Read Online Framed by Lynda La Plante - Free Book Online Page B

that moment a slim, hard-jawed man wearing an expensive gray suit and a fawn Burberry was being shown into the gloom of Von Joel's cell. He was Sydney Jefferson, an accomplished and expensive criminal defense lawyer. He waited in silence as an officer closed the door behind him.
Von Joel was stretched out on the hard bunk, one arm across his face.
"How am I doing, Sydney?" he said.
Jefferson hesitated for dramatic effect, flaring his nostrils delicately at the damp odor of the cell. He looked at Von Joel as if he might be something unpleasant to approach.
"You want it straight?" he said. "You are in it up to your armpits." He looked at his watch. "I've got five minutes, so let's keep all this tight. You've a custody hearing in the morning. Normal routine stuff. There's not a ghost of a chance of bail—the charge of absconding from custody last time will hold you." Von Joel eased his legs over the side of the bunk and sat up. He clasped his hands and looked at his lawyer.
"I can't go down, Sydney. There's not a jail in this stinking country I'd survive ten minutes in."
"You can't avoid it," Jefferson said impassively. "The question isn't whether, but for how long."
Von Joel stared at his knuckles, frowning.
"Will they bite on a deal? Did you feel it out?" He looked up again. "What do you think?"
Jefferson paused, considering how he should frame his remarks to make Von Joel's predicament as clear as he could.
"There have been a lot of changes since you were last held." He stepped closer to the bunk. "It's a lot harder to negotiate now. You need to think about what went down in Italy. Understand me? That's a different scene all together. That's a murder charge."
"Bullshit," Von Joel grunted. "Brought it up, have they?"
"No, but they could. All I'm saying is, it's going to be harder bargaining this time. You've been out of circulation quite a while, remember. I don't come cheap—that's something else to bear in mind. Whatever you've got will have to be red-hot. They'd like you to go down for a long stretch, remember. McKinnes hates your guts, he was so desperate to get on this he was down on his knees begging—"
"How much, Sydney, you bloody leech?
"I don't know if you can afford me," Jefferson laughed softly. "There's a lot to do, I mean, I'll need to access your accounts—maybe you should grant me power of attorney. I like to be sure I'll get paid."
"I said how much, Sydney?"
"Retainer up four grand, and fifty to do the negotiations. Cash. Then bonus same deal as before."
"Okay." Von Joel nodded. "Call my place, will you? Make arrangements for Lola and Charlotte, put them up at the Hyde Park Hotel."
"Business that good?" Jefferson's eyebrows raised. He stepped back, hands behind his back, businesslike.
"I'll get the papers drawn up. What about Moyra? Do you want me to contact her?"
"No way." Von Joel shook his head sharply. "I don't want to see her."
"They'll want to question her."
"She knows nothing."
"She identified that stiff in Italy!"
"So what? Just keep her out of my hair, I've got enough on my mind. He rubbed his head, sighing, relenting. "Go easy on her. Tell them she . . . she knows nothing. . . ."
"Maybe they won't bring her in. The fewer people who know you're here the better." Jefferson leaned against the wall and folded his arms. "If you've got information, they'll want to make an application to the court for your testimony to be heard in camera. But you've a long way to go before that, because you'll have to come up with a lot more than last time." He stared at Von Joel. "Can you do it? Like I said, it's a lot tougher now. There'll be no putting you up in a luxury hotel—there's a new special unit in Reading."
Von Joel was examining his hands again.
"What was the name of the young guy," he said, "the one who booked me?"
"Jackson. Lawrence Jackson. It was a lucky break for the schmuck."
The key rattled in the door, signaling that time was up.
"Until tomorrow, then," Jefferson said, turning as the door opened.