Page 28 of Twice Missing
"It was her fault," McKenzie blurted out.
"What?" Callie exclaimed, indignation clear in her voice.
"I told her not to get out of the car," McKenzie defended.
"You son of a bitch," Callie shot back. "What was I supposed to think?"
"Perception. What did I say about that?" McKenzie retorted.
"Oh, so I got it wrong, but that didn't stop you from slapping cuffs on him," Callie argued.
"My perception was skewed by your actions," McKenzie countered.
Callie threw her hands up in exasperation and exited the room, leaving Noah and McKenzie alone. Noah felt his confusion growing by the second. "Am I going to get a clear answer, or did you drag me away from a nice supper to have me watch your public meltdown?"
McKenzie pulled up a chair and slumped into it. "Rivera is going to have our necks for this."
"For what? McKenzie, spit it out," Noah demanded, his patience wearing thin.
McKenzie took a deep breath and brought Noah up to speed on their little sting operation, if it could even be called that. Noah took a step back, trying to process theinformation. "Okay, let me get this straight. You believed?—"
"No. Callie believed," McKenzie interrupted.
"McKenzie," Noah warned.
"Well, it's important to know who was in the wrong here. I mean, we all blame Adam, but it was Eve who picked the apple," McKenzie said, attempting humor.
"McKenzie!" Noah snapped, not in the mood for jokes.
McKenzie motioned for him to continue.
"Okay, so Callie saw a woman rush out, believed she was in trouble. You both rush in there to find Doug climbing out the window, and then some stranger who had been hiding in the closet makes a dash for it," Noah summarized.
"Right," McKenzie confirmed.
"And you believed that Doug was involved in some nefarious meeting with this woman at the center. An escort, and the guy in the closet was her pimp?"
"Um… something like that, yeah," McKenzie admitted.
"But yet according to Doug, he was there to give legal advice to a couple who had gotten themselves into some legal hot water," Noah said.
He nodded.
"What kind?" Noah asked, his tone suggesting there was more to the story.
McKenzie brought him up to speed. "According to Doug, he was contacted by a long-time client, Michael Danbury, requesting legal advice. Michael explained that he and his new girlfriend, Sarah, were being blackmailed by a dangerous criminal organization. The blackmailershad evidence of Michael's past involvement in a white-collar crime and were threatening to expose him unless he and Sarah agreed to participate in an illegal scheme."
He took a deep breath before continuing. "Fearing for their safety, Michael and Sarah arranged to meet Doug discreetly at the motel to discuss their options and potentially plan a way to contact the authorities without risking retaliation from the blackmailers. Doug accepted the unusual meeting place due to the sensitive nature of the situation and the potential danger to his clients."
Noah listened intently as McKenzie explained the series of events that led to the chaotic scene at the motel. "During the meeting, Sarah became overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, leading to an emotional breakdown. She ran out of the motel room in tears, drawing attention to their location. Moments later, Doug heard the commotion outside. Realizing the compromising position he was in and fearing that the blackmailers might have eyes on the motel, Doug panicked and attempted to escape through the back window. His intention was not to evade law enforcement but to protect his clients' confidentiality and avoid potential retaliation from the criminal organization."
"And Michael?" Noah asked.
"Michael, equally panicked and confused, hid in the closet when he heard us arrive," McKenzie explained. "When questioned, Doug explained that he was bound by attorney-client privilege and couldn't immediately disclose the reason for the meeting. That's why he was pleading the fifth when I arrested him. He later argued that his attemptto leave was a misguided effort to protect his clients' privacy and safety, not an admission of guilt."
Noah frowned, processing the information. "And he's proven these are his clients?"
"Yes," McKenzie confirmed. "Doug was able to provide evidence of his long-standing professional relationship with Michael. He explained the situation to us once he was assured of his clients' safety and had their permission to disclose the information. Michael, who a patrol officer picked up later, and Sarah can corroborate Doug's story, explaining the blackmail situation and their fear of the criminal organization. Doug said he was acting in his capacity as a lawyer, providing legal counsel in a sensitive situation. He was able to argue that his actions, while questionable, were motivated by a desire to protect his clients and not by any criminal intent."
