5 Final Warning

Larry

I nervously clench and unclench my fists, waiting for the recording to begin. My heart is racing in my chest. Beads of sweat pop out along my forehead. I look up at my blackmailer and then the recording again, mentally willing it to start. After a few minutes of shuffling, a gruff voice instructs;

"Talk like you normally do. No, no, you don't have to be that close." I hear more noise, then a sweet voice say;

"Daddy, this is Lilly." There's a long pause.

"Go ahead, honey, talk to him."

"Uncle Marty says you're helping him and that he'll bring me up for a long visit if you win. So please win, Daddy, please. I love you and miss you so much," she cries.

"I miss you too, baby." I wipe a tear rolling down my cheek. Lilly is my little angel, my pride, and my joy. She stole my heart the second I laid eyes on her. With her big blue eyes and beautiful smile, how could I not fall in love?

"Hear that, Larry, your daughter wants to see you again. So do as I say, and no one will get hurt. Don't, and this will be the last time you hear from them," A deep voice blares through the machine.

The man clicks off the device. So are you going to do what I say, or do I have my guy take care of your wife and kid?" He pulls the phone from his pocket. "One call is all it'd take."

"I'll do it. I'll do it," I cry.

He smiles. "I'll see you this afternoon then.

I watch him exchange pleasantries with the staff as he heads towards the door. What did I get myself into working for someone like him?

I'm letting the tape play through again when my boss walks in the room. Reaching up, I stop the machine. I Figure the less my boss knows, the better.

"I just met your new client." He glances towards the door and smiles. He seems like a very nice guy."

"Yeah, real nice."

My boss eyes the antique device. Picking it up, he inspects it closer. "I haven't seen one of them in years."

"My client brought it to me, said there's something on it I need to hear."

"You can't beat a client who collects his evidence." Mr. Hensley laughs.

"No, sir, you can't."

"Well, I'll let you get back to what you were doing."

I start to push play again when I hear a knock on the door. Looking up, I see my secretary in the entryway.

"Your wife is on line two. She says it's urgent."

"I better get that. Thank you, Katy." I wait until she leaves before I scoop up the phone.

"Lilly, honey, stop crying. I promise I'll come to see you soon, alright? I hear the phone shuffling around. I then Jen's voice bellows across the line. "I can't, Jen, I have to work this weekend...I know Lilly does, and I miss her too, but I have to prepare Marty's case otherwise...We had a long talk about that, and I don't think he'll be back to bother you anytime soon...I know he is. That's why it's so important for me to win. If it's worrying you that much, why don't you stay at your sister's for a while?" Walking over, I close the office door. "Did he? We'll have a little talk about that too...I won't piss him off, I promise. Yes, Jen, I know, but it wasn't my fault this time...Don't believe me, I don't care...I'll pay for your lawyer." I hear a loud thunk at the end of the line. I won't hear from her for a while. I smile.

***

I'm returning a few calls when two disheveled gentlemen step into my office. I immediately recognize one from this morning's visit, so I figure the second is the nephew.

"Let me get back to you on that," I say, hanging up. The two men plop down on the couch as I disconnect the call.

"This is Vinnie. He's the one I've been telling you about. I told him you'd take good care of him."

"Well, gentleman, I wish I could give you some better news, but I'm afraid the police have a solid case against you. So my advice is to make a plea agreement."

"There's nothing you can do?" Vinnie exclaims, turning towards Marty.

"Sure he can. Right, pal?" I see the ominous look on his face as he wiggles his phone in front of my face.

Remembering what's on it, I say, "I.. I'll see what I can do, but I..."

"Vinnie, can you wait for me out in the hall?"

With his head down, the lad shuffles towards the door. Marty waits until the barrier closes before he continues.

"Maybe I didn't make myself clear this morning. You either win this case or else."

"I'd love to win this for you, but I..."

"Let me put it to you another way. If you don't, everyone you've ever cared about will die a slow, painful death. Not only will you be forced to watch, but you will be framed for the crime."

"But I..."

"On top of the murder already hanging over your head." Showing me his phone, Marty continues. One call will get the ball rolling."

"I'll try to come up with something."

"Good." Marty storms out of the door. A few seconds later, he returns with his nephew.

"I'll let you two get to work. Remember what I said, Larry."

I gulp. "I will."

Smiling, he closes the door behind him.

"Looks like we have a lot of ground to cover." Pulling a file from a pile on my desk, I scan through my notes.

"Do you have an alibi?"

The lad scratches his head. "An alibi?"

"Yeah, you know, someone that will say they saw you around the time the murder occurred. One is good, but two or three indisputable alibis is even better, especially if they're in different locations, spread out over a span of time."

"I'm sure my uncle can find someone to vouch for me."

"Tell Marty to make sure they're air-tight, alright?" Seeing him nod, I continue. "The police found bloody clothes, shoes, and a gun at your apartment, correct?"

"Yes."

"Did they find anything else?"

A blank expression crosses his face. "Not that I know of."

"I'll find out for sure in discovery. Did the cops hand you a search warrant?"

"I wasn't home at the time."

I give the lad a curious look. "Who let them in?"

"My roommate."

"Does your roommate live there?"

"That's what roommate means."

"Is his name on the lease or any of the utilities?"

"No, only mine and my ex."

"Does she live there too?"

"She's my ex, so what do you think?"

Tired of the sarcasm, I slam my fists on the desk. "Look, bud, I'm trying to help you out here, so knock off the attitude, alright?"

He exhales loudly."Fine."

"Well?"

"No, she doesn't live there. She hasn't in nearly six months."

"Does your roommate get mail there?"

"Yeah."

"Talk to your roommate, see if the cops gave him a search warrant, and find someone who'll say you were somewhere else when the victim was killed. Then meet me back here... I glance at my watch. "Make it an hour. Grabbing my coat, I walk him to the door.

"I'll see what I can do."

I'm headed down the hall when I see my father running towards me. "What's wrong, Dad?"

"Your mom is in the hospital," he bawls, collapsing in my arms.