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[Charles Chance]
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“I know that I’ve said this a couple of times before, but I feel that I need to emphasize it.”
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Charles was sitting across his client Vinny Goma discussing legal preparations for the murder case.
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“I am your lawyer, consider this a monastery and me a priest, whatever you tell me remains within the confines of this room.”
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“A priest? Really?”
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“Yeah, other than saving your soul from hell, I’m saving you from prison.”
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“Do you believe in God?”
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“I’ll tell you what I believe. I believe that if you don’t get your story straight by the time trial starts, you’ll be found guilty and sentenced to 10 – 15 years imprisonment with hard labour as an accessory to murder.”
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“Oh…”
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“Oh, is right. Now, before you told me about what you said to the police, why don’t you tell me the whole story.”
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“What more is there to tell. One day I’m at my news stand at the corner of Hope and Lucky Street selling newspapers like I always do. Next thing I know a guy walks up to me, shows me a picture of an Asian guy and offers to pay me to let him know when the person in the picture would come around and enter a certain building across the street.”
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"What building was this?"
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"You know the one. That gambling joint with all the fancy lights and stuff."
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“The casino on Lucky Street?”
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“Yeah, that one. After a couple of days, I see an Asian guy pull up in a nice car with two of his friends carrying brief cases."
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"How'd you know it was him?"
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"I know I'm old ok, but my eyes are still good. So I checked out the picture I had and it was him. I called the number, next thing I know a couple of minutes later another car pulls up and about three or four guys come out and head into the casino. A few minutes after that, I hear gunshots and screaming. People start running out of the building and the police start swarming the place like flies onto faecal matter."
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"Really?"
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"Hey, you said to tell you everything."
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"Let's not use that description again ok?"
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"Whatever. Anyway, later that evening, I find out on the news that the Asian guy in the picture was Trolley Chen’s nephew. My heart was in my throat at that point and I knew I had to get out of town. It was around 3 o’clock in morning the following day, I’m packing my things and my front door is suddenly knocked down. The police burst in, guns out and start yelling telling me to get down on the floor.”
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“How did they know you were connected? Especially in such a short space of time?”
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“I haven’t the slightest clue. All I know is, I was brought into an interrogation room and they started asking me all sorts of questions as to who I was working for and shit.”
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“Do you still have the number you called?”
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Vinny sat silent for a moment trying to recollect his memory. “I think it should still be at my news stand on a piece of paper or something somewhere.”
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“Have the police already been there?”
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Vinny raised his hands exposing the cuffs chaining him to the table. “I dunno, if you haven’t already noticed, I haven’t been out much lately.”
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“Ok, here’s how your situation is looking right now. The prosecution knows that you’re just a small piece in their case. They want the big fish, and right now you’re their key to that.”
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“I just sell newspapers and magazines, I don’t know any big fish.”
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“I know that, and they know that too, but I'm guessing they need you to draw them out.”
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"Draw them out? Draw who out?"
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"Chen's people probably, or maybe the people you called, I don't have the details."
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“So what, I’m like…. bait?”
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“Unfortunately, that’s one way to put it. They're offering you a deal in exchange for your cooperation."542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIOvheoG0t
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"What happens if I take it?"
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"If you take deal, they'll more or less dangle you up as bait to draw out whoever it is they're trying to get to."542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgyMYElgFR
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"And if I don't?"
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"They'll most likely feed you to the wolves. Either way, they'll find a way to get what they want." 542Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWgarNiFqw
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Vinny buried his face into his hands and rubbed his forehead before looking back at Charles. "What am I supposed to do?"
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"If we’re to have any chance at this we need to have some leverage we can use to negotiate. Right now, that leverage is the number.”
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“But what about what you said in court the other day, about my confession statement being inadmissible and stuff?”
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“Believe me, you’d rather have more cards in your hands than just that one. It’ll give us a lot more options and wiggle room.”
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They both briefly sat silent before Vinny asked. “So what’s next?”
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“Next? Next you need to keep a fresh pair of eyes at the back of your head. The guards in here don’t do much to protect the inmates, and when shit happens, they won’t get there in time. In the meantime, I’ll submit an application into court for abridgement of time to have the matter deliberated upon as soon as possible."
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Charles leaned in. “Listen Vinny, there are clearly very powerful people at play here, and right now you’re their golden ticket, so don’t breathe a word of this to anyone else, ok?”
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“Alright.” Vinny sighed and replied with an exhausted expression.
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“I’ve got a private investigator I often use. As soon as I leave this place, I’ll give him a call and have him check your stand for the number.”
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“More coffee dear?” The waitress walked over to Charles as he sat by the diner counter.
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“Ah, yes please.”
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She poured him another fresh cup.
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“Uhmm… would you happen to a have a phone I could use?” He asked her whilst nestling the cup in between his hands.
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She gave him a short stare with a raised eyebrow.
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“It’ll be short, I promise.” Charles petitioned.
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She motioned her head towards the end of the counter where the phone was stationed affixed to the wall and he walked over whilst expressing his gratitude.
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“Jesus Christ Sam pick up! He exclaimed under his breath. He’d been trying to reach the private investigator for the third time now but the call went on unanswered.
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“Hey Charlie!” A familiar voice called out from behind him. It was Ben, a colleague from court. He waved his hand at him and Charles waived back before hanging up the phone and walking over.
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“I haven’t seen you in ages. Since your closing argument in the Pharmaceutical case.”
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"What are you talking about? Its only been like two days."
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"Well, time flies when you're a celebrity."
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"Firstly, I am NOT a celebrity. Secondly, how do you even rationalize that statement?"
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"I don't know. That's just what they all say." Ben joined Charles on the counter and ordered some food and drink off the menu. "So, how's it going though?"
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Charles let out a sigh of frustration. "Pretty much the same as usual. I've got another David vs Goliath situation in my current case and I haven't even popped a champagne bottle for the previous one."
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"Oh yeah? Sucks to be you I guess." Ben replied sarcastically whilst taking a sip of the orange juice he just ordered.
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Charles said nothing and stared into his cup.
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“Just the other day I had a client throw up in the witness box.”
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“Seriously? How did that play out?”
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“It was during cross examination.” Ben took a bite out of the sandwich the waitress placed on the counter and with a mouthful continued the story. “The poor guy probably lost his nerves. He started out alright answering the questions as we had anticipated. Next thing I know, his face gets all bloated and he pukes out whatever he had for breakfast.”
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“Jesus!”
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Ben took a sip of his juice. “Well, the good thing about the whole situation is that the case was adjourned.”
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“I don’t see how else that would have turned out.”
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“You don’t get, we needed more time, ok. One of our key witnesses was not in the city at the time and we needed an adjournment to have him attend the trial.”
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“Why then didn’t you just apply for one?”
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“With Judge Salassie on the bench?”
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“Oh, her?”
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“Yeah her, and besides, we already got one before.”
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“Well then you spent your one and only ticket.”
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“Yup. She made it pretty clear that there won’t be any other adjournments thereafter. So, this kinda worked in our favour.”
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“Guess so.”
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“By the way.” Ben had another bite at his sandwich. “I heard that you received an offer from Pricewaters & Clarke.”
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“Really? Now where'd you hear that?”
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“Come now Charlie, how long have we known each other, hmm?”
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“Too long it would seem.”
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“News travels fast my friend. Especially when firms like Pricewaters & Clarke are making moves.”
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“I’m not surprised.”
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“So, you gonna take it?”
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“I haven’t even met with them yet.”
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“What’s stopping you? Isn’t this what you always wanted since law school? The recognition, the money, the fame?” Ben, sandwich in hand, dramatically acted out the glamour of these aspirations.
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“That’s not quite it, but yeah.” Charles cracked a smile.
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“Come on. How many years did you spend on the pharmaceutical case, hmm? Nobody touched it, nobody dared. LM Pharmaceutical is run by powerful people Charlie. Not even Pricewaters & Clarke thought it could be won, but you did."
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Charles continued staring into his cup with some discomfort. "Let's not get into that ok?"
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"Look, all I'm saying is you did the impossible. Enjoy the spoils, God knows you deserve it."
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“That means a lot Ben, thanks.”
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“I should be thanking you.”
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“What for?”
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“For the lunch.” Ben slapped Charles on his back as he finished his glass and left him with the bill
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“Well?” A man dressed in a dark brown Brioni suit sat on a large leather chair facing the clear glass window overlooking the city below. “Do you have him?”
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The room was silent, and the ticking sound of the clock on the wall accentuated the unease. No one dared answer.
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“No.” A woman standing across the room finally broke the silence.
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“And why is that so?” The tone of his voice was calm yet terrifyingly cold.
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“I tracked his location to a place where he is rumoured to be usually found, a warehouse on the far east side of Riverside. However, someone already got there before I did.”
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“Who may that be?”
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“Smiley.”
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“How do you know this?”
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“I found one of Tondo’s men running away from the warehouse before all the gunfire started. He said someone in a mask shoved a gun into his mouth and demanded to know if Tondo was there or not, in exchange for his life.”
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“And?”
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“He wasn’t. Turns out he was at a card game hosted by one of the captains of the Bianchi family.”
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“And where is this gentleman who so generously shared this information?”
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“In the afterlife.”
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“Tell me. How then do you expect us to get anymore information on Tondo’s whereabouts?”
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“Believe me, he had nothing more to offer.”
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"Believe? You? You think so highly of yourself as to obtain my faith in you?"
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The woman briefly remained silent before responding. "My reputation speaks for itself."
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"Then let it speak here and now." The man stood up and carefully placed his hands behind his back whilst slowly walking towards the window before coming to a halt. His frame formed a silhouette as he continued staring into the city below.
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“And Smiley?”
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“We briefly got acquainted.”
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“Does he still live?” He slightly turned his head towards her as he inquired.
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“He struck me as the kind of man that would find a way out of a tight spot.”
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“Then your reputation falls short of expectation. And the rest of you?” He queried the other two men that were present and standing next to her across the large mahogany table separating them.
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They stared at the floor and kept silent.
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“Get out.”
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The two men bowed and quickly scampered out of the room. Just as they walked out, another man also smartly dressed came in. He bowed and walked over to the man standing by the window and whispered something into his ear before taking a few steps back.
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“It has just come to my attention that there is another possible avenue from which we could extract further details on the said incident. The police have in their custody an individual by the name of Vinny Goma who may have some insight into the happenings of that unfortunate event. Their poor attempt to keep his arrest a secret suggests that he knows something. That, or we’re being played.”
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“What are your orders?”
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“Tondo remains a priority, be sure to keep at it. I opine that Goma is being kept under close surveillance in anticipation for us to make a move. If indeed this is a trap, its best not to take the bait. Find the lawyer representing Mr. Goma and confirm this narrative.”
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“Understood.”
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"And one more thing. I have no use for ineffective lackeys, or a lack of expectation, dispose of those two."
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"Very well."
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