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He sat low； his shoulders sagging； chin down； no pride here。 He did not look around because he could feel the stares from every direction。 Sandy put his arm on his shoulder and whispered something meaningless。
The door opened again； and T。L。 Parrish； the District Attorney； entered； alone； and walked to his table next to Patrick's。 Parrish was a bookish sort with a small ego； contained ego。 No higher office was calling him。 His trial work was methodical； absent of any trace of flamboyance； and lethal。 Parrish currently carried the second…highest conviction rate in the state。 He sat next to the Sheriff； who had moved from Patrick's table to where he belonged。 Behind him were agents Joshua Cutter； Brent Myers； and two other FBI types Parrish couldn't even name。
The stage was set for a spectacular trial； yet it was at least six months away。 A bailiff called them to order； made them stand while Judge Huskey entered and assumed his perch on the bench。 〃Please sit；〃 were his first words； and everyone obeyed。
〃The matter of State versus Patrick S。 Lanigan； case number 96…1140。 Is the defendant present？〃
〃Yes； Your Honor；〃 Sandy said； half…standing。
〃Would you please rise； Mr。 Lanigan？〃 Huskey asked。 Patrick； still handcuffed； slowly pushed his chair back and got to his feet。 He was semi…bent at the waist； with his chin and shoulders down。 And it was no act。 The depressant had deadened most parts of his body； including his brain。
He stiffened a bit。
〃Mr。 Lanigan； I'm holding a copy of an indictment returned against you by the grand jury of Harrison County； in which it is alleged you murdered one John Doe； a human being； and for this you have been charged with capital murder。 Have you read this indictment？〃
〃Yes sir；〃 he announced； chin up； voice as strong as he could make it。
〃Have you discussed it with your attorney？〃
〃Yes sir。〃
〃How do you wish to plead？〃
〃Not guilty。〃
〃Your plea of not guilty is accepted。 You may sit down。〃
Huskey shuffled some papers； then continued： 〃The Court； on its own motion； hereby imposes a gag order on the defendant； the attorneys； the police and investigating authorities； any and all witnesses； and all court personnel； effective now and lasting until the trial is over。 I have copies of this order for everyone to read。 Any violation of it will result in contempt of court； and I will deal harshly with any violators。 Not one word to any reporter or journalist without my approval。 Any questions from the attorneys？〃
His tone left little doubt that the Judge not only meant what he said； but relished the thought of going after violators。 The lawyers said nothing。
〃Good。 I have prepared a schedule for discovery； motions； pretrial； and trial。 It's available in the clerk's office。 Anything else？〃
Parrish stood and said； 〃Just one small matter； Your Honor。 We would like to get the defendant in our detention facility as soon as possible。 As you know； he's now at the base in a hospital； and； well； we…〃
〃I just talked to his doctor； Mr。 Parrish。 He's undergoing medical treatment。 I assure you that as soon as he is released by his doctor； then we'll transfer him to the Harrison County Jail。〃
〃Thank you； Judge。〃
〃If nothing else； then we stand adjourned。〃
He was rushed from the courtroom； down the back stairs； into the black Suburban as the cameras clicked and rolled。 Patrick nodded then napped as he was returned to the hospital。
Eighteen
'〃THE ONLY CRIMES Stephano possibly …JL mit±ed were the kidnapping and assault of Patrick； and convictions were unlikely。 It happened in South America； far from U。S。 jurisdiction。 The actual assault was conducted by others； including some Brazilians。 Stephano's lawyer was confident that they would prevail if pressed to trial。
But there were clients involved； and a reputation to protect。 The lawyer knew all too well the FBI's ability to harass without actually prosecuting。 It was his advice that Stephano cut the deal…agree to spill his guts in return for the government's promise to grant immunity to him and his clients。 Since no other crimes were involved； what was the harm？
The lawyer insisted on sitting with Stephano while his statement was taken。 The sessions would last for many hours over several days； but the lawyer wanted to be there。 Jaynes wanted it done in the Hoover
Building； by his men。 Coffee and pastries were served。 Two video cameras were aimed at the end of the table where Stephano sat calmly in his shirtsleeves； his lawyer by his side。
〃Would you state your name？〃 asked Underbill； the first of the interrogators； each of whom had memorized the Lanigan file。
〃Jonathan Edmund Stephano。 Jack。〃
〃And your pany is？〃
〃Edmund Associates。〃
〃And what does your pany do？〃
〃Lots of things。 Security consulting。 Surveillance。 Personnel research。 Locating of missing persons。〃
〃Who owns the pany？〃
〃I do。 All of it。〃
〃How many employees do you have？〃
〃It varies。 As of now； eleven full…time。 Thirty or so part…time； or freelancers。〃
〃Were you hired to find Patrick Lanigan？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃When？〃
〃March 28； 1992。〃 Stephano had files packed with notes； but he didn't need them。
〃Who hired you？〃
〃Benny Aricia； the man whose money was stolen。〃
〃How much did you charge him？〃
〃The initial retainer was two hundred grand。〃
〃How much has he paid you to date？〃
〃One point nine million。〃
〃What did you do after you were hired by Benny Aricia？〃
〃Several things。 I immediately flew to Nassau in the Bahamas to meet with the bank where the theft occurred。 It was a branch of the United Bank of Wales。 My client； Mr。 Aricia； and his former law firm； had established a new account there to receive the money； and； as we now know； someone else was waiting on the money； too。〃
〃Is Mr。 Aricia a U。S。 citizen？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why did he establish an account offshore？〃
〃It was ninety million dollars； sixty for him； thirty for the lawyers； and nobody wanted the money to appear in a bank in Biloxi。 Mr。 Aricia lived there at the time； and it was agreed by all that it would be a bad idea for anyone locally to see the money。〃
〃Was Mr。 Aricia trying to avoid the IRS？〃
〃I don't know。 You'll have to ask him。 That was none of my business。〃
〃Who did you talk to at the United Bank of Wales？〃
The lawyer snorted his disapproval； but said nothing。
〃Graham Dunlap； a Brit。 A vice president of some sort with the bank。〃
〃What did he tell you？〃
〃Same thing he told the FBI。 That the money was gone。〃
〃Where did it e from？〃
〃Here； in Washington。 The wire began at nine…thirty on the morning of March 26； 1992； originating from D。C。 National Bank。 It was a priority wire； meaning it would take less than an hour for it to land in Nassau。 At fifteen minutes after ten； the wire hit the United Bank； where it sat for nine minutes before it was wired to a bank in Malta。 From there； it was wired to Panama。〃
〃How did the money get wired out of the account？〃
The lawyer was irritated by this。 〃This is a waste of time；〃 he interrupted。 〃You guys have had this information for four years now。 You've spent more time with the bankers than my client has。〃
Underhill was unfazed。 〃We have a rig