Free The Pinkerton Files Five-Book Bundle by David Luchuk

What do you recommend?”
    â€œHe might be lenient if we can give him a reason. If we show that the outcome of an important case will be jeopardized by sending Robert to prison, he may suspend the sentence.”
    Here was the crucial piece of our puzzle. If Father agreed, we would have our lever.
    â€œCan you be certain this will work?”
    â€œWe can only be sure that Robert will go to jail if we do not appeal to the public good.”
    Any word I uttered would have turned Father against the idea.
    â€œI know of a case that might be suitable.” Father said.
    â€œIn New York?”
    â€œYes. I could assign Robert to work under his brother.”
    â€œRobert must be in charge or the Judge will view him as replaceable.”
    It would be no more than I deserved in my father’s eyes.
    â€œYou ask too much of me, Mr. Hayes.”
    Papa craves being asked to do too much. This is what Hayes and I were counting on.
    â€œFine.” Father said. “Tomorrow, you may advise Judge Mansfield that Robert is investigating the murder of Henry Schulte.”
    I sipped black coffee and found that I had something to say after all.
    â€œThank you, Papa.”
    It was the same thing I’d said when he retrieved me from the police wagon. I repaid him with lies on both occasions.
    The usual press was assembled at the courthouse. I saved my best suit for last; brilliant black with accents of gold on the collar and cuffs. For the first time, reporters parted to let me pass. No one wanted to ruin the outfit.
    Inside, Hayes requested a closed session in Judge Mansfield’s chambers. Kennedy insisted on taking part.
    Mansfield sat in composed silence waiting for audio equipment to be transferred from the courtroom to his chambers. He had a young face and could have passed for a boy if not for his thinning hair and hunched posture. His body didn’t know how to be old.
    It was a delicate job, installing the steam capsules and wax discs that registered our testimony. Flute shaped receivers on each table fed our voices through rubber tubes that amplified the sound. A suction pump in the basement sustained a perfect vacuum inside the tubes. These connected to a sealed box the size of a shipping barrel. Inside, the sound was imprinted as a continuous groove cut into wax discs. The sound of discs being engraved could be heard throughout the courtroom.
    The quiet in Mansfield’s chambers was broken by the scraping discs. We could proceed.
    â€œPeople v. Pinkerton R. Continuance for sentencing. Mr. Hayes, your petition please.”
    â€œWe ask the court to recognize that the public good will suffer if my client is jailed.”
    â€œDo the People have a position?”
    Kennedy nodded at the District Attorney. He was impatient to announce to his adoring press that officers were dragging me to jail.
    â€œMr. Pinkerton has been proved a menace. The People wish to see him treated as such.”
    â€œSo noted. Mr. Hayes, how will the public suffer by your client paying for his crimes?”
    â€œIf my client goes to jail, a killer goes free.” Hayes said. “It’s that simple. Robert Pinkerton is lead detective in the investigation of New York businessman Henry Schulte’s murder.”
    Kennedy slapped his palm against the table at mention of the case.
    â€œImpossible.” He said.
    â€œThis is smoke and mirrors, your Honour.” The District Attorney added.
    â€œMaybe.” Mansfield said. “The State proved that Mr. Pinkerton tampered with records he had no right to access. I am inclined to agree that these crimes do not outweigh the public’s interest in catching a murderer.”
    The District Attorney rubbed his eyes, stalling for time so he could reason his way out. Judge Mansfield helped him.
    â€œIf the People can show that Mr. Pinkerton is a danger, the Court will hear arguments against a suspended sentence.” Mansfield said. “Eight armed officers