Black River by G. M. Ford

Author:G. M. Ford
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Journalists, Mystery & Detective, Fiction, Seattle (Wash.), Corso, Suspense, Capital punishment, Mystery fiction, General, Frank (Fictitious character)
ISBN: 9780380816217
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2003-06-05T05:17:55+00:00

Friday, October 20

5:28 p.m.

Bruce Elkins sat down at the defense table and looked over at his client, Nicholas Balagula. “You pay me for my best legal advice,” he said.

Balagula nodded in agreement. “Handsomely,” he said.

Elkins’s gaze was stony. “I’ve changed my mind about our strategy. I have an obligation to give you the opportunity to find new counsel, should you disagree with what I now consider to be your best legal option.”

“What strategy would that be?” Balagula asked.

Elkins leaned in close to his client. “I don’t think we should put on a defense,” he said in a low voice.

Balagula and Ivanov exchanged glances. “Really?” Ivanov said.

“At this stage of the proceedings, that’s my best legal advice.”

“And if I disagree?”

“Then it is my advice that we seek a plea.”

Balagula waved a hand, as if shooing a fly. “Not an option,” he said.

Elkins ran a hand over his head. “I don’t like it either,” he said. “You heard the testimony. If the state can connect you in any way to the construction conspiracy, prison could turn out to be the least of your worries.” He held Nicholas Balagula in an unwavering gaze. “You could very well find yourself looking at a lethal injection.”

“Why no defense?” Balagula asked.

“Because that way—even if this Lebow person connects you to the conspiracy—that way you’ll have grounds for appeal on the basis of having been provided an incompetent and insufficient defense.”

“Mr. Lebow can connect me to nothing,” Balagula said.

“That’s not what my sources are telling me. I’m being told he’s going to testify that he was in the room when you ordered the falsification of the core-sample test results.” Balagula started to speak, but Elkins cut him off. “If that happens, the party’s over. Not me or anybody else can get you out of this.”

Nicholas Balagula got to his feet. “You do what you think is best,” he said.

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