The Things People Will Do for An Oval Office
Chapter 15
The End of Days Part One
Walter Welksberg, the senior partner of Welksberg, Griffin & Bryant, entered the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) at 3:15 on Wednesday afternoon, after spending the morning around the corner in federal court making a last ditch effort to secure his client's release on bond and to have some of the more serious charges dismissed. Welksberg's firm is the fifth law firm to represent Harold Grant in the last three years.
Keenly aware of the speed in which federal cases are adjudicated, Harold had had his first set of lawyers immediately file documents waiving his right to a speedy trial and motions to suppress key evidence. But the fed's case is solid, Fitz and Olivia made sure of that, so every piece of evidence will be used to nail Harold's proverbial egotistical hide to the wall.
Undeterred by the evidence setback, Harold the consummate schemer, still managed to delay going to trial for his crimes for three years by having an endless array of attorneys file a series of pretrial motions claiming everything from incompetent legal representation to religious persecution.
His legal maneuvers while impressive to an extent were only partial victories at best for he had yet to accomplish having bail set. The RICO charges make him an obvious flight risk and the federal judge overseeing his case refuses to reconsider any motions for bail. Welksberg is at the MDC to inform Harold that his latest legal challenge has failed and that he goes to trial on Monday.
That Morning In the Courtroom of Judge Hiram Meyerson
"Counselors and I use that term loosely because this motion is the most farfetched piece of legal minutia I have ever had the displeasure of reading in my 29 years on the bench. I doubt Harvard Law will not be inviting you two to any more alumni functions after they hear about this doozey of a stinker. I will say however, your decision to cite 17th century jurisprudence on sheepherder grazing rights did give me a chuckle. Tell me, did you Google obscure rarely used or never tried hypothetical defense motions to find this one?" Judge Meyerson shakes his head in frustration and disgust.
"Look, I retire in 18 months and I am not handing this case over to another judge so that you or some other legal eagle retained by your client can file more sophomoric pleadings to delay this case. The Sixth Amendment cuts both ways counselors. Mr. Grant may have waived his right to a speedy trial but the victims and the state did not. The waiver of the Sixth is only invoked in the interest of justice being served and nothing filed by your client to date furthers the cause of justice in this case. So, tell your client his legal shenanigans end today. There will be no more manipulation of the legal system. Am I clear counselors?"
"Yes your honor."
"Good, opening remarks will begin on Monday at 9:00 a.m., without further delay; court dismissed." The judge stands, bangs his gavel, and leaves the courtroom.
Welksberg and his senior associate, Marissa Osborne, gather their pleadings and leave the courtroom. Welksberg instructs Osborne to assemble the defense team to go over their prepared opening remarks and the witness roster. "I need to inform Mr. Grant of the judge's decision. I'll meet you back at the office in a couple of hours."
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"Are you out of your fucking mind Welksberg?"
"Mr. Grant there no more legal precedents to plead. You have no other option at this juncture but to go to trial. Mellie, Phelps, Hearst and several others from your inner circle have already cut deals. Phelps and Hearst are receiving life without the possibility of parole in-lieu of the death penalty and Mellie is receiving more than a 50-year sentence. They are going to sing like canaries on the witness stand, so my advice to you is to stop wasting time and your brother's money on useless delays and mount a rigorous defense, or your date with a needle is certain."
Walter sensing Harold is still not completely convinced of his untenable situation reaches into his satchel to pull out a three-inch binder, which he brusquely tosses across the table to Harold.
"Look at it."
"What is it?" Harold dismissively spins the binder around, not even bothering to open it and slides it back across the table to Walter.
"This is volume one of the prosecutions list of witnesses." Walter taps the binder with his index finger. Harold stares down at the binder; he runs his thumb along the bottom of his lower lip, and then gives Walter a "so fucking what" look.
"Mr. Grant the prosecution has three binders just as thick as this one, each replete with individuals willing to testify to either being complicit in some illegal activity with you or the victim of your illegal activity. You have made an awful lot out of enemies Mr. Grant and you have hurt even more people. The fallout from your alleged misdeeds has a fair number of this country's high profile movers and shakers running for cover, not to mention members of the upper echelon of the Republican Party stepping down, but not before denouncing you and claiming you mislead them. Face it Mr. Grant you are a pariah, a friendless man with target on his back."
"Friendships be damned!" Harold points his crooked finger at Walter. "Look, I will take a relationship based on cold hard cash over loyalty any day. Loyalty is fleeting and anyone singing its' merits is an idiot. I am no sentimental boob. Listen up, what is binding, what is real, is a contractual relationship based on financial gain. You and I both know we could care less about one another but your loyalty to me is inviolate as long as I can pay for it or rather for as long as my brother is willing to pay for it. The only misdeed I am guilt of is underestimating the cost of loyalty. That passel of simple-minded fifth columnists had me fooled. Everyone in that binder of yours profited from every move I made and every deal I struck. I made things happen both good and bad. I can admit that but what I will not cop to misleading anyone. Every person in that binder hopped into bed with me willingly and every person that crossed me was fully aware of the consequences in doing so. Let them all crawl out from under the rocks where they have been hiding. Let them sit in the witness box and shed remorseful tears. I have enough dirt on every person I have ever dealt with to make anyone's testimony look like the fabrications of a jilted lover or a chicken-shit wannabe social climber."
Harold is convinced of his ability to beat the system by the sheer force of his will and supposed superior intellect. He is too oblivious to his shortcomings and blinded by arrogance to see someone is actually pulling his puppet strings behind the scenes. In Harold's mind, he is running the show. Fitzgerald's restoration and being behind bars have not removed him from his seat of power. He is in control and soon all concerned will realize it.
It warms his cold heart to no end the fact the victim is paying for his abuser's defense. The years of mentally abusing his brother Fitzgerald are paying off in spades. You gotta love the benefits of Stockholm syndrome, he thinks to himself. Yes, in Harold's mind he is beyond the laws of man and is the manipulator extraordinaire. He is the ultimate gamester, the Teflon man, the man with a plan. Fitzgerald and his high priced legal aid society are clueless as to their real role in this pathetic little plot to take down the emperor Harold. They are merely red-herring pawns buying Harold the time he needs to put his true plan into motion.
Harold has known from day one the charges in the indictment against him are bulletproof and dismissal on a technicality a long shot. He knew he had to cogitate an alternate plan or get use to the idea of three hots and cot and a greatly reduced life expectancy. Instead of being at the pinnacle during what he considers his prime years, if he does not act quickly, he will be spending his days living in the doldrums of routine as a carefully controlled convicted felon.
"Did you leave the message I told you at the number I gave you", he asks Welksberg.
"Yes, I did. I hope I don't come to regret leaving your cryptic message. Cloak and dagger communication always ends badly in federal cases. Tell me again the message you sent is benign in nature and will not result in additional indictments."
"Welksberg you have nothing to worry about. Did you receive a response?"
"Yes, I did. Mr. Grant I urge you not to do anything foolish."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it – nothing stupid."
Walter reaches into his satchel again, pulls out a small folded sheet of paper, and hands it to Harold. Harold unfolds the paper and reads the message, committing it to memory. Moments later, Harold starts sweating, his torso jerks, and foam seeps out the sides of his mouth.
"Mr. Grant, Mr. Grant, Harold, are you all right? Guard, guard, we need help over here." Welksberg is on his feet shouting.
Harold's jerking becomes more violent; he grabs his left arm and falls out of his chair. He lies on the floor shaking and his eyes roll back. A guard rushes over and kneels beside Harold to access to what is going on. He grabs his shoulder walkie-talkie and requests medical assistance. Welksberg stands off to the side nervously running his fingers through his hair. The medics arrive in less than three minutes and start working on Harold. They are able to stabilize him quickly. They put him on a gurney and transport him to the infirmary for treatment.
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Friday Morning
Breaking news: Harold Putnum Grant, along with two other detainees, has escaped from custody at the Federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles California. The disgraced former two-time California governor, alleged imposter and former CEO of Grant Industries is scheduled to appear in court for trial on Monday. Harold Grant was remanded to federal custody three years ago but has delayed facing charges under the RICO statute by filing a series of motions claiming constitutional rights violations and by firing his high-powered legal teams alleging legal malpractice and incompetence. Detention Center officials say they first became aware of Grant's escape during the midnight bed check. Grant was in the MDC infirmary undergoing evaluation for an apparent heart attack at the time of the escape. The two other escapees, Lawrence Bartholomew Kirby and Jason Daniel Crenshaw were also patients in the infirmary at the time. The infirmary doctor was found tied-up, beaten and locked in a closet and the infirmary nurse gagged and tied to a chair. Inmates assigned to the infirmary and regular infirmary staff are currently being questioned. Officials report the detention facility is on lockdown until further notice. Federal marshals investigating the case suspect an insider aided the trio. No information on exactly how the men escaped the Detention Center has been released.
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A/N – I made a few changes to Chapter 14 so you may want to reread that chapter.
Can you believe it, Harold is on the lamb. I wonder where he is going and how he got out. He thinks he is the mastermind behind his great escape but we all know that's not true.
One more chapter to go and I will complete my first story – aside from one shots. Yay me!
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