Uncommon Thief

Chapter 30

  Secret Betrayal

  Joel Roberts and Congressman Bartlett sat in their golf cart on the 3rd hole waiting for the golfers ahead of them to get out of their way so they could tee off. It was a cool December day but cool in southern California meant low 60's, nothing that would deter an avid golfer. Bartlett turned to Roberts and frowned. “So, how did Fred manage to get out on bond? I didn’t expect that.”

  “No. I didn’t either. Maria’s parents put up their house as collateral, if you can believe that.”

  “I can’t. Don’t they know he cheated on their daughter?”

  “They must,” Joel replied. “It’s been in all the papers. I guess Maria must really love him.”

  “And be one forgiving woman, that’s for sure,” the Congressman said shaking his head.

  “Yeah. Unless Fred’s told her about the million dollars he’s got stashed away somewhere.”

  “You think that’s it?”

  “He may have now, but he didn’t have an opportunity to tell her before the bond was put up.”

  “It’s too dangerous for him to be out on bond,” the Congressman warned. “Can’t you do something about that?”

  “Well, I’m hoping he’ll try to get some of the cash. The FBI’s is keeping a close watch on him, so he’ll probably get caught and with the cash in his possession it will be all over.”

  “Good. We need to put a lid on this whole affair.”

  Roberts smiled. “What about Fuller? I thought you didn’t want him to get hurt. If they catch him with the money he’ll go to prison for a long, long time.”

  “Better him than you and I, right?” the Congressman said bitterly.

  Roberts sighed. “True.”

  “But, Fuller’s no dummy. He may not go for the money.”

  “I’ll put some heat on him to get cash for his defense. I can threaten to withdraw from the case if he doesn’t come up with more money. He’ll have to go for it then.”

  “Okay, but if he’s not caught trying to access the money, you better come up with some other way to have his bond revoked.”

  “Right,” Roberts said thoughtfully. “Don’t worry I’ll come up with something.”

  The golfers ahead of them moved on, so Roberts got a ball and his driver and prepared to tee off.

  “Watch out for that trap on the right,” the Congressman said. “I always manage to fall into it.”

  “No problem. I’m slicing today for some reason. I won’t get close to it.”

  “Yeah. You’re nervous. . . . Relax. We’ll get through this. I have a lot of confidence in you.”

  “Right. But, I can’t help feeling guilty about leading Fred straight to prison. It’s against every instinct I have as a defense attorney.”

  “Don’t worry,” the Congressman replied. “When he gets out of prison he’ll have a million dollars.”

  “If he doesn’t screw up and lead the feds to the money.”

  “Either way, you and I are clear. We can always help him out down the road and make sure Maria is taken care of, if he goes in for a long stretch.”

  Roberts swallowed hard and the Congressman forced a smile. Roberts took a practice swing and then drove the ball down the fairway. As expected, he sliced the ball past the trap and it came to a stop on the edge of the fairway.

  The Congressman got his driver and prepared to tee off. His ball went straight down the fairway then suddenly hooked into the trap. “Damn it!” he cursed.