JUDGE BUCKINGHAM GLOWERED at the defense table where David Ross sat alone.
“Mr. Ross, where is your attorney?”
“I don’t know, Your Honor.”
“Did he inform you that he could not be here?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“Or that he would be late?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“Have you heard from Mr. Fisher this morning?”
“No, I have not.”
“Did you ask that another attorney appear in his stead?”
“I didn’t know he wouldn’t be here, Your Honor.”
“That was not my question. Did you ask for another attorney?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“How about Mr. Glick?”
“I have not heard from him, either, Your Honor.”
“Have you attempted to call him?”
“No, Your Honor. And in any case, Mr. Fisher has taken over for him. Mr. Glick would not be prepared to resume questioning at this point.”
“That’s not what I asked, either. It is not your place to assess how this courtroom should be run. That is my business, and I will thank you to remember it.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Judge Buckingham sat up straight on the bench. “This is unacceptable. Herb Fisher knew he was to be here. Herb Fisher is not here. Herb Fisher is in contempt of court. Issue a bench warrant for his arrest, and haul him in here. I expect to see him at two o’clock sharp to show cause why he should not be held in contempt of court.”
Judge Buckingham banged the gavel and stalked from the courtroom.
Councilman Ross joined his son at the defense table.
“Any luck?” David said.
Ross shook his head. “I called Woodman & Weld. They haven’t heard from him and have no idea where he is.”
“What do we do now?”
“Who else would know?” The councilman frowned. “Who was that friend he mentioned the other night? With the mansions and the planes?”
“Stone Barrington.”
“That’s the one.” Ross whipped out his cell phone and called his secretary. “I need a phone number.”
• • •
MOOKIE EXITED THE courtroom and pulled out his cell phone, hesitating as his thumb hovered over the green call button. He didn’t want to make this call. He figured Taperelli wouldn’t be pleased about the news he had to report.
He figured right.
“What do you mean he isn’t there?” Taperelli shouted.
“He didn’t show up. No one knows where he is. The prosecutor’s pissed, and the judge issued some sort of warrant.”
“A bench warrant.”
“That’s the one.”
“The lawyer skipped out?”
“Or it’s just another stalling tactic. We’ll know at two o’clock.”
“I don’t want to wait till two o’clock.”
“I know, but what can we do?”
“The judge really issued a bench warrant?”
“Yeah. There’s cops looking for him.”
“That’s not good.”
“No kidding. You can’t compete with cops.”
“Damn. The guy skipped out. I wonder what happened.”
“You talked to him yesterday. Maybe you leaned on him a little hard.”
“You’re saying it’s my fault?”
“Of course not. But you’re an intimidating guy. Maybe he got scared.”
“It doesn’t add up. He shouldn’t have run.”
“Well, he’s not here. The kid’s here with no lawyer. So what do you want me to do? I can’t lean on him if he’s not here.”
“He got any close friends?”
“He’s got a girlfriend.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“I followed her the other night. He met her for drinks, walked her home, kissed her good night.”
“Who’s the girl?”
“I don’t know.”
“Find out. Find out who she is, find out where she works. Keep tabs on her till I tell you different. We’ll get to him through her.”
“You got it.”
Mookie left court and headed for the Upper West Side.