That was going to be easier said than done this time. I passed by Dahl, who was still standing on the sidewalk looking at the contracts. Back at the condo gate, I picked a phone book off the stack that was propping it open. I thumbed the corner back on a random page. My ad was there. My smiling face on the corner.
SAVE YOUR HOME!
DON’T LET THEM FORECLOSE WITHOUT A FIGHT
Michael Haller & Associates, Attorneys-at-Law
CALL:
323-988-0761
OR VISIT:
www.stopfinancialruin.com
Se Habla Español
I checked a few other pages to make sure the ad was on every page, which I had paid for, and then dropped the book back onto the stack. I wasn’t even sure who still used phone books, but my message was there just in case.
The others were waiting silently for me when I got back to the condo. Lisa’s arrival with her benefactor had put an awkward spin on things. I tried to get the meeting restarted in a way that would promote team unity.
“Okay, so everybody’s met everybody. Lisa, we were in the middle of discussions about how we are going to proceed and what we need to know as we go forward. We didn’t have the advantage of having you here because, frankly, I was pretty sure you weren’t going to be getting out of jail until we got the not-guilty verdict at the end. But now you’re here and I certainly want to include you in our strategies. Do you have anything you want to say to the group?”
I felt like I was leading a group therapy session at The Oaks. But Lisa lit up at the chance to hold the floor.
.“Yes, I first wanted to say that I am very grateful for all of your efforts on my behalf. I know that in the law things like guilt and innocence don’t really matter. It’s what you can prove. I understand that but I thought it might be good for you to hear it, even if it is only this one time. I am innocent of these charges. I did not kill Mr. Bondurant. I hope that you believe me and that at trial we prove it. I have a little boy and he badly needs to be with his mother.”
No one spoke but everybody nodded somberly.
“Okay,” I said, “before your arrival we were going through the division of labor. Who is in charge of what, who needs to do what, that sort of thing. I’d like to include you in the assignments as well.”
“Whatever I can do.”
She was sitting bolt upright on the edge of her chair.
“The police spent several hours in your house after your arrest. They searched it top to bottom and, subject to the authority the search warrant gave them, they took several items that might be evidence in the case. We have a list, which you are welcome to look at. Included are your laptop and three files marked FLAG and FORECLOSURE ONE and TWO. This is where you come in. The minute we are assigned a courtroom and a judge, we will file a motion asking to be immediately allowed to examine the laptop and the files, but until then I need you to list as best you can what was in the files and on the computer. In other words, Lisa, what is in these documents that would make the cops seize them? Do you understand?”
“Of course, and yes, I can do this. I’ll start on it tonight.”
“Thank you. There is one other thing I want to ask you about. You see, if this thing goes to trial, then I don’t want any loose ends. I don’t want anybody showing up out of the woodwork or-”
“Why do you say if?”
“Excuse me?”
“You said if. If this thing goes to trial. There are no ifs.”
“Sorry. Slip of the tongue. But just so you know, a good attorney will always listen to an offer from the prosecution. Because many times these negotiations allow you a sneak peek into the state’s case. So if I tell you that I am talking to the prosecution about a deal, remember that I have an ulterior motive, okay?”
“Okay, but I am telling you now, I won’t plead guilty to anything I haven’t done. There’s a killer out there walking free while they try to do this to me. Last night I couldn’t sleep in that terrible place. I kept thinking about my son… I could never face him if I pleaded guilty to something I’m not guilty of.”
I thought she was about to turn on the faucet but she held back.
“I understand,” I said softly. “Now, Lisa, this other thing I want to talk about is your husband.”
“Why?”
I immediately saw the warning flags go up. We were crossing into difficult terrain.
“He’s a loose end. When was the last time you heard from him? Is he going to show up and cause us a problem? Could he testify about you, about any prior acts of retribution or revenge? We need to know what is out there, Lisa. Whether it ever materializes doesn’t matter. If there is a threat, I need to know about it.”
“I thought a spouse could not testify against a partner.”
“There is a privilege that you get to invoke but it can be a gray area, especially with you two no longer living together. So I want to tie up the loose end. Do you have any idea where your husband is at this time?”
I wasn’t being fully accurate on the law but I needed to get to the husband to further understand the dynamic of their marriage and how it might or might not play into the defense. Estranged spouses were wild cards. You might be able to prevent them from testifying against your client but that didn’t mean you could keep them from cooperating with the state outside the courtroom.
“No, none,” she answered. “But I assume he will show up sooner or later.”
“Why?”
Lisa turned her palms up as if to show the answer was easy.
“There’s money to be made. If he is anywhere near a TV or a newspaper and he gets wind of what’s going on, he’ll show up. You can count on it.”
It seemed like an odd answer, as though there was a history of her husband being a money grubber, when I knew that wherever he was, he was spending very little of it.
“You told me he maxed out your credit card in Mexico.”
“That’s right. Rosarito Beach. He put forty-four hundred on the Visa and exceeded the limit. I had to cancel it and that was the only card we had left. But I didn’t realize that by canceling it I would lose the ability to track him. So the answer is, I don’t know where he is now.”
Cisco cleared his throat and entered the interview.
“What about contact? Any phone calls, e-mails, texts?”
“There were a few e-mails at first. Then nothing until he called on our son’s birthday. That was six weeks ago.”
“Did your son ask him where he was?”
Lisa hesitated and then said no. She wasn’t a good liar. I could tell there was something more there.
“What is it, Lisa?” I asked.
She paused and then relented.
“You’ll all think I’m a terrible mother but I didn’t let him talk to Tyler. We got into an argument and I just… hung up on him. Later I felt bad but I couldn’t call back because the number had been blocked.”
“But he does have a cell phone?” I asked.
“No. He did but that number’s been out of service for a while. He didn’t call on his phone. He either borrowed a phone or got a new number, which he hasn’t given me.”
“Could’ve been a throwaway,” Cisco said. “They sell them in every convenience store.”
I nodded. The story of marital disintegration left everyone somber. Finally, I spoke up.
“Lisa, if he makes new contact, you let me know right away.”
“I will.”
I looked from her to my investigator. We locked eyes and in the silent transmission I told him to check out everything he could about Lisa’s wandering husband. I didn’t want him popping up in the middle of trial.
Cisco gave me the nod. He was on it.
“A couple other things, Lisa, and we’ll have enough to get started.”
“Okay.”
“When the police searched your house yesterday they took some other things we haven’t talked about. One was described as a journal. Do you know what this was?”
“Yes, I was writing a book. A book about my journey.”