Page 11 of The Right to Remain

“There’s no secret agenda. He talks about his mission all over social media. He wants the dissolution of the United States government and an end to the American empire. He wants a revolution.”

“But he owns a gun destruction company. How can a true revolutionary have a revolution without guns?”

“He’s not against guns. He just wants them in the right hands.”

Jack wondered aloud: “How did Owen Pollard end up in business with a guy like that?”

“Well, in Mr. Pollard’s defense, CJ wasn’t like this when they started the business. He was living off the trust fund, so he was better aboutkeeping his views to himself. Only when he inherited money outright from his grandmother did he suddenly become a revolutionary.”

“And by then Pollard was stuck with him.”

He hesitated. “I suppose that’s one way it could have happened.”

“I’m sensing there’s more to the story.”

“I just wouldn’t be so quick to paint Pollard as an innocent victim.”

“Why do you say that?”

“This was before my time. I can only guess.”

“What’s your guess?”

He paused. “You’re my lawyer, right?”

“Everything you tell me is privileged, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Elliott seemed satisfied. “The way I see it, there are two questions: How did Mr. Pollard end up in business with C. J. Vandermeer, and who would want Mr. Pollard dead? To me, the answers spring from the same well.”

“Which ‘well’ is that?”

“VanPoll. That company is not what it appears to be.”

“Then what is it?”

“Probably the only person left who can answer that question is CJ.”

Jack glanced out the window, then back at Elliott. “Then I’ll ask him.”

“You can’t just call him up and make an appointment. He would never meet with a guy like you. Wasn’t your father the governor of Florida?”

Harry Swyteck had served two terms. Once upon a time, it had made for a contentious father-son relationship, Harry, the law-and-order governor who signed more death warrants than any governor in Florida history, and Jack, a young lawyer at the Freedom Institute who defended death row inmates.

“Yes, so?”

“To CJ, the Swyteck name is part of the system that needs to be destroyed. If you’re going to meet him, we need to be clever about it.”

“Any ideas?”

“How soon would you like to talk to him?”

“Your appearance before the grand jury is a week away, so the first chance I get.”

“How about tomorrow? I can make it happen.”

Jack wondered if he was promising more than he could deliver, trying to impress his lawyer, but he liked this kid’s attitude. “That would be soon enough,” he said.

Chapter 3