“She’s doing fine. They’re holding her in a cell like yours.”
“Is she really okay? I mean… she was upset last night. And she doesn’t like—”
Bodnar held up his hand. “I’ve known Lydia for a few years, and I’m aware of her limitations. She told me she’s being treated well. Her cell is small, but they never restrain her.”
“That’s great, but why did they arrest her?”
The lawyer set his briefcase on the table and opened it. “Before we discuss anything further, we need to settle something. Lydia would like me to represent you… if that’s your wish.”
“Um… yeah, but… I can’t afford a lawyer.”
“No need to pay me a thing.” Bodnar pulled out a small packet of papers. “I’ve been on retainer to Marko Kozel for years. His estate will pay for everything.” He set the papers on the table facing Niko. “This is a standard agreement with an additional authorization for joint defense with Lydia. I will be able to share information with each of you about your cases. You can read the document, or I can explain it to you. If you’re satisfied, sign at the bottom of the final page.”
On the top of the first page was the name Ivan Bodnar, Attorney at Law. Niko glanced through the verbiage, written in legalese. He skipped to the last page where his signature was required. Under the line, someone had typed the name Adam Zima.
“Did Vyper tell you my name?”
Bodnar nodded. “Lydia said you prefer to be called Niko, but all legal papers reference Zima. I know you haven’t revealed your name to the FBI, but they figured it out—I presume from fingerprints. Are you aware you were declared legally dead?”
Niko ignored the question and signed the paper. “Now can you tell me why they arrested Vyper?”
“She’s been charged with murder and conspiracy—same as you. You’ll receive the formal charges when you appear in court this afternoon. Lydia, AKA Vyper, is scheduled to appear later in the day.”
“They told me what I was charged with, and it makes no sense. But Vyper? How can anyone think we’re murderers? Who do they think we killed?”
The lawyer took the signed paper and placed it in his briefcase. “I don’t know. I could only speculate. The formal charges will be more detailed.” He stood up. “See you in court. Is there anything you want me to tell Lydia?”
Niko stood to shake Bodnar’s hand. “Tell her I love her.”
When the lawyer left, a guard returned Niko to his cell, where he sat alone with his thoughts for hours before he was taken to see Mister Bodnar again, and then the judge.
Niko stood in court wearing an orange prisoner jump suit, Bodnar at his side. His hands were cuffed in front of him.
The judge looked like someone’s grandfather sitting at the bench. He spoke with authority. “State your name.”
Since the court already knew the answer, Niko responded, “Adam Zima.”
The judge began to read the formal charges. It sounded like legal mumbo jumbo. Then he got to the point, “… Adam Zima provided material support and resources to Alexei Sokolov…”
No! I didn’t help Sokolov.
The reading continued, “… the murder of Marko Kozel and the attacks on the Kozel and Cybercade action centers…”
Niko couldn’t believe what he heard. They got it all wrong. Why did they think he did it? It was the Russians!
Then the judge said something that made Niko’s heart stop. “… conspired with Lydia Harris…”
The rest of the reading went by in a blur. All he could think of was Vyper.
Gotta be a way to set her free.
Bodnar whispered into Niko’s ear. “Time to enter your plea.”
The judge glared down from the bench. “Do I have your attention now?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“How do you plead?”
“Not guilty, Your Honor.”
Chapter 18
Evidence
Sterling, Virginia
Niko paid the Uber driver and walked up to the front of Vyper’s home. The door was new. Someone must have replaced the old door after the FBI smashed it in last night. He pressed the doorbell and waited.
This had been a long day, but Mr. Bodnar had moved things along quickly, posting bail as soon as Niko and Vyper agreed to home confinement.
The door opened. It was Vyper, beautiful as ever, a broad smile on her face. She opened her arms wide.
Niko stepped into her embrace, buried his face in her hair, and inhaled her intoxicating scent. He whispered in Vyper’s ear, “I love you so much. I was afraid I’d never see you again.”
She tightened her grip. “I was afraid, too. We cannot let them separate us again.”
Niko kicked the door behind him, shutting it with a bang. He looked into her eyes and brushed a tear from her cheek. Her lips were inviting, and he met them with his own, as their tongues wrestled playfully.
His leg bumped something hard near her foot, and he spotted the ankle bracelet. “I see they’re monitoring you, too.” He held out his own leg for her to see. “House arrest is much better than jail.”
Vyper stepped back and held a finger to her lips, then pointed to her ankle. “Mister Bodnar is wonderful. He replaced the front door and bought us computers and phones.” She waved her arm toward the open door to the computer room. “The FBI took everything.”
It had not occurred to Niko that these monitors could also be listening devices. On the dining room table lay a pad of paper and two pens. Next to the table was a shredder. He waved toward the table. “Bodnar should be here soon.”
She took a seat, grabbed a pen, and wrote a short message:
Mr. Bodnar swept the house—no bugs—except ankle bracelets
The internet is turned off—police will come here tomorrow and turn it on
Niko took the other pen and wrote on the same pad:
Did you tell the FBI anything?
Vyper scribbled a response:
No—but I told Mr. Bodnar everything—you can trust him
I want to tell the truth—it was Russians—not us
Niko shook his head:
Let’s talk to our lawyer first—we stole money—hacked computers
FBI may not believe us—we could go to jail—prison
The doorbell rang. Vyper ripped off the top sheet of paper and inserted it into the shredder. Then she got up and opened the door. “Good evening, Mister Bodnar. Come in and sit down.”
Niko stood and pulled out a chair. “I can’t thank you enough, Mister Bodnar.”
The lawyer nodded at Vyper, shook Niko’s hand, and took a seat. “Mister Kozel always said great things about both of you. It’s a pleasure to assist you in any way I can.” He opened his briefcase on the table and removed a manila folder. “Please call me Ivan.”
Vyper sat next to Niko so they could face their lawyer across the table. “I want to thank you, too.”
Ivan waved his hand dismissively. “No need for thanks.” He opened the folder. “We have a lot to talk about, but first, we need to discuss your GPS ankle bracelets.”
Vyper pushed a small booklet across the table. “They gave us a user manual.”
With a nod, Ivan continued. “We need to discuss privacy, something they don’t mention in the manual. These bracelets use cell phone communication. As described in the manual, during an emergency you may use them to communicate with the police. When the police need to listen, they are supposed to vibrate the unit to make you aware. The problem is, they can listen without your knowledge. There have been incidents where they were caught listening covertly.”