Dog Tags

CHAPTER 22

ELI SEEMS FAR LESS WILLING TO MEET WITH ME THIS TIME, BUT HE FINALLY AGREES.

“Let me guess” is how he greets me when I arrive at his office. “You’re representing a goldfish in a paternity suit.”

“Nope.”

“Okay. You’re handling a probate matter for a ferret.”

“You’re a bitter loser,” I say.

His mood suddenly seems to change and he laughs. “Not this time. This time I actually thought it was pretty funny. Did you get the dog?”

“No, I filed the paper with the court, but it hasn’t been approved yet. Should hear anytime.”

“So what do you want now?”

“I’m representing Billy Zimmerman for the purpose of plea bargaining.”

“Then this will be a short meeting. Which plea bargain are you talking about?’

“The one we’re about to have.”

He frowns. “Okay, I’ll start. He cops to first degree, forty years minimum.”

“You must be bitter,” I say. “Because that’s ridiculous.”

“Andy, he robbed and killed a former high-ranking army officer, just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. We have eyewitnesses, patrons from the bar. We also have the gun with his prints all over it, and gunpowder residue on his hands. This is not exactly a whodunit; why would we possibly take less?”

This is not going well. “Eli, during the trial there were references made to federal agents involved with the dog. Have you checked into that?”

“You think I’m going to share that with you?”

“I have reason to believe that they might have a point of view on my client’s situation.”

“Andy, I’ve talked to them, and as far as I can tell they don’t give a shit what happens to your client. And to tell you the truth, neither do I.”

This represents proof that Billy has completely misjudged his situation, which does not surprise me. If Eli was under any pressure, federal or otherwise, to make a deal, he wouldn’t be rejecting my overtures so definitively. And Billy’s idea that he can trade for his freedom is clearly not on any table I can find.

What continues to surprise me is the hands-off attitude the feds are taking. They were so anxious to hang on to Milo that they installed an armed guard on his cage, but they didn’t try to prevent my getting him at the hearing. Now they seem to show no interest in Billy at all.

I decide to change the subject, since this particular subject is going nowhere. “Did you find out why they were guarding Milo?” I ask.

“Andy, I must have missed that day in law school when they taught how before a case the prosecutor is supposed to tell the defense everything he knows.”

“Where did you go to law school, the University of Mars? It’s called discovery.”

“Discovery relates to evidence. Any conversations that I may or may not have had with federal authorities are not evidence. Which reminds me, are you Zimmerman’s attorney? Because there is a lot of actual discoverable material to turn over when and if he gets himself a lawyer.”

This is the moment of truth, at least for me. “Yeah. Send it over.”

He nods. “Will do. And unless he’s willing to accept the forty years, I’ll see you in court, counselor.”

As soon as I leave Eli’s office, I get a call from Rita Gordon telling me that Judge Catchings has approved the release of Milo to me.

Within the space of five minutes, I’ve added a klepto German shepherd and a client to my life.

Oh, happy day.