The Poet by Michael Connelly Page A

discounting his inflated fee.
    “Okay, that means you can handle fifty thousand bail. I think we’re in good shape. It’s a felony arrest for now. But the fleeing and the pollution are wobblers, meaning they can be filed as either felonies or misdemeanors. I am sure that they will go low on them. It’s a bullshit case trumped up by the cops. We just have to get you into court and out on bail.”
    “Yes.”
    “I think fifty thousand will be high for this matter but it will be part of the horse trading I do with the filing deputy. We’ll see how it goes. I take it you do not want to provide an address.”
    “That’s correct. I need a new one.”
    “Then we might have to go the whole fifty. But in the meantime I will see about an address. There may be additional expenses incurred from that. It won’t be much. I can prom-“
    “Fine. Just do it.”
    Gladden looked back at the man on the other side of the cell.
    “What about tonight?” he asked quietly. “I told you, these cops are going to try to get me hurt.”
    “I think they are bluffing but-“
    “That’s easy for you to-“
    “But I am not taking any chances. Hear me out, Mr. Brisbane. I can’t get you out tonight but I am going to make some calls. You will be okay. I am going to get you in there with a K-9 jacket.”
    “What’s that?”
    “It’s keep-away status in the jail. It’s usually reserved for informants or high-power cases. I’ll make a call to the jail and inform them that you are an informant in a federal investigation out of Washington.”
    “Won’t they check?”
    “Yes, but it will be too late today. They’ll put you in a K-9 jacket and by the time they find out tomorrow it’s bogus, you’ll be in court and then hopefully free after that.”
    “That’s a nice scam, Krasner.”
    “Yes, but I won’t be able to use it again, I think I may have to raise the fee we just discussed a bit to cover the loss.”
    “Fuck that. Look, this is the deal. I have access to six grand max. You get me out and whatever’s left after the bondsman, you get. It’s an incentive deal.”
    “That’s a deal. Now, one other thing. You also mentioned the need to beat the prints. I need to have an idea about this. So that in clear conscience I will not make any statements before the court that will-“
    “I have a history, if that is what you’re asking. But I don’t think you and I have to go into that.”
    “I understand.”
    “When will my arraignment be?”
    “Late morning. When I make my calls to the jail after we hang up, I’ll see to it you are scheduled for the early bus to Santa Monica. It’s better to wait in the court hold than Biscailuz.”
    “I wouldn’t know. My first time here.”
    “Uh, Mr. Brisbane, I need to bring up my fee and the bail money again. I’m afraid I’ll need that in my possession before I go into court tomorrow.”
    “You have a wire account?”
    “Yes.”
    “Give me the number. I’ll have it wired in the morning. Will I be able to dial long distance in K-9?”
    “No. You’ll have to call my office. I’ll tell Judy to expect the call. She’ll then dial the number you give her on the other line and cross-connect you. It will be no problem. I’ve done it this way before.”
    Krasner gave him his wire account number and Gladden used the memorizing technique Horace had taught him to commit it to memory.
    “Mr. Krasner, you would be doing yourself a great favor if you destroy the wire records of this transaction and simply carry the fee as paid in cash on your accounts.”
    “I understand. Anything else on your mind?”
    “Yes. You better put something on the PTL net, tell the others what happened, tell them to stay away from that carousel.”
    “Will do.”
    After he hung up, Gladden turned his back to the wall and slid down until he was sitting on the floor. He avoided looking at the man across the room. He noticed the snoring had stopped and guessed that maybe the man on the floor might be dead.