The Lawyer's Lawyer

CHAPTER Twenty-Four



It was after nine when he swung his Mercedes SLS roadster into the driveway and clicked the garage door opener. He checked his watch to be sure. No calls to make tonight. He needed to get to bed early so he could run on the beach in the morning. Got to work those extra pounds off right away. Maybe one cigar on the veranda before calling it a night. What’s the use of living in a mansion on the beach if you can’t enjoy it?

It was a mansion—seven thousand square feet right on the water. Maybe it was too much for one person. Maybe the place needed a woman’s touch. He wasn’t ready for that, however. He’d just turned forty—way too young to settle down, especially when there were so many nubile young women out there eager to satisfy his needs. Marriage might happen down the road, but he didn’t need a wife in his profession, so why have one?

The lights went on automatically when he pulled into the garage. He stepped out of the car and headed for the door leading into the house with his keys in his hand. He always kept the inside door locked. He’d read about burglars often coming through the garage door. He had an alarm system, but there was no downside to taking extra precautions in order to feel perfectly safe. He stuck the key in the door but before he could turn it the lights in the garage went out.

It was pitch black. He couldn’t see anything. Before he could think, two powerful hands grabbed his arms and pulled them back. He could feel the handcuffs lock on his wrist. What the hell is this, a bust by the cops? He had some coke in the house but they’d never find it. He started to get angry to get his courage back. Then he lost it again.

Whoever it was that had handcuffed him grabbed his throat and lifted him up with his back to the wall with one hand! He could hardly breathe and he was too afraid to speak. He was sure he was going to die. All this work, all he had accumulated—for what? To lose his life to a two-bit robber? He needed to do something. Beg, plead, bargain. Whatever.

“What do you want? I’ll give you anything you want.”

No answer. The grip was tighter. He could feel himself losing consciousness.

“Please! Please! I’ll do anything. Don’t kill me.”

“Shut up,” the voice said. It was deep and threatening. He knew there was a big, powerful man behind that voice although he still couldn’t see a thing. “I hear you like to use that word yourself when you’re making threats. That right?”

“No, no. No threats. I’m a businessman.”

The arm let him down but the hand stayed at his throat. He could at least breathe a little better.

“You threatened Jack Tobin.”

“Who?”

“Don’t f*ck with me, boy. You wanna die?”

“No, no. I didn’t threaten anybody though.”

The hand squeezed his throat harder, cutting off the flow of air.

“Okay, okay!” he croaked. “Yeah, I threatened him.”

The hand let up a little.

“It wasn’t my decision. I have investors. They’re pissed at Tobin.”

“Here’s the deal,” the voice said. “Something happens to Jack Tobin, you die. Understand?”

“But I don’t control that.”

“You’d better.”

“Somebody has already been hired.”

“Then I might as well kill you now.”

“No. No, wait. I’ll call off the dogs. I promise. I don’t know if I can stop what’s already been done but I’ll try.”

“You better succeed,” the voice said. “Your life depends on it.”

Suddenly he felt weightless as the man kicked his feet out from under him. He landed on the hard concrete floor; his shoulder hit first and then his head.

Everything went black after that.



Henry called Jack the next morning.

“I think that your situation has been taken care of but I’m not one hundred percent sure.”

“What does that mean?” Jack asked.

“Mr. Collins has other investors who he does not control. I convinced him, I believe, that it would be in his best interests to get them to follow his recommendation in this one situation.”

“This is crazy, Henry. We’re talking about a college football player and an agent.”

“No, Jack. We’re talking about millions of dollars and we’re talking about people who want to send a message to others that messing with their business can cost you your life.”

“So what do I do, wait and see what happens?”

“Do you still have that Sig Sauer you bought a few years back?”

“Yes, I’ve got it but not with me. Why?”

“I think you should start carrying it and maybe go to the range once in a while.”

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Henry.”

“Maybe not, Jack. Maybe this is just smoke. But I would prefer that you at least have the gun in your house.”

“I’ll think about it. By the way, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?”

“I’m spending it with you. Why?”

“Wanda didn’t invite you over for all the fixings?”

“As a matter of fact, she did. I’m just not ready to be the man of the house carving the turkey if you know what I mean.”

“Gotcha. Danni invited us to come to Thanksgiving dinner. Whaddya think?”

“Speaking of calling the police.”

“Yeah, right. I probably don’t want to tell her about Collins’s threat. So are you coming?”

“Sure. I’ll bring your gun with me.”