"The order just came down from the higher ups. There are to be no more immunity deals on this case. The best you can do now is confess and hope for leniency in sentencing. We've got you now. No jury is going to let you off."
"Typical rehearsed bullshit…" Jack laughed. "But I already confessed…"
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Jeffrey noticed Alex's reaction the minute the Public Defender walked into the room. He was checking him out, looking him up and down approvingly.
"I need to converse with my client alone." The Public Defender stated.
"You'd better make it quick…" Jeffrey said, getting up and leaving the room.
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"I mean about the drugs, Jack!"
"All right…" Jack said. "I'll spill everything I know about the drugs…"
"You will?" The AD knew that there had to be a catch.
"Yeah… I'll confess everything… To Jeffrey…"
"No. That is out of the question! How do I know that this isn't just another attempt to mess with his head?"
"You don't!" Jack spat. "But you are going to give me what I want, because you can't make this case without me! The only other person who actually saw the supplier, besides the people involved in this, is Jeffrey. And he failed to apprehend the suspect."
"Yes, and whose fault is that?"
'That's not the point!"
"THAN WHAT IS?"
"The point is, I had a gun to that bastard's head. Any lawyer would be sure to point out that Jeffrey was in no condition to be sure of what he saw. When people are under duress, they sometimes see things that aren't there… So you see, without me, you have no proof. And maybe you can put away Vinnie and his little faggot lackey… But you won't have enough proof on the supplier."
"We'll get Alex to roll. He's weak. You said it yourself."
"He may be weak, but he's also pathetically loyal. Like a little puppy dog at my feet. He won't turn on me."
"Really? Because if I recall correctly, earlier I got you believing that he had."
"Maybe…" Jack said. "But I've thought it over and I know better now." He chuckled slightly before adding. "He loves me."
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"My clients willing to confess everything he knows. He's willing to testify against his boss, his accomplice, and the supplier. We just need to see those immunity papers."
"I'm sorry…" Jeffrey said. "But the immunity offer is off the table."
"What?"
"Orders came from the higher ups. You should've just taken the deal when I'd first offered it to you. Now, you can try for leniency in sentencing, but that's the best that you're gonna get…"
"I want my immunity! You said that if I…"
"I'm sorry Alex, but that offer expired a long time ago."
"He was so right about you." Alex spat. "You're a fucking liar!"
"I suggest that you advise your client to calm down…" Jeffrey said.
"We'll take our chances at trial. If it even gets that far…" The Public Defender said. "Alex, don't say another word."
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"Well, I'm certainly not going to tell you anything more…" Jack said, leaning back in the chair. "So you get Jeffrey in here or I shut up."
"Why are you doing this, Jack? Really…"
Jack shook his head no, then moved his hand over his lips, as if motioning to say that his lips were sealed, following his motions with a crooked smile.
The AD glared at him for a moment, before walking out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
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"Can you manage to question Jack without killing him?" The AD asked.
"And what if I can't?" Jeffrey answered.
"Then we're screwed."
"I saw the supplier. I saw the whole thing go down. Why do we even need confessions? Why isn't my testimony enough to put these men away?"
"You were under duress! You had a gun to your head, for God's sake!"
"The gun wasn't put to my head until after I had already seen the transaction take place!"
"O'Neil, when was the last time you slept?"
"Why? What does that have to do with anything? Why does that even matter?"
"Just answer me O'Neil."
"I got about a half-hour last night…."
"So, you're sleep deprived?"
"Maybe… But I know what I saw! That was Brad Green making the transaction!"
"Even if you're sure… The jury isn't going to be. With you sleep deprived, and under duress.."
"I wasn't under duress yet!"
"We need to pull a confession outta one of these guys. Aituro says that Vinnie isn't saying a word. He's got the best attorney in the business. It's gotta be Jack or Alex…"
"Alex was willing to confess for immunity… But then you yanked it off the table…"
"That order came from above me!"
"Then I don't know how we're going to manage this…"
"You have to question Jack…"
"I'll question him… But if my hands end up around that bastard's throat…"
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