warrant for all the files you’ve worked on, paper, digital—everything. I don’t have the affidavit yet, but based on the questions they’re asking, they may already be at your house. It’s on the news. Now, how about you tell me what’s going on?”
Ellery froze. The phone was still in her hand and Meg was still barking into it, but anxiety kept her from making out any words beyond “search warrant,” “Homeland Security,” and “on the news.” She looked at her dad and he took the phone from her hand and put it on speaker.
“Meg, it’s Gordon Durant. Are the agents still there?”
“Yes. There are ten of them. Complete overkill. They want all files Ellery worked on for the last six years, computer records, everything.”
“And they have a warrant, not just a subpoena?”
“Yes.”
“I need to know which judge issued the warrant. Find out right now, and call me back at this number. Have they talked to any of your employees?”
“They tried, but all of them are well trained. I don’t want to leave them alone, but I’m due at the courthouse for a hearing this morning. I’m going to have to contact the court and get a reset.”
“You do that, but get that judge’s name first and call me back. Okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Gordon. I’m glad you’re here.”
Ellery watched him hang up the phone, too stunned to process the conversation they’d just had. All she could think about was the possibility that federal agents might be at her house, going through her things for some unfathomable reason. “I need to get home.”
He ignored her comment and reached for the radio, punching it on and tuning it to the local news. The story was breaking news.
“Sources say federal agents are currently searching both the home and offices of a prominent criminal defense attorney, Ellery Durant. We don’t have official confirmation, but a source close to the investigation tells us they are following a lead developed as part of the investigation into the bombing of the arena. We have a reporter on scene and we’ll be back with updates as they develop on this very important story.”
He pressed the other buttons on the radio and found similar stories on other channels. “Doesn’t sound like the press knows anything concrete yet.”
His words brought her back to the present. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She didn’t try to hide the growl in her voice.
“Nothing. It’s just a good thing they aren’t reporting specifics. Gives us time to get ahead of the game. Does the firm still have Lena Hamilton on retainer?”
Ellery shook her head. Her life was being turned upside down and all the great Gordon Durant could think of was how to spin the story. Lena Hamilton was a power player in the public relations field and she commanded high dollar fees to bolster the reputation of their clients when necessary. The very idea she’d need the same kind of treatment was mind-blowing, and she wasn’t prepared to even consider the idea. “We’re going home and we’re going to get to the bottom of this.” She started the truck and reached for the gearshift, but her father placed his hand on hers.
“Honey, I’ve only got your best interests in mind. We don’t have to call Lena, but you’re not going home. If that news report is right, agents are already there and the press is probably lined up out front waiting for a shot of your first reaction to the raid. Let’s get you set up somewhere, and I’ll go to your house and make sure they’re playing by the rules.”
He was right. As much as she wanted to see for herself what was up, absolutely no good could come from her showing up and confronting the agents searching her home. Public protestations of innocence would hardly help when she didn’t have a clue what she was accused of doing. Right now, she needed to be somewhere she could take a breath and think. Someplace quiet and out of sight. “Okay, I’ll get a room at the Melrose. Do you have your
Ellery froze. The phone was still in her hand and Meg was still barking into it, but anxiety kept her from making out any words beyond “search warrant,” “Homeland Security,” and “on the news.” She looked at her dad and he took the phone from her hand and put it on speaker.
“Meg, it’s Gordon Durant. Are the agents still there?”
“Yes. There are ten of them. Complete overkill. They want all files Ellery worked on for the last six years, computer records, everything.”
“And they have a warrant, not just a subpoena?”
“Yes.”
“I need to know which judge issued the warrant. Find out right now, and call me back at this number. Have they talked to any of your employees?”
“They tried, but all of them are well trained. I don’t want to leave them alone, but I’m due at the courthouse for a hearing this morning. I’m going to have to contact the court and get a reset.”
“You do that, but get that judge’s name first and call me back. Okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Gordon. I’m glad you’re here.”
Ellery watched him hang up the phone, too stunned to process the conversation they’d just had. All she could think about was the possibility that federal agents might be at her house, going through her things for some unfathomable reason. “I need to get home.”
He ignored her comment and reached for the radio, punching it on and tuning it to the local news. The story was breaking news.
“Sources say federal agents are currently searching both the home and offices of a prominent criminal defense attorney, Ellery Durant. We don’t have official confirmation, but a source close to the investigation tells us they are following a lead developed as part of the investigation into the bombing of the arena. We have a reporter on scene and we’ll be back with updates as they develop on this very important story.”
He pressed the other buttons on the radio and found similar stories on other channels. “Doesn’t sound like the press knows anything concrete yet.”
His words brought her back to the present. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She didn’t try to hide the growl in her voice.
“Nothing. It’s just a good thing they aren’t reporting specifics. Gives us time to get ahead of the game. Does the firm still have Lena Hamilton on retainer?”
Ellery shook her head. Her life was being turned upside down and all the great Gordon Durant could think of was how to spin the story. Lena Hamilton was a power player in the public relations field and she commanded high dollar fees to bolster the reputation of their clients when necessary. The very idea she’d need the same kind of treatment was mind-blowing, and she wasn’t prepared to even consider the idea. “We’re going home and we’re going to get to the bottom of this.” She started the truck and reached for the gearshift, but her father placed his hand on hers.
“Honey, I’ve only got your best interests in mind. We don’t have to call Lena, but you’re not going home. If that news report is right, agents are already there and the press is probably lined up out front waiting for a shot of your first reaction to the raid. Let’s get you set up somewhere, and I’ll go to your house and make sure they’re playing by the rules.”
He was right. As much as she wanted to see for herself what was up, absolutely no good could come from her showing up and confronting the agents searching her home. Public protestations of innocence would hardly help when she didn’t have a clue what she was accused of doing. Right now, she needed to be somewhere she could take a breath and think. Someplace quiet and out of sight. “Okay, I’ll get a room at the Melrose. Do you have your
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