Peter Robinson - The Tribunal

Kevin rose as Judge Davidson left the courtroom. Kevin looked over at Draga, who was being fawned over by Krasnic. Draga never looked in Kevin’s direction. Kevin was a nobody in the courtroom, and he knew it. He wanted out as quickly as possible, and yet he hated the thought of going home and telling Ellen he was unemployed again and to say goodbye to all her new friends because they would be heading back to California immediately.

As Draga left the room carrying the list of lawyers and a pencil, Krasnic walked over to the prosecutor’s table. Kevin heard him arranging for the discovery materials to be delivered to his office. Kevin wished that court would be over, so that he could just leave. He was totally humiliated.

After precisely fifteen minutes, Judge Davidson returned to the bench. He looked over at Draga’s chair. It was empty. “Where is the accused?”

“One moment, Judge,” replied the guard stationed inside the door. The guard spoke into his hand-held radio. In a moment, the door opened and Draga was led to his seat.

“The usher will retrieve the papers from the accused,” Judge Davidson said.

The black-robed usher approached Draga and took the papers from him. He delivered them back to the judge.

Judge Davidson flipped through the papers. “I see that you have circled a name, Mr. Zaric.” He held the paper up closer to his eyes and donned his glasses.

“Kevin Anderson?”

Kevin was shocked at the mention of his name.

Krasnic’s head went back as if hit in the jaw.

In disbelief, Judge Davidson looked at the paper again.

Kevin looked over at Draga; Draga broke out into a big grin.

“You two deserve each other,” Judge Davidson muttered. “Mr. Anderson, you are reinstated as counsel of record for Mr. Zaric. Court is adjourned.”

“I’m glad you’re still Draga’s lawyer, Daddy,” Ellen said after Kevin told her and Diane what had happened in court.

“Why?” he asked his daughter.

“Because those bullies pick on everyone.”

“Any other reason?” he smiled.

“Oh Daddy, you know . I’m not ready to go back home.”

“So why did you let Draga choose you as his lawyer?” Diane asked.

“It wasn’t my choice. It was his. I just hope he’ll talk to me now.”

“Let’s have a party for Daddy,” Ellen exclaimed. “I’ll make a cake!”

“You have homework to do, young lady,” Diane said too sternly.

“Party pooper!” Ellen walked into the dining room and sat back down at the table where her homework was spread out. Kevin had tried to make her do her homework at her desk on the third floor, but Ellen hated being banished to her room. She wanted to be where the action was, so she could monitor and contribute to every conversation. After a few attempts, Kevin had given up. Now a threat to send her to the third floor to finish her homework was enough to get Ellen back on task.

At about 8 p.m., the doorbell rang. Ellen raced to the door and opened it. Soon she was back in the dining room. “It’s for you, Dad.”

Kevin went to the front door. He was surprised to see Zoran Vacinovic, from the Serbian Embassy, and another man standing in the doorway.

“Mr. Vacinovic, come in.”

Vacinovic and the other man entered. “I was in the area so I decided to drop by rather than call tomorrow. I have someone I want you to meet. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind.”

“This is Mihajlo Golic. He is your client’s brother-in-law.”

Kevin shook the man’s hand. Golic was huge – at least 6-foot-4 – and had a handshake like a vise. Kevin led the men into his living room. He introduced them to Diane and Ellen, and then took them upstairs to his office.

“Your daughter is beautiful,” Golic remarked.

“Thank you. She’s a great kid.”

Vacinovic got down to business. “Mr. Golic is a former Belgrade police detective. He wants to help his brother-in-law. I thought perhaps you could use him as an investigator now that it looks like you’re going to be representing Mr. Zaric.”

Kevin looked over at Golic. His appearance was very professional. He was dressed in a shirt and tie with a gray tweed sports coat. He looked to be in his early forties, with an Arnold Schwarzenegger physique.

“It’s kind of you to offer your assistance,” Kevin said to Golic. “Have you done any private investigation before?”

“Yes.”

“He has worked on several sensitive assignments from our government since leaving the police department,” Vacinovic interjected. “He has also worked on security matters for some of the largest companies in Serbia.”

Kevin was surprised and delighted to be getting this kind of substantive help. “I’m going to need an investigator in Serbia,” he said. “I can submit a request to the Tribunal so Mr. Golic can be paid for his work.”

“That will not be necessary,” Vacinovic replied. “My government will pay Mr. Golic. We consider your client a loyal and patriotic citizen. It is our duty to help him.”

Kevin pulled out a legal pad from his top drawer.

“Mr. Golic,” he said, “the first thing I would like you to do is to find out everything you can about your brother-in-law’s arrest. I want to know if the United Nations hired someone to kidnap him or paid a bounty for his arrest. Can you do that?”

“That is no problem,” the big man said softly. “I will begin working on that when I return to Belgrade in three days time.”

“Excellent.”

“Can you send him the reports you get from the prosecutor so that he is informed about the case?” Vacinovic asked.

“Yes, that’s a good idea. There’ll probably be other witnesses to interview as well. I’ll make a set of reports for you as soon as I get them from the prosecutor.”

Kevin was pleased. He had a professional investigator, and at no cost.

As Vacinovic and Golic were getting ready to leave, Vacinovic said, “Oh yes, there is one more thing. Mr. Golic would like to see his brother-in-law while he is here, and to give him the regards of his family. Can you arrange a visit for him?”

“I think so. Let me call the prison right now.”

Kevin called and asked about their visiting policy for family members. He learned that inmates could have visits with family members on weekends. But Golic would be leaving before the weekend. Kevin asked about defense investigators, and learned that an investigator could have a visit at any time so long as he had a letter of authorization from the defense counsel. Kevin reported what he had learned to Vacinovic and Golic.

“Could you prepare a letter so that he can visit his brother-in-law as soon as possible?”

“Sure.” Kevin turned on his laptop computer, typed a short letter, printed it out, and then signed it. “Here you go,” he said, handing the letter to Golic.

Kevin walked the two men to the front door and said goodbye. He watched as they got into a Black Mercedes, with Golic driving.

“Who was that pair?” Diane asked suspiciously as Kevin returned to the living room to find that Ellen had gone to bed.

“That’s the guy from the Serbian Embassy and my new investigator, who happens to be my client’s brother-in-law.”

“That huge guy is an investigator? He looks like a bouncer. What are they doing coming to our house at night?”

“They said they were in the area.”

“Why do they want to help all of a sudden?”

“I don’t know why things changed with the Embassy. But it can’t hurt. If the brother-in-law doesn’t work out, I’ll just get another investigator.”

“I don’t feel good about any of this,” Diane said warily as she turned to go into their bedroom. “Not who you’re defending and not who wants to help.”