Hudson
“Attorney General. Could I have a moment of your time?”
I could tell by the odd look on his face he knew while I posed the words as a question, I intended on spending a few quality minutes with the man.
Still, he acted annoyed, losing his practiced, polished smile for one of the television stations just as they pulled their camera away. He adjusted his shirt sleeves and even fixed the perfect knot in his tie.
Thankfully, he wasn’t so popular that people were hanging around, instead already going about their business.
“I assume you’re here about the Jones case, Judge Armstrong.”
“In a manner of speaking.” I inched a few steps closer. “In truth, I was here checking for little gremlins, you know the type I mean. Those repulsive creatures from the movieGhost. Do youremember that movie? The guy sold his soul causing the death of an innocent and the devil sent his evil creatures to retrieve and drag him into the fire of hell.”
As expected, he glared at me as if I’d lost my mind. “You sound as if the case really got to you, Hudson. Maybe you need to take some quality time off.”
Fascinating. Now we were on first names. If we were, he wouldn’t mind if I made myself comfortable. I took another step closer. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Gabriel leaning against one of the courthouse columns, lighting up a cigarette. He’d once told me he used them as props.
Interesting idea.
At least he kept a lighter with him.
“I’m doing perfectly fine, Jimmy. As a matter of fact. I couldn’t be better. It’s you I’m worried about. You’re about to derail your career.”
“How so?” The man was itching to walk away, seemingly clueless as to what I was getting at.
“Well, from what I’ve heard, you’re so far into bed with Luis Delgado that the two of you are thinking about purchasing a vacation villa together. Maybe the Swiss Alps. I heard the market is hot over there. Too bad they have extradition so maybe a third world country would be more appropriate.”
“Making accusations is beneath you, Judge. Besides, I would think you need to worry about your career instead of mine.”
“What’s wrong, Jimmy boy? Are you afraid I might have something on you? Like evidence? The kind of evidence amassed from the way you tainted the Jones case? Tampering. Really.That’s beneath you as well. Are you afraid of what I can do with the evidence I have? Including the fact the mole you nurtured… Let’s see. What’s his name? Ah, yes. Steven Sloan. Well, he was caught red-handed taking a bribe from you. Or was that from Delgado? Nice little racket you have going on using Steven to discover any pending cases against Delgado or any of his men. Plus releasing the names of the jurors on the Jones case.”
The button had been pushed, but he was doing a much better job of keeping his cool. Now he got in my face so close I could almost taste the peppermint candy he’d munched on during the press conference.
“How dare you try and incriminate me on such ridiculous charges. Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Someone who weeded through your bullshit and lies.”
“Are you threatening me, Judge Armstrong? I could have you removed from the bench with a snap of my fingers.” He snapped them for effect.
Oh, I was running scared. Laughing, I pulled out the group of papers. “Then you might want to take a look at this.”
He snorted as if I was nothing but a waste of his time. However, he did what I asked and within five seconds the man paled. “What the fuck is this shit?”
“This is called evidence. Evidence that I will be sending to the appropriate people who are already investigating your alliance with Delgado. I will be certain to include your interference in the prosecution and dismissal of charges against a known criminal and murderer in Jacob Jones.” I removed the papers from his fingers, smiling as I did.
Thankfully, he snapped more severely than I thought he would. He snatched a handful of my shirt, using force to slam me against the building. “How fucking dare you threaten me. I am the attorney general and trust me. I will bury you. You’re fucking with the wrong man, Hudson. But you’re right. I do have connections and I assure you they won’t mind handling business by getting rid of slime like you. So self-righteous. You couldn’t see the forest for the trees. Wake the fuck up. Justice is dead. Which is exactly what you’ll be by this time tomorrow. And that little bitch you’re protecting. She’ll soon learn you’re nothing but a wad of gum on the bottom of my shoe. This is nothing. Nothing. This shit won’t stick. You have no idea how many friends I have.”
“How much is Delgado paying you to sell your soul, James? Huh? A million? Two? I mean he did fund your last AG election campaign. That’s in the papers I have as well. And yes, I do have copies. A little low for you to be ordering the juror and the witness in the Jones case to be terminated. That did come from you. Right? I mean how clever with the way Ms. Sciascia was threatened. Very clever indeed.”
“You fucking son of a bitch. You’re lying. What you have is shit. You won’t be able to prove a goddamn thing. I’m too smart for that. I’m going to give you a piece of advice. Walk away from this and from that woman. She’s nothing but a glorified cocktail waitress.”
Not a fucking chance in hell.
When he slammed me against the wall again, I had about as much faking playing the innocent victim as I could stomach.
It took everything I had not to beat the fucking shit out of the man, but that would defeat the purpose. However, I wasn’t the kind of man to just walk away.
I shoved him away, breaking the connection and when he dared come at me again, I cracked the bones in my neck and rammed him into the same spot where he’d tossed me. Only I was stronger, lifting him off his feet.
