from his own brother on the eve of Christmas would not hesitate to abscond with the ill-gotten funds during the long months of litigation. This, Jared concluded, was that special case justifying special measures.
Desmond’s responding delivery, though chastened, was meticulous, mapping out the same precedent that Jared had researched to reach his own conclusion that Russell had the law on his side. But the judge’s eyes remained stony throughout the presentation.
Desmond sat down at last. The judge pushed back his chair and crooked a finger toward his law clerk, who stepped up to the bench. Their whispered exchange lasted several minutes before the clerk returned to his desk.
“Gentlemen,” the judge said, leaning into the bench, “Philip Olney’s motion is granted. I will sign the order to freeze all bank accounts of the defendant, Russell Olney.”
Jared suppressed a jolt of satisfaction at these words; felt his client squeeze his arm. “Thank you, Your Honor,” he said, quickly gathering his papers. You win a motion, you get out of the courtroom fast before the judge has a chance to change his mind.
“Your Honor,” Desmond called out. “There is the matter of a bond.”
Not fast enough. Jared had hoped, if he won, that Desmond would be too startled to bring this topic up.
The judge halted in the middle of the difficult task of raising himself to leave the bench. “Are you requesting a bond?”
“Yes, Your Honor.” Desmond learned quickly, and his pitch was short and to the point. “It is generally mandatory, sir.”
The judge glowered and turned to Jared. “Counsel?”
Desmond was on the right side of the law again. The bond could be waived, but seldom was. He glanced at Phil, who he knew was running on empty. Jared had asked for a seven-thousand-dollar retainer when he took the case. Phil had responded that all he could raise was three, even after maxing out his credit cards.
“Your Honor, under the circumstances, my client is in no position to post a bond. His funds,” he said, waving toward Russell, “are in the hands of his brother.”
Jared hoped Desmond would belabor the point and annoy the judge into the leap of denying the bond. But he did not. Judge Kramer looked down to his papers and rubbed the crook of his nose between his finger and thumb.
“Very well,” he said at last. “A bond is required. But given the facts of this matter, I will require a nominal bond only, and I will give some extra time for it to be raised. Mr. Philip Olney will post a three-thousand-dollar bond with this court within ninety days, or the injunction will be dissolved.”
Jared heard a soft groan from his client. The judge ponderously descended the steps of his bench and disappeared back through the courtroom door, his staff in his wake.
Jared did not even try to shake Desmond’s hand this time, but waited until his opponent and Russell had left the courtroom. His client stood staring at him as Jared finally looked up.
“You did great,” Phil began, his eyes blank, “but no way I’ve got that kinda cash. We might as well’ve lost. I can’t put it together. An’ I can’t raise it, with the business frozen.”
Three days and nights. All the bills this one was going to cover. Jared reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his wallet. The retainer check was in the side flap. He held it up for Phil to see.
“No time to cash it. I’ll apply it to the bond.”
Philip looked uncertain. “Uh, I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say you’re good for it, Phil.”
“I am. I’m good for it, Counselor.”
Jared stuffed his papers into his battered valise. “Well, okay then.”
Back in his office, Jared sat leaning back, looking through a bar journal, when the door swung open. It was his assistant, Jessie Dickerson, her eyes lively.
“You snuck in while I was at lunch. Justice served today?”
“Clarence Darrow would have been proud.”
“Come on. Win, lose, or draw?”
Jared explained the outcome, leaving out returning the check.
“Awesome. Olney seemed all right to me.”
“Yeah, he is.” Jared couldn’t keep the pleasure entirely off of his face. He was always pleased to beat the pompous thousand-dollar-suit crowd. But Desmond wouldn’t miss a meal: knowing how the Tigers worked, he showed up in court today fully paid for his service—in advance.
It wasn’t that simple in a younger practice like Jared’s. You had to take chances with clients, like he did with Phil, hoping they weren’t deadbeats before he got too deep into their cases. He