d done enough talking for now. Far more than he usually did.

  When the trio reached the front desk, Easton retrieved a hard black plastic case and a black leather jacket. Easton handed the jacket to Jake but not the case that held Jake’s weapons.

  Jake put on his jacket and shrugged. He knew there was no use arguing about it.

  Easton and Jake walked to the front door of the building with Knight following close behind them. Knight had overheard their conversation and was not sure what to think of this situation. Jake was making all kinds of demands, and the tough as nails Secret Service Agent was assuring him that it was all being handled. It didn’t
make any sense.

  Jake stopped at the front door. “Easton, in the interrogation room you seemed to be aware that Agent Knight is a friend of mine.”

  “Correct.”

  “Then you must know that Knight is a hell of a good man. I was thinking that you two should keep in touch. Stay in the loop and compare notes. Maybe talk on the phone once in a while if an important case overlaps the two agencies.”

  Easton looked Knight in the eye for a moment, made some kind of decision and then handed him a business card. Knight seemed surprised by this turn of events, but he gave his card to Easton.

  Jake shook Knight’s hand. “Thank you Agent Knight, you’re a good friend. We’ll have to go fishing sometime. Take the boat out on the ocean and have a few beers.”

  Knight nodded, and he watched Jake walk out the door and get into a black SUV. It looked like an armored Chevy Suburban with darkened windows. The same vehicle you see the Secret Service driving in the president’s motorcades. Knight had a lot of questions, but no answers.

  Two blocks away from the FBI building, Ivan Zhukov was sitting in a car and watching the front doors through a pair of night-vision binoculars. He smiled when he saw his prey coming out of the building.

  “Ah Mister Wolfe, my old friend,” Zhukov said. “I’m looking forward to pissing on your grave.”

  Chapter 98

  Easton got into the driver’s seat of the Suburban while Jake climbed into the front passenger seat. The vehicle started moving, and Jake felt the business end of a pistol barrel pressed against the back of his head.

  Jake sat very still as he heard a voice from his past say, “Alfa Delta Five. Echo Bravo Niner. Zulu Lima Two. Whiskey Tango Seven.”

  It was the voice of Jake’s former CIA Case Officer Chet Brinkter. The man who had recruited him to do black ops work in unnamed war zones. Brinkter was giving him the alpha-numeric code A-D-5-E-B-9-Z-L-2-W-T-7.