TO KILL A LAWYER

Theodore ESQUIRE: The Trial

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Jack, Steve, and Tom walked into the sport's bar and found a booth near the far wall. After a few moments of frustrating complaints about the partners Dave and Burg, Tom threw a handful of nuts into his mouth.

"I'm about to go shoot a few rounds of pool."

Steve looked at Jack and pushed out a long breath. "So what are we going to do? This case is riding on our livelihood."

Jack rubbed his jaw a few times. "He didn't have to hit me. His payday is coming."

"What about the case?"

Jack touched his jaw once again and cringed. "There's only one thing we can do."

"What's that?"

"We need to get rid of Mr. Walker before the trial. No more kidnapping. No more threats." He stared at a spot on the table and slowly shook his head. "We need to get rid of everyone involved."

Steve pressed his fingers together. "I'm not trying to go to prison in case this goes wrong. Do you have someone who will make sure it's done? I don't trust your associates. They have failed time after time. We need someone who doesn't fail."

"I have someone," he said. "She's desperate and no one would think a thing. I bet she can get close to him."

"Who?"

"Tina."

Steve leaned back and slightly smiled. "Ok. I'm not disagreeing with this, but will she do it, knowing what's at stake. We can't afford to lose."

He took out a small black bag. "I was hoping to avoid this but it looks like we don't have a choice."

He made a call and talked for a few minutes before hanging up. Twenty minutes later, a blonde-haired woman entered the building. She had on blue jeans, pink sweater, and a brown hat pulled down to the top of her brows. Jack motioned her over to the table.

He slid a brown envelope. "It's fifty-thousand in there, just like we agreed. And there is more if you are willing to do us a tiny favor."

She opened the bag and took a quick glance. "How much more?

Jack eyed Tom and Steve. "Half a mill ...."

"Ok but what do I have to do?"

"Nothing too hard. We have a final task for you. I must warn you, there is no return from this. Prison time maybe possible if you're caught. I mean ... it's an easy task. We would do it but time is not on our side." He picked up a black bag off the floor and passed it to her. "Everything you need is in this bag."

She paused for a moment. "What's in it?"

"Open it and see."

Everyone stared in silence. She opened the bag and gazed at a 9mm and a note. Her heart fluttered. Without knowing everything, she knew based on the visual, that Dave and Burg wanted her to commit some type of crime.

One minute passed, then two. No words. Still silence. Still gazing. She reached into the bag and unfolded the note.

Jack pointed. "That's his office address and home address."

She closed the bag. "Ok, I'll do it. Whom do you want me to kidnap? His secretary? A friend? A family member"

Jack looked at Steve then Tom. "We don't want anyone kidnapped. Your task is to kill Mr. Theodore Walker before the trial." He glanced at his watch. "As of today, you have seven days and fifteen hours."

She pulled the bad closer. "Yes, sir."

"Wait a minute," Steve said. "How will we know when it's done? Pictures are not always accurate. You have three days. I want to see the report on the news. We will bump the ½ up to 1 million."

She narrowed her eyes and nodded. "Yes, sir."