The Professor (McMurtrie and Drake Legal Thrillers #1)(96)

“He’d remember his initials, wouldn’t he?” Tom asked, placing his hand on the page where Willard Carmichael had scribbled “WBC” in blue ink next to his name.

Rick squinted at the page, then his eyes widened. “I... can’t believe I didn’t see that before. Is that enough to get it in?”

Tom shrugged. “If Faith doesn’t show, it’s all we’ve got. Willard states that this is his handwriting and that he normally initials all bills and gives them to recordkeeping.”

“Won’t he also have to say that it was made and kept in the normal course of business by Ultron?” Rick asked.

Despite the stress he felt, Tom smiled with pride. “Glad you paid attention in class. Yes, those are the buzz words, and we’ll have to think of a creative way of proving them without confusing Willard. But first we have to get him here.” Tom looked at his watch. “We’ve got an hour and fifty-five minutes.

“I’ll get him here,” Rick said, taking out his cell phone and running for the double doors.





85


“What do you mean, ‘piss in the wind’?” Tyler asked, slamming the bill of lading into Jack Willistone’s chest. “This document f*cks us. I mean it f*cks us up the ass with a sledgehammer.” Tyler was on the edge of control, having lost every battle of the morning. Tom got Batson’s lay testimony in. Then he got his recess. If he were to authenticate the bill, then the whole complexion of the case changed. The bill would be the smoking gun that Willistone was negligently supervising Newton and forced him to speed to make the delivery. In other words...

We’re f*cked.

“Old Yoda’s really putting you through it, ain’t he?” Jack asked. “Well, let me ask you, how does he get this document into evidence?” Jack stuffed the bill back into Jameson’s chest.

“Best way would be to call the records custodian who signed the bottom. Faith... Bulyard, it looks like,” Tyler said, squinting at the page. “He might also try bringing in one of the loaders, but Morris is dead.”

“So his only options are Faith Bulyard and Willard Carmichael?” Jack asked, his chuckle turning into a full-bore laugh.

“Right. Is that funny to you? If either one of them shows up, then...”

“Relax, Darth,” Jack said. “Yoda’s all out of options.”





86


Rick hung up the phone, and walked in a daze through the doors and toward the counsel table, not even noticing as a reporter snapped a photograph of him.

When he reached the counsel table, the Professor quickly rose from his notes. “What is it? Did you fi–”

“He’s gone, Professor. According to Hank Russell, Willard Carmichael didn’t report for his shift last night. He’s not answering his cell phone or his land line, and his wife doesn’t have a clue where he is. He’s... disappeared.”

Rick sat down, feeling numb. Another dead end. He turned his head to search for the man he knew had to be responsible.

Jack Willistone was seated at the defense table, looking right at him, and...

You sonofabitch, Rick tried to convey with his eyes.

...smiling.





87


“Counsel, please approach,” Judge Cutler said, talking as he walked into the courtroom at 1pm sharp. The Judge appeared wired and anxious, clearly growing weary of the publicity the trial had generated. He’s in no mood to hear our excuses, Tom knew, cringing as a jolt of pain went through his groin and abdomen. The pain was getting hard to ignore. He would ask for another recess but, even if Cutler allowed it, what would that buy them? They had no idea where Faith had gone and Willard was missing. And I doubt I can make another day of trial, Tom thought, grabbing his side as another jolt of pain hit him.

“Are we ready to proceed, Mr McMurtrie?” Cutler asked.

“Your honor, during the break, we learned that Willard Carmichael didn’t report to work last night and is believed to be missing. Mr Carmichael was one of the witnesses we planned to call to authenticate the bill of lading. The other witness, Faith Bulyard, is out of town and we’ve been unable to locate her. Given these circumstances, we’d ask for the trial to be recessed until at least tomorrow morning.”

Cutler started shaking his head before Tom finished. “I’m not going to do that, McMurtrie. This jury’s been patient and so have I, but we can’t postpone this case indefinitely while you search for a witness. You should’ve gotten your witnesses in line prior to trial.”

“With all due respect, your honor, we just received this document yesterday, and have done all we could do to find the two witnesses. If you would just–”

“I gave you two hours. I’m not going to do any more than that,” Cutler snapped. Now, do you have any further witnesses, McMurtrie?”



As the question hung in the air and silence engulfed the courtroom, Jameson Tyler could almost taste victory. If the bill of lading didn’t come in, Tyler knew he had the edge heading into closings. Watching his mentor squirm, Tyler felt a swell of pride. You’ve tried every trick, Professor, but you can’t beat me.



Jack Willistone was also about to burst. Once Yoda said he didn’t have any further witnesses, all of Jack’s actions would be rewarded. The fire. The deal with Wilma. Taking out Mule. Blackmailing Faith. Last night’s game of Fear Factor with Willard.