"Leonard Speaking"
'Leonard Thinking'
Leonard sat at the back of his car, with Mike explaining the procedure for the upcoming trial.
Mike explained, "Today is just a preliminary hearing. Such a hearing is usually held, just to establish facts, but anything can happen in court. I still don't know who will be arguing the case for the DOJ."
Leonard leaned on his arm, his gaze softly falling outside the window, watching the surroundings as the car moved towards the courthouse. He was quietly contemplating something. Mike seemed to understand, deciding to give him space. After a minute, Leonard spoke, "Mike, do you remember the day I approached you for Sofia's case?"
Mike seemed to smile, though his mood mirrored Leonard's, "It was quite a recent memory, just a couple of months old for me. Why do you ask?"
Leonard sighed, "When I was looking for people who would be suitable for Chaldea, thousands of names came out. Teachers, scientists, lawyers, hackers and many other kinds of people. People who were talented, leaders in their field, but I could tell who were showing a facade. In this city, there are millions of good people, honest people who spend their time working multiple jobs, just to provide for their family."
Leonard looked at Mike with seriousness, "Law is the greatest tool of civilized society. Finding a good lawyer can be the difference between conviction and acquittal."
Leonard looked again, before smiling, "When Chaldea grows strong, I hope to create Chaldea legal clinics in every major city, possibly around the world."
Mike smiled, finding the idea quite unique. He commented, "You are not worried about the prosecutor at all."
Leonard grinned, his eyes spying the approaching federal courthouse. He said, "As long as the process is fair, I have nothing to fear. As soon as the prosecution starts playing dirty, we will implement our tactics as well."
Federal Courthouse, New York
Leonard met Louis at the gate. The man gave a smile as the two shook hands. Louis informed, "I just learned that Chuck Rhoades will argue the case himself. Since you have refused any out-of-court settlement, he seems to have taken personal offense."
Leonard nodded, "I see, but that is not relevant. Just make sure you catch any tricks they might do. As a defense lawyer, prosecutor tricks are not new to you."
The trio entered the court. The courtroom was partly full, with people from all walks of life awaiting their time in court. Then, there were some reporters, hoping to create headlines with Chuck's new case. It was a common tactic used to put pressure on the defendant.
Leonard was not worried about press coverage, but he recognized a hidden danger of unchecked media personnel. He commented offhandedly to Mike, "Looks like we will have to invest in a PR team. Misinformation can harm Chaldea and its members."
Mike nodded. Many members in Chaldea, including Sofia, had been victims of bad press at some point in their career.
Gradually, the court settled. Leonard and his team sat at one bench, while Chuck, who was glaring dangerously at Leonard from another bench, sat with his subordinates and some other members of the DOJ. Leonard looked at Chuck. Focusing his senses slightly, Leonard felt as if the world became shrouded in blue, with various people glowing with red and gold. He had experienced this state before.
Back at his warehouse, when the entire world seemed to flash blue, Leonard was startled at once. He soon discovered that the state was a synesthesia of multiple sensory organs. While he was slightly overwhelmed at the beginning, he had been practicing this skill constantly. Now, he could gain more information from his surroundings.
Suddenly, the bailiff shouted, "All rise."
The people in the courtroom stood up as Judge Maxwell Marx came into the courtroom. Judge Marx was an old person with a bald head and a white, full beard. Despite his age, he held the air of a spry man, exuding the air of a distinguished man. Leonard used the sense once again. Judge Marx was glowing with golden light, which gradually faded to a neutral white.
Judge Marx sat in his chair, before speaking, "The court is now in session."
With a bang of his gavel, the court quietened. Judge Marx continued, "Let us start the process. Will the attorneys stand up and explain the case?"
Chuck stood up, his eyes gleaming with confidence, "Your Honor, about a month ago, SEC reported the defendant, Dr. Leonard Hofstadter's stock trading account for insider trading suspicions. Dr. Hofstadter started trading with that account on 23rd October 2011, and he continued trading till 20th May 2012. During this time, Dr. Hofstadter made about a hundred million dollars in illicit gains. Since Dr. Hofstadter refused to pay fines for his activity, we implore the court to impose the fine of a hundred and fifty million dollars along with a sentence of seven years in Federal Prison."
Chuck sat down, looking at the youthful Mike standing up to give his opening statement. Mike began, "Your Honor, my client agrees that he made a hundred million dollars on the stock market, but we vehemently deny any insider trading involved in the trades. My client did not accept any mediation because he maintains his innocence to the crimes he has been accused of. We ask the court to exonerate him completely."
Judge Marx listened to the two lawyers explain the situation. He realized that the case was not just about the money. There was an undercurrent of something else. Normally, he would start with the prosecutor's side of the story, but he decided to listen to the defendant first. After all, there have been few cases of insider trading that have reached the courtroom. Judge Marx said, "The defense may argue their case first."
Mike nodded, standing at attention and speaking with a clear voice, "Your Honor, my client, Dr. Leonard Hofstadter was an experimental physicist at California Institute of Technology for the past eight years. About nine months ago, he took a sabbatical from the university to focus on independent research. I present to the court, exhibit A. These are the patents he filed at the end of his sabbatical. From his advanced sensors and camera equipment to his battery technology, he holds about eight patents that have been licensed to major companies, generating about two hundred million dollars as yearly licensing fee."
Mike paused before continuing, "To fund his research, Dr. Hofstadter utilized his intellect to find patterns in the stock market, earning him a hundred million dollars. As mentioned by the prosecutor, my client has been trading since October 2010, any suspicious activity on the account should have been flagged around that time. Interestingly, the account was not flagged for insider trading until my client stopped trading for about a month. We believe that the flagging of this account was malicious in nature."
Suddenly, Chuck spoke, "Objection your honor, that is speculation at best."
The Judge spoke, "Overruled. While it may appear that the profits from these trades are illegal, the delay in flagging this account is an oversight on the part of the SEC."
Mike continued, "After earning the money, my client did not indulge in luxury. He registered a company and a research organisation. Now, the organisation funds scientific research all over America. Accusing my client will also sully the reputation of many doctors, teachers, scientists and social activists."
Judge Marx nodded, motioning Mike to sit. He asked Chuck, "Does the prosecution have something to say?"
Chuck stood up, straightening his suit slightly and spoke, "Your Honor, what was done with the money does not justify illegal gains. However, since Dr. Hofstadter maintains his innocence, we can simply let the trial run its course. In any case of insider trading, we have to look into illegal contacts within the company, wide availability of the information used in trading and if the trades are replicable."
Mike sat calmly, discussing the matter with Leonard in a hushed voice. Chuck looked at the two for a second, a sharp look appearing in his eyes, before he turned to Judge Marx, "Your Honor, we have filed a subpoena to collect all communication records for Dr. Hofstadter. We would also like to look at any evidence they have presented about the trades."
Mike stood up and said, "We accept the prosecutor's request. Dr. Hofstadter will provide his call records."
Judge Marx nodded, before announcing, "In that case, I give the defendant a day to provide all communication records, and I give the prosecution two days to find any evidence they need to make the charges stick. The case will continue after three days."
With a bang of the gavel, Mike and Leonard stood up, bowing to the judge slightly, As the two teams filed out of the court, Chuck approached Leonard.
Chuck smiled, though the smile held no warmth, "Dr. Hofstadter, when can I expect the records?"
Leonard looked at Chuck evenly, before a small, calm smile appeared on his face. He turned to Mike, who handed a folder to Chuck. Leonard spoke, "You can expect them right now. These are all my call records, emails and other communication logs from September 2011 to October 2012."
Leonard turned away, but his words kept ringing in Chuck's ears. As Chuck took the folder and sat in his car with Bryan, his eyes turned apocalyptic. He yelled, "That bastard already prepared communication records. He has absolute confidence that I cannot defeat him."
Bryan tried to console Chuck, "Chuck, you are quite meticulous. If someone can defeat him, it's probably you."
Kate, who was sitting in the front asked, "Maybe he doesn't have a guilty conscience. People who are innocent are tougher than people who know they are guilty."
Chuck calmed down and said, "According to our research, Hofstadter was just a researcher before he started trading. Why didn't this Chaldea come under our radar?"
Bryan thought for a second, before answering, "We were looking for connections to financial institutions or hedge funds linked to Hofstadter. From what their attorney told the court, Chaldea is more like a non-profit organization. Even if it is a for-profit one, it is not flashy, at least not right now. Maybe in the future, it will come out from the shadows, but it is currently hidden."
Chuck commanded, "Investigate this. I want the names of every member, every property they own, every expense. If Hofstadter funneled his money to Chaldea, we can investigate him for tax fraud."
Kate asked, "I will make sure we investigate it, but something feels odd. Why did he seem so prepared for everything? He even took out the communication records, as if he expected us to ask for them."
Chuck waved his hand, "It is standard procedure after all. What we have to do is catch him off guard."
Kate asked, "So, what will you do?"
Chuck smiled, "I have some ideas. Let's discuss them
MacLaren's Pub, Manhattan
Leonard and Mike were silent all the way. The two entered the pub. Sitting at one of the stools, Leonard let out a big, relaxed sigh, all tension leaving from his body. Mike turned to him and asked, "So, what did you want to talk about?"
Leonard turned back in surprise, "I thought you wanted to talk about something. Isn't that why you were quiet all the way."
Mike gaped at that, before shaking his head slightly. Apparently, he had misunderstood the quietness. He turned to the bartender Carl and ordered, "Hey Carl, a glass of scotch."
Carl greeted, "Hey Mike, not with Sofia today?"
Mike blushed slightly as Leonard looked at him teasingly. Leonard turned to Carl and asked for a Gin and Tonic. As the two sipped their drinks, Leonard asked, "So, you and Sofia are close?"
Mike was about to say something when he heard a dolphin sound. The two turned back to see a blond haired man in a suit talking to a woman. Unexpectedly, there were only dolphin sounds coming out of the man's mouth. They watched in fascination as the man got the woman's number, despite his dolphin speech.
As the woman left, the man walked up to two girls sitting in a booth. The dark haired woman exclaimed, "Unbelievable."
The guy smirks and said, "Told you, I can win any challenge, because I am awesome."
Suddenly, Mike recognized the woman. He approached her and greeted, "Hello Lily."
Lily turned to the sound before her eyes lit up, "Mike! How have you been? I haven't seen you since that party. Are you here with a friend?"
Seeing that Lily was gesturing towards Leonard, Mike explained, "No, that's Leonard. He is the one who signs my paycheck."
Leonard chided, "Come on, we can be called friends. After all, who would bother you in the middle of your night except a friend."
The two smoothly integrated with the trio. The man named Barney praised Leonard and Mike's suits as the evening went on in fun and laughter. After a long time, Leonard felt like he connected with people just like his old group.
AN: I thank all my patrons for their patience and support. .
AN2: The next chapter will start with the trial, along with some important witnesses. Stay tuned
For advanced chapters, support me on Patreon at patreon.com/SparksNFlames