Christopher Rankins was an Atlantic City con man who made a living duplicating credit cards and getting cash advances at Atlantic City casinos. That was Barnswell’s newest case, one that he could care less about. And he couldn’t believe the audacity of being handed another case after what had happened to him in court earlier that day. For the office, it was business as usual. For Barnswell, he had unfinished business with Judge Martin and the Bezel brothers. He buzzed his legal researcher into the office and she appeared in seconds.
“I want Andre Bezel back in prison now. I need an emergency motion to reverse the judges bail order submitted to the Third Circuit immediately.” The researcher scribbled that into an iPad. “I want an FBI liaison in this office immediately to investigate the murder of my witness. I want them to trample all over the local PD and get me something to put that Kareem Bezel in jail with the brother.” He talked smoothly and calmly. No need to be angry; nothing was in his hands. He had no control. His office phone rang and he gripped it up. “Barnswell.”
“Hey, Barnswell. We have a problem,” the caller said.
“I don’t have any problems. Who might this be?”
“This is Rafiq Abdallah, the physician on duty at the Thomas Jefferson Hospital.”
Barnswell sat up. “Yes, may I help you?”
“I received a patient from the prison today. Ahhhh. Lucas McKenzey.”
“Okay,” Barnswell said and put the phone on speaker for his researcher to hear.
“Well, I contacted the prison after I received the results from his blood test. I am headed to the room as we speak.”
“I’m listening. What was gleaned from the blood test?” Barnswell asked. He was very much into the conversation. He hoped that McKenzey was not dying. He needed him. Needed him to rot in hell, but only after he testified for the government.
“Toxicology report makes it very clear that his blood was full of ketamine. A very high level.”
Barnswell was immediately signaling for his researcher to look up Ketamine. The iPad pulled up the results of a Google search and he passed the iPad to Barnswell.
Barnswell said, “Ketamine is primarily used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, usually in combination with a sedative. He was put under.”
“Yes, and this guy was pumped with a lethal dosage of it. He’s still down as we speak,” Doctor Abdallah said as he walked through the corridors of the hospital toward McKenzey’s room.
“And that was introduced into the body at the prison?”
“Great conclusion,” the doctor said as he approached the door to McKenzey’s room. “I thought there was supposed to be a guard outside the door?” he asked, as he walked into the room. “Uh...Mr. Prosecutor, you really have a problem.”
“What’s that?” Barnswell was anxious.
“Your guard is gone and so is the prisoner,” he said, and pushed open the bathroom door. “Wait, I recant. The prisoner is gone, but your officer is dead in the bathroom.”