going to have to assemble one and jam it up your ass. Or do you Irish say ‘arse’ like the Blokes?”
“What do you want?”
“The Dutch won’t let anyone visit Dad. I want him to have regular visiting privileges and an American lawyer.”
“Both are beyond my control.”
Jason opened the door. “Then resign and get someone who can make it happen.” He got out of the car.
Melwin’s eyes were locked on the patrol car. “Threaten me again and I’ll have you up on a charge.”
“That was merely a friendly piece of advice, not a threat.” He stepped back, waiting for Melwin to leave. “But I do have your address if we need to talk some more.” Melwin gunned the engine and sped past the still motionless patrol car as Jason watched. He walked past the patrol car and the two policemen who were sound asleep.
The guard glanced at the untouched food on Gus’s tray. “Is it that bad?”
Gus shook his head. “I’m just not hungry.” The wall phone rang and Gus picked it up. He listened and acknowledged the call before hanging up. He sat down and attacked the food, feeling much better.
“Good news?” the guard asked.
“My so-called lawyer is here with Professor Sutherland, the man I want to represent me.”
“That is good news,” the guard conceded. “May I join you?” Without waiting for an answer, the guard sat down and spoke in a low voice. “Madam Du Milan is in Paris until Monday and the prison superintendent has granted you normal visiting privileges.”
“I’m most appreciative,” Gus answered. “Please thank Superintendent Blier.”
The guard stood. “My government supports the court, but all this is not right.” He left, leaving the door open as Gus attacked the food.
He was on his second cup of coffee when Hank arrived. “Where’s Ichabod Crane?”
Hank closed the door and sat down. “Melwin signed me in and left.” He placed his personal communicator on the table and opened the lid. “He’s drafting a notification letter to the registrar that I’ll be assisting him. Du Milan will have a fit when she sees it.”
Cassandra appeared on the screen and he heard her voice in his ear. “The room is bugged. Do you want me to jam it?” Hank turned the percom’s ruby lens on himself and nodded.
“Why did Melwin change his mind?” Gus asked.
“Apparently, your son spoke to him. You might say Melwin had a religious experience.” The lawyer smiled. “I am looking forward to meeting your son.”
“You’ll like him. I really appreciate what you’re doing, Professor Sutherland.”
“I prefer to be called Hank. By the way, you did a great job at the confirmation hearing on the jurisdiction issue.”
“I heard some guy give a talk about the ICC at a Rotary Club luncheon. What the hell is going on here?”
Hank chose his words carefully. “The court is still staking out its territory and is desperate to justify its existence and cost. Unfortunately, the court is turning into a monstrosity with a bad case of legal creep. They’re investigating areas like environmental pollution, drug trafficking, and crimes against human dignity, which is all far beyond its original charter. While they deny it, the court’s ultimate goal is to expand its jurisdiction over non-member states. They call it ‘universal jurisdiction’ and your case is one of the stepping stones in that process.”
The way Gus paced the floor reminded Hank of a caged tiger he had seen in a zoo. The animal had ranged back and forth in her cage, her muscles rippling beneath her skin, glaring at the world in defiance. “You know my wife is terminally ill. I’ve got to get back to her.”
“I know. But the court doesn’t move fast and follows a process that takes time. For some reason, they’ve fast-tracked your indictment, which is not like them at all. I could challenge them on it but I don’t think it would do any good.”
Gus made a decision. “Keep things moving as fast as you can. So
“What do you want?”
“The Dutch won’t let anyone visit Dad. I want him to have regular visiting privileges and an American lawyer.”
“Both are beyond my control.”
Jason opened the door. “Then resign and get someone who can make it happen.” He got out of the car.
Melwin’s eyes were locked on the patrol car. “Threaten me again and I’ll have you up on a charge.”
“That was merely a friendly piece of advice, not a threat.” He stepped back, waiting for Melwin to leave. “But I do have your address if we need to talk some more.” Melwin gunned the engine and sped past the still motionless patrol car as Jason watched. He walked past the patrol car and the two policemen who were sound asleep.
The guard glanced at the untouched food on Gus’s tray. “Is it that bad?”
Gus shook his head. “I’m just not hungry.” The wall phone rang and Gus picked it up. He listened and acknowledged the call before hanging up. He sat down and attacked the food, feeling much better.
“Good news?” the guard asked.
“My so-called lawyer is here with Professor Sutherland, the man I want to represent me.”
“That is good news,” the guard conceded. “May I join you?” Without waiting for an answer, the guard sat down and spoke in a low voice. “Madam Du Milan is in Paris until Monday and the prison superintendent has granted you normal visiting privileges.”
“I’m most appreciative,” Gus answered. “Please thank Superintendent Blier.”
The guard stood. “My government supports the court, but all this is not right.” He left, leaving the door open as Gus attacked the food.
He was on his second cup of coffee when Hank arrived. “Where’s Ichabod Crane?”
Hank closed the door and sat down. “Melwin signed me in and left.” He placed his personal communicator on the table and opened the lid. “He’s drafting a notification letter to the registrar that I’ll be assisting him. Du Milan will have a fit when she sees it.”
Cassandra appeared on the screen and he heard her voice in his ear. “The room is bugged. Do you want me to jam it?” Hank turned the percom’s ruby lens on himself and nodded.
“Why did Melwin change his mind?” Gus asked.
“Apparently, your son spoke to him. You might say Melwin had a religious experience.” The lawyer smiled. “I am looking forward to meeting your son.”
“You’ll like him. I really appreciate what you’re doing, Professor Sutherland.”
“I prefer to be called Hank. By the way, you did a great job at the confirmation hearing on the jurisdiction issue.”
“I heard some guy give a talk about the ICC at a Rotary Club luncheon. What the hell is going on here?”
Hank chose his words carefully. “The court is still staking out its territory and is desperate to justify its existence and cost. Unfortunately, the court is turning into a monstrosity with a bad case of legal creep. They’re investigating areas like environmental pollution, drug trafficking, and crimes against human dignity, which is all far beyond its original charter. While they deny it, the court’s ultimate goal is to expand its jurisdiction over non-member states. They call it ‘universal jurisdiction’ and your case is one of the stepping stones in that process.”
The way Gus paced the floor reminded Hank of a caged tiger he had seen in a zoo. The animal had ranged back and forth in her cage, her muscles rippling beneath her skin, glaring at the world in defiance. “You know my wife is terminally ill. I’ve got to get back to her.”
“I know. But the court doesn’t move fast and follows a process that takes time. For some reason, they’ve fast-tracked your indictment, which is not like them at all. I could challenge them on it but I don’t think it would do any good.”
Gus made a decision. “Keep things moving as fast as you can. So
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