Face of Greed by James L'Etoile

Author:James L'Etoile [L'Etoile, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

LEFT TO STEW for an hour and a half in a dimly lit interrogation room, Lawson hadn’t said a word since being placed in cuffs at the Federal Building. The attorney waited in a hard metal chair and kept looking at the mirrored panel he recognized as an observation point for the detectives. He’d been in the room before, but never the one in restraints.

His expression turned quizzical after Emily entered with a laptop under her arm. When it registered with him, Lawson’s face turned pale, and his shoulders fell slightly limp.

“I thought you might enjoy a little independent film while you wait,” Emily suggested as she plugged the USB drive into the laptop.

Javier trailed with three cups of coffee on a brown cardboard tray. He set the tray down in the center of the table, removed one of the cups, and peeled back the white plastic cover. The liquid steamed as he held it up to his lips. He drew a tentative sip and put the cup on the table.

“Can I offer you a coffee, Stephen?” Emily asked.

Lawson nodded his head and whispered, “Yes, that would be nice.”

Emily released Lawson from his handcuffs while Javier placed one of the cups in front of the attorney. He rubbed his wrists where they chaffed from the metal edges of the cuffs.

Emily hit the play button on the laptop, and an image of Lori Townsend waiting by the fountain in the park filled the small screen. Emily froze the image on the screen and said, “You may want to take that coffee now—this is captivating cinematography.”

The attorney picked up the cup, pulled back the cover, and sipped. He held it in both hands and shrugged his shoulders in a gesture pretending to be bored. His eyes betrayed his thin veneer—they grew intent and narrow, focused on the laptop screen.

The tape rolled, and Lori paced back and forth, waiting.

“Oh, did I mention there’s sound too?” and Emily turned up the volume until the background sounds of the park came to life.

Within seconds, Stephen Lawson caught himself on the screen. His bravado visibly melted as the first bits of conversation were heard. The U.S. Attorney’s head slumped forward. Almost inaudibly, he said, “You have no idea what you’ve done.”

Emily let the tape play, and she responded, “What we’ve done? This is all about you. You handed over prosecution files and jeopardized an investigation.” Emily let it soak in for a second and pointed to the screen. “Here’s my favorite part.”

Lori’s voice condemning him, “Stephen, you worry too much. Now, Roger wanted me to ask you if these files are the only copies?”

“That’s it.”

“And the case against these guys goes away?”

“It’s gone.”

Emily stopped the tape. “What investigation files are we talking about here anyway?”

Lawson remained silent. He’d given up hope of explaining the illicit exchange away.

“What did you receive from Lori in that briefcase anyway?”

A sigh from Lawson’s lips. “Nothing but pain.”

Emily put a hand on his arm and suggested, “Why don’t we start at the beginning.

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