Friday, 17 March 2017

Excerpt from "Ivory Tower of Judgment"

[...]
The following Monday Mr. Laxen had to go to the District Attorney’s office. The men he met the week before gave him the warrant and told him why the state court wanted him to come. When Mr. Laxen reached the state attorney’s office he learned more:

“Hi, Sir, please take a seat,” the legal figure started.
Without the least emotion the man sat down trying to avoid his host’s look.
The attorney walked around his desk and closed the shutters a little more. Shade prevailed in the air-conditioned office.

“Hot out there, ain’t it?” A grin in the attorney’s face, but no reaction on Mr. Laxen’s end.
“Right, let’s face the facts. I understand your being anxious and somehow nervous about this meeting… The reason you were summoned to my office is that investigations are still under way concerning your mother-in-law’s death.”

Mr. Laxen’s head lifted up and big eyes stared at the attorney:

“How come you speak this way of a defunct woman? And her burial not so far behind…”

His look was stern and sincere; no tears in his eyes but sadness could be sensed in the tone of his voice.

“Listen,” the state officer pursued “that’s exactly why we preferred to have you here rather than your wife, the defunct lady’s daughter.” The man leaned back in his armchair, stretched and put his elbows back on the desk again, his head facing Mr. Laxen:

“We have some evidence that the old lady’s death was ‘not’ accidental.”

Silence reigned in the office for a few minutes.

“This means that somebody premeditated her death pushed by an objective, pushed by a certain motivation.”

Mr. Laxen did not move during the attorney’s say. Once the talk was over, Mr. Laxen’s body started to shake: the elbow first, than his forearm and sweat ran down his cheek. At last he found words: “What… Sir, what is the point in having me here?”

“There we are! While the FBI is working hard on the investigation: gathering bits, finding elements… We’d rather you, and your family, do not leave the territory of the United States, what’s more: we’d expect you not to leave the state of Florida,” the attorney looked gravely at Mr. Laxen and stood up.

“Does this mean we are suspects?”

The attorney shot a quick smile while he circled around Mr. Laxen: “You’re quick! Call it as you may, but here is a warrant of the Judicial Court from Washington D. C., making this far more official,” out of nowhere he handed him a photocopy of the official document. The joke did not really reach through to Mr. Laxen. The man stood up and looked at his host:

“Is this it, Sir?”
“Sure… Would you like some coffee?” The attorney wouldn’t miss an opportunity to slide in a piece of irony.
Mr. Laxen banged the door and left as fast as he could.

Panicked and nervous Mr. Laxen was hastily looking for the next exit. Already in the elevator he flipped through the directory of his cell phone. When the doors of the lift opened the man rushed through the elegant air-conditioned hall and left the building to feel the exhausting heat again. While he was reaching for his car he finally got someone on the phone.

“Hello, Harrison & Harrisons LLP. Who’s talking?” a clear feminine voice replied.
“Hi, can I speak to Mr. Harrison?”
“Sir, Mr. Harrison is currently in a meeting and…”
“This is of the highest emergency!” Mr. Laxen’s voice rose showing his anger and excitement.
“But I cannot interrupt now, this is the lawyers’ weekly meeting…” From her words and un-experience, Mr. Laxen could sense this girl was a trainee.
“Now, listen. How long have you been at the lawyer’s office? Certainly not any longer than I’ve been client to Mr. Harrison’s business. And how much are you being paid at the end of the month? This does not even represent a tenth of what I pay the office to take care of ‘my’ business,” the tone and voice suddenly rose to prove Mr. Laxen’s dissatisfaction and he literally yelled “so give me Mr. Harrison on the phone, for God’s sake!”
The twenty years old blonde wouldn’t reply – too deeply affected and hurt by this unwholesome client – she pressed the button to let the line go through.

Twenty lawyers were sitting around the big conference table and each presented their current work. Without giving too many details they shared their opinions and thoughts to develop new synergies and strategies. Mr. Harrison walked around the table and listened to the Associates, his employees. Sometimes and again he would give a hint to something they hadn’t thought about. And this would result in a new approach or strategy… The phone at the far end of the conference table rang. All the lawyers stared at it. It had never rung during their meeting for seven years now. Seven years before the caller announced Mr. Harrison’s brother’s death.

Mr. Harrison lifted the phone, held it in front of his head and announced: “What’s the matter?”
“Hi Harry, this is Mack.”
“Hm… We are in a meeting now, we’re in the…”
“Sure, I know, your dumb secretary just told me but I have something utterly urgent to discuss,”
“Can’t it wait till tomorrow?”
“Actually, it’s very urgent.”
“Say, this afternoon?”
“It’s a matter of life or death!”

Mr. Harrison knew his client and friend would hardly ever exaggerate and he understood the message: “Hang on, I reach for my office and intimacy.”
Mr. Harrison quit the meeting room without a glance at his colleagues.

“Sir, is something wrong happened?” one of the young lawyers ventured.
Mr. Harrison turned to face the men and said: “Meeting’s cancelled, go get yourself a sandwich!”
The lawyer and CEO of the lawyer’s branch left the conference hall all on his own.

“You still here?” the fat man began, while he picked up the line on his regular phone.
“You bet I am, what the hell took you so long?” Mr. Laxen almost yelled through the phone.
“Come on, Mack, it’s you interrupting a meeting, slow down…”
“Alright. Harry we’re in big trouble,” came Mr. Laxen’s voice on a calmer pitch.
“Are you worried about that European trial? Mr. Woodstred – our specialist of European legislation – has left over yonder and the trial is to begin this summer, don’t you worry…” the lawyer tried to calm things down and found some arguments.

The men would eventually meet at the Country Club. There weren’t many people around, in the early afternoon. Surrounded by empty tables Mack began to explain the facts to his friend:
“It’s the district attorney, and the state is also on our heels!”
“How? I don’t see what evidence they could have?”
“They do! And I believe we’re on the list of suspects. As a result I and my family can no longer leave the country, and, what’s worse, we cannot even leave the state of Florida!”
“Holy shit! But didn’t you tell the guys you were not in when your mother-in-law passed away? I mean, you have an alibi plus proof and evidence you were abroad when the lady died!”

Mr. Harrison tried to figure out a new strategy to best protect his client. The Laxens were not any clients indeed. Mike had supported his long time friend and colleague Jonas Harrison, known as ‘Harry’, right from the start. Mike granted financial support as high as billions of dollars. In return Harry covered Mr. Laxen’s transactions legally.

“You know, Harry, those government guys are smart asses!” the pitch of Mr. Laxen’s voice was low and proved his desperation, “you got to find something to pull us out of this!” The plead rang clearly to the Merger & Acquisitions’ specialized lawyer. Trying to still the bear Harry replied: “Don’t worry I’ve got a bunch of lawyers on this and we’ll find a trick of some kind!”

Harry somehow tried to calm his friend who acted more and more tensely. When Harry was back in his office and on his own again he slid his hands through his thick and wet hair. He realized sweat ran down his face despite the air-conditioning. He was trying hard to find a solution. 
[...]

© 2017 Matt Oehler


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