Deadly Justice

23

“WHAT THE HELL WAS that all about?”

Consetti was pacing back and forth in Ben’s office, banging his head against the wall figuratively and literally.

“It was just a cheap intimidation tactic. His case is falling apart, so he’s clutching at straws.”

“He’s clutching at my good name, that’s what he’s doing!” Consetti’s face was flush red; spittle flew from his lips.

“Look, any fool can drop by the station and review the police records. He doesn’t have anything factual to help him win this case. So he’s going after our witnesses.” “What was that shit about me killing teenagers?”

“That jab was best ignored.”

“The press won’t ignore it! What if he calls the World with that crap and they print it? Think what that would do to my reputation! Not to mention the Apollo Consortium.”

“He won’t. He can say anything he wants in a deposition—he’s got immunity. If he repeats it to a newspaper, though, it’s actionable slander. Trust me, he won’t take the risk.”

Consetti continued pacing. “I just can’t believe I let that swaggering mound of flesh treat me like that. I should’ve…I should’ve—”

“You should’ve ignored him.”

“Ignore him!” Consetti took a swing at the air. “Goddamn it, I don’t understand why you’re being such a milquetoast about this. Herb would’ve shoved that man’s words right down his throat.”

“And then Abernathy would’ve gone to court complaining about how we obstructed discovery and asking for sanctions and extensions of time. Again, I would’ve been playing right into his hands.”

“Goddamn…lawyers!” Consetti took another swing at the air, this time perilously close to Ben’s face.

“Excusez moi,” said a voice from behind them. Ben turned and saw Christina poised in the doorway. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Ben, but Lieutenant Morelli is here to speak with you.”

Ben looked at Consetti apologetically. “I’m sorry, sir. Can we continue this conversation later?”

Consetti gritted his teeth and barreled through the door, pushing Christina to one side. “Goddamn…lawyers!”

Ben grinned sheepishly at Christina. “I don’t suppose Mike is really here?”

“As a matter of fact, he is, although he’s perfectly content to wait. I thought you needed a save.”

“You were right.”

“I take it Abernathy tried some cheap sleazemeister tricks at the deposition?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. He realizes he hasn’t got any proof of design defects and he’s getting desperate. Plus, he was unprepared for the deposition—didn’t know anything about the suspension system or any of the important issues. All he had was a police report and a lot of experience with tawdry discovery tactics.”

“Of course,” Christina replied, “what he probably hoped to do was scare Apollo’s upper management into early settlement.”

Ben knew better than to doubt Christina’s instincts. “Probably right.”

“And from the looks of Consetti’s major over-reaction—”

“Exactly. Mission accomplished. If I don’t win this case soon, Apollo’s going to end up writing Abernathy a big check.”

“Well, if anyone can do it, you can. I heard you creamed Abernathy at the hearing yesterday.”

“True. But only because he was so pathetically unprepared.”

“Sure. It couldn’t possibly be because you did anything right. By the by, you need to call Jones.”

“Why? Is he in trouble?”

“No. He just misses the sound of his master’s voice. Maybe you could phone him and ask him to draft some motions for you, just for old time’s sake.”

“I’ll give it some thought.”

“Well, I’ve got to get back to work. Crichton’s got me feeding documents into a litigation support computer program. You should see him in the computer room. He loves to play with gadgets.”

“The male prerogative.”

“Yeah. I just wish he’d stop trying to look up my skirt.”

“Perils of the workplace.”

“This one, anyway. I’ll send Mike in.”

“Thanks.”

A few seconds after Christina left, Mike strolled into the office.

“What’s up?” Ben asked.

“You are. You’re coming with me.”

Ben blanched. “You’re kidding. Blackwell is hauling me in? My time isn’t up yet.”

“No, no, no. We’re going to search Hamel’s home.”

“Oh.” Ben exhaled, relieved. “What about his widow?”

“She’s consented. In fact, she called this morning and asked us to come.”

“I thought she was mounting very serious opposition. What made her change her mind?”

“A very serious pair of fists. Impacting repeatedly on her face.”