The Eighth Sister (Charles Jenkins #1)(111)

“I tried, but I wasn’t able to reach him.”

“Did you drive into the office looking for him?”

“Yes.”

“When was that?”

“The next day.”

“And by that you mean the day after the indictment came down?”

“Correct.”

“And did you find him in the office?”

Traeger started to look uncomfortable. “No.”

“What did you find when you drove to LSR&C’s offices in the Columbia Center the day after the indictment came down?”

“Nothing. Everything was gone.”

“Everything? The cubicles and the computers?”

“Yes.”

“Gone. How about the carpeting? Also gone?”

“It was just concrete floors.”

“The entire office was completely dismantled in what, less than twelve hours since you had been there?”

“Yes.”

“And all the company files? Did you find those?”

“The physical files were also gone, and the network server was gone.”

“Who took all of this?”

“I don’t know.”

“And what about all the investment money? Was it also gone?”

“I couldn’t access the company’s server, so . . .”

“Millions of dollars just vanished, along with the entire office. Everything just went poof, like a magic act, correct?”

“I suppose, yes.”

Sloane sat, and after a brief redirect of Traeger, Velasquez dismissed him.

Near five o’clock, Harden dismissed the jury. For once, the government had no motions to argue.

“Who will the government call in the morning?” Harden asked.

“We haven’t made that determination yet, Judge,” Velasquez said.

“Whoever it is, let the defense know tonight.” Harden rapped his gavel. “We’re adjourned for the day.”





65



The following morning, as Jenkins settled into his seat, Maria Velasquez had a surprise for the defense, and this one was problematic. Sloane and Jenkins expected the prosecution to continue its case, though Velasquez had not called the prior evening to advise which witnesses she would call that day. When Harden took the bench and instructed the government to call its next witness, Velasquez stood and said, “Your Honor, the government rests.”

Sloane did not physically react, but Jenkins knew that, inside, his attorney was scrambling. Judges liked nothing less than an unprepared attorney, especially one of Sloane’s caliber. Any complaint by Sloane that the government had again sandbagged the defense would be met with disinterest. Velasquez could have told Sloane, and the court, of the government’s decision the night before, but she would no doubt have a readymade response why she had not.

The real question was: Why had the government rested its case with at least twelve more names on its witness list? It was possible the prosecution believed it had proven its case. It was also possible the government was dumping the case back in the defense’s lap and intended to impugn Sloane on his opening promise to take the prosecution’s burden and prove Jenkins’s innocence.

If Harden was surprised by the government’s position, he also didn’t show it. He turned to Sloane. “Call your first witness, Mr. Sloane.”

That was all well and good, except Jenkins knew Sloane’s witnesses were not yet in court. Sloane stood and said, “Your Honor, may I have a minute?”

“A minute,” Harden said.

Sloane looked to the gallery and motioned Jake forward. At the railing, Sloane whispered, “Go out and call Carolyn. Tell her to get the Columbia Center leasing agent here ASAP, as well as Addy Beckman.”

“Tell her to also call Claudia Baker,” Jenkins said. “Have Carolyn tell Claudia that I need a favor. She’ll come. It will take an hour or more to drive down, but she’ll come.”

“What are you going to do in the interim?” Jake asked.

“Stall.”

“Mr. Sloane,” Judge Harden said. “Call your first witness.”

Sloane straightened as Jake hurried from the courtroom, punching in numbers on his cell phone. Across the courtroom, Velasquez and her entourage of lawyers sat as if waiting for Sloane to complain. He didn’t. “Certainly, Your Honor. The defense calls Alex Jenkins.”

Alex had been in the court the first day, and then every chance she could. Sloane arranged for a babysitter to watch CJ and Lizzie and for the next hour, Sloane led Alex on a slow and methodical journey of her marriage to Charlie and their children. She outlined the formation of CJ Security, their relationship with CFO Randy Traeger, and CJ Security’s relationship with LSR&C. She testified that she had never heard of TBT Investments until the trial.

She continued until Jake returned to the courtroom and nodded to Sloane, who approached the railing. Jake handed him a sheet of paper.

Leasing agent and Baker in the hallway waiting to be called. Beckman on way.

Sloane thanked Alex and excused her. Velasquez had no questions.

Sloane then called the Columbia Center leasing agent, who confirmed Randy Traeger’s testimony that LSR&C’s offices had been cleaned out the day after the story broke of an SEC investigation.