Project Freedom: Legal Suspense Novel by Lance Stockwell

Author:Lance Stockwell [Stockwell, Lance]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2024-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Later, in Dudley’s office, Lasiter leaned against a row of file cabinets aligned on one side of the office. “You left me hanging in there, counselor, and I don’t appreciate it,” Lasiter said before Dudley spoke. “Not one damn bit.”

“Purvis didn’t lay a hand on you.”

“What the hell is the matter with you? You let Purvis make me out me as an idiot."

Dudley pointed to the framed diploma from Winslow City College Law School. “Got one of those?”

Lasiter knew where this was going.

“How many cases you tried? How many convictions?” Durecht’s voice rose as he spoke. “None eh? Well, God damnit, I’m the prosecutor and when and if you need to know why I do what I do, you’ll be the first to know. Until then, shut up and get out of my office.”

Lasiter eyed Dudley as the assistant DA’s color returned, and his demeanor softened. When he decided Dudley was ready, he said, “I don’t have any illusions about my role, but you’re playing your cards too close to your chest. I mean, we’re in this together aren’t we? I investigate and arrest and you charge and prosecute. Isn’t that what you’ve said?”

Dudley nodded.

“Right. So, Purvis attacked my part. Why did you let him get away with it?”

Dudley studied Lasiter with an air of indecision. Dudley jealously guarded his powers, yet Lasiter knew he was not immune to requests from those he considered his inferiors.

Dudley gestured toward the chair in front of his desk. “Sit down, James.” He did so. After a beat, Dudley said, “What do you think Purvis’ questions were about? I mean really about?”

“A smoke screen?”

“Exactly. You’re an intelligent man. Ask yourself, what do anonymous tips have to do with Bristol’s guilt? Nothing. Every tip led to evidence that tied Bristol in knots.”

“Carefully orchestrated tips, you mean.”

Dudley’s expression froze. “You’re not buying into this bullshit, are you?” ​​

“Doesn’t it strike you as odd that every time we’ve struck a dead end your source comes up with new information?” Lasiter said, “I mean, isn’t that just a little too convenient?”

Dudley, now bristling, leaned forward. “How many years do you have on the job?”

“Don’t talk down to me.”

“Then, stop acting like a rookie. My job—our job—is to put the guilty away. We always face lawyers who try to stop us from doing our job. Then, we have to worry about appeal courts finding obscure points of procedure or law setting the guilty free. And James, we live with the tragedy of those who get away scot free.” He leaned in closer. “I’m not willing to let that happen here. Are you?”

Lasiter searched for the right response. Yes, guilty people walked, but that was the system, and he’d been able to live with that as long as he knew he’d done his job.

As though lost in his thoughts, Dudley continued. “You know we don’t have the luxury of worrying about our sources or the reasons why people help us. We take what we get and run with it. So what if it raises questions? When the tips are this solid, we don’t worry about such things.

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