Bad Blood (6Questions)

Day 35

"Mr. Carlow!"

"Mr. Hora," I turn with little to no enthusiasm. The last person I wished to come across in my hotel lobby before breakfast.

Well, that's exaggeration, there are definitely more than a few other people I would fancy seeing much lesser. Still, meeting with the attorney half an hour into my morning, not ideal either. The lesser that he's starting to make this a rather annoying routine.

"Can you give me two minutes to go through a few more details of our case?"

I look at him. It's a rhetorical question, I don't get much choice - he's already aiming towards the sofas.

"Let's go somewhere else," at least I walk him out on the street tiredly. Whatever he has to say to me, I'm pretty sure it's not the best subject to potential eavesdropping. And neither moving out of my apartment back to a hotel room made me feel safe enough to calm down completely.

Sun stabs me in my still a little sleepy eyes. This better be worth it. Urgent. Then again, you know, rather not...

"It's been proven I have bugs in my flat," I explain to his slightly surprised look that we manage a meeting outside, especially on such a cold April morning. "My phone is tapped. Now I change it every day..."

"Yeah, I've tried to call you before..."

I shrug - unconcerned, tired. "I avoid the internet, moved in a hotel, plan on changing it every few days... What can you do," I sigh.

"That's not because of our case, right?" Hora tosses his head, quite disturbed by the possibility there's a nothing-to-do-about situation.

"No, probably not," I return his searching look without saying a word more. We cross the street and walk a few blocks down the road to a small park under the blossoming cherries.

"What is it, then?" I choose a bench aloof from the main path.

"I wanted to discuss one more detail about our strategy."

Clearly. "And you go to me? Why not Marianne?"

He checks the surroundings little happily. "See, I'd rather discuss this directly with you. It's... a factual problem, not exactly a question of law."

I arch my brows a bit. Not a legal question or not a legal approach at all?

He holds my slightly ironic look with lips tight together. "You seem to be in charge of taking care of... things."

I'd say I don't understand his evasive marks. But I'd lie. "Things?"

"Arranging things. Your own way..."

I put up with the soft sarcasm. I do deal with things. My own way. It's a praise, really, despite what he implies. So what, illegal? Here he comes to me for help straight away.

"Fine, just... I'm guessing you're building some kind of alibi here, doctor," I toss my head, "but you'll really have to be a little more specific about what things need to be arranged." I've learned way too much about this shady world to go anywhere without a partner in crime.

He inhales, looking around one more time.
Jesus, now again we're not being listened to in a bloody park, I roll my eyes.

"So, the police recording of Marianne's testimony..."

I scowl. Just hearing about it makes me edgy every time. "What about it?"

"We need to put it forth at the court when the prosecutor doesn't. But the police deny they have it."

I shrug. "I saw it. They have it."

Hora nods meaningfully. And stares at me, leaving me to figure the rest.