The Color of Law_ A Novel - Mark Gimenez [73]
The second agent was standing at his open door, but turned back when Scott yelled at him: “You want to bust illegals?” He pointed down the street at the yardmen. “Go arrest them! You can drive all over Highland Park this morning and arrest a hundred more Mexican nationals! But they mow the lawns of the richest men in Dallas, so you’re not going to their homes, are you? I know why you came to my house! I know the asshole giving you orders!”
“It’s McCall.”
An hour later, Scott was standing in front of Dan Ford’s desk, his adrenaline still pumping hard.
Dan sighed and said, “Perhaps. Perhaps you should reconsider your decision.”
“What, this is a warning from McCall, that he can hurt me? He didn’t hurt me, he hurt a poor Mexican girl! Who didn’t do a goddamned thing to him!”
Scott headed to the door, but stopped and turned back. “Oh, Dan, when you call the senator, tell him I said to go fuck himself.”
Scott stormed past Sue and into his office where he found Bobby stretched out on the sofa.
“Mr. Fenney?” Sue was at the door, pink phone slips in hand. “Reporters. They won’t stop calling.”
“No reporters.” Sue disappeared. Scott wiped sweat from his forehead, looked over at Bobby, and said, “They took Consuela.”
Bobby sat up. “Who?”
“INS. They showed up this morning, anonymous tip.”
“From McCall.”
Scott slumped. “Jesus, Bobby, her face. She was so scared.”
His anger rose again, and he desperately needed to hit something, so he kicked the trash basket across the room.
“That son of a bitch doesn’t know who he’s messing with!” He pointed a finger at the blowup of himself on the wall. “I got a hundred and ninety-three yards against Texas!”
“Football’s got rules, Scotty. Game McCall plays, ain’t no rules.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Bobby climbed up from the sofa and said, “I’ll be in the library if you need me—briefs for Shawanda. Lunch?”
Scott nodded. Bobby turned to leave but stopped dead in his tracks when Karen Douglas appeared in the door. They looked at each other like two preteens, then Karen broke eye contact and entered the office. Bobby left and Karen said to Scott, “He’s cute.”
“Yeah, that’s what I always tell him.”
Scott sat down hard in his chair and tried to get his breathing under control.
“You okay?” Karen asked.
“No.” After several deep breaths: “What’s up?”
“We’re ready to file the Dibrell zoning lawsuit.” Sid walked in as Karen continued: “But Richard down in litigation says Dallas County state court isn’t a favorable venue for this type of action. He says the judges are all Republicans and aren’t inclined to overrule a city’s zoning decisions.”
Sid winked at Scott and said, “Karen, what’s the single most important fact a lawyer needs to know before going into court, the one fact that will determine whether you win or lose?”
Karen seemed confused. Finally, she shrugged and said, “Which party was in the right and which was in the wrong?”
Sid chuckled. “Not exactly. This wasn’t on the bar exam, Karen, but the single most important fact to know is whether the other lawyer contributed more money to the judge’s last campaign than we did. Right, Scott?”
Scott nodded at Sid, but his thoughts were on Consuela…and the look on her face…as if Señor Fenney had betrayed her.
Sid said, “Only problem is, Scott, cases are assigned randomly. How can we be sure of getting one of our judges?”
Scott’s mind, though clouded with Consuela, remained ever aggressive and creative.
“Karen, tell Richard to file the lawsuit six times back to back. The six suits will be assigned to six different judges. We’ll pick the judge we gave the most money to,