Chapter 7

‘This is way too weird.’ Mr. Steele watched as Mr. Lazlo sat across from him, still in full-body binds over his light blue inmate suit, eating a slice of pizza like any normal person would. That was what happened to be so unnerving about this meeting. It could easily be mistaken for two men having a normal business meeting, yet it was anything but normal. Mr. Steele had meetings like this with all of his clients. Those clients included violent offenders, but not quite as violent as Mr. Lazlo. Mr. Steele looked at the door, he knew there were two uniformed officers just outside the closed door, ready to rush in if anything should happen. This room was truly a private room, unlike the rooms at the small station where Birdy was being questioned, or the visitation rooms at the prison site. “So what’s your first name?” Mr. Lazlo asked between bites. Mr. Steele looked up from the paperwork he had been leafing through, “Uh-m-my name?” Mr. Steele had been a bundle of nerves this whole meeting, no, even before the meeting when he got the notice that Mr. Lazlo wanted to have a strategy meeting, direct conversation with this monster of a man was not something he was particularly wanting to engage in. It was his job though, “Jester...” he answered quietly. “No shit? Jester Steele huh? I haven’t heard much about you, where do you fit in the Steele empire?” Mr. Lazlo leaned back in his chair, a mischievous grin on his face. The name ‘Jester’ wasn’t common, and he never thought he’d ever come across another person that shared his name. Mr. Steele shrunk back a bit, he didn’t like talking about his family, most of their affairs were already littering tabloids. Though, it was what went on behind the closed doors he was vehemently against sharing. So, he would keep to the bare minimum that he could in order to keep a rapport with Mr. Lazlo, “I’m the youngest. Even from twins, I was born after. Father thought mother was joking when she called to tell him that Julienne had a small twin. I was in my brothers’ shadow even in the womb.” He said with a slight tone of defeat. He earned the name ‘Jester’ and was considered the family joke all his life. Everyone knew about the family of six sons, but no one really paid much attention to that last, sixth, son. The other five were high profile in their careers. Henry was the oldest, he recently became a judge, Richard was next, he was the top private investigator in three metropolitan areas. Next there was Leon, not the best, but one of the best divorce lawyers, he had a lackadaisical attitude and didn’t apply himself one-hundred percent of the time. The fourth brother, Raphael, was the top when it came to divorce, and the only one who caused his brother Leon to actually apply himself properly to a case if they were facing each other in courts. Then there were the twins Julienne and Jester Steele. Julienne was everything that represented the proud Steele name. He was both brilliant and athletic, winning competitions all throughout his life. Jester was the joke, sickly from birth until he found a niche in swimming. He was brilliant in his own right but it didn’t come as easy to him as it did his twin. He struggled to keep up but was always cast aside into the shadows so his brothers could bask in the lime-lights.

“I was named after grand-pappy Jax.” Mr. Lazlo pipped in, stirring Mr. Steele from his spiraling thoughts of family failure. His eyes went wide and he leaned over the table, face to face with Mr. Lazlo, “Jax, as in ‘the’ Jax Lazlo?! The man who held back Emperor Claude’s forces from gaining a foothold in the eastern mountain territory?!” Military history was something Mr. Steele actually enjoyed. Jax Lazlo was a legend, his military cunning had helped turn the tides of the great war. Without him the majority of the main-lands would still be under the control of a tyrannical empire.

“Good ‘ole Jester Alexander the first. Yeah, that’s my grand-pappy.” Mr. Lazlo stole another bite of his pizza slice, ignoring his public defender who now regarded him with a look of awe. “So, think you could-” “You’re the grandson of one of the most highly decorated war heroes of our time!” Mr. Steele’s outburst surprised even himself, though Mr. Lazlo only regarded the man with a cold stare, “Yeah, he often said stuff like ‘No point in killing a man forced into war by a tyrant’ he hated war for the bloodshed. Look at your legacy now grand-pappy, bet you’re really proud.” Mr. Lazlo continued eating his now cooled pizza. Mr. Steele sat back into his chair, a strange feeling of respect for Mr. Lazlo, only for being born the grandson to one of his heroes. ‘This ... is way too weird.’ He rubbed his forehead while in deeper thought. Mr. Lazlo sighed and looked at the mess of papers scattered on the table next to the open pizza box, “How is my Birdy?” the question hung. Mr. Steele looked at Mr. Lazlo between his fingers then sat up, hands on his lap, “She’s okay. They have her at the complex by the station, where they house victim families from out of town. She’s doing just fine. Being looked after by detective Jovis and PhD. Fremont both.” He replied, his tone returning to a more professional one. Mr. Lazlo nodded, “I want to see her. Make it happen.” Of all the perpetrators that Mr. Steele had to represent, Jester Lazlo was the most demanding, but only for Birdy. Mr. Steele felt all but defeated, he found it a miraculous victory that death was removed from possible punishments, so far seven of the twelve named victims had been found and teams were dispatched to the locations of the others listed currently. There was only so much he could bargain for though given the crimes executed by Mr. Lazlo. He looked at his client, his face a mask of professionalism, “Mr. Lazlo-” “Jester, please, Mr. Lazlo was my dad.” Mr. Steele cleared his throat and continued, “My apologies, Jester, rest assured I am doing everything in my power to get you a private meeting with miss Birdy.” It felt alien to him, calling people by their first name. He was raised to be more formal when he addressed people, even calling Birdy ‘miss’ Birdy felt strange to him. What could he do in her situation though, no one knew her true identity yet.