Mickey Haller 4 - The Fifth Witness

signed and dated them all yesterday. That means they supersede your contract, Herb. Check the small print. It gives me control of all story rights—books, movies, TV, everything.”
    I saw his eyes harden.
    “Wait just a—”
    “No, Herb, you wait a minute. I know you just shelled out two hundred big ones on the bond, plus whatever you paid to get to her in the jail. I get it, you’ve got a huge investment riding on this. I’ll see that you get it back. Eventually. But you’re in second position here, buddy. Accept it and step the fuck back. You make no moves or deals without talking to me first.”
    I tapped the contract he was staring at.
    “You don’t listen to me and you’re going to need a lawyer. A good one. I’ll tie you up for two years and you won’t ever see a dime of that two hundred back.”
    I slammed the car door to punctuate the point.
    “Have a nice day.”
    I left him there and went to the trunk to return the originals to the file. When I closed the lid I noticed that I could still see the shadow of the graffiti. The spray paint had been removed but it had permanently marred the gloss of the car’s finish. The Florencia 13 still had its mark on me. I looked down at the license plate on the bumper.
    IWALKEM
    That was going to be easier said than done this time. I passed by Dahl, who was still standing on the sidewalk looking at the contracts. Back at the condo gate, I picked a phone book off the stack that was propping it open. I thumbed the corner back on a random page. My ad was there. My smiling face on the corner.
    SAVE YOUR HOME!DON’T LET THEM FORECLOSE WITHOUT A FIGHTMichael Haller & Associates, Attorneys-at-LawCALL:323-988-0761OR VISIT:www.stopfinancialruin.comSe Habla Español
    I checked a few other pages to make sure the ad was on every page, which I had paid for, and then dropped the book back onto the stack. I wasn’t even sure who still used phone books, but my message was there just in case.
    The others were waiting silently for me when I got back to the condo. Lisa’s arrival with her benefactor had put an awkward spin on things. I tried to get the meeting restarted in a way that would promote team unity.
    “Okay, so everybody’s met everybody. Lisa, we were in the middle of discussions about how we are going to proceed and what we need to know as we go forward. We didn’t have the advantage of having you here because, frankly, I was pretty sure you weren’t going to be getting out of jail until we got the not-guilty verdict at the end. But now you’re here and I certainly want to include you in our strategies. Do you have anything you want to say to the group?”
    I felt like I was leading a group therapy session at The Oaks. But Lisa lit up at the chance to hold the floor.
    .“Yes, I first wanted to say that I am very grateful for all of your efforts on my behalf. I know that in the law things like guilt and innocence don’t really matter. It’s what you can prove. I understand that but I thought it might be good for you to hear it, even if it is only this one time. I am innocent of these charges. I did not kill Mr. Bondurant. I hope that you believe me and that at trial we prove it. I have a little boy and he badly needs to be with his mother.”
    No one spoke but everybody nodded somberly.
    “Okay,” I said, “before your arrival we were going through the division of labor. Who is in charge of what, who needs to do what, that sort of thing. I’d like to include you in the assignments as well.”
    “Whatever I can do.”
    She was sitting bolt upright on the edge of her chair.
    “The police spent several hours in your house after your arrest. They searched it top to bottom and, subject to the authority the search warrant gave them, they took several items that might be evidence in the case. We have a list, which you are welcome to look at. Included are your laptop and three files marked FLAG and FORECLOSURE ONE and TWO. This is where you come in. The minute we are assigned a courtroom and a judge, we will file a motion asking to be immediately allowed to examine the laptop and the files, but until then I need you to list as best you can what was in the files and on the computer. In other words, Lisa, what is in these documents that would make the cops seize them? Do you understand?”
    “Of course, and yes, I can do this. I’ll start on it tonight.”
    “Thank you. There is one other thing I want to ask you about. You see, if this thing goes to trial,