Deadly Distractions, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 6 Read online

CHAPTER 4

  CDA

  Rebekah and the kids were pretty upset that we had to cut our vacation short. We had planned to take the train through the Royal Gorge and everyone had really been looking forward to it. I hated coming home early, but I was so sick over the CDA involvement in Dusty’s case that I couldn’t sleep or even think about anything else. I had to get home and try to undo what had happened in my absence. Paula just didn’t understand what it would mean to have the CDA supporting Dusty. Their organization was run by neo-Nazis anarchists who’d just as soon slice your throat as say good morning. The CDA had one overriding tenet and that was the overthrow of the United States Government. Obviously if they could drum up support for the proposition that the income tax was illegal, it would create chaos in Washington and give them the opportunity they were looking for to seize power. It was a pretty ridiculous idea, but the people in charge at the CDA were not very realistic.

  We drove straight through and got back home to Dallas in the middle of the night. I carried Marcia in and put her to bed. Then I went back for Peter who was still asleep in the backseat. Reggie and Mark helped me unload the van and then went upstairs. As I climbed into bed, I looked at Rebekah lying there asleep. She was so beautiful and I loved her so much. Why did everything have to be so hard for us? It scared me to think of what lay ahead.

  Although exhausted from the long drive, it took me forever to fall asleep. When I awoke it was daylight outside. I looked at the clock radio and was shocked to see it was eleven o’clock. Rebekah was nowhere to be seen, so I wandered around the house looking for her. I found her washing clothes.

  “Well, look who’s up,” she said.

  “Why did you let me sleep so late?”

  “You needed it after driving twelve hours straight.”

  “Yeah, I guess. Where are the kids?”

  “The boys are still asleep. Marcia is in her room playing with the Indian dolls you bought her.”

  “Hmm. Got any coffee made?” I asked.

  “A pot is on the stove.”

  I headed for the kitchen, found a cup, and poured myself a cup. As I sat down at the kitchen table, I noticed the newspaper laying there still in its plastic container. I pulled off the plastic sleeve and the paper unfolded before me. The headlines took my breath away.

  CDA TO FUND DUSTY THOMAS DEFENSE

  TURNER LAW FIRM GIVEN $50,000 RETAINER

  I read the story incredulously. Paula hadn’t mentioned the CDA paying us. What was going on? How could she not tell me that little detail? I was outraged.

  After quickly getting dressed, I kissed Rebekah goodbye and raced to the office. Fortunately, I had cooled down a little before I got there. Okay, let her explain. Don’t be an asshole. Jodie gave me a sympathetic smile as I walked in. She asked if Rebekah and the kids had enjoyed Colorado.

  "Yes, they loved it. It's so beautiful this time of year and so much cooler than around here."

  "I bet. I'm sorry about all the interruptions."

  "It's all right. Just one of the joys of practicing law," I said trying to keep my cool. "Anything else happen while I was gone I need to know about?"

  "No. Other than Dusty and Tex it was very quiet. . . . Oh, we may be getting a new corporate client. A representative of a Fortune 500 company called and said we were under consideration for some contract work. He said he was looking at several firms, but that we had a good shot at it. I gave him our reference list."

  "Good. Some steady contract work from a client who can actually pay for it would be great. What company was it?"

  "He didn't say. Apparently the search is hush-hush until a decision is made."

  "Hmm." I smiled at Jodie and then walked into Paula’s office.

  She looked up but didn’t smile. “So, we’ve got a fat bank account now,” I said.

  Paula frowned. “I was going to tell you, but you cut me off. Dusty didn’t have the money to pay us and we can’t try this case for nothing.”

  “You don’t feel like a slimeball taking their money?”

  “No, not at all. I’m only thinking of Dusty. His life is at stake and he’s gonna die if we can’t prove he’s innocent.”

  Jodie appeared at the door and swallowed hard. I glanced at her and then looked back at Paula.“Once you get in bed with these bastards your reputation turns to crap. We’ll have every scumball in the world knocking at our door. Worse yet, the government is going to think we’re corrupt and they’ll be bugging our phones and following us everywhere we go.”

  “You're overreacting,” Paula said. “Everyone has a right to defend themselves. Reputable law firms can defend criminals. It happens every day.”

  “I don’t like it. We could have raised the money from other sources. I’m sure Dusty’s church could have helped raise some money.”

  Paula laughed. “Right, we’re gonna do this case for $5,000?”

  “She’s right,” Jodie said. “It’ll take a truckload of money to win this case. You can’t be worrying about paying the rent every month. You won’t have time for that.”

  I looked at Jodie and then Paula. Was I being too idealistic? It felt wrong to take the CDA money and I was sick about it. But Paula and Jodie were right about one thing. I couldn’t afford any distractions if we were to have a prayer of saving Dusty’s life. The question was, if we failed, what would be the consequences of our alliance with the devil himself.