Sparring Partners(76)

“I gotta weird one for you,” Rusty said in a low voice.

“Won’t be the first time,” Walt said with a smile as he wiped beer foam off his mustache.

“You know someone at Saliba Correctional?”

“You mean, like your father?”

Rusty coughed up a nervous laugh and said, “Yep, the old man is still there. Anybody else?”

“Inmates or guys with guns?”

“Not inmates. Somebody with authority.”

“Probably. What’s going on?”

“Well, it does involve Bolton. He’s been there for five years and from time to time gets his hands on a cell phone.”

“Not at all unusual. In every prison there’s a huge black market for phones. Along with drugs and pretty much anything else.”

“Right, well, Bolton’s got one now, and to be honest, he’s driving us crazy with it. Can’t seem to keep his nose out of the firm’s business.”

“What are you asking?”

“Drop an anonymous call to prison security, tell them inmate number two-four-eight-eight-one-three has a cell phone. They’ll find it and slam him into solitary for a month. He’s been there before.”

“You want your father in solitary?”

“Just for a month or so. He’s driving us crazy and causing far too much trouble.”

Walt took a bite and started laughing. When he could speak he said, “This is awesome. I love it.”

“Just do it, okay?”

“Sure. Who gets the bill? The firm?”

“Yes, but call it something else. You’ve always been creative when it comes to billing.”

“That’s because I work for a bunch of lawyers.”

“Just get it done. The sooner the better.”

“Right away, boss.”





(28)


One of the most crucial steps in mounting a successful coup was to cut communications. When they confirmed that Bolton was again in solitary confinement, the next step was to neutralize the opponent’s allies. Again, it was up to Rusty.

He barged into the cluttered office of Stuart Broome on the seventh floor, unannounced and ready for battle. Old Stu was caught completely off guard. No appointment had been made. Rusty had not set foot in the office in many months.

“We need to talk,” he said tersely, leaving no alternative.

“Well, good morning, Rusty. What’s the occasion?” Stu said sarcastically as he stepped down from his motionless treadmill.

“The occasion is this, Stu. It’s time for the firm to distribute some of the tobacco money you and Bolton are hoarding offshore. The fees are being paid to the law firm of Malloy & Malloy, a firm that no longer includes our dear father. You have a couple of choices here, Stu, so listen carefully. The first choice is to say no, we can’t have access to the money because you’re loyal to Bolton and not to us, and in that case I’ll fire you immediately and escort you out of the building. I have two security guards in the hallway, armed, I might add, and when you’re fired then you will leave without touching anything on your desk.”

Stu’s face was ashen and he almost gasped. When he spoke his voice was labored and scratchy. “You have guards? It’s come to this?” He made it to his sofa and sat down hard.

“That’s what I said, Stu. Armed guards. Termination without pay or severance, and if you want to sue us then we’ll see you in court. Should be able to keep things tied up for several years while you fork out huge sums of money to your lawyers.”

“What’s the other choice?”

“Play ball with us and get rich. We’re forming a little venture that will be highly profitable for the four limited partners.”

“Four?”

“Me, you, Kirk, and Diantha. Equal partners. We’ll take our share of the tobacco money now and as it comes in.”

“Bolton will kill me, Rusty. And he’ll probably take out you three while he’s at it.”

“Bolton is in solitary confinement right now, Stu. And when he gets out he’ll still have five more years to serve. He thinks he’ll get parole but that won’t happen because he keeps getting caught with contraband and he’s even been accused of bribing guards. Same old Bolton. Right now he can’t touch us. We’re not taking all of his money, so he’ll be a rich man anyway.”

“How much are we taking?”

“A million each up front for starters. Then half a mil each year for a spell. We’ll figure it out later. The money stays offshore so no one knows about it.”

Stu scratched a sagging jaw and looked as if he might cry. He couldn’t hold eye contact and stared sadly at his shoes as he said, “I’ve never been tempted to steal money.”

“Steal!” Rusty roared. “Are you kidding me? This money represents honest legal fees earned by our law firm, a firm that Bolton was forced out of in disgrace when he got himself convicted, disbarred, and sent off to prison. So far he’s been able to bully us and keep us away from the fees, but that game is over. Bolton can’t keep all this money, Stu. Nor can we. What we’re proposing is a fair split of the fees, nothing more or less.”

“But I’m not a lawyer and I can’t split fees.”