I WAS LEERY OF LISA’S ABILITIES, but it felt good to know she’d have my back. We spent some time working out how we would communicate and then headed back to DC. By the time we got through traffic, I had to rush back to Kalorama to make my appointment with Clovis and Stella.
We had agreed to meet at the Lebanese Taverna, one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Angie and I had eaten there on many occasions, for both celebrations and one that would alter the course of history. The décor had changed over the years, but the quality of the food had not. Their fattoush and shawarma were irresistible. I spotted my friends at a booth near the kitchen, sat down and tried to loosen the tension with a tired joke about baba ghanoush. Stella wasn’t buying, and Clovis didn’t try to stop her.
“Cut it out, Jack. I promise you no one can listen to our conversation, but what the hell? I’ve now dismantled all the protections I just installed on your phones and computers. God knows why. What on earth is going on?” Her tone was just above a whisper.
Fortunately, a waiter I knew well appeared, and we quickly placed our orders. I spent the next half-hour telling them about my meeting with Hans at Lafayette Park, my lunch with Maggie and Walter, and my trip to Falls Church. Clovis was more confident about Lisa’s ability to remain in the background.
“I’m more impressed with her every day. You might just lose that bet,” he commented.
“I’ll be glad to pay up. But let’s talk about your roles in my theater of the absurd.”
My plan was for Clovis to travel with me to meet Thibodeaux. On the return flight to DC, the plane would drop him off in Little Rock. Stella would take a commercial flight to Arkansas tomorrow. Walter would call Stella a couple days later, asking her to return to DC for consulting work. Yes, she could bring Clovis along.
“Walter knows the consulting work must be real and that it can’t raise any red flags. Meanwhile, Stella, please try to solve the puzzle of David’s software. What exactly does it do? And forget what I said about Hans’ abilities. I know you can find a way to protect our conversations and computers from the bad guys.”
“I’ll do my best, but those are tall orders,” she answered, looking pleased as punch.
“Clovis, you and I can talk on the plane. I don’t think even Hans or his clients can listen to a conversation aboard a private plane.”
“Please put your phones on airplane mode,” Stella grinned. “Fasten your seatbelts and be sure your seats are in their upright and locked position.”
Clovis wasn’t amused. “Jack, are you sure you’re going about this the right way? You still have friends at Justice. Surely, they would believe what you know about Hans and his threats. Do you really think you can outsmart him, his thugs, and a gang of high-powered lawyers? All by yourself? Wouldn’t it be better and safer to turn everything over to the authorities?”
“Don’t think that thought hasn’t crossed my mind. But where does that leave David? Something tells me the computer companies and the government are in cahoots, despite outward appearances. The timing of the lawsuit and the indictment couldn’t have been just coincidence. I may be wrong, God knows I often am. But I feel sure the key to this case is David’s software. Once I know its purpose, I’ll be a long way toward developing a defense.”
Stella asked, “Can’t you just ask him?”
“You’d think so, right? So far, my time with him has been limited, but when I see him again, you can be sure I’ll ask. But I don’t think his answer will tell us much. His software probably does exactly what he created it to do, and as such isn’t a threat to anyone.
“But what if it does more than he intended? More than even he realizes. What if the computer companies and the government see another use? An unintended consequence, so to speak. Maybe, maybe not. But I know one thing—David’s adversaries are scared to death, so frightened they’re willing to put David behind bars for years and threaten to kill his attorney and anyone else who tries to help him.
“Stella, I need you to find out not only what the software does on the surface, but also any other applications it may have—that bigger picture.”
Stella was slow to respond. “You know I’ll do whatever I can, but what if I discover that David did indeed steal someone else’s software and claim it for his own? What if the government’s claims are valid, that David is a hacker out to destroy the internet? Sorry for my exaggeration, but…”
“I can deal with that,” I interrupted. “Not easily, and don’t ask me how. But I’d bet my life he didn’t steal anyone’s software and is not any kind of threat to the government. If another company originated this software first, why would the other companies be party to the lawsuit? No, they all want a piece of what he created. If David had copied someone else’s work, he would have received a cease-and-desist letter, not a seventy-page complaint.”
Clovis objected, “Sounds to me like you’re betting your life on someone you’ve met only once at the request of a mob boss. I still think you’re much better off to tell Thibodeaux to get another lawyer. Martin and I can keep you safe from any type of revenge he might seek.”
Why didn’t anyone seem to understand? I knew they were only trying to protect me, and to be honest, themselves. Maybe I hadn’t been clear. I decided to try again.
“Clovis, I didn’t take this case because I was afraid of what would happen if I didn’t. I took on David’s defense because for many years Tom has protected my daughter, and defending his grandson is the least I can do in return. Now that I’ve met David, I believe he’s innocent; he has no idea why he’s been charged and no sense of having done anything wrong. The odds are stacked against him, and he needs help. I know lawyers who would take his case, plead him out, and give away his software.
“But think about it: reputable lawyers don’t hire thugs to kill the opposing attorney. The FBI doesn’t release kidnappers and turn a blind eye from a laundry list of crimes and criminals unless they have orders from way above. A young man doesn’t become the target of the best and brightest at the Justice Department without a single leak to the press. Hans has told me, more than once, that both the criminal action and the civil suit are sure winners, no way they can lose. So why did he kidnap me, steal my identity, and leave me for dead in a swamp? Why have they followed me, invaded my home, tapped our computers and phones, and now threatened to kill those I love if I don’t lose the case?
“There must be a logical reason behind this behavior. It’s a question of motive—when we know the ‘why,’ we’ll have answers to those questions and be able to provide David the defense he deserves.”
I had tried to keep my voice down, but I noticed that other diners were looking our way or trying not to. Fortunately, the waiter appeared with both coffee and the bill, giving me time to calm down.
Stella had been stirring her thick, Lebanese coffee. “You basically fired us all this morning. What was all that about? The team is in place, we just need to be more careful in how we communicate.”
“I wish it were that simple. I still must prepare the case on my own, and the threats against Maggie and Beth are very real. How do I look like I’m throwing the case while I’m really trying to win? I haven’t figured that part out yet. This morning was a diversion, in hopes of getting Hans and others to lower their guard. It probably won’t work, but it might buy me some space and time. I need both.”
We let the subject drop, made our goodbyes, and went our separate ways. It was hard to believe that this time tomorrow I would be in New Orleans, maybe even about to head home again. My day had begun with Duke telling me how he would defend David. I wondered where I would be if I had just given in. Would Hans have issued his threats? I certainly wouldn’t be flying to New Orleans to explain why Tom Thibodeaux’s grandson should remain in jail a while longer.