Chapter 17
MAKING BAIL
After talking to Cynthia I decided I better go visit Gena who by now had been in jail over a week. I couldn't understand why her criminal attorney had been unable to get her out on bail. When I got to the Criminal Justice Building I obtained a visitor's pass and walked down the long corridor to the main cell block. When I got to the entrance I pushed a button and stuck my visitor's pass up against the glass. After a minute a bell rang and the big steel gate opened and I entered. Once inside I followed a yellow stripe which led to a visitor's room. I went inside, sat down at one of the stations and waited. After a minute Gena was escorted in and sat down in front of me. She was a knock-out even in her orange jumpsuit.
"Stan, where have you been?" Gena complained.
"I've been out of town," I replied.
"Well, I've been rotting in my cell while you've been out gallivanting around."
"Wait a minute. I'm not even your criminal attorney, so what difference does it make what I've been doing?"
Gena took a deep breath. "I know. I'm sorry for jumping on you, I'm just frustrated that I haven't got out on bail yet. Stan you've got to defend me. That feeble-ass attorney they've appointed for me doesn't understand English. He insists I plead guilty, but I've told him over and over again that I am innocent. All he does is patronize me. If he defends me I'm going to get screwed, I know it."
"Gena, I am not a criminal attorney, I don't know the procedures for criminal court and I barely passed my criminal law course in law school. You'd be in worse shape if I represented you."
Gena leaned over, next to the glass that separated us, and gazed at me with her beautiful brown eyes.
"No I wouldn't, at least you believe in me and if you believe me then, so will the jury."
"Who said I believe you?"
"Come on Stan, I know you believe me otherwise you wouldn't be here. I can tell by the way you talk to me and listen to what I have to say that you respect me. Most men look at me like I'm another piece of ass they'd like to screw. But you look at me like you care and you've always treated me with dignity and respect. I'd trust you with my life, Stan, without giving it a second thought."
"Gena, I believe you're innocent of this crime. I do have a lot of respect for you despite your reputation and your wild lifestyle. Deep down inside of you is a wonderful person, I can feel it and I believe it. And I know, for some reason that I will never understand, that you've had to put up this tough facade, perhaps just to survive, I don't know, nor does it matter. But this isn't a question of my belief in you it's a question of competence. I'm not a criminal attorney, I never wanted to be a criminal attorney and I don't intend to become a criminal attorney."
Gena sat back with a frustrated look on her face, starred at me silently for a moment, and then she smiled, leaned back toward the glass that separated us and said, "Okay, we'll let the feeble asshole defend me, but you've got to help him."
I shook my head in dismay at Gena's relentless pursuit of her objective. I knew I had lost the battle, there was no telling this lady no.
"Please Stan, come on at least you can do that."
"Okay, okay. I give up. I'll help him, what in hell is his name?"
"Thank you Stan, I knew you wouldn't let me down. You're wonderful. I love you."
"You may not love me so much if I botch your case."
"You won't. I feel so much better now, Stan. Now I am going to be able to sleep."
"That's good, but what's asshole's name so I can call him and tell him he's going to have a co-counsel."
"Syd Brim, his number is 555-4411."
"Did Syd say why he hasn't been able to get you out of jail yet?"
"He says he can't get anyone to put up my bond."
"How much is it?"
"Twenty-five thousand."
"What about your mother?"
"He says she's refused to do it, but I don't believe that. Mom has always come through when I needed her to."
"Have you talked to her?"
"No, they don't let you use the phone too much and every time I've called she's been out. She works two jobs you know, so she's not home much. Asshole says he's talked to her but she won't help."
"What about your father?"
"Shit, I haven't seen him in fifteen years."
"Well, I'll talk to your mother again and see if she'll help. I've got to go now. Hopefully the next time we meet it'll be to get you out of this place."
"Thanks, Stan."
Leaving the jail, I felt good that I had given Gena hope, but on the other hand, I felt kind of sick now that I was going to have to help defend her in an arena I knew nothing about. As I thought about it further on the drive home I began to get excited. I realized with Syd as lead counsel I didn't have to worry about procedure or my lack of experience in handling criminal cases. All I had to do was convince him she was innocent and search for evidence to prove it. It was really an ideal situation, and who knows maybe the experience might change my mind about practicing criminal law.
When I got to the office I called Syd Brim to break the news to him.
"Yeah," Brim said.
"We have a mutual client, Gena Lombardi."
"Okay."
"I represent her in a bankruptcy proceeding," I said. "And, well anyway, I went to visit her today and she asked me if I would help you in her criminal defense."
"I'm her court appointed attorney. The government's not going to pay for two attorneys. Anyway, we're just going to plead her out, so I really don't need your help."
"She believes she's innocent."
"You know her story will never hold up. I told her she needs to just take the best deal I can get her."
"Why don't you think her story will hold up?"
"Because it's a bunch of nonsense."
"Are you sure, have you checked it out?"
"Of course I've checked it out. It won't hold water."
"Well, if she wants to plead innocent then she has a right to do that and I guarantee you she won't agree to a plea. You might as well let me help you. Don't worry about splitting your fee she'll pay me herself some day when she gets back on her feet."
"Yeah, right. Okay, I don't give a shit if you want to do some pro bono work."
"Do you mind if I try to get someone to put up her bond?"
"I've already tried, but go right ahead. Good luck."
"Thanks. I'll get to work on that right away. I'll be in touch and don't hesitate to call me if you think of some way I can help out."
After talking to Syd, I understood why Gina felt the way she did about him. His attitude wouldn't be very comforting to someone in trouble. Now, however, the ball was in my court. I had to figure out a way to get Gena out of jail. The first thing that came to my mind was my experience with getting Ron Johnson out of jail on his DWI charge. Alliance Bonding, that's who I needed to call. I got out the phone book, got the number and dialed it. A girl answered and put me through to Roger Rand.
"I've got a young woman in on a federal mail fraud charge. Her bond is twenty-five thousand dollars and I wondered what it would take to get you to put it up," I said.
"Well, it would be twenty-five hundred cash plus we'd need some collateral or a good co-signer."
"Well I might be able to get her mother to do it. She lives in Michigan."
"We need a local co-signer. There's no way we're going to chase someone up in Michigan for the bond money if your client skips out on us."
"Okay, thanks I'll try to see if I can scrape up the money and find someone local to co-sign."
"Let me know Stan. We'd like to help if we can."
"I appreciate that, . . . thanks. Bye."
"Okay, bye."
My conversation with Roger didn't make me feel so great. Maybe Syd had done all he could to get Gena out of jail after all. What had I gotten myself into. Shit, I was always a sucker for a pretty face and beautiful brown eyes. Damn it, why didn
't I just tell her no.
After sitting awhile in a dejected state I picked up the phone to call Gena's mother. I wasn't feeling very confident but I knew I had to be positive when I talked to her. I got Gena's file, found her mother's number and dialed the telephone.
"Hello."
"Hi, this is Stan Turner. Is this Mrs. Lombardi?"
"No, this is her daughter, Cindy."
"Cindy, oh . . . Gena's sister?"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"Well, actually I didn't know she had a sister until this moment. . . . So, is your mom in?"
"No, she's at work."
"Listen, this is an emergency. I'm trying to get your sister out of jail and I need your mother's help."
"She won't help. Gena's always in trouble and Mom's fed up with it."
"I know she's had some hot check charges and stuff, but this is serious. She could go to the federal penitentiary, plus I think she's innocent."
"Don't bet on it," Cindy said.
"Really, do I sense a little bitterness between you and Gena?"
"She's no good, she's always in trouble and causing mama grief."
"I know it must be tough on both of you, but I'm sure she doesn't intend to hurt you or your mom. Can you just give me her work number so I can talk to her?"
"She can't take calls at work."
"Well, give it to me anyway please, they might make an exception under the circumstances."
"Oh, all right, it won't do you any good though, Mom won't give Gena another dime. Her number is 555-4903."
"Thanks a lot Cindy. You've been a big help."
Feeling even less confident I dialed Mrs. Lombardi's work number. After some difficulty I got through to her.
"Oh, I already sent the $500 didn't you get it?" She said.
"Well, no actually, when did you send it?"
"Last week," Mrs. Lombardi said.
"I'll probably get it any day now then, but that's not why I called. I guess you know your daughter is in jail."
"Yes, some asshole attorney named Syd called me and told me. He said he needed five thousand dollars for Gena's defense. I told him there is no way in hell I could scrape up five thousand dollars even if I wanted to."
"That's strange since he's being paid by the state and the bond isn't five thousand dollars. Well, anyway I don't need quite that much. I just need twenty-five hundred dollars for Gena's bond."
"Five thousand dollars or twenty-five hundred dollars, what difference does it make? Where am I going to come up with that kind of money? I am working two jobs just to scrape by. You know I've got a daughter I am still raising, don't you?"
"I understand, I know it's hard on you and Cindy struggling on your own. Is there any other family members that might help?"
"No, there's no one."
"Is there some property you have that maybe you don't need and you could sell it?"
"No, everything of value has been taken to the pawn shop long ago."
"How about life insurance?" I said.
"Life insurance?"
"Yeah, some life insurance has cash value that you can borrow."
"Well, I have an old policy on my husband. He deserted me fifteen years ago. I figured someday when he died I'd collect a hundred thousand dollars and that would compensate me a little for all the hell the bastard has put me through."
"When you get home, find the policy and call me. I bet it has more than $2,500 cash value. You could borrow that money pretty quick if it does."
"Okay, I'll do that . . . and Mr. Turner, I am sorry I was kind of short with you, I love Gena and I want to help her. She's told me how good you've been to her and have tried to help her. I just want you to know I appreciate what you are doing. Maybe after this is all over Gena can get her life straightened out."
"I hope so Mrs. Lombardi, I really do. Good-bye."
"Good bye."