Free Unallocated Space: A Thriller (Sam Flatt Book 1) by Jerry Hatchett Page A

appreciate you bringing it, but we can only work with original evidence. You had no way to know that, of course. It's how the law works."
    "I have a decent understanding of the law, Detective. I've brought you evidence of dozens of rapes and other felonies, and you refuse to even look at it. Gotta tell you, that's a first."
    Another mule smile. He pushed his giant ass up out of the chair. "Thank you for coming, sir. If you'd like to bring the original evidence, we would of course be interested in taking a look."
    I stood, snapped the DVD back into its case, closed it. "Did you speak with someone representing my client before I got here?"
    He didn't say a word, just stared at me with that disturbing smile. I had a wicked urge to knock those slabs of milk-bone down his throat, but I resisted, turned, and left.

    I n a cab on the way back to the casino, I worked through the situation in my mind. When Jacob Allen said he could take care of the police, he wasn't joking. The sad-eyed hound dog of a lawyer was obviously wired into the authorities and didn't mind using his connections for his employer. I thought momentarily about calling the heifer from the FBI, but discounted that idea pretty quickly. I knew what she'd do; instead of doing the right thing and jumping on it, she would offer action on the videos in exchange for my feeding her info on my investigation. I couldn't do that, so best to stay off that road altogether. From a legal perspective, I had met my immediate burden by trying to give the evidence to the police.
    Some people would say I had met my moral obligation, as well. I was not among such pussified assholes. Women were suffering. If not the women on the videos, if they were dead, more victims had almost certainly taken their place. That could not stand. I would not let it.

Chapter 18
    S PACE

    I exited the cab on the street in front of SPACE. That left what looked like a mile of walking still left to get inside, but that was okay. It gave me time to make a phone call I was sure wouldn't be eavesdropped. I had no specific reason to think anyone at SPACE had been listening in as I worked, but my life experience has taught me to assume privacy is rare. Especially when dealing with powerful people you have any conflict at all with; Jacob Allen had just shown me that conflict was indeed in the air. I pulled my phone, lit it up, and touched the #1 speed-dial icon.
    "This is Paul Flatt," was, as always, the answer.
    "Big Bro," I said.
    "Little Bro! You come in out of the woods?"
    "Too long ago. On a gig in Vegas right now. I need to pick your legal brain a minute."
    "Shoot."
    I gave him a condensed version of everything that had happened with the videos on the rape site, from finding them, to the argument with the client, to being blown off by the police. I wrapped it up with, "I need to know what my legal responsibility is. I went to the police, but I know that agency is compromised. What more do I need to do to be in the clear?"
    "My first impression? Nothing. Not sure you were legally bound to do what you've already done. That said, I'm a civil attorney in Texas, Little Bro. I'm no expert on the criminal end, and I know zero about Nevada law. Let me research it a bit and I'll call you back, okay?"
    "Roger that," I said, and the call was over. I looked at the phone and touched the icon to dial my daughter, then kept walking while it rang. No answer. When it went to voicemail, I left her a simple message: "Love you, sweetie. Let’s get together again soon."

    A fter a visit to my room for a quick shower, I headed to my workroom. A few minutes after I got there, Nichols showed up. I looked at him and said, "I didn't ping you. How'd you know I was here?"
    He raised his right hand, exposing the bracelet on his wrist, gave it a little shake.
    "You tracking me everywhere I go?" I said.
    "No no," he said. "The system is set to let me know whenever you enter this room, since it's my job to be here when you're working."
    It