AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ASKING KITTERIDGE TO defend Philip Sidney for embezzlement was one of the most difficult things Daniel had to do. But he had promised Patrick that he would, so there was no alternative.
Anyway, if Daniel avoided doing it, then Patrick would probably ask Kitteridge himself, which would make matters worse in every way. And whether Sidney was guilty or innocent, to step aside was no answer at all. All that proved was that Daniel had the choice between facing an awkward situation with the possibility of failure, and running away from it altogether. Rather than being disliked by some for the first choice, he would be despised by all for the latter, and that “all” would include himself.
He knocked on Kitteridge’s door, then went in and closed it quietly behind him.
Kitteridge looked up from his desk. “What happened?” he asked, looking at Daniel’s expression with misgiving.
Daniel sat down in the visitor’s chair. There was no point in trying to be subtle or evasive. “The police have arrested Sidney for embezzlement from the British Embassy in Washington. He’s being charged, and Patrick asked me to appear for his defense. Which is pointless. I’m not competent to…yet…and Sidney would know it. He’ll get somebody of his own, if he hasn’t already, and we will lose control of matters altogether.”
Kitteridge’s eyebrows rose. “We have control of something in this wretched affair? I must have missed that bit.”
“No, but we can.” Daniel was aware of making assumptions, but they would be implicit whether he spoke them or not. “If we defend him, we have as much control as anyone ever has…”
“You have control if you know all the evidence, and it indicates your client’s innocence,” Kitteridge said coolly. “And better yet, someone else’s guilt! We don’t even know what the evidence is. We’ve seen none of it, and we have no idea if our client is guilty or not. And we believe he is guilty of a much worse crime, which he is only charged with by word of mouth, of the victim’s family. And far from defending him for that, we actually want to expose him for it. A beautiful case, Pitt! Is there anything else you’ve omitted, that could make it even worse? Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that the accusers are foreigners, due to stay here only a month or so, and half your family is involved—who are also due to be here only for a month or so! And we don’t know if our client—and by that, I presume you really mean my client—even wants our services. You have exceeded yourself.”
“There is…there is something else…”
“Rubbish! Even I can’t imagine anything else!”
“I asked Roman Blackwell to look into Sidney a bit—background, reputation, et cetera…”
Kitteridge shut his eyes. “What?” he asked with excessive patience. He was used to Daniel’s passion for understanding every point of view, however little it seemed to be relevant. He did not pretend to agree, but he knew that it mattered to Daniel. Kitteridge thought it was something he had learned from his father.
“He seems to be an exemplary young man. Honest, likable, good humor, even quite fun…”
“Oh God!” Kitteridge groaned. “How did we ever get into this…this…fiasco? I don’t suppose Patrick is some kind of practical joker?”
Daniel thought of Patrick’s anger, but far more persuasive was Jemima’s belief in him. “No,” he said unhappily.
“You’ve only just met him!” Kitteridge pointed out.
“But I’ve known Jemima all my life. Do you think I haven’t looked for a way out?”
“No, of course you have. About five days too late! You should have found it the day he mentioned the whole miserable mess. You are not only softhearted, you are thoroughly softheaded as well. You do realize that if we—if I—take this case—and, please God, Sidney has his people and will refuse us—I will have no choice but to look very thoroughly into the evidence against him?”
“Of course,” Daniel said stiffly.
“I’ll ask you now, are you sure Patrick didn’t create it, or help it along?”
Daniel was angry and, above all, afraid. He did not really know Patrick Flannery. All he knew for certain was that Jemima loved him. He was her husband, and her children’s father. Would loyalty demand she believe him, whatever the evidence suggested?
“Pitt!” Kitteridge demanded.
“No, of course I don’t know. Although I don’t see how he could. The information about the embezzlement came from inside the British Embassy in Washington. He has no access to that.”
“Then how did he come by it?”
“He didn’t! For heaven’s sake, the police arrested Sidney. The London police.”
“I’ve heard about the long arm of the law, but London to Washington is a bit of a stretch, isn’t it?” Kitteridge asked, the sarcastic edge to his voice getting even sharper.
“Thorwood!” Daniel said quickly. “He’s the only one who has come to London from Washington. He could have friends there powerful enough to have had a hand in this.”
“True,” Kitteridge said thoughtfully. “Would he?”
“I don’t know! But the evidence exists, or the London police wouldn’t have it.”
“Well then, I had better make inquiries, I suppose.” Kitteridge stood up. “I imagine you are going to work on this, too? We’d better ask Marcus for permission. Perhaps I am being mean-spirited and unimaginative, but if Sidney even accepts me, has he any money? Or did you not think to ask such a pedestrian question?”
