MALIBU LAWYER CONFIDENTIAL

Chapter 1

    Jordan Miller, wearing only a Speedo swimsuit, goggles, and cap, examines the ocean waves along Malibu Beach, California. He is 45 years old with physically fit body. Behind Jordan lies his ocean front home, and other similar homes, all supported by circular concrete pillars and wooden foundation beams that rise out of the sand. Besides Jordan stands Rincon, an Australian Cattle Dog wearing a red bandana.

   After inhaling asthma medication, Jordan tosses his inhaler aside. Rincon snags the inhaler in midair and scurries up a staircase leading to Jordan’s ocean front home.

     Jordan enters the surf and swims straight for the horizon. His swimming strokes are strong and polished and confident.

     Taylor Miller, age 16, and Sydney Miller, age 14, run down the same staircase Rincon ran up, with Rincon nipping at their heels. They toss a tennis ball between them as they run along the shoreline.

     Rincon steals the tennis ball and races ahead of the girls. The girls chase Rincon, then stop and stare in horror. Choking on her vomit, Sydney runs home. Tayler remains behind, shocked by what she sees along the shoreline.

     Jordan stops swimming and grabs ahold of a bait dock located one quarter mile offshore. He takes several deep breaths, and swims back toward the shoreline.

    Jordan’s mind wanders back to the past. He sits upon a lounge chair at a campsite alongside a whitewater river in a Utah National Park. From the river screams a woman, separated from her innertube. Powerful whitewater currents sweep her underwater. When she resurfaces, her innertube lies beyond her reach. Jordan runs to the river’s edge. He dives into the whitewater and swims against a strong crosscurrent. Jordan coughs and wheezes and grabs ahold of a tree branch protruding from the river. An asthma attack has stolen his breath away.

  While still swimming toward the Malibu shoreline, Jordan sees Taylor wading waist deep into the ocean, her hands frantically waving at him. Behind Taylor stands a crowd of people gathered along the shoreline. Behind the crowd are three Sheriff’s cars with flashing red emergency lights, parked along Pacific Coast Highway. Jordan sprints harder toward Taylor.

      Jordan hugs Taylor. “You alright?”

     Taylor nods her head. “ Yes, but come daddy-o. Hurry.”

  Jordan exits the surf and pushes his way through an anxious crowd. There sits a pale white, naked young woman with her eyes open, and an antique wooden snow ski pole protruding from her mouth. A Rookie Sherriff and Veteran Sheriff stand alongside the woman.

     “Try pulling on it,” instructs the Veteran Sheriff.

   “Alright already,” responds the Rookie Sheriff. “Give me a second.” He pulls gently on the ski pole with one hand, but it will not budge.

     “Try harder.”

     The Rookie Sheriff grabs the ski pole with both hands, and pulls harder, but it still will not budge.

     Veteran Sheriff reaches down. “Here. Help me do it.”

     Both Sheriffs grab the ski pole. They tug and yank at the ski pole until it finally slides out of the woman’s mouth. The woman topples over onto her side.

     “God almighty, comments the Rookie Sheriff. “Someone shoved that thing from stern to bow. How is that possible?”

     “Everyone get back,” announces the Veteran Sheriff. “Stay back. Now!”

     Jordan covers Taylor’s eyes and leads her away.

     Later that morning, Jordan exits the garage of his Malibu Beach home driving a classic Mercedes Benz sportscar with the convertible top open. Jordan finds a news station on his car radio.

     “We now turn to Helen Rivera,” announces a Radio News Anchor.

  “Thank you, Philip. The fire department continues to battle a large office building fire in Central Los Angeles. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Back to you Philip.”

   Jordan parks his Mercedes and enters a downtown Los Angeles Federal courtroom. He sits down at defense counsel’s table next to his client, Dandre Jansen. Dandre is 18 years old. He is a white supremist with a shaved head and muscle bound body. Neo-Nazi tattoos cover his neck and arms.

   District Attorney Jack Talbert sits at the prosecuting counsel’s table.

     Judge Robert Hadley takes the bench. “ You may proceed with your closing argument, Mr. Talbert.”

   Talbert stands at a podium. “Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you once again for serving as jurors, and for your promise to follow the law according to the jury instructions read to you by Judge Haley. You heard Mr. Jansen’s co-defendant testify this past week that she and Mr. Jansen are members of the 47^th Street gang, and that they were walking together along a public sidewalk. You also heard Judge Haley inform you that, according to our recently enacted California law, it is unlawful for any member of a Los Angeles gang to sit, stand, walk, or gather in public with another member of a Los Angeles gang. By returning a jury verdict of guilty, you will help guarantee the safety of our community from inner-city gang members.

   Judge Haley; “Thank you, Mr. Talbert. Mr. Miller?”

    Jordan scans the jurors. “Thank you, your honor.  Exactly what did Dandre Jansen do to be here today? He did not threaten anyone. He did not assault or batter anyone. He did not disturb the public peace. He had no alcohol or drugs in his body. Dandre Jansen was arrested for simply escorting his girlfriend along a public sidewalk in their very own residential neighborhood in broad daylight. Walking upon a public sidewalk is a basic inalienable human right in America. The first amendment to our United States Constitution provides that Congress shall make no law prohibiting our freedom of assembly. Our California legislatures clearly respect and cherish our first amendment right of freedom of assembly. Nevertheless, our legislatures recently carved out an unlawful exception to our constitutional freedom of assembly for so-called gang members. Who will be next? Members of certain races and nationalities? Members of certain religions? Every American citizen? You and your family? The people of California demand justice for Mr. Jansen. There is only one justice for Mr. Jansen. A jury verdict of not guilty.”

      Shortly thereafter, Jordan enters the law office of public defender Edward Larson. Upon his office desk sits a legal file. On the floor, next to his desk, sits a huge cardboard box poked with tiny holes.                

     “Main man,” says Jordan. “Good to see you. How are you?

     “Fine,” responds Larson. “I have a fun one for you today.”

     Jordan peers inside the cardboard box. “What’s in here?

     “Baby Condors. They’re probably worth more than a Vincent Van Gogh painting.”

    The Condors flap their wings. They start hissing, grunting, and growling.

     Jordan pokes his finger inside the cardboard box. “They’re looking mighty hungry.”

     “We’ll get to that in a moment. Two defendants got arrested trying to smuggle these birds on an international commercial flight out of LAX. The Feds charged them with ten counts under the Endangered Species Act. One defendant can afford counsel. You want her case? She will be arraigned tomorrow.”

     “Sure, on one condition. I can take the Condors to her client interview for moral support. I’ll return them afterwards.”              

     “That can be arranged. Besides, nobody here knows how to care for the ugly buzzards.”  

     A Federal Jail Guard allows Jordan to enter a jail cell. On the jail cell cot lies Michael Duncan, an attractive 25 year old woman with half African descent and half Dutch descent.      “Sir Lancelot, I presume? You clearly aren’t attorney Johnny Cochran.”

     Another Federal Jail Guard, pushing a dolly containing the cardboard box and Condors, arrives at the jail cell.

     Michael leaps off the jail cell cot. “Zeus and Athena! They must be starving. They’ll be dead in one to two weeks without food, and even less time without water.” She peers inside the cardboard box. “Imagine a 5 feet tall, 25 pound dinosaur that flies with a wingspan of 10 feet. Zeus and Athena are about five months old. They will be flying any day now.” She extends her for a handshake. “Michael Duncan. Your beloved new client. You must be Mr. Jordan Miller Esquire, my faithful and humble servant of the law.”

  “Something like that,” answers Jordan. “Anyways, we need to discuss some important legal matters before your court arraignment tomorrow morning.”

      “Lead me to the promise land my dear Moses.”

    The Federal Jail guards lock the jail cell and depart.

   “I’ve spent my entire legal career defending people’s civil rights,” explains Jordan. “Law school taught me how to do justice. Practicing law taught how to win trials. We will win your case. It’s only a matter of when. Now tell me exactly what happened.”

     “There’s not much to tell. I purchased Zeus and Athena from an animal rights group. I intended to give the Condors a good life with good people at the Pretoria Zoo in South Africa. When I started boarding my flight, there they were, an army of United States Custom Agents. And now I am here.”

    “Aren’t Condors on our national endangered species list? I heard they’re nearly extinct.”

     “I’m a Zoologist, Mr. Miller. I have managed the Pretoria Zoo for over a decade. We just built a natural enclosure at the zoo where these Condors can live healthy and happily. Where they can breed to their hearts content. Where the public can enjoy these magnificence creatures who mean us no harm.”

     “Understood. You’ll plead not guilty, post bail, and hopefully have you feeding your beloved pals before noon tomorrow.”

     “Perfect. How about a crash course regarding how to give them food and water?”

      “Sounds good.”

     Jordan drives his Mercedes along residential streets in the Hollywood Hills. He parks at a two-story super modern home.

     Jordan knocks on the front door, but no one answers the door. He opens the door and enters the interior foyer.      “Mia?. . . Mia, are you here?”

     Mia Sato appears at the top of the staircase. She is 21 years old, mixed native Japanese and white protestant descent. She wears denim shorts and a halter top. Silver jewelry dangles from her neck, arms, and fingers. A tiny video camera is perched upon her eyeglasses. She gives Jordan a hug and kiss.

     The first floor living space consists of a single room filled with bedroom furniture, universal gym, and kitchen. One wall is constructed entirely of clear glass which provides a spectacular view of the city. Jordan sits down on a waterbed.

     “I created something special for us today.” Mia places virtual reality goggles over Jordan’s eyes, and then removes his suit shirt and tie, before removing her denim shorts. Jordan observes a topless image of Mia dancing erotically before him in a discotheque. The real Mia snuggles aboard Jordan’s lap and kisses his neck and chest. Jordan pulls Mia closer for an intimate perfect moment together.

   Jordan removes the goggles. “A menage-a-trois? Amazing. How can I ever let you out of my sight.”

     “I just downloaded the software. We can create any sensual fantasy we desire.”

     Jordan kisses Mia. “You’re the best. The best of the best.”

     “I love you too.”

     “Can you investigate a new client?”

     “Your wish is my command.”

     Mia sits down at an office desk containing five computer keyboards. Around the perimeter of her desk are five computer tower servers. Ten computer video monitors hang on the far wall. “Name your victim.”             

     “Michael Duncan. One of my new clients. She’s supposedly a Zoologist at the Pretoria Zoo in  South Africa. That’s all I know about her.”

    Mia’s fingers dance across one of the computer keyboards. She peers up at the video monitors, but they remain blank. She tries another keyboard, and another keyboard, but she cannot bring up any images on the video monitors. “Too bad. All my internet browsers for South Africa are down today. I’ll keep trying and get back with you by tomorrow.”

     Jordan glances at the time on his cellphone. “Sounds good. I have dinner date. The girls are cooking a special meal tonight.”

    After driving home, Jordan sits on a futon couch along the exterior balcony deck of his Malibu Beach home with his bare feet on a coffee table where a laptop computer shows the local news report.

     Sydney serves Jordan a delicious Italian meal. “Bona Appetito.”

     Taylor serves Jordan a glass of red wine. “Alla vostra salute.”

  Sydney views the laptop computer screen. “Attenzione! Turn up the sound.”

     Jordan raises the laptop computer volume.

   News Reporter Helen Rivera announces some breaking news. “The body of a young woman was discovered today along the Malibu Beach shoreline. Sheriffs have not released her identity. No suspects have been arrested. Back to you, Philip.”

     Jordan lowers the laptop computer volume.

  Sydney looks perplexed. “Do we know that woman, dad?”

    “I don’t believe so. Why don’t both of you avoid the beach for a while.”

    Taylor groans. “Oh, daddy-o. I’ll be careful.”

   Sydney changes the subject. “We learned a new musical piece. We’ll play it for you tonight if you like.”

     “I’d love to hear it.”

     Taylor and Sydney, while standing in front of a one hundred gallon aquarium filled with colorful saltwater fish, rocks, and plants, play a Wolfgang Mozart Sonata. Taylor plays the flute, while Sydney plays the violin.