Free Directed Verdict (Failed Justice Book 1) by Rick Santini

dorogaya.”
    Vicky did not respond. Like her father, she did not like to be placated. She wanted answers.
    “Soon, Papa, soon.”
    “Da.”
     
    ***
     
    Anthony had no choice but to believe. He knew DeAngelo was stalling. He also knew if there was no settlement by the end of the week, Angelo DeAngelo would have one less client.
    Anthony was afraid to go home. He was afraid of what his mother would say and do once she found the big, brown bag and what was in it. He had nowhere to go. He checked, he had less than ninety bucks in his wallet. He turned around and walked back to DeAngelo’s office. Anthony had a plan and nothing to lose.
    At times, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to say no.
     
    ***
     
    Vicky wanted to know everything her papa was doing. Her father felt it was best if she knew nothing. It was called deniability. She could never be sworn to testify what she had not actually heard, did not actually see, did not actually know. Supposition was merely an educated guess. It was not fact and clearly not admissible in a court of law. Vicky reluctantly agreed.
    Then she did as she damn well pleased. She was more like her papa than either of them would ever acknowledge.
     
    ***
     
    “I can’t. I simply can’t do that. Not only is it unethical; it’s against the law.”
    Anthony refused to budge. He was not about to leave without what he came for.
    “Since when did that ever bother you? The reason I came to you in the first place was because of your reputation. Not as a great lawyer, but a shyster that could always make a fast buck. You told me the case was worth fifty thousand at trial; at least thirty thousand for a quick settlement. Assuming you weren’t lying then, I would walk away with twenty and you would end up with ten.”
    Anthony could see DeAngelo’s eyes shifting and his mind calculating.
    “Now I’m willing to reverse the split. You end up with twenty, I get my ten. Today.”
    Again, Anthony was watching the greedy eyes of his own lawyer.
    “I could get disbarred.”
    “But you won’t. You’re too smart not to get away with it. Let me sign a blank general release form right now, you pay me my ten today and whatever you can squeeze out of the insurance company is all yours. Wait a month or two and settle for thirty-five. You then put twenty-five in your own pocket and no one will ever know the difference.”
    DeAngelo’s eyes said yes before his mouth had a chance to say no.
    Fifteen minutes later Anthony signed the blank release form and DeAngelo signed the check made payable to Anthony for ten grand. A win/win situation for both of them.
    “Nice doing business with you, Mr. DeAngelo. Have a nice day.”
    Anthony practically ran to the bank on two good legs to cash the check.
    I’m rich. I’m rich. Now I can get the hell out of this stinking town.
    DeAngelo was trying to decide if he would wait before he made his final demand on the insurance company. He was thinking somewhere around thirty-five to forty. That would put a tidy twenty-five or more in his pocket. The poor dumb client would never know.
    Angelo DeAngelo was feeling very proud of himself. Maybe he would convince other clients who were desperate to do the same thing.
    Why, I can double my income almost overnight, he thought.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 13
     
     
    Bill Johnson now had his first solid lead. Through divorce court records he found out the name of Judge Kolkolski’s ex-wife. It was Bernice Sophie Kolkolski. He had heard she’d moved to southern Florida—probably Miami, where she had some relatives. Bill then checked all records of Florida Power and Light and found three customers with the name Bernice Kolkolski.
    One of them had to be the judge’s ex.
    Using a scam as a bill collector trying to locate a Judge Walter Kolkolski for an overdue credit card bill, Bernice was only too quick to confirm he was her ex-husband, a sitting court judge in New Jersey who at times was late on his bills.