The phone call was short. Hoyt only told Matt that there was a car accident reported last night about 50 miles away and that the victim who was still in the hospital unconscious had C.J.'s business card. The victim's name? Bob Flanders. Hoyt told Matt where the car veered off the road and told him he was on scene if he wanted to join him.
This was not good news, it meant that C.J. just went from second chair on this case to first chair. Also, the location of the accident meant something all on its own, it occurred just west of Stephen Telso's winery.
Matt rejoined Chris and C.J. Chris got up and said she wanted to finish getting dressed. C.J. knew that probably meant putting on more make up to try to hide the bruises. Matt nodded to Chris and then looked at C.J. and she knew something was wrong.
"Why do I get the feeling that wasn't good news on the phone," she asked.
Matt sat down and took her hand, "That was Hoyt, Bob Flanders was in a car accident last night just west of Stephen Telso's winery."
C.J. squeezed his hand, "No" then she stood up, "Maureen, I have to call Maureen…"
Matt put his hands on her arms and told her, "Maureen has been notified and is at the hospital already." The two sat back down and Matt shared what he learned last night about Kyle Smith and Sheryl Marx. C.J. closed her eyes and nodded as Matt started to tell her that she was going to have to meet with Marx to get her side of the story. He also shared his little interview with Denton and she agreed that what he learned might help the case.
The problem was, she wasn't sure anymore she should try to win this one. She had always held these principles as sacred, the right to a jury trial and ensuring that each person get the best defense possible. Seeing Chris assaulted and knowing she would have to go through that…well…C.J. wasn't so sure anymore. On top of all this, Chris' attacker was practically telling them Ricardo was guilty. The only other explanation was that the attacker wanted credit for the attacks he thought Ricardo was getting or he felt guilty that another person was in jail for a crime he didn't commit.
No, C.J. was convinced that Ricardo was probably working with this predator. She pushed some of these thoughts aside and determined she needed to try to remain professional and since all the evidence wasn't in yet, maybe the guy was actually innocent. She still had yet to talk to him to ask him anything herself. She thought she had time and would just meet with him Monday, but with Bob's accident, the timeline just got sped up.
Matt refused her line of reasoning though. As they discussed what they needed to do, he convinced her to wait until Monday before seeing either Marx or Ricardo. They were taking part of the day off. Everyone in the house needed to rest and maybe just get away for the day. C.J. refused to leave without stopping by the hospital and Matt agreed to that if she would agree to go to sailing around the bay afterward, if Chris were up for it. So that was the plan. After sailing they would head over to Chris' house and pick up some of her things. In the meantime, while she was at the hospital and Matt was at the scene of the accident, Uncle Roy would stop by and keep an eye on Chris.
Matt made one stop before heading out to the scene of Bob Flander's accident. He stopped by the Nightlife Club and found that bartender again. He showed up when the security company that monitors the club reported a break in. Matt met him in the parking lot and the man seemed surprised.
"What are you doing here?" he asked rather angrily.
Matt had been leaning on his car waiting. He stood upright and walked over to him, "I was waiting for you." He pulled out a $50 and said, "I accidently broke window here and wanted to make sure you were compensated. Now that we have covered that, you are coming with me down to police headquarters and working with their sketch artist to finish that drawing of the man who paid you to look the other way while he stalked my secretary."
The man started to walk off but Matt grabbed him by the shirt and stopped him. "I am not asking, I am telling you, or I will make your life very difficult. I'm a famous man and I get photographed going out all the time. I may just let it slip out to some reporter friends of mine that your little club here is worthless. How do you feel about a little bad publicity, huh?" Matt asked him.
The bartender relented, "Fine, I'll go over there now….How is she, your friend?"
Matt answered, "She survived and I'm going to find out who hurt her and you are going to help me."
The man nodded, promising he was headed there now and left Matt who drove out 50 miles to his east to the scene of the accident.