AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Then I’m not like most of your clients.”
Jack didn’t show it, but he was smiling on the inside. “Let’s hope not.”
Chapter 9
Jack and Imani left the courthouse and walked across the street into Columbus Park.
Chinese opera singers were performing along the walkway, a reminder that the imposing complex of government buildings was technically in Chinatown. A small audience had gathered in the spotty shade of a tall maple tree that was just starting to show some fall color in its leaves. A few New Yorkers were on the lawn, taking one last shot at sunbathing before autumn started to feel more like winter. As a native Miamian, Jack wanted to hand out coats and scarves, even with the sunshine. Jack found a park bench away from the crowd where he and his client could sit and talk alone.
“What happens now?” asked Imani.
Jack’s “thanks, but no thanks” message to the prosecutors had prompted a predictable if unimaginative, “See you in court.”
“The U.S. attorney will file charges by criminal complaint today. You don’t have to worry about the FBI beating down your door to arrest you and put you in handcuffs. Miles and I agreed that you will surrender voluntarily tomorrow morning. You’ll be arraigned before a federal magistrate, who will set bail.”
“Any chance he won’t let me out on bail?”
“No. You’re not a danger to society, and no one could seriously argue that you’re a flight risk. Where on earth do they think you could go without being recognized?”
Imani glanced back at the courthouse, but the look in her eyes was distant, as if she were somewhere else. “Funny thing is, Icouldprobably play for an oligarch’s granddaughter, and no one would ever find out.Get the right security, take away cellphones, enforce the nondisclosure agreements—it’s doable.”
“Like the event I went to on Venetian Island?”
“That was amateur hour compared to what I’m talking about. Anyone could have sailed by in a boat, or the media could have sent helicopters, and boom—the cat’s out of the bag. I’m talking about the kind of uber-precautions taken when nobody—I meannobody—can ever find out about it.”
“For example?”
She laughed. “If I told you, Jack, they wouldn’t be top secret, would they?”
A skateboarder whizzed past them. Imani seemed ready to change the subject.
“Amongus Sicario came to see me Monday night,” she said.
“Theo told me.”
“Really? Do you two lovebirds tell each other everything?”
“He just mentioned that Amongus wants you to come back to MAP.”
“No, Amongus doesn’t want me back at MAP. Amongussaidhe wants me back at MAP.”
“I see the distinction, but what are you getting at?” asked Jack.
“I believe the same ex-husband who got these prosecutors breathing down my neck got Amongus to invite me back to MAP. The end result is the same in both cases: the end of the ‘go pirate’ campaign.”
“Interesting theory. But it presupposes Shaky has rather extreme power and influence on multiple levels.”
She gave Jack a very serious look. “Never underestimate the power and influence of my ex.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” said Jack. His gaze drifted toward a couple of pigeons fighting over what was left of a giant pretzel.
“Tell me about the kickbacks,” said Jack.
“The theory makes absolutely no sense. Do you know how many piracy sites there are on the dark web? I couldn’t possibly have a kickback arrangement with all of them.”
“The prosecutor doesn’t have to prove you took kickbacks from all ofthem. Just the ones owned by the Russian oligarch who’s in the prosecutor’s crosshairs.”
“I’m not taking kickbacks from a Russian oligarch.”
