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“Yes?”
“We have a situation. When can you come into the office?”
I looked over at Darron briefly. Being a senior associate at Hunter, Phoenix, Genesis, and Prime was what I was most proud of outside of being a mom. Most people thought my brother being a named partner gave me favoritism at the firm, but it was actually the opposite. Things were harder for me at work because of him. If he was calling me, he was either about to give me a case I didn’t want or complain about something I did that he didn’t like.
“I can have Darron’s driver to bring me now if it’s really important. It’s date night for us.”
He exhaled a hard breath into the receiver. “That won’t be necessary. You can come in the morning, but I’ll give you details now.” I nodded as if he could see me. “I just bailed one of my clients out on an embezzlement charge. He wants me to work out a deal to ensure his freedom or a lighter sentence in exchange for information on someone else.”
“Okay. What does that have to do with me?”
“The person he wants to give information on is one of your clients.”
My eyes closed, and I inhaled a deep breath. “How are we going to handle this, Jeremy?”
“I have to do what’s best for my client, but I can’t throw yours under the bus in the process.”
“What are you thinking? They can’t do a joint deal if he’s going to snitch on my client.”
“If your client comes forward with information that’s just as useful, he can avoid charges or at least get a lesser sentence.”
“What is he going to accuse my client of?”
“Chase is claiming your client is also involved in embezzlement and extortion.”
Massaging my temples, I shook my head. “I can’t ask you not to work the deal, but you know like I know the chances of my client getting no time or a lesser sentence are slim to none unless they snitch. It will not be a good look for us if one of our clients is the reason another is in prison.”
“Everyone has a price. I need you to work your client and get them to give up someone, something, that can get them as good of a deal as I’m going to get my client.”
“I’ll try, but I can’t make any guarantees. This is Chase Rogers, right?”
“Right, and the client he plans to inform on is Gideon Samuels.”
“Shit,” I muttered.
Gideon had been a client for over ten years. This was my first year representing him. He was first a client of my grandfather, who originally started the firm. When my grandfather left, he wanted me or Jeremy to represent him. He went with Jeremy because Jeremy had more experience, but Jeremy had so many clients Gideon felt as if he wasn’t getting the attention and treatment he deserved. There was no way in hell he’d snitch, even if it meant saving his own ass. Gideon was an old-school hustler, and he abided by certain rules. Remaining loyal and not snitching was at the top of that list.
“Come on, Jeremy, you know Gideon is not going to snitch. And Grandaddy will have a fit if he finds out your client is the reason one of our most loyal clients will be sent to prison. I don’t know how you’re going to work a deal for Chase, but you need to do it without involving Gideon.”
After disconnecting the call, I emailed Gideon’s assistant and asked if we could meet in the morning to prepare him. I also planned to call my grandfather so he could talk some sense into Jeremy. Grandpa didn’t care to talk law these days. He was spending his retirement in Miami living his best life. I hated to involve him, but if I had to, I would. Though I hoped Jeremy would do the right thing and not involve my client, I really couldn’t say.
On the off-chance Jeremy did work the deal and put a target on Gideon’s back, I’d have to do whatever I could to keep Gideon out of prison. Even without me looking at the evidence and potential charges, there was no doubt in my mind Gideon was involved. This was the part of being a criminal defense attorney that I hated, but it was my job. There were worse things going on in the world was what I told myself in situations like this, but situations like this often made me glad I was shifting my focus from criminal to civil law.
I remained silent for the rest of the ride. By the time we arrived, Gideon’s assistant had responded and let me know they could come into the office in the morning. Though I hated working on the weekend, this was worth it. I had an idea as we walked into Darron’s home, so I quickly called my brother back. Jeremy probably had the perfect solution for this, but he was the kind of partner who hardly ever gave associates guidance and tips. Everything was a test or game to him.
“Yeah?”
“I have an idea.”
“Which is?”
“Since Gideon was previously your client, you can create a deal for both of them as if he’s your client now. They can be tried together. Even with the information Chase gives, if they are co-conspirators, they’ll receive the same sentence if you make that a requirement of the deal.”
He was quiet for a while, but I heard the smile in his voice when he said, “I’ll see what I can do,” before disconnecting the call.
That lifted a weight off my shoulders as I headed toward Darron’s bedroom. I was sure Chase had other people he could give information on. It didn’t have to be Gideon, but if he did implicate him, the deal Jeremy worked out would keep Gideon safe.
“Did you get everything taken care of?” Darron asked.
