The Eighth Sister (Charles Jenkins #1)(119)
Jenkins knew the government had been painted into a corner. The judge’s questions clearly showed Carl Emerson had a connection to the CIA and to LSR&C through TBT Investments, as Jenkins and Mitchell Goldstone had both testified. Jenkins suspected the government attorneys would not leave well enough alone and would question Emerson.
Velasquez stood. “Yes, Your Honor. The government recalls Carl Emerson.”
Emerson wheeled as if it were a great inconvenience and retook the stand.
“Mr. Emerson,” Velasquez said, “I want to draw your attention to an FBI agent named Chris Daugherty. Did you have occasion to speak to Agent Daugherty on or about January 2018?”
“I don’t recall the specific date, but yes, I spoke to Agent Daugherty on the telephone.”
“And would you tell the jury the substance of that conversation.”
“Agent Daugherty called and said Charles Jenkins had spoken to him. I said, ‘Who?’ I was surprised to hear that name. Agent Daugherty then said Mr. Jenkins said he worked for me and that I would have details regarding work Mr. Jenkins was doing on behalf of the CIA in Russia.”
“And what did you tell Agent Daugherty?”
“I asked him if this was some sort of joke. I told him I hadn’t seen Charles Jenkins in more than forty years.”
“I take it you didn’t tell Agent Daugherty about any operations Mr. Jenkins was running for you in Russia?”
“There were no operations.”
“You didn’t authorize Mr. Jenkins to give information about CIA assets inside Russia?”
“I didn’t authorize it, no.”
Velasquez thanked Emerson and sat.
Sloane stood. “Isn’t it a fact, Mr. Emerson, that TBT Investments was a company arranged for you so you could distance yourself from LSR&C?”
“Objection,” Velasquez said.
“Overruled.”
“Yes, that is true.”
“What was the phone number on the business card for TBT Investments?”
“I don’t recall.”
Sloane provided the number. “Would that be the number?”
“I don’t recall.”
“Isn’t it true that you were terminated from the CIA within days of the collapse of LSR&C?” Sloane asked.
“My leaving had nothing to do with the collapse of LSR&C.”
“Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the collapse of LSR&C also result in the collapse of TBT Investments?”
“I assume TBT Investments ceased to exist.”
“As did Richard Peterson?”
“I don’t understand your question.”
“Was there any money in bank accounts controlled by TBT Investments—that is, by you—that was unaccounted for at the time you were terminated?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“You were the chief operating officer of that company, weren’t you?”
“Only on paper.”
“Isn’t it true that when you were terminated, you and your superiors at the CIA reached an agreement that no legal proceedings would be brought against you?”
“No, that is not true.”
“Didn’t TBT Investments receive millions of dollars from LSR&C, ostensibly to funnel money to agents all over the world?”
“Objection.”
“Sustained.”
“Wouldn’t you, Mr. Emerson, as the COO of TBT Investments, using the alias Richard Peterson, have been responsible for funneling money to agents?”
“Objection. Violates the CIPA order.”
“Sustained.”
Jenkins knew Sloane didn’t care, and that Judge Harden didn’t either. Sloane just wanted to get the questions before the jury. He’d accomplished what he wanted, a link between the CIA, LSR&C, and Carl Emerson. Whether that would be enough remained to be determined. Sloane surprised Jenkins when he continued.
“You testified that you haven’t laid eyes on Charles Jenkins since the day he left Mexico City forty years ago. Is that right?”
“That is correct.”
“Perhaps you can explain to me how it is that Mr. Jenkins had in his possession a business card with the number for TBT Investments?”
Sloane produced the document and handed it to the clerk, who handed it to Emerson. The business card with just the phone number was put up on the courtroom computer screens. Jenkins didn’t know where Sloane was headed, but he was curious. The jurors also looked interested.
“I wouldn’t know,” Emerson said. “Perhaps he came into the office and took it to facilitate the story he intended to tell here in court.”
“Perhaps,” Sloane said. “Except . . . According to the government’s theory, Mr. Jenkins’s story wasn’t concocted until sometime after LSR&C had been shut down, and there is testimony that the offices had been stripped to the concrete floor within hours of that event.”
Jenkins smiled. “Son of a bitch,” he said under his breath. Three jurors sat back in their chairs, nodding.
“Objection. Move to strike,” Velasquez said. “That is Mr. Sloane’s argument, not a question.”
“Sustained.”
“My question, Mr. Emerson, is how could Mr. Jenkins have gone into the office and taken a card, if the office, and every scrap of paper in that office, had vanished just hours after the news broke on the television?”