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The Gods of Guilt(118)



Lankford shook his head like he didn’t get it.

“You really think you’re going to get him off with this mystery man defense?”

I smiled as I started putting my own files and notes into my briefcase.

“We’re actually calling it the ‘Cat in the Hat’ defense. And believe me, it’s a lock.”

He said nothing in response and I paused my efforts to look at him.

“One-Echo-Robert-five-six-seven-six.”

“What’s that, your mother’s phone number?”

“No, Lankford, it’s your license plate number.”

I saw a split-second change in his eyes. It was recognition or maybe fear. I kept going, improvising but following some instinctual path to an unknown destination.

“It’s a city of cameras. You should have lost the plate before you started following her. That next witness the judge wanted to hear today? He’s bringing video from outside the hotel, and he’s going to identify you as the cat in the hat.”

The look in Lankford’s eyes wasn’t fleeting anymore. It was the vicious look of a cornered animal.

“And then you’re going to have to explain to the jury why you were following Gloria Dayton before she was murdered and before you were on the case.”

Lankford suddenly moved into me, grabbing my tie to jerk me away from the table. But the tie came off in his hand and he stumbled backwards off balance.

“Hey! Is there a problem?”

Forsythe had taken notice. Lankford recovered and I looked at Forsythe.

“No, no problem.”

I calmly took my tie back from Lankford. His back was to Forsythe. He stared at me with those black-marble eyes. I started clipping my tie back on and leaned in to whisper.

“Lankford, I’m going to go out on a limb here. I don’t think you’re a killer. I’m guessing you got into something way over your head and you got pushed. Used. You found her for somebody and he did the rest. Maybe you knew what was coming, maybe not. Either way, you’re going to let an innocent man go down for it?”

“Fuck you, Haller. Your client is scum. All of them are.”

Forsythe walked up to us then.

“I’m leaving now, gentlemen. I ask again, is there a problem here? Do I have to stay here and babysit you two?”

Neither of us broke our stares to look at the prosecutor. I answered.

“We’re fine. I’m just explaining to . . . Investigator Lankford the reason I wear clip-ons.”

“Fascinating. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Forsythe went out through the gate and down the middle aisle of the empty courtroom. I picked up with Lankford where I had left off before the interruption.

“You’ve got less than twenty-four hours to figure out how you want to play this. Tomorrow your buddy Marco is going to go down. You can go down with him or you can get smart and get out of this in one piece. There is a way, you know.”

Lankford slowly shook his head.

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, Haller. You never do. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. In fact, you don’t know shit.”

I nodded as though I felt I had been properly rebuked.

“Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I clapped him on the arm like I was saying good-bye to a good friend.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” he said.





39





Under directions from Lorna, Cisco brought wine and pizza from the takeout at Mozza to the loft for the postcourt staff meeting that night. She said it was warranted because for the first time in two weeks of trial and more than seven months of prep, it felt like there was something to celebrate.

It was unexpected to have a midtrial celebration, but the bigger surprise was seeing Legal Siegel in a wheelchair at the end of the table. He had a mobile air tank on the chair and was happily munching on a piece of pizza.

“Who sprung you?” I asked.

“Your girl here,” Legal said, pointing with his pizza at Jennifer. “She rescued me from those people. Just in time, too.”

He toasted me with his slice, holding it up with two bony white hands.

I nodded and looked at everyone. I guess the reluctance to celebrate anything showed on my face.

“Come on, we finally had a good day,” Lorna said, handing me a glass of red. “Revel in it.”

“I’ll revel in it when it’s over and we put the big NG on the scoreboard,” I said.

I pointed to the whiteboard, which had our defense strategy outlined on it. But I took the glass and a slice of sausage pizza, and smiled at the others as I made my way to a chair by Legal Siegel. Once everyone was seated, Lorna initiated a toast to me, and with great embarrassment I held up my glass. I then hijacked the moment and added my own toast.