CHAPTER 8

"There you are." CJ stood up behind her desk as Matt walked up the steps to her office. "How'd the therapy session go?"

"Just fine." He leaned over and gave her a kiss. "They gave me some exercises to do and I go back in a week. It's already doing better. See?" He wiggled the fingers on his right hand and pulled her into a big hug. "Happy now?"

"Somewhat." She sat back down. "I talked to Michael a little while ago. Blaine Richey has decided to cut a deal."

"Good. Any news about Nunzio and Plessy?" He sat on the loveseat.

"Nope." She swiveled in the chair thoughtfully. "You know, it would be in both of their best interests to cooperate. With the Chicago, New Orleans, and New York families ticked off I don't see them living."

"Not to mention part of the Miami and LA families who probably didn't know what was going down."

"They're both in too deep to get immunity. The best they can hope for is leniency in sentencing. But even at that they'll both probably get life. If I was their lawyer I would advise them to cooperate fully – and beg for mercy from the court."

"CJ..." Chris stuck her head in the door. "Michael is on line one."

"Thanks." She picked up the receiver and punched the speaker button. "Hi, Michael."

"We've had a development in the last hour. Nunzio is going to turn state's evidence."

Matt spoke up. "What about Plessy?"

"She won't have any of it. Her lawyer advised her to work a deal before the other two did and she refused."

"They're all going to end up doing time."

"So have you talked to Rich and Mitchell?" Houston stood up and began walking around the office.

"Just got off the phone with both of them. Mitchell says that he's surprised that Nunzio turned and Plessy didn't."

"You can lead a horse to water..."

"Now we all get the fun of going through the trial. Oh well, all I know is that this turned out a lot better than I expected – and a lot quicker, too. It's surprising when you stop to think about who was in charge."

"Uh huh..." Matt plopped down on the love seat. "And look who nominated me to be the leader."

"What can I say – we all have our moments of insanity." Hoyt hung up the phone laughing as he went out to the lobby and got a cup of coffee.