Matt was at the police station with a drive-thru breakfast for himself and Harold. “Hey, Molle!”
“Go to hell, Matt. Did you bring food?”
“Don’t I always?” The lawyer tossed the detective one of the bags. “Sausage biscuit and hashbrown, with plenty of ketchup.”
“I love you, man.” Harold tore open the bag and unwrapped the biscuit, while gesturing Matt to follow him. “The gun is in evidence lock-up, we found it under some garbage when the homicide guys went back to re-examine the crime scene. It’s definitely Vercetti’s weapon, nobody else in this city has a ‘Hello Kitty’ sticker on the pistol grip of their gun. We think Vercetti hid it to make Callatano look like he’d shot an unarmed person.”
“Does the DA’s office know yet?”
“Yeah, our official version for them is that forensics say it was never fired. Which it wasn’t, Matt.”
“Still, Vercetti pulled a gun. Callatano shot him in self-defense, I win.” Matt felt a deep satisfaction at the perfect defense.
Harold rolled his eyes. “Or Callatano shot Vercetti on orders from Arfiglio, Vercetti pulled his gun and died before he could shoot. It ain’t no slamdunk.”
“Rit’ll have to prove that, I just have to argue the opposite and sow doubt in the jury.” Matt left out of the station to head for the courthouse.
He stopped dead when a tall Mediterrean beauty got out of a car and walked toward him. “Mr. Duquesne.”
“Donna, why am I not surprised to see you. What did you want?”
“Eddie. We are not paying you to get him cleared.”
“Then what are you paying me for, Donna? Stand in court and look pretty?”
“Essentially. Eddie needs to go to jail.”
“Even if Vercetti fired at him first, Donna?”
“Vercetti did not fire at all, Matt.”
“And how do you know that? The cops just recently found the gun. Unless you are not telling your man’s attorney about the whole thing?”
“That’s for me to know. There will be repercussions if Eddie Callatano is acquitted.”
“Yawn. I’ll remember to tell Homicide you threatened me if Eddie is freed.” Matt walked away to his car. Donna Arfiglio, Mafia princess, stood there and examined the young attorney until he drove away.
At the Diamond City courthouse, Rita was unlocking her office when she saw Matt Duquesne come up behind her. “You move too damn quietly, Duquesne.”
“With cat-like tread, Rita.”
“Anyway, let’s talk turkey. Murder in the third, and where’s your client?”
A newspaper lowered from a unassuming man in a unassuming chair. “Yo, Eddie Cee.”
“Eddie, fucking, never mind. Rita, please continue.”
“Murder in the third, ten to twenty with parole and time served.” Rita tapped her foot. “And that’s generous, the judge isn’t actually enthused for the deal.”
“Eddie and I need to talk, Rita. Give me ten minutes.” Matt gestured Eddie towards the men’s room. (more…)