“You weren’t the prosecutor in that case,” Ant interrupted him again. “During the time of the murder trial, you were working for the law firm Lawton, McDougall, and Floyd as a junior legal assistant. You weren’t, at that point in time, representing clients or prosecuting cases at all.”
Hammond flicked an uneasy glance at Viktor. “Regardless,” he said slowly, “I still feel as a crucial part of who I am as a lawyer, it does not feel right to share information with anyone without the proper credentials.”
“Are the credentials you’re referring to the same ones you spout off to a judge in court every time you use my testimony?” Ant got up from his chair. But then, instead of heading for the door, as Viktor and Hammond both clearly expected, he rested his hands on Hammond’s desk and glared at the man.
“You appear to have similar issues to Captain Bains,” he said softly. “Everything about you, the way you present yourself and your aura, all suggest you’re being manipulated. I wonder what would happen to you if you gave me that file?”
“I…er…I… You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hammond blustered.
“You’re entitled to your opinion. My opinion, in this instance, is that you were told to ensure I did not get the full file on Carol Doukas’s murder. Fair enough. I have other ways of finding out the information I need. In the meantime, you should understand that I will find out who is working behind the scenes and pulling your strings. When I find out who that person is, they will be dealt with in accordance with any and all applicable laws.”
“Doctor Channon, I…”
“Don’t say anything else. You’ll only incriminate yourself. I will bring this person down, and when I do, every one of the minions caught in that person’s strings below them will fall, too. I’m getting tired of being given the runaround. All I asked you for was a file – something I’ve done a hundred times before. You really shouldn’t have been so obstructive.”
Silence. Ant didn’t move, nor did Hammond. Then Hammond looked at Viktor again, and his jaw tightened. “Look, Doctor Channon, I’m going to say this frankly. I find your association with a known gangster a real concern. The fact that you are investigating a murder for another gangster compounds that concern. Those sorts of associations, should they become public, could cause all sorts of damage to your reputation.”
A sub-vocal growl filled the room. “Are you threatening my mate?" Viktor’s hands fisted and he took a step toward the desk, stopped by Ant’s chuckle.
“You’re resorting to desperate measures, now, Mr. Hammond. I’ve never concerned myself with what others think about me. At least I’m free to think and do as I please. Whereas you…” Ant stopped mid-sentence, raised his hand, and drew a large circle in the area of space between himself and the prosecutor.
A green screen appeared in the air, hovering, pulsating, moving as though it had its own heartbeat. Ant ran his hand over it, causing the green to sparkle, before it just as suddenly disappeared.
“How interesting,” Ant said. “At least I know what’s happening now.”
Happening? What’s happening?Viktor didn’t have a clue, and apparently Hammond didn’t, either.
“Doctor Channon, I don’t know what any of that magic you used was supposed to signify, but there is nothing untoward goingon,” Hammond said, doing his best to sound as though he was in charge of the situation.
“No, that’s fine. Say no more,” Ant said, holding up a finger. “We won’t take up any more of your time. For the record, I have every right to investigate the murder of Carol Doukas. I have every right to investigate the murder of the homeless person known as Frankie, who was put away for that murder, even though the police and everyone else concerned knew he wasn’t responsible for Carol’s death. I also, just in case you’re interested, have the right to take on a case for Carmine Doukas, regardless of your opinion of him. His money is the same as anybody else’s, and his sister was an innocent. I’m sure you’ve dealt with similar cases where you didn’t agree with the ethics of the person you were defending.”
“I don’t take on cases for gangsters,” Hammond snapped back, finding a tiny shred of his backbone at last. “I’m the one working every hour under the sun to put people like that in jail.”
“As you should. It’s what you get paid for. I don’t agree with Carmine Doukas’s morals, values, judgments, or the way he runs his businesses, either. However, he is a human, and as a person, he has the same rights to ask for my assistance as anyone else.”
Standing up fully, Ant said quietly, “You’ll be hearing from the Mage Academy with a formal request for the case files relating to the Carol Doukas murder and to the murder of the inmate known as Frankie, who was sentenced and then killed within a week of going to jail. I will expect a response from them within two days, or you will have to deal with the Mage Academy and face the consequences. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you alone to your...” Another circle appeared in the air. This time the circle was blue. “Ah, yes, very interesting. You have been a busy man,” Ant said.
Once again, he flicked his finger at the mass of energy, causing it to spark before it disappeared.
“I know exactly what you’re doing, and I know exactly what you’ve done, Mr. Hammond,” Ant said. “It’s handy, isn’t it? It means you don’t have to say anything. Thank you for your time. It’s been interesting.
“Viktor, shall we go and find somewhere to have lunch? Able needs water and a break from his leash. After that, we can follow up on the leads Mr. Hammond has shared with us. How does that sound?”
“Sounds perfect to me,” Viktor said, tucking Ant under his arm. If looks could kill, Ant would be in a heap on the floor.
Although Viktor was astute enough to realize it might not have been Ant that Hammond was pissed off with. It could’ve been himself, maybe even Able, although Viktor quickly discounted the idea that Able could be hated by anyone. The dog was just adorable.
“Hey,” he said softly as they made their way back to the car. “What was all that business with the magical circles? Is that another way for you to see things?”
“No, they were simply magical gimmicks.” Ant’s voice was flat. “Hammond’s office was bugged – my magic told me that much. But the circle business and cryptic comments…” He sighed. “You’ll probably tell me I shouldn’t have done it. It wasn’t very professional of me. I was just getting annoyed. It really sucks. I’ve worked with these people for years, saved them so much time and money and now they’re treating me as if I were a piece of gum on the bottom of their shoe.
“Although no…” Ant stopped walking. “That analogy doesn’t work. Never mind. They’re trying to manipulate and use me. Ican’t think of an analogy that would work in that situation, but that’s how I feel.” He started walking again.
Viktor started to chuckle. “Are you telling me, my devious, darling mate, that you deliberately gave Hammond the impression that you knew all his dirty little secrets, when you didn’t?”
“Yes.” Ant looked up. “Was that wrong of me? Bridget will probably tell me that was the wrong thing to do. It’s not right to mislead people.”
“I think it’s hilarious.” Viktor’s laughter was causing more than one head to turn in their direction. “Hammond is going to be pissing his pants all afternoon wondering what you’re going to do with the information he thinks you got with magical means. That’s without being equally terrified that whoever has his office bugged is going to think he’s shared information with you that they want kept secret. Hammond’s not going to be able to sleep. He’ll probably throw up his lunch. Mate, you are incredible, did you know that?”
