"Leonard Speaking"
'Leonard Thinking'
Federal South District Courthouse, New York
Leonard looked at the imposing building in front of him. His hand clutched a folder, a dossier of his trades, as required by the summons he received. He had come to New York yesterday, finally putting everything in Pasadena at rest.
Leonard sighed. The past three days were hectic for him. He had just resigned from the university. Deciding to leave Pasadena, he decided to celebrate with them before leaving. Unfortunately, Sheldon decided to be Sheldon.
Apartment 4A, Pasadena, Three days ago
Leonard sat on the couch at the apartment. His friends from Pasadena surrounded him, looking worried. They were worried since last night, when Leonard received the court order asking for his cooperation and documents regarding his trading practices. Leonard looked confident. He had prepared extensively for this. With Mike and Louis helping him, he created a perfect record for his trades. He had also created a dossier for his work before the trade.
Leonard unpacked food on the table, something that made him nostalgic, as he did this for eight years. Surrounded by his friends' worried looks, he reassured them, "Don't worry. I have already done a lot of work regarding this trial. In fact, I am not on trial yet. I have just been asked to provide documents and contact the SEC. I am innocent, and they will think so too, when I present my files.
Penny looked worriedly and asked, "Is it like the crime procedurals on the TV? I have seen many people, even innocent ones, facing multiple charges and legal problems."
Leonard grinned at Penny, "Oh. You started watching legal drama when I left. That's new."
Penny grit her teeth, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Leonard raised his hand with a smile, "Just a joke. I mean no harm. Still, real life is not like TV. There must be some rational people at the SEC."
Suddenly, Sheldon entered the room, holding a laptop. He said, "Leonard, at times like this, you would need proper guidance. I have one such expert on call."
Leonard got a sinking feeling that he knew this expert. Sure enough, when Sheldon turned the screen, he saw his mother, with her sharp glasses, unfeeling yet judging eyes and general cold demeanour. Leonard felt irritation and anger rising before he squashed it. He had been feeling irritated for a while now. Normally, his emotions did not go haywire since his enhancement. Yet, he had been feeling elevated emotions for a couple of days. His calm was slowly being disturbed, like winds on a still lake.
Leonard spoke in a slightly angry tone, "You called my mother!"
Sheldon, smiled in his smug way, "Oh, Leonard, must you state the obvious."
Beverly Hofstadter chimed in, "He is known to do that. So, I heard you have some legal troubles."
Leonard answered, "I don't have legal troubles. I started trading and investing in the stock market about six months ago. The SEC believes that my trades show suspicious behaviour. There is nothing to be worried about."
A smile flickered on her face, before she spoke with amusement, "It's flattering that you think I would be worried. Still, it is an interesting idea. It seems that your needy behaviour is transforming. Quite an interesting prospect. I must write it down."
Leonard stared at her and asked with a faint hint of anger, "Still researching with me as a test subject?"
Beverly looked surprised. She said, "You were not supposed to know about the test. Well, it doesn't really matter. It is just research. Still, when did you learn about it"
Leonard's eyes bore into her, "Several months ago. Normally, I would not have noticed, but I was thinking about my life. Things just seemed to click."
Beverly looked at Leonard with interest. A notepad appeared in her hand before she asked, "And how did it make you feel that I was conducting an experiment."
Leonard said, "Still measuring my responses, mother? You really are a piece of work."
Sheldon seemed to sense the underlying tension before he intervened, "Let's not get off topic here. Leonard, you can ask any questions about processing this court order. You acted self-destructively at the order. Leaving mid-dinner, resigning from the university. All of these point to deep, psychological disturbance due to the case. You can ask my expert."
Leonard looked at Sheldon, his eyes hardening with repressed anger. He said, "Sheldon, turn off the laptop now. I don't need your help in this matter. Neither do I want any to speak to your 'expert' nor do I want you to involve yourself with the case."
Sheldon looked offended and asked, "Why not? I am well versed in law. I drafted many contracts in this house, including our roommate agreement."
Leonard stepped forward, closing the laptop in Sheldon's hand with a loud thud that made all his friends jump slightly. Leonard looked Sheldon in the eye and said, "Let me tell you exactly why I don't want your help. You, Sheldon Cooper, are a risk. You always spin the story in ways that benefit you, and should you get in trouble, you are the first person to run, throwing everyone else under the bus. In the end, I cannot trust you with my problem."
Leonard looked at his friends and said, "Let's just eat. I don't need to worry about this case and neither should you."
The group started to eat but the tension never left the group. Leonard's outburst had set a barrier that prevented them from prying further. The dinner was a quiet affair and Leonard left after eating, indifferent to the worried glances he received.
Now
Leonard sighed when he thought of his behaviour at the apartment. His grip tightened, not out of nervousness, but uncertainty.
'I need to find out why I have been all over the place recently. Unchecked emotion can be a weakness I can't afford.', thought Leonard.
Leonard looked at Mike and Louis at his side. He straightened his back and approached the building with his lawyers. The initial process was smooth. He quickly submitted his documents and gave his statements. His lawyers guided him in the process efficiently.
Just when Leonard thought that he was done, a man with slicked back hair and a suit approached Leonard. He held out his hand and introduced himself, "Hello sir, I am Bryan Connerty. I am an Attorney with the Department of Justice. Would you please accompany me to conference room four? Someone would like to talk to you."
Mike approached to dissuade Bryan but Leonard held up a hand, stopping him, "And who would that be?"
Bryan answered, "My superior, Mr. Charles Rhoades Jr., he is the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York."
Leonard thought for a moment before saying, "Lead the way then."
The walk was awkward but Leonard did not pay attention to the uncomfortable silence. He observed Bryan deeply, noting how he always tried to walk two steps ahead, possibly as a power move. He also felt disdain in his gestures. This gave him enough data to work with. As the group entered the conference room, he found a bald, middle aged man and a young, dark skinned woman sitting on the chairs.
As the group entered the room, the middle aged man looked up from his files and asked everyone to sit. He introduced himself to Leonard, "Good morning sir, I am Charles Rhoades. There were some things we would like to talk to you about regarding the accusations you are facing."
Leonard sat in the chair, looking at the man with scrutiny. His brain quickly picked up multiple microexpressions. Charles started to speak, "Now, Mr Leonard…"
Leonard interrupted, "Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. While I would not be a stickler to professional titles in the strictest sense, we are here in official capacity after all. So, as a sign of respect, let's address each other with our professional titles, Attorney Rhoades."
Bryan and Kate looked at Chuck, expecting to find him annoyed or angry, but Chuck hid his anger well. He continued, "Very well, Dr. Hofstadter. Now, let's talk a little about your accusations. The SEC flagged your trades as suspicious. You have a habit of selling the stock at optimum prices and buying them very cheap before they suddenly spike. In many ways, this behaviour is similar to how insider trading works. Do you have anything to say for yourself."
Leonard looked at Chuck and said, "Most of my trades have been in industries I am familiar with, or based on public data. I simply extrapolated appropriate times when the stock would spike. It simply tells me that I was smart enough to see the patterns."
Chuck leaned forward, "That could be said to happen once or twice, but during your six months of trading, it happened many times. Don't tell me you are so smart that you could see patterns for six months straight."
Leonard smiled and said, "Of course I could. And I could do it while actively engaging in research and developing new technology."
Chuck looked at the two lawyers accompanying Leonard. His face gained a smile as he spoke in a mocking tone, "For someone claiming to be innocent, you sure have invested a lot in your legal representation. I know that Louis Litt is quite expensive in the Pearson Hardman, and while I am not personally familiar with Mr. Ross, he is called a genius in the legal world."
Leonard sat back. His face turned contemplative as he said, "I am a cautious person with a lot of money. Hiring lawyers does not worry me, because my reputation is at stake here. Our justice system is a system of convenience after all. If it is convenient enough, even innocents will be put to death for crimes they don't commit."
Chuck bristled at that. He had always prided himself on his pursuit of truth. He spoke angrily, "That is a serious allegation from a criminal suspect."
Leonard laughed, as if Chuck had told a joke. He answered, "Tell me Attorney Rhoades, why was it that the SEC did not flag my file in those six months. It was only after I stopped trading for about fifteen days, that the SEC suddenly decided that I was a suspect. Was it convenient to accuse me now? Besides, as you said, I am a suspect, not a criminal. My opinion on the justice system would be valid even if I was a criminal. I am not claiming to be innocent, I am innocent. So please, don't think that you are dealing with a guilty conscience."
Bryan chimed in, "We are not accusing you of being a criminal Dr. Hofstadter. We just don't find it plausible that you could see through patterns for six months without fail."
Leonard looked at the three. He looked contemplative for a second before saying, "So, you are unwilling to believe that I earned about a hundred million dollars on the stock market without using any insider information. Is it because it sounds implausible to you? Believe me I am very good at finding patterns. It even helps me in reading people."
Bryan cocked his eyebrow and said in a mocking tone, "Then you should not be worried about going to trial. Normally, we would offer a deal to you. But you don't seem to want it."
Mike interrupted and spoke for the first time, "That is correct Attorney Connerty. My client has decided to not take any deal. Taking a deal would be equivalent to admitting to participation in insider trading. My client maintains his innocence. Should a trial be necessary, we will take that option to clear our client's name completely."
Chuck looked deeply at Leonard and warned, "You should take our deal. Trials can easily go haywire. Trying to convince the Department of Justice can be tricky when there are so many hidden details people miss. Even well known attorneys can have hidden secrets that may sway the judge towards the prosecutor."
Leonard looked sharply, his eyes quickly roaming over the three before he asked, "Like your BDSM fetish?"
Chuck's eyes widened with shock, Bryan seemed to choke on thin air and Kate looked at Bryan with surprise.
Chuck stood up quickly, approaching Leonard with anger. Louis tried to stop him, but Chuck was adamant. He quickly approached Leonard and looked into his eyes with anger, "So, you are spying on people as well. If I ever hear this come out of your mouth again I will…"
Leonard stood up, keeping the gaze locked with Chuck, his frame towering over Chuck, "You will what? Slap false charges on me? Send me to jail because you couldn't cover up your shame? This accusation I am facing is something I can understand, but I don't take well to being threatened. You might have been born in wealth but wealth won't protect you forever."
Chuck asked with gritted teeth, "Are you threatening an attorney of the state?"
Leonard grinned menacingly, "I do not need to threaten you. You have enough skeletons in your closet that I don't have to do anything. I know what you are trying to do here. You think you can bring Axelrod down from his pedestal using me, maybe because of your wife. But Axelrod has no connection to me. He wanted to hire me but that is it."
Bryan tried to defuse the situation, "Dr. Hofstadter, no one is threatening you. We just wanted to discuss your case. Normally, most cases of insider trading are solved here instead of a court."
Leonard looked at Bryan with unblinking eyes, unnerving him slightly. He spoke, "Then let me make this completely clear to you. I will fight this battle in court. I understand that you want to catch people who play with the country's economy, or it may be some personal reasons, but I will not be a pawn in this game. Have a good day gentlemen, ladies."
With that, Leonard picked up his cane and strode towards the door. Mike looked at Chuck and said, "If you will argue this case as the prosecutor, our next meeting will be in a courtroom. Have a good day."
As soon as Mike left the room with Louis, Chuck slumped into a chair, angry yet helpless at the situation. Bryan looked concerned, "So Chuck, are you going to argue this case for the prosecution?"
Chuck looked at Bryan, "I am tempted to. If he believes so much in his innocence, I will make sure he becomes aware of how quickly the winds change in courtrooms."
Kate asked, "What if he truly is innocent, with no connection to Axelrod?"
Chuck spoke grimly, "That is irrelevant. I will do what I have to do."
AN: Thank you very much for your support. The story is moving slowly but surely. The arc will end around chapter 33. After this arc ends, Chaldea will enter into a period of rapid growth.
AN2: I wish to thank all my patrons who give me motivation to write further. I believe that the story will grow better with your support.
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