Chapter 21 Chapter 21 The layout of the former lawyer
Joe Dries walks into a boozer's bar and is pissed off to see someone sitting on his favorite bar stool.And when the man turned around and Dries recognized who he was, he was even angrier.
"I don't care what that bastard lawyer says," Dries yelled at the door, "if I walk up to you and you don't get off that stool, I'll punch you in the face."
"The bastard lawyer you mentioned is over there." Holloway pointed to Sullivan who was playing pool.
Driss stopped in his tracks. "You never forget to take bodyguards with you wherever you go, don't you, Jack?" he said after a second pause.He continued to walk towards his high stool: "So you are so afraid of me?"
Holloway squinted at Dries. "Jesus, Joe, what's the matter with your face?" he asked. "It looks like you're trying to kiss a cat, and the cat won't, and it's making a big mess of you."
"None of your business," Dries said.
"It's you, I don't blame the cat," Holloway continued to look at him, "How long ago? It looks like it's been four or five days."
"Go away," cursed Dries, who was already at Holloway, "get off my stool."
"That's what it means," said Holloway. "It stinks. I reckon you're always farting on it."
"Okay," Dries said, "I'll talk about it later."
"But before I go, I have something for you," Holloway said.
"What?" Dries said.
"This." Sullivan said, slapping a court summons on his shoulder, and Sullivan also walked behind him when Driss treated Holloway badly. "You have been summoned. Preliminary interrogation."
Dries turned his face to look at his shoulder, but did not accept the summons. "Interrogation of what?" he said.
"Set fire to my house, you scum," said Holloway.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Dries said. "I'm here for work. There are testimonies from both places that I haven't left."
"Well, what are you worried about?" Sullivan said. "In three days' time, take your witnesses to talk to Judge Soden, and then go away."
"I didn't see you report the fire to security," Dries said.
"That's interesting to say," Holloway said.
"Considering the possible involvement of the sheriff of the Zara Group in this fire, Mr. Holloway asked the judge to allow him to directly request a preliminary hearing," Sullivan said, "and I, as Zara Group's legal counsel, expressed to her that the group No objection to that. So no report and direct interrogation."
"Surprise?" Holloway said to Dries.
Dries snorted at Holloway with disdain, and yelled at Sullivan. "Even if I set it on fire, even though I didn't, what's your business?" he asked Sullivan, "You are the lawyer of the Zara Group, not his lawyer. He is not an employee of the Zara Group, and his house is not the Zara Group. property. Damn, I'm an employee of the Zara Group, not this idiot."
“When you were accused of setting fire to someone else’s house, it wasn’t Zara Group working time, was it, Mr. Dries?” Sullivan said. “That was your personal time.”
Driss sneered. "I don't think you'd really want to give me the subpoena, Mr. Attorney," he said.
"Just to remind you, Mr. Dries," said Sullivan, "the fact that your hand does not touch the summons does not mean that the summons has not been served."
Dries snorted coldly, grabbed the summons, and threw it on the bar.He turned to face Sullivan. "It's a waste of everyone's time," he said. "I'm not without temper when you slander me, Mr. Lawyer." He thumbed up to Holloway. Okay, let me tell you, Sullivan, this time you are on the wrong boat, be careful that he takes you to a place where you cannot turn back."
"Mr. Dries, it's ironic that these words come from you who almost killed Mr. Holloway if I hadn't stopped me in the detention room," Sullivan said. "Don't worry, I have fully considered the interests."
"Yeah, you've definitely thought about it," Dries said, "but he's not in the cell this time, he's not untouchable, you can't keep him. We'll see who's guilty when this shit is over. ’” He turned to Holloway, a flash of light blinding him.
"What the hell?" Dries scolded.
"Just take a picture." Holloway put down the camera and said, "I want to laugh when I see your face, Joe."
"Get off my stool, bastard," Dries said, "get off now."
"It's all yours," Holloway stood up. "Enjoy it while you can."
Dries swears another curse under his breath and sits down.
"Did I tell you today how much I hate you?" Chad Burne asked Holloway.The two of them were walking Carl, who was happily sniffing the streets of Aubreytown.Byrne asked Holloway to meet in his cubicle, but Holloway refused.After a few shouts at each other, they ended up walking the dog down the street.It was hot and humid outside, Bourne was not dressed for going out, and was sweating profusely. "I haven't done anything you hate today," said Holloway. "You asked me to walk your dog," Byrne said. "It doesn't deserve your hating on me," said Holloway. "Besides, you like Carl." "I have air conditioning in my cubicle," Byrne said. "Your cubicle is probably being tapped," Holloway said. "Now you're not just annoying, you're paranoid," Byrne said. "In the past few weeks, my spaceship has been tampered with, and my house has been burned to the ground," Holloway said. hear." "Besides your voice, is there anything else you don't want people to hear?" Bourne said. "It's funny," Holloway said and stopped, just as Carl was also sniffing a small sapling on the side of the road very seriously. "Chad, I have a disagreement with you. I would like to admit that there is a big difference between us." Part of the problem is my fault. I also know that sometimes you pick on me because I made it hard for you first. Is that fair?" "Fair." Bourne replied after a minute of silence.Carl had inspected the sapling in detail, leaving his mark on later dogs.The three of them walked on. "Let's put it this way," Holloway continued, "we've had good days and bad days. But I've always had a little respect for you, Chad. You're basically a decent, nice guy. Sometimes you hate me, but you always Invited me to your bloody contract surveyor holiday party. You always pay me fairly - I know not every Zara Group contract surveyor rep is so aboveboard. You even like my dog." "He's a fine dog," said Byrne, "better than you, and you don't deserve him." "Well, that's the thing," Holloway said, "I've been a little bit lucky to have friends around me that I'm not good enough for. Carl, Isabel, Sullivan, even though he's dating my ex-girlfriend right now. Even you, Chad, though you can be a nuisance at times, you're better than me and I'm not good enough for you. I'm pretty lucky indeed." "I don't understand your luck either," said Byrne, "I really don't." Holloway smiled. "Because you've been so nice to me, I'm going to tell you something. I think you're going to be in trouble." Bourne stopped. "What the hell does that mean?" he said. "You have a ship," said Holloway. "The company assigned me one," Byrne said, "so what." "I guess when you get back to the office today, you'll find your ship has been detained," Holloway said. "What?" Bourne said. "Why? Who took it? You?" "Not me," said Holloway, "I guess you'll find your spaceship seized by attorneys representing Joe Dries as evidence in my case against him for setting fire to my house." "What does Joe Dries have to do with my ship?" Bourne said. "In the eyes of ordinary people, it doesn't matter at all." Holloway said, "That's the point. After they seize the spacecraft, they will do some search and inspection. I doubt they will find fire extinguishing agent residue on it, and my home The brand of fire extinguishing agent is the same." Bourne looked puzzled. "How can I have that on my ship?" he asked. "Obviously because your spaceship was there when my house was on fire." Harroway said as he led the three of them away again, he didn't want to stay in the same place for too long. "I guess there may be other physical evidence on it, but I guess that's evidence that Dries' attorneys are going to use to create a reasonable doubt to overturn my accusation that Dries burned my house." "I didn't use the spaceship when your house was on fire," Byrne said. "Where are you?" Holloway said. "I'm on leave," Byrne said. "I was going to go to your shitty hearings, but I woke up so bad I didn't go. I was in my apartment all day." "Anyone else with you?" Holloway asked. "No." "Then nobody testified that you slept through the day," Holloway said. "So?" Byrne said. "So, Dries has made sure he has countless witnesses who swear to see him at work or in the shabby bars he frequents," Holloway said, "and there are too many of them, everyone willing to testify. , he said he was where he was, even though he was actually at my house, burning my house." "But that doesn't make sense," Bourne asked. "Driss or anyone else can't open my spaceship. The key is always in my pocket." "Has Driss been on your ship?" Holloway asked. "You know he sat," Byrne said. "He was Aubrey's bodyguard when we came to see you." Holloway stared at Bourne, counting the seconds it would take him to piece together the information in his head. "Oops," Bourne said. "You gave Dries the key because I wouldn't let him step out of that ship," Holloway said, "enough time for him to break the code and copy a key, he knows how to do it, and he has help. After that, as long as the ship stops In the garage, he can drive away at any time, and your key information is registered in the access system." "Why me?" Bourne said. "Because you're my representative, Chad," Holloway said, "everyone knows you don't get along with me. Everyone knows I'm a nuisance to you. I've had record after record of arguments with you, and I've Always ignoring you, bypassing you, and even stepping on your head. Now that Judge Soden has ruled to further study Maomao, I threaten your job, and the job of everyone on this planet. With all this as a premise, It doesn't make sense for you to suddenly get angry and want revenge on me. You figured I'd go back to the cabin right after the hearing and decided to burn me in there. It makes perfect sense." Bourne didn't leave, and sat on the side of the road, unable to speak a word. "It makes perfect sense to a stranger," Holloway said. "People who actually know you, like me, know there's something wrong with it, Chad. You and I had a bad time, but I know you're A gentleman. So I warn you in advance." Bourne sat there and kept shaking his head. "Come on," said Holloway at last, giving him a push. "We're going back." "Maybe you are wrong." Bourne said after a moment of silence. "Maybe," said Holloway, "you can go to the garage after you get back to the compartment to see if your ship is still there. If it is, I suggest you give it a thorough wash. If not, you'll find that I haven't Wrong—then you'll be called to testify at the preliminary hearing. You'll find out that all the circumstantial evidence points against you, and you don't have an alibi. Someone's going to be cleared, and you're going to be a big suspect." "You told me this was going to happen, but you didn't tell me how to prove my innocence," Byrne said. "I can't tell you," Holloway said. "I shouldn't have told you this much. I can only do it because we don't know yet whether they have detained your ship or not. You testify. You haven't been a target yet. But soon you will. Until then, you'll have to figure it out for yourself." "How?" Bern asked. "Think about who ordered Joe to be acquitted and put you in the jaws of a tiger," Holloway said, "because you can't move the person who ordered it, so once you figure it out, your response will come out. Think about you Do what will do them the most harm." "It doesn't make sense and it doesn't help me," Byrne said. "Chad, that's why I say you're basically a good guy," Holloway said. Do you understand me?" "Not quite," Bourne said. "Think about it anyway," Holloway said, "maybe you will." The three of them turned a corner and stopped in front of the Zara Group's administrative building. "There you are," said Holloway. "I still don't like you," Bourne said to Holloway. "I never gave you a reason to like me, Chad," Holloway said, "and I'm not going to pretend how much I like you. Just know that I think you're a good person and you shouldn't be framed. I'll Just do my best not to let this happen to you, and that's it, okay?" "Okay." After Bourne said, he stretched out his hand to Holloway abruptly, and Holloway took it. "Thank you," Holloway said. Bourne nodded and walked into the building.Holloway watched him until he disappeared down the corridor, then led Carl across the street, where Isabel and Sullivan were waiting for him.Carl made a beeline for Isabel, who patted it happily. "How is he?" Sullivan asked Bourne. "He almost peed his pants," Holloway said, "just as I planned." "Know what he's going to do when he's called?" said Sullivan. "No clue at all," Holloway said. "Should be interesting," Sullivan said. "You could say that," Holloway said. "Stop, you two," said Isabelle, "poor Chad, does he know that too. Not one of you two to play with." "He's definitely a pawn," Holloway said. "The question is whether he's used by us or used by someone else. At least we've managed to keep him from being framed for arson and even attempted murder, and we It’s a better place to start.” "He's a nice guy, Jack," said Isabel. "I know, Isabel," said Holloway, "I really do." Isabel didn't seem very convinced. "While you two were walking and whispering, Isabel and I also got interesting news," Sullivan said. "What's wrong?" Holloway asked. "We were reassigned," said Isabel. "We were both reassigned. Mark was appointed general counsel on Zara 11, and I was transferred back to Earth to run a laboratory." "When does the transfer take effect?" Holloway asked. "Effective immediately," Sullivan said, "we have been relieved of our duties, and we only have three days to pack. Our teleporter is scheduled to leave at the same time as your initial interrogation." "What an amazing coincidence," said Holloway. "It's not just us," Isabel said, "Arnold Chen's document error was miraculously solved. He is on the same shift as us and will be sent to Planet Ula." "He must be very happy," Holloway said. "He's very upset," Isabel said. "He called me, moaning. He's been waiting his whole life to decipher the language of new intelligent beings, and they won't let him. They locked his profile No, he can't touch it at all, and I can't touch my information either." "I still have your backup files," Holloway said. "That's why I didn't moan," said Isabel. "They're going to send us away before the CEPA experts on extraterrestrial intelligence come," Sullivan said. "Everyone who knows Maomao has to go, except you, Jack." "Do you have a premonition?" Holloway said. "You didn't?" Sullivan asked. "I've had premonitions since the day my spaceship fell from the sky," Holloway said. "We worry about you, Jack," said Isabel, "we both worry about you." "You can't fool me," said Holloway, "you're more worried about Carl." "I mean it, Jack," said Isabel. "I'm personally more worried about your dog," Sullivan said. "I'll just say it," Holloway said. "Mark!" Isabel complained. "Isabel, Mark," said Holloway, "your new appointments have made no difference. Nothing has changed. We have three days to prepare since we woke up this morning. If we can succeed, three days will be enough. If It doesn’t matter if you don’t succeed. From now on, just let nature take its course, we still have three days, so let’s start preparing.”
"Did I tell you today how much I hate you?" Chad Burne asked Holloway.The two of them were walking Carl, who was happily sniffing the streets of Aubreytown.Byrne asked Holloway to meet in his cubicle, but Holloway refused.After a few shouts at each other, they ended up walking the dog down the street.It was hot and humid outside, Bourne was not dressed for going out, and was sweating profusely. "I haven't done anything you hate today," said Holloway. "You asked me to walk your dog," Byrne said. "It doesn't deserve your hating on me," said Holloway. "Besides, you like Carl." "I have air conditioning in my cubicle," Byrne said. "Your cubicle is probably being tapped," Holloway said. "Now you're not just annoying, you're paranoid," Byrne said. "In the past few weeks, my spaceship has been tampered with, and my house has been burned to the ground," Holloway said. hear." "Besides your voice, is there anything else you don't want people to hear?" Bourne said. "It's funny," Holloway said and stopped, just as Carl was also sniffing a small sapling on the side of the road very seriously. "Chad, I have a disagreement with you. I would like to admit that there is a big difference between us." Part of the problem is my fault. I also know that sometimes you pick on me because I made it hard for you first. Is that fair?" "Fair." Bourne replied after a minute of silence.Carl had inspected the sapling in detail, leaving his mark on later dogs.The three of them walked on. "Let's put it this way," Holloway continued, "we've had good days and bad days. But I've always had a little respect for you, Chad. You're basically a decent, nice guy. Sometimes you hate me, but you always Invited me to your bloody contract surveyor holiday party. You always pay me fairly - I know not every Zara Group contract surveyor rep is so aboveboard. You even like my dog." "He's a fine dog," said Byrne, "better than you, and you don't deserve him." "Well, that's the thing," Holloway said, "I've been a little bit lucky to have friends around me that I'm not good enough for. Carl, Isabel, Sullivan, even though he's dating my ex-girlfriend right now. Even you, Chad, though you can be a nuisance at times, you're better than me and I'm not good enough for you. I'm pretty lucky indeed." "I don't understand your luck either," said Byrne, "I really don't." Holloway smiled. "Because you've been so nice to me, I'm going to tell you something. I think you're going to be in trouble." Bourne stopped. "What the hell does that mean?" he said. "You have a ship," said Holloway. "The company assigned me one," Byrne said, "so what." "I guess when you get back to the office today, you'll find your ship has been detained," Holloway said. "What?" Bourne said. "Why? Who took it? You?" "Not me," said Holloway, "I guess you'll find your spaceship seized by attorneys representing Joe Dries as evidence in my case against him for setting fire to my house." "What does Joe Dries have to do with my ship?" Bourne said. "In the eyes of ordinary people, it doesn't matter at all." Holloway said, "That's the point. After they seize the spacecraft, they will do some search and inspection. I doubt they will find fire extinguishing agent residue on it, and my home The brand of fire extinguishing agent is the same." Bourne looked puzzled. "How can I have that on my ship?" he asked. "Obviously because your spaceship was there when my house was on fire." Harroway said as he led the three of them away again, he didn't want to stay in the same place for too long. "I guess there may be other physical evidence on it, but I guess that's evidence that Dries' attorneys are going to use to create a reasonable doubt to overturn my accusation that Dries burned my house." "I didn't use the spaceship when your house was on fire," Byrne said. "Where are you?" Holloway said. "I'm on leave," Byrne said. "I was going to go to your shitty hearings, but I woke up so bad I didn't go. I was in my apartment all day." "Anyone else with you?" Holloway asked. "No." "Then nobody testified that you slept through the day," Holloway said. "So?" Byrne said. "So, Dries has made sure he has countless witnesses who swear to see him at work or in the shabby bars he frequents," Holloway said, "and there are too many of them, everyone willing to testify. , he said he was where he was, even though he was actually at my house, burning my house." "But that doesn't make sense," Bourne asked. "Driss or anyone else can't open my spaceship. The key is always in my pocket." "Has Driss been on your ship?" Holloway asked. "You know he sat," Byrne said. "He was Aubrey's bodyguard when we came to see you." Holloway stared at Bourne, counting the seconds it would take him to piece together the information in his head. "Oops," Bourne said. "You gave Dries the key because I wouldn't let him step out of that ship," Holloway said, "enough time for him to break the code and copy a key, he knows how to do it, and he has help. After that, as long as the ship stops In the garage, he can drive away at any time, and your key information is registered in the access system." "Why me?" Bourne said. "Because you're my representative, Chad," Holloway said, "everyone knows you don't get along with me. Everyone knows I'm a nuisance to you. I've had record after record of arguments with you, and I've Always ignoring you, bypassing you, and even stepping on your head. Now that Judge Soden has ruled to further study Maomao, I threaten your job, and the job of everyone on this planet. With all this as a premise, It doesn't make sense for you to suddenly get angry and want revenge on me. You figured I'd go back to the cabin right after the hearing and decided to burn me in there. It makes perfect sense." Bourne didn't leave, and sat on the side of the road, unable to speak a word. "It makes perfect sense to a stranger," Holloway said. "People who actually know you, like me, know there's something wrong with it, Chad. You and I had a bad time, but I know you're A gentleman. So I warn you in advance." Bourne sat there and kept shaking his head. "Come on," said Holloway at last, giving him a push. "We're going back." "Maybe you are wrong." Bourne said after a moment of silence. "Maybe," said Holloway, "you can go to the garage after you get back to the compartment to see if your ship is still there. If it is, I suggest you give it a thorough wash. If not, you'll find that I haven't Wrong—then you'll be called to testify at the preliminary hearing. You'll find out that all the circumstantial evidence points against you, and you don't have an alibi. Someone's going to be cleared, and you're going to be a big suspect." "You told me this was going to happen, but you didn't tell me how to prove my innocence," Byrne said. "I can't tell you," Holloway said. "I shouldn't have told you this much. I can only do it because we don't know yet whether they have detained your ship or not. You testify. You haven't been a target yet. But soon you will. Until then, you'll have to figure it out for yourself." "How?" Bern asked. "Think about who ordered Joe to be acquitted and put you in the jaws of a tiger," Holloway said, "because you can't move the person who ordered it, so once you figure it out, your response will come out. Think about you Do what will do them the most harm." "It doesn't make sense and it doesn't help me," Byrne said. "Chad, that's why I say you're basically a good guy," Holloway said. Do you understand me?" "Not quite," Bourne said. "Think about it anyway," Holloway said, "maybe you will." The three of them turned a corner and stopped in front of the Zara Group's administrative building. "There you are," said Holloway. "I still don't like you," Bourne said to Holloway. "I never gave you a reason to like me, Chad," Holloway said, "and I'm not going to pretend how much I like you. Just know that I think you're a good person and you shouldn't be framed. I'll Just do my best not to let this happen to you, and that's it, okay?" "Okay." After Bourne said, he stretched out his hand to Holloway abruptly, and Holloway took it. "Thank you," Holloway said. Bourne nodded and walked into the building.Holloway watched him until he disappeared down the corridor, then led Carl across the street, where Isabel and Sullivan were waiting for him.Carl made a beeline for Isabel, who patted it happily. "How is he?" Sullivan asked Bourne. "He almost peed his pants," Holloway said, "just as I planned." "Know what he's going to do when he's called?" said Sullivan. "No clue at all," Holloway said. "Should be interesting," Sullivan said. "You could say that," Holloway said. "Stop, you two," said Isabelle, "poor Chad, does he know that too. Not one of you two to play with." "He's definitely a pawn," Holloway said. "The question is whether he's used by us or used by someone else. At least we've managed to keep him from being framed for arson and even attempted murder, and we It’s a better place to start.” "He's a nice guy, Jack," said Isabel. "I know, Isabel," said Holloway, "I really do." Isabel didn't seem very convinced. "While you two were walking and whispering, Isabel and I also got interesting news," Sullivan said. "What's wrong?" Holloway asked. "We were reassigned," said Isabel. "We were both reassigned. Mark was appointed general counsel on Zara 11, and I was transferred back to Earth to run a laboratory." "When does the transfer take effect?" Holloway asked. "Effective immediately," Sullivan said, "we have been relieved of our duties, and we only have three days to pack. Our teleporter is scheduled to leave at the same time as your initial interrogation." "What an amazing coincidence," said Holloway. "It's not just us," Isabel said, "Arnold Chen's document error was miraculously solved. He is on the same shift as us and will be sent to Planet Ula." "He must be very happy," Holloway said. "He's very upset," Isabel said. "He called me, moaning. He's been waiting his whole life to decipher the language of new intelligent beings, and they won't let him. They locked his profile No, he can't touch it at all, and I can't touch my information either." "I still have your backup files," Holloway said. "That's why I didn't moan," said Isabel. "They're going to send us away before the CEPA experts on extraterrestrial intelligence come," Sullivan said. "Everyone who knows Maomao has to go, except you, Jack." "Do you have a premonition?" Holloway said. "You didn't?" Sullivan asked. "I've had premonitions since the day my spaceship fell from the sky," Holloway said. "We worry about you, Jack," said Isabel, "we both worry about you." "You can't fool me," said Holloway, "you're more worried about Carl." "I mean it, Jack," said Isabel. "I'm personally more worried about your dog," Sullivan said. "I'll just say it," Holloway said. "Mark!" Isabel complained. "Isabel, Mark," said Holloway, "your new appointments have made no difference. Nothing has changed. We have three days to prepare since we woke up this morning. If we can succeed, three days will be enough. If It doesn’t matter if you don’t succeed. From now on, just let nature take its course, we still have three days, so let’s start preparing.”