The conference call had been set for three o’clock, and at the appointed time, the operator took the role.
“Mr. Lytell,” she asked.
“Here.”
The same procedure followed with Skip Wilder, Jordyn Yates, Sheriff Burton Steel, Sr., and me.
After giving us a number to call should we encounter any difficulties, the operator vanished.
Without any preliminaries, District Attorney Lytell kicked off the proceedings. “You’ve been sued, Buddy.”
“By whom?” Jordyn Yates asked.
“By the firm Leonard, Howard and Arthur, on behalf of the Shoreline Sanctuary Corporation.”
“I’m presuming that’s a Boris Petrov shell company,” Jordyn commented.
“Likely,” Lytell said.
“The charges?” Jordyn asked.
“You name it. Illegal search and seizure. Harassment. Defamation of character. Aggravated assault. And get this...disturbing the peace.”
“That’s all a load of crap and you know it,” Jordyn said. “The Sheriff’s Department has photographic evidence that Boris Petrov was present at the scene of a crime that had been engineered by him and perpetrated by his employees, two of whom are in custody. We have evidence that proves he was manufacturing and distributing illegal narcotics. He resisted arrest. The Sheriff’s Department has him dead to rights.”
“That’s not what Team Petrov is claiming.”
“They’re lying.”
“The State Department has made inquiries on Petrov’s behalf.”
“Such as?”
“They want hard evidence. Mr. Petrov is in the process of being vetted for a diplomatic position at the request of the Russian government. The Secretary of State has appealed to the Governor, requesting he intervene.
“The Governor, in turn, petitioned me as to why the Sheriff is hassling a prominent Russian diplomat instead of investing himself in solving a series of violent killings that continue to occur in his county. And that’s not all. He wants to know if the duly elected Sheriff is even participating in the investigation. He’s claiming the Sheriff is incapable of fulfilling the responsibilities he was elected to perform.”
“Sheriff Steel?” Jordyn asked.
“Here,” Burton said.
“Can you inform the District Attorney as to your current whereabouts?”
“I’m in my office.”
“At the courthouse?”
“That’s where it’s located.”
“And are you performing your duties as you understand them?”
“I am.”
“That’s a load of crap, Burton,” DA Lytell chimed in. “You know damn good and well that Buddy’s doing your job while you’re experiencing health issues.”
“It’s true that Buddy is working beside me, but my health is improving and I’m in my office regularly. As for the serial killings, we are pursuing the investigation with vigor.”
When Lytell didn’t say anything, the Sheriff continued. “And for your information, Mike, we’re making significant progress.”
“What kind of progress.”
“Can I swear you to secrecy?”
I could hear Lytell cover the mouthpiece of the receiver with his hand and bellow to Skip Wilder, “Again with the secrecy.”
Wilder replied, “Do it.”
Lytell emitted a heavy sigh. “Okay. Secrecy it is.”
“We have a person of interest,” Burton said.
“Who?”
“You’ll know when it’s time for you to know.”
Again the mouthpiece was covered. “He’s got nothing.”
“Might I interject a comment?” I said.
“Ah, the prodigal son speaks.”
“In answer to your questions, please note that our department is interviewing a number of witnesses to Boris Petrov’s participation in significant criminal activity. And as for the serial killings, our investigation has turned promising.”
Before Lytell could speak, Jordyn Yates did. “On behalf of my client, I want you to know that we will challenge any and all allegations made by Petrov’s shell company.
“We will also call attention to the bullying tactics employed by the Leonard, Howard and Arthur law firm and their heinous misuse of the legal system in an attempt to interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation.
“Sheriff Steel and Deputy Sheriff Steel are deeply invested in bringing all of the guilty parties to justice. And that includes this as yet unauthorized diplomat, Boris Petrov.
“Perhaps you might inform the Governor it’s in his best interests to defend the rights of the American people, as opposed to those of a Russian drug lord. This call is over,” she said and ended it.