by A. J. Mayall
D.A. Ewert walked back to his chair, bracing himself on the side of the table as he took his seat, giving the floor to the Defense. The man appeared to have been poured into his immaculately-tailored suit. His silvery hair, flecked with black, gave him the appearance of a white tiger.
“Your Honor, my client is innocent of these charges, plain and simple. We assert he was used as a pawn between two known criminals who attempted to flee the scene. The evidence the State can present is at best circumstantial, at worst hearsay. My client opted against a jury, his reputation and the media scrutiny making it impossible to find a fair-minded group of twelve citizens.”
With that, the attorney sat, whispering to Basseri.
Judge Ullery looked to D.A. Ewert. “Call your first witness.”
Ewert swung his legs off the chair and stepped to the ground. “The prosecution calls Ms. Guess Levicia to the stand.”
Guess, a dark pillar capped with blond ice, walked silently to the podium, the bailiff swearing her in. As she sat, her face was still, keeping her eye on Basseri.
She nodded respectfully to Ewert, who stepped back to be within her sight range. “Could you state your name to the court?”
“Yes.”
Ewert paused a moment and waved his right hand in a circular motion.
“My name is Guess Levicia.”
“What do you do for a living, Ms. Levicia?”
“I am the Personal Senior Corporate Executive Assistant to Reginald Gemini; I also act as his personal protection within the building and for public appearances. When those services are not required, I guide protocol for our security teams, forming stratagems.”
“That’s a lot for one person to handle.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Ewert whistled and took a look over his various notes. “Very well, we should begin with your involvement in the case. Would you like to start at the beginning?”
“Yes.”
She turned her gaze to Basseri and his attorney, while the judge found humor in her literal interpretation of the questions. Her stare let them know that while she may be bound to the laws governing how a witness is to act, she would not be an easy witness to cross-examine.
“Would you tell us, please?”
“Very well. About a month ago, one of our Senior Security Officers, Todd Bennington, went missing. I knew he planned a vacation, so this went unnoticed for about two weeks. At that point, we hired a private investigator, Phoenix McGee. Bennington worked with our initiatives to assist the police force. When he was taken, he believed he had uncovered mob ties to various members of the department.”
“Go on.”
“Shortly after Mr. McGee was hired, I realized no one had done a welfare check on Mr. Bennington, so I went to his residence. I found the front door not only unlocked but with signs of forced entry. I stepped in, to verify he was fine. I found proximity explosives in the back room, and barely escaped with my life.”
“Do you know anything about the explosives?”
“Only what the police shared. The sensor sent a cellular signal to three inexpensive phones, known as ‘burner phones’. The electric charge from the ringing would set off the plastic explosives.” She turned to Judge Ullery. “I believe the remnants of those phones are in the submitted evidence.”
Basseri blinked and looked to his lawyer, whispering in his ear. The attorney raised his hand, motioning to join Judge Ullery at the bench. Ullery sighed, granting sidebar.
“My client is requesting a short recess. This evidence, he feels, is fabricated; he has the right to re-examine it. Also, he needs to take his pain medication for his burns and shrapnel wounds.”
“With all due respect, you should have gone over that police report with him.”
“Understood, Your Honor. The second point still stands.”
Ewert looked to Guess. “I can pause if the witness does not mind waiting.”
Ullery smiled. “Very well. Ms. Levicia, do you mind if we take a recess?”
She looked to Ullery, and then to Basseri. “Yes.”
Ullery’s eyebrows rose, stretching his skin over its skeletal frame even tighter. “Excuse me?”
“I would prefer to continue. If Mr. Basseri takes pain medication, his attorney could argue he is being tried while under the influence and call for a mistrial. I’m sorry, Your Honor, but I respect justice more than someone’s inability to handle some mild discomfort.”
Ullery’s eyebrows rose further; Phoenix thought his chin would rip free.
“That…is a very interesting point, Ms. Levicia.”
Basseri glared. She never flinched from his hateful gaze.
Ullery dismissed the attorneys from the bench, letting Ewert continue his questioning.
“What did you do afterwards?”
“I returned to AGI Tower, and gained access to Mr. Bennington’s fliptop. I assumed it would be needed by the police and I thought it might contain useful information.”
“Was there useful information?”
“Yes.”
“Can you elaborate?”
“Yes.”
“Objection! Hostile witness!” called out Basseri’s attorney, slamming his fist on the table.
Ullery looked to Basseri’s table.
“Mr. Northcott, while I appreciate your concern for your fellow, I am certain he is capable of conducting his own business. No more outbursts.”
Northcott looked to Basseri, before nodding, “Yes, Your Honor.” He continued to confer with his client as Ewert rubbed his nose and looked up to Guess.
“Would you please tell us what happened next?”
Guess nodded, keeping her gaze on Basseri. “He was tracking a network security breach of the highest caliber. This involved military projects of the highest importance. He believed he had located the source of these hacks, so I went there. It was Mr. Basseri’s last known residence.”
“What happened while you were there?”
“When I first arrived, I noted a maintenance door with a broken lock. I thought I saw movement inside, so I entered. After hearing electronics from a small access hatch, I slipped inside and found Basseri’s computer. This was not in his apartment, and as such, I did not know it was his. All I knew was it was the source of the hack. There was a note with an address on it. I took the note and went there, in time to see O’Halloran and Bellacino try to hijack a police van. They struck my car at high speed. I was in a panic, I called the police and that’s when Basseri was found inside; he had been beating Phoenix McGee to near death.”
“You did find him injured, correct?”
“Indeed. I submitted the note from his hideout to the police later. I believe the handwriting was shown to be Mr. Basseri’s. Its crumpled condition, I will admit, makes it less than ideal for evidence, in my humble opinion.”
“From your understanding of the facts, and what you saw, what is your assessment of the situation?”
“Basseri hacked AGI, and attempted to sell the secrets on the local black market. The abductees were people who either knew what he was up to, or those who could cause the most damage in the local underworld. This triggered the turf war. He was going to meet those he tricked into fighting each other to make them start a bidding war. Desperation begets stupid behavior.”
“Why do you think he did this?”
“Besides weakness?”
“Objection!” Northcott said. “Hostile…”
Ullery slammed his gavel down. “Overruled.”
Ewert smiled after giving Northcott a side glance. “Yes, besides that personal observation.”
“I believe he was going to pick up the pieces of the turf war, then use his contacts in the police department to turn in the winner. The secrets he stole were of importance to Homeland Security. This would put his contacts in the police force in excellent standing, cementing his own position.”
“Do you have any proof of this?”
“Myself? No. I know it was on that system of his, but I co
uldn’t gain access.”
“Thank you very much, Ms. Levicia.” He turned to Northcott. “Your witness.”
Northcott stood, his gaze never leaving the partially obscured glare of Ms. Levicia. He stood tall, posturing to the judge.
“Very well.” He moved closer to the witness stand, looking first to Ullery and then to the audience gathered. “Guess, I ask—”
“Ms. Levicia,” she corrected him. “Have decorum, we are in a courthouse.”
Northcott’s eyes narrowed, his nostrils flared. Guess’ features didn’t move, other than a slight click of her tongue.
“Ms. Levicia, would you like to tell us how you managed to get your position within AGI?”
“No,” she answered curtly, exhaling in annoyance.
“Is there something you are hiding from us?”
“No.”
“Then why aren’t you answering the question?” he asked, leaning on the witness stand.
“I am,” she said, looking to Judge Ullery. “He is asking yes or no questions, I am answering appropriately.”
Basseri glared at Northcott, balling his hands into fists. In the audience, Gemini leaned back, a sly grin on his face.
Phoenix had scooted into Suzette’s place, who had, in turn, taken Guess’. He stared at the masterful art of passive aggression on the stand.
“I want popcorn,” he said simply. Suzette nodded in agreement, a gleeful smile on her face. New favorite show.
Ullery stifled a chuckle and nodded to Northcott. “She has a point, young man. Also, I do question the relevance to this line of questioning.”
“I believe this witness to be not only hostile, but I wish to call her character into question. I feel she doesn’t have the integrity to be reliable as a witness, and to have her testimony stricken from the record.”
Ullery looked to the deadpan expression of the woman on the stand. “I’ll humor this, in the sake of fairness.”
Northcott paused in his small victory, turning to look at Basseri who glared at him.
“I wish to assert that these actions you claim were done by my client were, in fact, perpetrated by you, Ms. Levicia. What was your job description again?
Guess inhaled and rolled her eyes, reciting from rote. “I am the Personal Senior Corporate Executive Assistant to Reginald Gemini; I also act as his personal protection within the building and for public appearances. When those services are not required, I guide protocol for our security teams, forming stratagems.” She paused. “I can also state that in four other languages, if you are still having difficulty with English.”
Ullery covered his mouth with a hand to hold back a chuckle as Northcott slammed a fist down.
“Hostile witness!”
Guess looked to Ullery. “I offered to translate for him. That wasn’t hostility; it was empathy.”
“Overruled. Mr. Northcott.”
Northcott glared at Ms. Levicia. “For the lay person, though, your job is that of a secretary, right? Secretary and bodyguard.”
Guess remained silent. Northcott took a moment of personal glee, seeing the silence as a minor victory against the woman before him. “In fact, many of the actions you took were far beyond your station.”
Guess remained silent, still as a statue, maintaining eye contact with Northcott during his speech.
He continued, in a fervor, “In fact, you yourself said that there was no evidence to this, other than unfounded information from your internal systems. Why don’t you answer to that?”
“Answer to what?”
Northcott paused and looked to Ullery, as did Guess.
“He’s asked no questions, just made assertions. Incorrect ones, as well.”
Northcott snapped, “Oh really, about what?!”
“That there was no evidence.”
“You yourself said the only thing you had brought to the police, in your humble opinion, wouldn’t stand.”
“That is a correct statement.”
“So, where am I being incorrect?”
“I stated I had no evidence. The police, however, found all this information on his computer systems, which were seized. I believe courtroom procedure involves going over the evidence with your client. I’m curious if you failed to do so, or merely attempted to use some legal loophole to get the case thrown out with a mistrial. I can only see the option left would be inadequate representation, but as you were personally hired by Mr. Basseri, that option isn’t available.
“You should know the police have the setup now; everything very top-of-the-line. It appeared as if his connection out was via a HubKit that self-destructed. My knowledge of it is he had a kill code. All his plans were there. He got sloppy, Northcott. I mean, he had everything tied up in a bow waiting for the cops.”
Northcott went pale. It was true; Basseri asserted nothing on his computer could incriminate him, he had an unbreakable security system, and if the police got in, they’d find nothing. He was known for his ability to get cases thrown out on mistrials. Hell, it was how he got Basseri off last time.
Northcott looked to the woman. He’d met his match.
Guess Levicia looked to Ullery. “That was me being hostile, Your Honor. As someone who has been dealing with this circus, you deserved to see it for reference.” She turned to look at Northcott. “Are we done? I believe you need to confer with your client.”
Basseri was livid as his attorney stepped away.
“I’m done with this witness and I would like to request a recess to discuss our case and re-examine the evidence.”
As Guess Levicia left the stand and walked across the area between the tables, she reached into her pocket, pulling out a small packet of cookies with chess pieces stamped on them. She looked to Basseri and bit the head off of one emblazoned with a King.
The message was simple. Checkmate.
Phoenix offered her a high-five as she approached. Guess raised her hand and thrust it toward the man. When it missed his and impacted Suzette’s behind him, he grumbled before getting pushed back to the kingdom of squirrels and pie recipes spiced with Vicodin. It seemed a few flies had decided to buzz about his head, as well. Balance in all things, good and bad.
After the audience had been dismissed for an hour’s lunch, Phoenix sat with Gemini, Guess, Suzette around a table in the cafeteria. Guess had brought lunch for herself and Reginald, and she returned to the table with two coffees to enjoy with their bento boxes. Phoenix had found one of the slawdog carts that hung around the building during lunchtime and grabbed a bag for himself and Suzette.
“Guess,” Phoenix said, stuffing his mouth full of slawdog, “Aht huz uh-MAAA-zung.”
She paused and looked at him briefly. “You’ll be up next, Mr. McGee, and he’ll likely try the same tactics with you.”
“I’m familiar with Northcott. I’ll stick to the facts, nothing more, nothing less. He got under my skin two years ago.”
Reginald Gemini grinned. “Well, I know we’ve not known each other very long, but I would like to extend a long-term contract with your business, Mr. McGee. I was going to go with Pyramidion, but you got the results and showed chutzpa. I do have to ask, though, our records show you aren’t Omnus or Stygus. You were supposedly beaten within a few inches of your life, but you look fine.” He leaned forward, cocking his head. “Can you explain?”
“Werewolf blood and trade secret.” He tapped the side of his nose with a finger. Suzette sighed and wiped the mustard he had accidentally smeared his face with.
“I can’t take you anywhere, can I, buddy?” she said, smiling.
“Seems not,” Phoenix responded with a chuckle, before turning to Gemini. “Hey, anything I can do to help you out, Reginald. Without your help, this case couldn’t have been cracked. I’m in your debt.”
“I’m in your debt, Mr. McGee!” he responded with a cheery smile. “If you hadn’t gotten the information from Officer Maxwell, our security officer would be dead.”
“So, what do you think is going on wi
th Basseri right now?” Suzette asked, with a smirk.
Phoenix shrugged. “My guess is he’s regretting leaving information out there that the police could get to.”
Guess looked to him and said, “What I want to know is how Basseri got that injured.” She turned and swiped a few times over her phone, then showed the screen to Gemini, who nodded.
Phoenix perked up. “What’s up?” he said, noting the back of the phone.
“Just checking the time, we don’t want to be late for getting back. But I must admit, Ms. DiMarco, you did do a significant amount of damage to the man, how did you do it? From all accounts, you weren’t in the room long.”
Suzette nodded, trying to find a way of breaching the topic without going into the full truth of the matter. “Oh, Phoenix managed to set aside a few items aside for me. Bit of gunpowder, some kerosene and a ton of metal shavings that were left on the floor. I snuck them into Basseri’s cigarette case. He lit up and boom!” she said, making an explosion motion with her hands.
Guess looked to Phoenix. “That’s just evil. I believe I’ll enjoy working with you, Mr. McGee.”
Basseri sat in the judge’s chambers, yelling at Northcott.
“How could you not look over this?! I’m being set up, you idiot!” he screamed.
Ullery raised a finger. “Mr. Basseri, control yourself.”
He hissed out a simple “Yes, Your Honor” before returning to the tirade, “They have me pinned to the wall by my balls with this!”
“You specifically told me, Dominic, that you didn’t need to see anything on your system because you knew its files inside and out. You told me this would be open and shut. Hell, I told you to go with Keating & Halliton for something this big, but you said you wanted to stick with the man who could hang any jury. Then you wanted to cut out the jury. Don’t blame me for your arrogance.”
“I’m fucked.”