Cash Call, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 5

  Chapter 28

  Chance Encounter

   Since Stan hadn't called me to make good on his promise to buy me dinner, I started looking for an opportunity to run into him. I needed to talk to him about the Jesse Ramirez case anyway, so it wasn't like I was stalking him. Several times I picked up the phone to call him, but I really wanted to talk to him in person. One afternoon I caught a break. While I was in the hall I overheard another ADA mention that Detective Besch was conducting a lineup at 11:00 a.m. in conjunction with the Luther Bell murder. I knew Stan Turner would have to be there with at least one of his clients.

  I took this opportunity to arrange to run into him. Stan acted like he was glad to see me when I we bumped into each other in the hall. It was nearly lunch time, so I suggested we go to Sonny Bryan's for some barbeque. He accepted the invitation eagerly. We took my car.

  "You know, this isn't going to get you off the hook for dinner," I said.

   He laughed. "I know. But I'm glad we ran into each other. We can get a head start on catching up."

   I nodded. "So, how are you?"

  "I've been better. One of my clients just got picked out of a lineup."

   I shook my head sympathetically "Oh, God . . . Well, I've got some more bad news for you."

   "Really?'

   "Yeah, on your wrongful death case. It looks like the grand jury is going to no bill your defendant Banks."

   "What?"

   "Yeah, his blood alcohol level came up a little short on proving he was drunk, so the DA recommended a no bill."

   "You're kidding! I can't believe that. The police report said he failed the field sobriety test and they found an empty bottle of scotch in his car."

   "Well, the problem may have been that the blood test wasn't taken until several hours after the arrest. By that time he no doubt sobered up a bit."

   "Oh my God! How stupid. Why--"

   "Hey, this isn't my case. I'm just reporting what I was told."

   He looked at me and smiled. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm just disappointed. This was my first wrongful death case. It started out so great and now it's falling apart."

   "Don't worry. There will be others."

   "I suppose."

   I felt badly for Stan. He was obviously having a bad day with a client being picked out of a lineup and his wrongful death case turning to shit. It wasn't turning out to be a good time to suggest a partnership, but I wasn't sure I'd get another opportunity to suggest it anytime soon. I had to do something to pick him up before I dropped the bomb on him.

   "Listen, Stan. I probably shouldn't be doing this. I'd get in a lot of trouble if my boss found out about it, but I've got a suggestion for you."

   Stan gave me a hard look. "A suggestion about what?"

   "Jesse Ramirez."

   "Yeah. What about him?"

   "Well, you know when someone assaults a police officer the DA is under a lot of pressure to throw the book at the offender."

   Stan nodded.

   "Well, I've talked to the officer and he wasn't injured and your guy, I'm sure, didn't intend to hurt him, but none of that makes any difference to the DA. He still doesn't want me to show any leniency toward your client."

   "Okay. So, what's your suggestion?"

   "Well. The only way this case is going to go away is if somebody upstairs decides the case shouldn't be prosecuted."

   "Right. But that's not likely to happen."

   "Well, actually you could make it happen. Think about it. Officer Lansdale violated protocol and used poor judgement in letting Jennifer drive Rob's car home after he was arrested. The fact that she got into an accident and someone was killed makes that quite apparent."

   Stan's eyes widened. "Oh, I get it. If Don threatens to file a cross action against the city for Officer Lansdale's negligence in letting Jennifer drive the car, that would give us a bargaining chip to make Jesse's case go away."

   "Exactly."

   "Wow. What a great idea. Why are you being so nice to me?" Stan asked.

   I shrugged. "I don't know. Jesse is so young and he really didn't do anything you or I wouldn't have done had we been in the same circumstances."

   Stan laughed. "Ain't that the truth."

   "So, why are depressed about your client being picked out of a lineup? That sounds like good business to me."

   "Well, I can't represent him. I've got a conflict. Don Blaylock is my primary client and he's as good a suspect as Don."

   "Damn. That sucks."

   Stan shrugged.

  "So, you can't handle this case, but there has been others you've turned down. Why haven't you been cashing in on all your notoriety from the Sarah Winters case? Your co-counsel, what's his name? Harry Hertel. He's got two or three high-profile murder cases going."

   "I'm not a criminal attorney. I've got a general practice. The only time I take on a criminal case is if one of my clients gets in trouble or somebody twists my arm pretty hard."

   "That's a shame. I would give anything to get a good murder trial, and you're turning them down left and right. Maybe someday I can be your second chair."

   I laughed. "Sure, I usually need all the help I can get. . . . Too bad you're working for the DA. I'd be happy to refer Jim Cochran to you."

   "Shoot. I would love that. Maybe I should resign. This might be my chance to start my own practice."

   Stan gave me a startled look. "Are you serious?"

   "Yes, you got any extra office space?"

   "Well, I do have an empty office."

   "That would be great. When the case is over, we could be partners."

   "I don't know. I never thought about having a partner. I can barely support myself."

   I laughed. "I seriously doubt that. I'll carry my weight. I promise. I'm a great litigator."

   I held my breath as I watched Stan consider my proposal. I knew he was thinking about the money and how Rebekah would react to the idea.

   "Ah. I don't know. Everything is so hectic right now, it's not a good time."

   "It's a perfect time. Sounds like you need me more than ever."

   Stan sighed. "Well. Let me think about it. It certainly is an interesting idea and I have turned down several cases I'm sure you would have loved."

   "Exactly. It would be a perfect situation. You wouldn't have to turn down perfectly good business and I'd be able to finally escape the DA's office. We'd both end up making more money."

   "We did have some good times when we worked together in law school," Stan admitted. "It's just I'm so busy right now, I scarcely have time to even think about it."

   "I understand, but you're always swamped so waiting won't help. Leave it me. I'll put together a proposal and do all the leg work in getting it all put together."

   Stan smiled. "Okay. Put something together and I'll take a look at it."

   After lunch I took Stan back to his car and he drove off. I felt good as I watched his Corvette disappear around the corner. Stan was obviously surprised by the partnership idea, but I could see him warming to the concept as he thought more about it. It made a lot of sense and I was sure he'd see that in the end. Rebekah was the only barrier to Turner & Waters coming into fruition, but I had a strategy for dealing with Rebekah. I just hoped it would work.