Page 135 of The Devil's Advocate

Berlin led the way down the stone steps, the silent man Mr. Anderson behind him. I followed Anderson, and Bloch was on my heels.

‘Did Denvir talk?’ I asked.

‘I’m afraid not. If I’d had time and some privacy, things might have been different.’

‘I don’t like the sound of that,’ I said.

The corrections officer on duty was a large man who looked like he’d eaten a slightly smaller man.

‘Back again, Mr. Flynn?’

‘Can’t get enough of the place,’ I said. ‘We want to talk to Korn, if that’s okay.’

‘You his lawyer?’ he asked.

‘Depends. He has to hire me first. Let us in.’

The officer checked in weapons from Bloch and Anderson, gave us a cursory pat down, then took us down the familiar corridor, and opened the cell door. Korn was the sole occupant of those cells that day. And there was only one officer on duty.

‘Let me know when you’re done,’ he said, and locked us inside with Korn.

He sat up on the bench, his elbows on his knees and his hands on top of his head. When he sat up, I saw a ring of blood staining around his thigh.

‘Mr. Korn, my name is Alexander Berlin, this is Mr. Anderson. I take it you are already familiar with Mr. Flynn and Miss Bloch.’

‘Who are you, exactly, Mr. Berlin?’ asked Korn.

‘Well, today I’m pretending to be with Homeland Security because that’s who lent us our car. My precise role in government is not your concern. Whatisyour concern is what I am here to offer.’ Berlin had an electronic tablet under his arm. He brought it up, tapped on the screen, bringing to life a document, and then he gave it to Korn who began reading.

‘This says I will serve five years if I give a full confession to prosecutorial misconduct. I’m afraid I can’t sign that. I haven’t done anything wrong. And I don’t know you. What authority do you have to offer me anything?’

Berlin dialed a number saved on his cell phone. Whoever was on the line picked up, and Berlin said, ‘Tell this man I have authority to make a deal,’ he said, then handed the phone to Korn.

‘Who is that?’ asked Korn.

‘It’s the attorney general,’ said Berlin.

His eyes widened as he said, ‘The Alabama AG is on your speed dial?’

‘No,’ said Berlin, ‘this is the United States Attorney General.’

Holding the phone to his ear, Korn listened. A minute later he handed the phone back to Berlin.

‘My apologies, I had to be sure you had the authority to make me an offer.’

‘I understand. You should think about it.’

‘I already have. I told you, I’ve done nothing wrong.’

‘Well, you see, the guy who ran against you in the last district attorney elections is getting ready to run again. I’ve arranged for some influential and wealthy backers to ensure he will win this election. You won’t even be able to stand for re-election. Now for the good news. He’s pro death penalty. The bad news is Mr. Wingfield will likely co-operate with me in exchange for immunity, and that means you will be convicted of fraud, perverting the course of justice and possibly the murder of Colt Lomax.’

Berlin let that last statement hang in the air.

‘There’s a witness who saw your car leaving the property, just after the fatal shot was fired.’

‘What witness?’ asked Korn.

‘This witness,’ said Berlin, pointing to Bloch.