Shadows of Death

Chapter 4(Charlie Section 4)

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Charlie answered: "Hello"

After a short pause, he added: "My mom sent you?"

Angel Godarzi said: "No!"

His short answer make Charlie surprised but before he could voice his confusion, Mr. Godarzi continued: "Mr. Artimani asked this favor for you!"

Charlie quickly asked: "Christopher is still in the country?"

"No. I mean Edward Artimani asked this favor for you!"

The name of Edward Artimani was familiar to him. Baffled, he asked: "Christopher's grandfather?!"

"Yes. The grandfather of Master Christopher Artimani."

After he gave this answer, he opened his briefcase. Charlie, more surprised than ever, asked: "Why?"

"Why what, Charlie?"

"Why did Christopher's grandfather send you? Why didn't my mother hire a lawyer?!

Angel Godarzi took out a yellow notebook from his suitcase. It looked like a diary. It was yellow and had red hearts drawn in the middle of the cover. Charlie was sure it was a diary. Angel looked at the notebook and said: "Let me be clear about something for you, Charlie. Do you know why my speech with the Major was so unfriendly?"

Charlie honestly said: "No."

Mr. Godarzi nodded and said: "Then listen carefully, Charlie. Last year, this major found some documents that showed Mr. Artimani – I mean Christopher's grandfather – was implicated in a few murders. He even brought him to court but I," he patted his chest proudly, "showed that all of the documents were baseless and unfounded in the court. I can say I won that game. The Major still believes that Christopher's grandfather is culpable for those murders and maybe this is the reason he does not like me too much!"

Charlie agreed with the last part of his speech and said: "He still thinks I'm a member of some terrorist cell."

Angel laughed and said: "He is a suspicious sort, to be sure!"

He paused and then added: "Well, we have an agreement here so you can know I'm a professional lawyer and I'm ready to represent you."

Charlie interrupted him and said: "Christopher asked his grandfather to send you?"

Angel finished closing his suitcase and said: "Yeah, but not exactly!"

Charlie didn't get his meaning and with surprise asked: "Excuse me?!"

Mr. Godarzi stared into his eyes and said: "Just take my advice... don't think about Christopher."

And before Charlie could ask "Why?" he pushed the yellow diary toward him and continued: "Take it, Charlie, this is yours."

Charlie with a little hesitation picked it up and asked: "What is it?"

Mr. Godarzi said: "I think you should already understand this is a diary!"

Charlie started to open the diary but Mr. Godarzi warned him: "Don't do it. We don't have time for such things right now."

Charlie protested: "So what is this diary?"

Mr. Godarzi said: "Samuel took it. Samuel Kamali. He gave it to the officers and with their knowledge this is here now."

Charlie raised his eyebrows in surprise and said: "Samuel? Debra's brother? I thought he hated me!"

Samuel was Debra's little brother. He didn't like Charlie at all and they had not met each other a lot. Since his curiosity was extremely high he started again to open it and see what written in the diary. All he could guess was that this diary was a few years old because of the beat-up cover! But before he could open it Mr. Godarzi took it out of his hands and very seriously said: "You'll have enough time to read it later."

He set the diary on the table then picked up his expensive-looking briefcase and placed it behind the table leg with caution. He stared for a moment at Charlie and then suddenly leaned towards him. Resting his hands flat on the table, he brought his face as close as he could to Charlie's face, so close that his nose bumped into Charlie's! Then with a secretive voice he said: "You'll take your words back. Everything that you said until now. I want you do it very convincingly. Pretend you have been under psychological pressure. The word 'torture' is a good and suitable word for describing it. Do you understand, Charlie?!"

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Continue: Chapter 4 (Charlie Section 5)