Part 24 (1/2)
”Let's talk,” Meyer said.
”Of course,” Holloway said. He stood up, and the two of them walked out of the courtroom, leaving DeLise and Sullivan behind.
”This whole thing is getting out of hand,” Meyer said, as they stepped into a vacant conference room.
”You're just saying that because I'm kicking your client's a.s.s with the evidence,” Holloway said.
”Don't flatter yourself,” Meyer said. ”Making a show of an animal corpse in a preliminary hearing is one thing. But it's the sort of thing I'm going to demolish in an actual trial. s.h.i.+t, Holloway. You hanging on to that thing for a week? You really think I'm going to have a problem introducing reasonable doubt on that? Not to mention it's morbid as h.e.l.l.”
”I see,” Holloway said. ”So you want to do me a favor and save me the embarra.s.sment of falling on my a.s.s in a big-boy trial.”
”Don't do that,” Meyer said. ”I know about you, Holloway. I know you used to do this for a living. I know you were good at it too, until you punched your client. And I know that you didn't exactly punch your client out of pa.s.sion, either. You did it for effect, and you got paid well for it, and that your time on this planet has been a sort of extended vacation for you. So, yeah, Holloway, I know you're good. All right?”
”Okay, better,” Holloway said.
”But we both know this is all bulls.h.i.+t anyway,” Meyer said. ”You and DeLise have a history. Fine. He finally went over the line with it. Fine. Let's all agree he's an a.s.shole and just settle this.”
”What's the offer?” Holloway said.
”Drop the suit,” Meyer said. ”DeLise apologizes without admitting guilt. ZaraCorp fires DeLise and puts a note in his employment record that keeps him from working security again-but no criminal record. We s.h.i.+p him off and he spends the rest of his life was.h.i.+ng dishes somewhere and is grateful for it. And not that it should matter to you at this point, Mr. Billionaire, but ZaraCorp also reimburses you for your cabin and anything else damaged by the fire.”
”How much total?” Holloway asked.
”We're not exactly going to be pinching pennies,” Meyer said.
”And what about for the fuzzys?” Holloway asked.
”What about them?” Meyer said.
”Your boy stomped one, shot another, and killed both,” Holloway said. ”That has to be worth something.”
”Name your price,” Meyer said. ”But don't go crazy about it.”
”It's not a bad deal,” Holloway said.
”It gets you what you want,” Meyer said. ”h.e.l.l, it gets everyone what they want-DeLise out of security. He's a menace. You'd be doing the universe the favor.”
”That is, if you can get him to accept it,” Holloway said.
”Don't you worry about that,” Meyer said. ”That's my job, and I'm good at it.”
”I'm sure you are,” Holloway said.
”So we have a deal,” Meyer said.
”Absolutely not,” Holloway said.
”No deal,” Meyer said.
”No way,” Holloway said. ”Not a chance in h.e.l.l.”
”Can I ask why not?” Meyer asked.
”Because, Ms. Meyer,” Holloway said, ”with all due respect for your considerable skills and intellect, the fact of the matter is you have absolutely no clue what it is I want out of this.”
Isabel's testimony was anticlimactic. Yes, Your Honor, Jack brought me the body to examine. No, Your Honor, it was not tampered with in any way I could see. Yes, I dug the bullet out myself. No, I am not a licensed forensic examiner. Yes, the DNA work was only preliminary; I was locked out of the lab for half the week when they informed me I was being transferred. No, I don't know why they should have locked me out of the lab. Holloway smiled at Isabel as she walked out of the witness stand. Now the whole gang was here.
”Mr. Holloway, any other evidence for me before I get to the defense exhibits?” Soltan asked, after Isabel had sat down in the audience area.
”No more physical evidence, Your Honor,” Holloway said. ”But I have a witness to the arson. Someone who can definitively identify Mr. DeLise as the man in the mask.”
”Very well,” Soltan said. ”Bring in your witness, Mr. Holloway.”
”The witness is in my skimmer, Your Honor,” Holloway said. ”It's in the parking area.”
”Send someone, then,” Soltan said.
”Mr. Sullivan knows what my skimmer looks like, if that's all right,” Holloway said.
”Fine,” Soltan said, irritably. ”Make it fast.” Holloway nodded to Sullivan and handed him his key fob. Sullivan left.
”Is there a reason you left your witness in the skimmer, Mr. Holloway?” Soltan asked, while they waited.
”The witness wanted to spend time with my dog,” Holloway said.
”Is the witness someone you have a personal relations.h.i.+p with, Mr. Holloway?” Meyer asked.
Holloway smiled. ”You could say that, Ms. Meyer.”
The door to the courtroom opened and Sullivan walked through, followed by something small.
It was Papa Fuzzy.
Chapter Twenty-four.
”That's it,” Soltan said. ”Mr. Holloway. Approach the bench. Now Now.”
Holloway approached. Janice Meyer, making a unilateral decision, approached as well.
”You're in contempt, Holloway,” Soltan said, spitting out the words.
”For calling a witness, Your Honor?” Holloway asked.
”For trying to make a fool out of me,” Soltan said.