Dowd picked up and exchanged pleasantries with the defense attorney for about thirty seconds. Then Halpern cut him off. “I believe we have matters of substance to discuss. My schedule is rather tight today. I’m sure you’re hard pressed as well, Mr. Dowd.”

“Yes, let’s get down to business,” Dowd said, raising his thick, curly black eyebrows. “As you know, the police have a qualified privilege to arrest anyone if they have probable cause. You simply don’t have a civil case, Counselor — ”

Halpern interrupted Dowd before he had finished speaking. “Not if that person identifies himself from the outset as having diplomatic immunity, which my client did. Colonel Shafer stood in the doorway of his therapist’s apartment, waving his British Security Service shield like a stop sign and saying that he had immunity.”

Dowd sighed loudly into the phone. “There was blood on his trousers, Counselor. He’s a murderer, Counselor, and a cop killer. I don’t think I need to say any more on the subject. With respect to the alleged defamation, the police also have a qualified privilege to talk to the press when a crime has been committed.”

“And I suppose that the chief of detectives’ statement in front of reporters — and several hundred million others around the world — isn’t slander per se?”

“That’s correct, it isn’t. There’s a qualified privilege with respect to public figures such as your client.”

“My client is not a public figure, Mr. Dowd. He is a very private individual. He is an intelligence agent. His very livelihood, if not his life, depends on his being able to work undercover.”

The chief counsel was already exasperated, possibly because Halpern’s responses were so calm, yet always delivered rapidfire. “All right, Mr. Halpern. So why are you calling us?”

Halpern paused long enough to make Dowd curious. Then he began again. “My client has authorized me to make a very unusual offer. I have strongly advised him against it, but he maintains his right to do so.”

Dowd looked startled. I could tell that he hadn’t been expecting any kind of deal offer. Neither had I. What was this about?

“Go ahead, Mr. Halpern,” said Dowd. His eyes were wide and alert as they roamed around the room looking at us. “I’m listening.”

“I’ll bet you are, and all your esteemed colleagues as well.”

I leaned forward to hear every word.

Jules Halpern continued with the real reason for his call: “My client wants all possibility of a civil case being brought against him waived.”

I rolled my eyes. Halpern wanted to make certain that no one could sue his client in civil court after the criminal court case was concluded. He remembered that O. J. Simpson had been set free in the one court only to be bankrupted in the other.

“Impossible!” said Dowd. “There’s no way in hell that will ever happen. No way.”