Chapter 6

When Judge Rivera's secretary showed McCoy and Carmichael into his chambers, they found Morgan already there. She was sitting in one of the chairs arranged in front of his desk, engaged in what seemed to be a pleasant conversation.

"Ms. Carmichael, Mr. McCoy, please have a seat," the judge said as they entered. After they were seated, he asked, "Ms. Morgan, would you care to explain why you are asking to readmit evidence that you so persuasively argued to have excluded only a few days ago?"

"Yes, Your Honor," she said, leaning forward in her chair. "It seems I may have been a bit hasty with my previous motion. In the course of the investigation to prove my client's innocence, I've gathered some interesting evidence. It seems that some person unknown to my client or his wife entered their apartment without their authorization and prior knowledge. He produced a workorder, supposedly signed by my client, giving him authority to do so and convinced the building manager, Mr. Rigel, to admit him in their absence." She reached into her briefcase and pulled out a paper, handing it across the judge's desk. "This is the workorder he submitted." Then pulling out another paper and handing it to him also, she added, "This is a report from a hand-writing analyst stating that the signature on the workorder was not my client's, but a forgery instead. Mr. Rigel was called away on another matter after admitting the man, so he couldn't be sure exactly when this alleged repairman left the Fairchild's apartment. However, the building's doorman remembers seeing a man matching the repairman's description talking on a cell phone, standing on the sidewalk in front of the building only fifteen minutes after Mr. Rigel says he let him into the apartment. This was, coincidentally, about the same time Detective Briscoe received the anonymous tip alerting him to the whereabouts of the gun used to kill Mr. Carpelli. I intend to prove that this man, whoever he is, planted the gun in my client's home and then alerted the police in order to falsely accuse my client." She paused a moment before continuing a bit more slowly, "But I can't prove my client was set up, unless I can use as evidence the weapon that was used to do so."

Judge Rivera was looking at her, having examined the papers she had presented to him. He nodded. "I see your dilemma, Ms. Morgan." He turned to McCoy. "Do the People have any objections to admitting the gun back in?"

Although he didn't actually believe her story, it did get him what he wanted. McCoy shook his head. "None, Your Honor."

The judge reached for a pen and quickly signed a paper on his desk. "Then it's back in," he said, looking up. "It's been a pleasure doing business with all of you. Do come again soon," he smiled.

Morgan stood up and reached to shake his hand. "Thank you, Your Honor."

The three attorneys filed out, remaining silent until they were in the hallway.

McCoy broke the silence. "I don't much care for surprises, Counselor. You could have returned my call yesterday and explained all of this."

"Did anything I said in chambers convince you to drop the charges against my client?" she asked.

"No," he admitted.

"So can I assume that a call yesterday would have only served to satisfy your curiosity?"

Carmichael caught his annoyed look and suppressed a smile, as Morgan continued, "Actually, I didn't receive your message until I got home last night, which was after 11 PM. I didn't think it was appropriate to call that late."

He glanced at her quickly, then asked, "Is that the only so-called evidence you've uncovered?"

"No, it isn't."

"Are you admitting that you've been withholding evidence?" Carmichael asked.

"I doubt if there's anything you can use, given your position," Morgan answered with a hint of sarcasm.

"Maybe you should let us be the judge of that," McCoy stated.

Morgan shrugged as they reached the elevators. "I'm willing to share what I have. The problem is finding the time to do so." She sighed as she pushed the "down" button, turning to face them. "With the trial only a week and a half away, free time is scarce. I've been trying to squeeze ten weeks worth of work into the last two. I don't like other cases nagging at me when I go to trial."

"Then maybe you should get some help," McCoy suggested. "This is important."

She gave him a disapproving look as the elevator arrived. "All my cases are important, Mr. McCoy. And as for my help, I don't have access to the same unlimited resources as you." As the elevator doors parted, she added, "My help consists of two law students. One is a computer genius, and the other really wants to be James Bond when he grows up. Neither is capable of handling a corporate merger."

The elevator was crowded and they held their conversation until the doors opened onto the ground floor. As they stepped out and walked across the marble floor, McCoy said, "We're running out of time, Counselor. We need to have all the facts on the table before the trial."

Morgan stopped as they reached the doors. "As much as I prefer conducting business in my office or yours, I don't see that happening this week or next. I close a major deal tomorrow morning and I can probably weasel out of the celebratory lunch afterwards. I will be free from about 11:00 to 1:00 if the two of you can meet me somewhere for lunch during that time."

Glancing at Carmichael, McCoy nodded. "I think that can be arranged. Where would you like to meet?"

"My appointment is not far from here, and since I'm not very familiar with this part of the city, I will leave that up to you," she responded, checking her watch. "You can call my office later and let me know. Right now, I have to meet a client." She gave them both a polite smile. "See you tomorrow."

Carmichael turned to McCoy when she had gone. "You know I have a meeting with Briscoe and Green tomorrow at noon, don't you?"

"Really? What a shame. And she's buying, too." He sighed. "Looks like I'll have to go by myself."

Although his face was the picture of innocence, Carmichael clearly saw the smile in his eyes as he held the door for her.

 

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