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“What the fuck?” President Stephen Golding was beside himself. “This is how he creates an atmosphere of conciliation?”
“It’s Blake, sir. What did you expect?” Golding’s chief of staff, Colin Gerges, inquired.
“I understand, Gerges, but this puts me between a rock and a hard place. If I’m gracious, I look like a wimp. If I take a hard line, I look like a bully!” The president was fuming.
“Blake is the master, sir. He knows all the legal, political, and publicity buttons to push. He knows how to win.”
“He’s an annoying twit, a thorn in my side. Look what he did to President John and Judge Wilkinson.”
“With all due respect, sir, President John and Judge Wilkinson deserved everything they got.”
“Wilkinson’s dead, Gerges. Jesus . . .”
“Everything they got, sir,” Gerges interrupted.
“Fine, whatever, but what does all this have to do with me? I’m no RonJohn or Wilkinson, not even close. I could have pardoned my predecessor, and Wilkinson came highly recommended by every bigwig in the Party. His appointment was not my idea.”
“You are the president, sir. Everyone knows you could have issued a pardon, and thanks you for your restraint, sir. As for Wilkinson . . .”
“Enough, dammit. Don’t patronize me, Gerges—it pisses me off.”
“That was not my intent, sir. It is a fact, though, that you have continued many of President John’s most disturbing policies.”
“Such as?”
“ICE raids. Separating immigrant parents from their children. Locking immigrant children in cages. Our citizens are squarely opposed to those policies. And they tend to piss guys like Blake off.”
“I didn’t order the damn raid! I didn’t lock kids up or separate them from their families. Shit!”
“With all due respect, sir, the government did those things, and you are the Commander in Chief.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah. So what do we do?” The president roared.
“Legally or politically?”
“Is there a difference?”
“Seriously, sir? There is a huge difference,” Gerges counseled.
“Well, spit it out, man! Stop beating around the bush!”
“Legally, the right thing to do is to instruct the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan to arrange a meeting with Blake. Together, hopefully, they can lay the groundwork for mediation and settlement of this case before things get out of hand. Politically . . .”
“Too late for that, don’t you think?” Golding snapped.
“Maybe, but the part that scares me is Blake’s invitation to other potential victims. This thing could escalate in a hurry. Maybe some diplomacy could nip things in the bud?” Gerges floated.
“Diplomacy? Zachary Blake? You’ve got to be kidding me!” The president exploded again.
“Blake has clients to represent and, as we both know, he will represent them with zeal. However, he has shown a willingness to mediate and settle important cases in our communities. He did so with Cedar Ridge and the traffic stop shooting and the same with the Bloomfield school shooting.” Gerges recalled. “I believe an early reach out is the wisest course. As to looking like a pussy, we can reach out discreetly, agree to his terms for mediation, demand confidentiality, and see where it goes,” Gerges recommended.
“That doesn’t sound half bad, Gerges. Okay, talk to our guy in the Eastern District and set it up. Not much to lose—I’m not going to be re-elected anyway. As I said, I’m a realist,” President Golding rationalized.
“I’ll do it now, sir.”
“Thanks, Gerges. Sorry, I lost my temper.”
“Not surprising, given the circumstances, sir. Might I suggest something else that may ease things a bit, sir?”
“What’s that, Gerges?” The president was genuinely curious.
“I would call a cabinet meeting, go around the room, and ask each cabinet secretary to discuss their most controversial policy or activity. Order each one to cease and desist from implementing any of those policies or activities until the new president is sworn in. You don’t need any more of this crap.”
“Great idea, Gerges. Take care of both, would you please?”
“Immediately, sir.”
***
The phone rang at the Bloomfield Hills Law Offices of Zachary Blake. The caller was Daniel Wolfe, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Zack and Wolfe had crossed paths in the past. Wolfe was part of a group of people who helped neutralize a couple of white supremacists involved in Zack’s Arya Khan and Jack Dylan cases back in the day. The two lawyers had a great deal of respect for each other.
“Dan Wolfe! How the hell are you?” Zack exclaimed.
Wolfe chuckled. “I’m fine, Zack. How have you been?”
“Doing well, despite a whole bunch of stuff being dumped on me from every which way. What can I do for you this fine morning, Dan?” Zack looked out his window. A beautiful day was dawning in suburban Detroit.
“I suppose you can guess why I’m calling.”
“I don’t have a clue, Dan—to catch up? To invite me to speak at the next U.S. Attorneys’ convention?” Zack quipped.
“Facilitation on the Gonzalez case?”
“Shit! I’m an idiot. A federal case against the government in the Eastern District, U.S. Attorney—I didn’t even make the connection. So, buddy, it’s you versus me in the biggest case since the Bloomfield school shooting case?”
“Unless you count bringing down a Supreme Court nominee.” Wolfe retorted.
“Yeah, that was a big one, too, I guess.”
“Be he ever so humble.”
“Yeah, that’s me, Mr. Humble.” Zack laughed.
“So, Zack, facilitation? President Golding’s Chief of Staff, Colin Gerges, reached out to me personally and asked me to make this inquiry.”
“I’m the one who floated the idea at the press conference. I’m glad it’s you, Dan. Pleased to have a friendly adversary in the government for a change.”
“Don’t expect me to roll over for you, bud.”
“I expect you to be fair and honest, as you’ve always been. No baloney. The stakes are too high on both sides of these issues. Can we agree on that?”
“Wholeheartedly, my friend. Any ideas on a Facilitator?”
“I’ve always used Stuart Frazier. Solid credentials. Does a good job.”
“Stu’s a good guy and an excellent choice. Is this in his wheelhouse?”
“Is this in anyone’s wheelhouse, Dan?”
“I guess not. We can discuss other choices if Stu’s not available. Perhaps someone with federal or immigration experience?”
“How about Marshall Mann?” Zack kibitzed.
“You’re a funny guy, Blake. That’s why I like you. I suppose you could ask Marshall to recommend someone,” Wolfe suggested.
“I’ll ask him, but I’m comfortable with Stu if you are.”
“If he’s available, I’m game.”
“I’ll reach out to him and ask Marshall for another name. Hey, I’ve got an idea. Would you prefer to use both? A litigator and an immigration guy?”
“That might be a good way to go—cover both bases.”
“I’ll see who Marshall suggests, and I’ll contact Stu.”
“Sounds like a plan. Going to be downtown any time soon?”
“Day after tomorrow. Motion in front of Lockjaw.”
“Oy, Judge Putnam? I’m glad I’m federal. What a putz!”
“And the way he talks with his mouth closed, teeth clenched tight. He looks angry 24/7. No one can understand a word he says. It’s annoying.”
“Such is life. Call me when you’re done with Lockjaw. We’ll have lunch.”
“It’s a date. Hopefully, I’ll have news to report from Stu and Marsh.”
“Sounds like a plan. Talk soon. Bye.”
Zack placed the phone on the receiver and sighed. “Dan Wolfe . . .” He whispered aloud. Is this good news or bad? Do I want an enemy or a friend, a ‘frenemy’ so to speak? Probably the latter; time will tell. Dan’s as good a draw as I could hope for under these difficult circumstances. He sure didn’t seem intimidated by the case, the situation, or me, that’s for sure.
