Sedona Law 6 by Dave Daren (best non fiction books of all time .TXT) 📗

Your brother wants me to have coffee with him. WTF?

I just laughed.

Chapter 8

It took a week to get any movement on the Kelsi Matthews case. I waited for her to get me the documents on the wildlife donation, and then my phone buzzed.

“Henry Irving,” I answered to the unrecognized number.

“Hello Mr. Irving, this is Agent Ashley Winslow with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

It was about time. I hadn’t heard from the FBI on the Matthews case yet.

“Morning, Agent Winslow,” I said. “How are you doing this morning?”

“Very well,” he tone was perfunctory. “As I understand it, you’re chief counsel for Kelsi Matthews?”

“That is correct,” I said.

“I’m an attorney with the federal prosecutor’s office,” she said, “and I’ve been assigned to this case.”

“Perfect,” I said. “What are we looking at on charges?”

She sighed. “Right now, we’ve got her on illegal transportation of wildlife. But, I’ve got the Department of Homeland Security breathing down my neck on this one. If this goes to trial, it could end up years in the federal court system, and half of the security community weighing in on it.”

“She’s a preschool mom that’s been framed,” I said. “She’s not a terrorist.”

“I understand that,” she said. “But the evidence we have proves otherwise, and I know you don’t want to spend the better half of the next decade fighting the DHS and NSA and whatever other agency comes out along the way.”

“I’d rather not,” I said. “But my client’s innocent.”

She laughed weakly. “Mr. Irving, we don’t want to be buried alive in paperwork, either. We’re giving your client a chance here. We’re offering her a deal of three to five years. In the end, she’ll serve two. I think it’s more than fair, and I’d advise her to take it.”

“I doubt she will,” I said. “But I’ll inform her of the offer.”

“Please do,” Agent Winslow said. “Because like I said, the DHS is salivating over this case, and if gets much bigger, it’ll get out of my hands, and I can’t tell you what might happen then.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” I said.

“You bet,” she said. “We’ve got a temporary headquarters in Flagstaff right now. I’ll e-mail you the address, and feel free to contact me at this number if you have any further questions.”

“Great,” I said, “I’ll be in touch Agent Winslow.”

“Thank you, Mr. Irving,” she said. “Good day.”

“Good day,” I said.

I ended the call and Vicki turned to me.

“Prosecutor?” she asked.

“We’ve got the plea deal,” I nodded. “They’re offering three to five.”

“Not bad,” she said. “Are we taking it?”

“She’s pleading not guilty,” I said, “at least she was last I checked. I’ll call her though.”

“You think she is, not guilty?” Vicki asked.

“I think James’ death and the smuggling are related,” I answered. “But I have no proof to that effect, so it doesn’t matter.”

I called Kelsi.

“Kelsi,” I said as she answered. “Good to hear from you.”

“Henry,” she said. “I know, I know, documents. I’ve been working on getting them together. It’s just, hold on.”

They were muffled voices, in the background.

“No, no, mommy said no,” Kelsi said. “Sorry about that, Henry.”

“Is this a bad time?” I asked.

“No, no,” she insisted. “I’m just dropping the kids off at preschool. Give me a sec.”

More muffled voices, and then she came back.

“Sorry,” she said. “I’m a single mom. There’s never a good time for this.”

“How you holding up?” I asked.

“Not great,” she admitted. “My mother is staying with me, so that’s good. She’s been a lifesaver. Hold on.”

More muffled voices.

“Sorry,” she said again. “I’m just leaving the school now. It’s just a hectic morning. Like all mornings these days.”

“Well,” I said. “The reason I called is because we heard back from the prosecutor.”

“What did they say?” she blurted out.

I had her full attention now.

“They’re offering you a plea deal of three to five years,”  I said.

“Three to five years?” she repeated. “You mean, I’d go to jail?”

“It does look like you’ll do some time,” I said. “They’re saying you’ll serve two. But, what they’re offering isn’t bad. If this goes to trial, it will be federal court and you could go to prison for the better part of your life.”

“Wait,” she said. “I’m just trying to wrap my head around this. Trial? Jury? ‘Objection your honor,’ the whole thing? Is that really what this has come to?”

“Hopefully not, “ said. “Believe me, no one wants that.”

“For elephant tusks?” she responded. “That’s insane. Especially considering I didn’t do anything. I... honestly Henry, I’ve told you this before. I didn’t do anything. I went to Africa, saw my husband play in a couple of community centers and bars. Then I went home. Then my husband dies.”

“Can’t wait,” her tone was flat.

“Think about the plea deal,” I said.

“You think I should take it?” she asked.

“I think it wouldn’t be bad to consider it,” I said. “The FBI is saying the DHS wants to get involved, and if that happens...it could be really bad.”

“DHS?” she gasped. “Homeland Security? I’m not a terrorist!”

“No one’s saying you are, Kelsi,” I said. “But if those goes to federal court, it could get really nasty.”

“You think I’m guilty,” she said.

“No,” I said. “We just don’t know what we’re dealing with. Once we know what Feds have, we can frame a better defense.”

“But I’m asking you,” she repeated. “Do you believe in me? I don’t need a lawyer that doesn’t believe in me.”

“What you don’t need,” I replied, “is a lawyer given to sentiment over evidence. We’re going to leave no stone unturned on this case, and we’re going to get to the bottom of it. I haven’t lost a criminal case yet. Stick with