The Cynthia Morgan Story

Heading for Jason’s office, Alex ran into him near the waiting room. Right away, noticing a man sitting there, looking like he was reading a magazine, Alex wouldn’t have noticed him, but something about him didn’t seem right. Then he saw it, the magazine was upside down. Taking that moment, he signaled Jason to be careful what he was about to say. “I think we have an eavesdropper,” he indicated with a nod of his head. “The man in the gray suit?” he whispered, looking as though he were showing Alex a file he was to work on. “What do you want to do about him?” “Follow my lead,” he instructed. And with a silent nod, Alex cleared his throat, “I understand you want this done before Mr. Whiting gets here?” “Yes. I would have Moorsted do it, but I have him working that new case in Atlanta.” “And not the Philips case?” Samuel Epstein asked, when walking up to the two of them. “What’s going on with that case? I thought we had that one in the bag!” “Sorry, Sam,” Jason turned, when hearing his law partner’s voice, “I had to put that on hold, as we don’t have all the information needed to convict him.” “And who is this?” he asked, looking squarely at Alex. “This is…” He stopped, nearly telling him Alex’s real name. “Jordan Scott,” Alex chimed in, seeing how his friend nearly lost it. “I’m standing in for young Moorsted, while he is out on another case.” “Are you any good?” “Frighteningly,” he smiled. “Hmmm, we’ll just have to see about that,” the man said cynically. “Nevertheless, I’m on my way to court. I’m late as it is.” “Mr. Epstein,” Cindy cut in. “This man is h…here,” she turned to point him out, only to see an empty chair, and the magazine lying on the table haphazardly. “I’m sorry, but there was a man sitting right there, saying he needed to speak with you.” “Well, if he wanted to speak to me, he’ll just have to call and make an appointment like everyone else,” Epstein said gruffly, while on his way to the front door. Stopping, he turned back to Alex, “Mr. Scott, do a good job, and we just might have to add you on permanently.” “Somehow I don’t think he would be interested,” Jason laughed once the man left. “No, I don’t think so,” Alex agreed, not liking the man’s attitude. “Well, I have some time on my hands, until my next appointment. What do you say we get out of here for awhile?” Jason suggested. “Sounds good. Just let me grab some notes off my desk, and lock up.” While waiting on Alex, Jason went back to his own office to lock up as well. “Ready?” Alex asked, meeting him in the waiting room. “Yes. Cindy,” he spoke up, heading for the door, “we’re going out for a bite to eat. Hold my calls for me!” “Yes, sir.” “Oh, and Cindy,” Alex interjected a sense of caution, “don’t tell anyone where he went. Do you understand?” “Yes, sir.” Reaching the sidewalk just outside the office building, the two were temporarily blinded by the early afternoon sunlight. “Well, we know this is going to be a nice day,” Jason noted, while shielding his eyes for a moment, until they could get adjusted to the change. “Yes,” Alex agreed, spotting Ted down the street a ways, when getting on his cell phone to call him. “Yes?” Ted came back. “A short while ago. Not even fifteen minutes, did you see a man in a gray suit come out?” “Yes. He got into a sliver pickup with another man, matching Philip’s description, and drove off.” “By any chance did you get a plate number?” “Yes. It’s registered to a C. C. Philips Corporation.” “That’s one of Philips’ other businesses,” Jason offered. “Did you hear that?” “Yes. Manning is on it now.” “How’s that?” “When I saw the man get out, leaving the other behind. I saw him carrying in a white envelope, like the ones left under Kyle’s door, marked the same way. After running the plates, I radioed Manning to be ready to follow.” “Good work! Oh, and are you hungry? We were just about to go and get something. Do you want to join us?” “Sure. Just let me call Manning and see how that’s going.” “We’ll see you at our usual spot, down the road from the motel.” Getting off his phone, the two headed for Alex’s Blazer and were soon off. Upon reaching the restaurant, Alex looked around to see if they could talk freely. “What do you think?” Jason asked, taking a seat near the window. Taking out his cell phone again to make another call, Alex nodded. “Yeah, looks pretty quiet! Just let me make this call, and I’ll be ready to order.” “Who to?” “A hotel not far from your office, but well within reach of your house. There, Ted and I will stay, along with an adjoining room for Kyle and Marcose, when Marcose brings your family back.” “That can’t be soon enough for me. But why Kyle, and in an adjoining room?” “To keep him out of sight, while helping me gather more information. Philips thinks he is still out of town, remember? And after our uninvited guest back at the office, by now he should have gotten the word that young Moorsted is still out, working another case.” “Yes. Let’s just hope he keeps thinking that.” “Well, that, and what you told your partner! Which brings me to ask.” “What?” “Your partner, just how well do you know him?” “Sam? Well… shortly after moving here. Why?” “It may be nothing, but something in the way he acted when he saw me. That, and he wasn’t all that friendly about my taking over for Kyle, while he’s out.” “Alex…” “No, just hear me out. Ted said the man who went into the office had an envelope, just like the ones that had been left under Kyle’s door. When he saw Sam walk up, I couldn’t help but notice how he had gotten out of there rather quickly.” “You’re right. He did. So does this mean you are going to have him checked out, too?” “Would that upset you?” Feeling dismayed at the thought of his own law partner conspiring with such a man bothered him. And now with all the threats against him! “No. Just do what you have to. I want this over with so we can get on with our lives.” “And if he is crooked?” he lowered his voice, seeing a waitress heading their way with two glasses of water, and a few menus tucked up under her arm. “Nail his hide to the nearest tree,” Jason thundered quietly. “Give us a moment,” Alex smiled at the woman, in an attempt to throw her off of any part of their conversation she may have overheard, “we’re waiting on one other person to join us.” “All right,” she smiled, “I’ll be back with a menu for him too. For now would either of you want something to drink, while you’re waiting?” “Coffee, black,” Alex ordered, while pretending to look at the menu. “Same here,” Jason nodded. “Okay!” she continued to smile, and walked away. Their wait on Ted wasn’t long. When he arrived, he had some interesting news about Epstein. “Your partner,” he began, when Alex handed him his menu, “met up with the man from your office, shortly after leaving there. And I must say,” he lowered his voice, while looking around them, “Epstein was not one bit happy with him.” “Oh?” Alex grinned. “Was Manning able to pick up on any of their conversation?” “Better than that, he taped it.” “What?” Jason asked, looking surprised to see the recorder Ted had brought with him. “Yes, Manning gave this to me, before leaving to come here. So listen carefully to what was said,” he instructed, placing it in the middle of the table. “Oh, and Alex, you might find it rather amusing, too. Not to mention, there are some things on there that aren’t so amusing.” “You’ve listened to it already?” he asked. “Yes, in case there was something we needed to act on right away.” “And was there?” he asked, looking around for their waitress. “No.” “Good. But before we start listing to this, we best be flagging down our waitress, before she comes back in the middle of hearing it.” Shortly after giving their order, the three gathered close, once it was safe to hear what was taped, so not to miss a thing.