Lin Qi sat up straight, his fingers interlaced in front of him. "The biggest obstacle you're facing right now is Kobe's superstar aura, his fervent fan base, and the capital behind him with vested interests. Since these protective umbrellas are at their strongest right now, why choose this moment to confront them head-on?"
Evans paused, his brow furrowing. "What are you trying to say?"
"Use legal procedures to apply for an indefinite suspension at the judicial level."
Lin Qi slowly uttered the word, clearly outlining his strategy. "The defense lawyer previously leaked the plaintiff's identity information to the media in order to put pressure on you, and even condoned the sending of threatening letters by fanatical fans. This is a classic example of improper conduct by the defense. Your lawyers can fully utilize this to formally file a motion to freeze proceedings on the grounds that 'the victim has suffered extreme media harassment and developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder, and is temporarily unable to appear in court to testify.'"
Evans's expression shifted; with his legal background, he was no stranger to the workings of legal procedures.
"Once the judge approves the suspension of proceedings, the case will be legally frozen at the judicial level," Lin Qi continued, advancing his logic. "Once the trial is suspended, the national media will lose its focus, the satellite broadcast van will leave Eagle County, and the attention of extreme fans will be diverted to new events. The public spotlight will be completely extinguished, and your daughter can escape all the harassment, quietly go to college, and resume a normal life."
"What about the case?" Evans pressed.
"The case will forever hang over his head." Lin Qi's voice carried a cold, calculating edge. "Wait until ten years from now, or even longer. Kobe will have retired, his body will have aged, the fans will have grown up, and the capital will no longer be protecting him. By then, he will no longer be an American icon, just a former NBA player. Then, when you apply to the court to reopen the trial, the media will no longer be so fervently protective, the capital will no longer be standing up for him, and the resistance from the prosecution will be minimized."
Lin Qi looked at Evans, who seemed lost in thought, "During this long pause, you won't be subject to any external interference. You can calmly gather all the peripheral evidence and solidify the chain of evidence until it's flawless. When the final battle comes, your chances of winning will only be greater than they are now. This is the true way to kill your opponent."
Evans leaned against the fireplace mantle, his chest heaving.
As a respectable person well-versed in the workings of power, he instantly grasped the ingenuity of the plan.
If they fight it out now, their family will be completely consumed by the raging fire of public opinion. But if they press the pause button, they can both preserve their daughter's normal life and the safety of their family, and keep a poisoned Sword of Damocles hanging over their enemy's throat forever.
But then, a professional skepticism flashed in Evans' eyes. "This won't work. The Sixth Amendment to the United States. Constitution clearly stipulates that the defendant has the right to a expedited trial. Harden and McGee on the defense are seasoned veterans; they will never agree to an indefinite postponement of the trial. They will force the court to start the trial as soon as possible and use the expedited trial right to forcibly advance the proceedings."
"The right to expedited trial can be waived," Lin Qi said calmly.
" Kobe will never give up!" Evans retorted categorically. "He can't wait to close the case next month so he can get back to playing!"
"I have a way to get him to voluntarily relinquish his right to a summary trial and sign the motion to suspend proceedings," Lin Qi said confidently, leaving no room for argument. "As long as you guys give in, the defense will cooperate fully and freeze the case."
Evans looked at Lin Qi, a deep sense of apprehension appearing in his eyes for the first time.
He realized that the person in front of him had secretly taken control of Kobe's team in some way he didn't know.
"The subsequent legal procedures cannot be handled by those local Eagle County lawyers who are just looking to gain fame," Lin Qi continued. "My fiancée Beth Finneran, is a senior partner at a top East Coast law firm. She will personally find the most professional and discreet team of experts in the country to draft all the confidentiality agreements and suspension applications, ensuring that the entire process remains completely confidential."
Lin Qi stood up, straightened the hem of his trench coat, and looked calmly at Evans.
"Mr. Evans, as a father, you need to protect your daughter's life from being completely ruined. As the head of the family, you need to avoid the deadly storm ahead. This is the only option that allows you to balance dignity, safety, and revenge."
A long silence fell over the living room.
The old-fashioned wall clock ticked monotonously. Evans glanced at the stairwell leading to the second floor; it was quiet there. His daughter had been hiding in the room for two whole months, afraid to draw the curtains or turn on the television.
After a long while, the exhausted father let out a long sigh.
He turned around and extended his right hand to Lin Qi, his voice low and hoarse.
"If Kobe is willing to sign the agreement waiving his right to a expedited trial... we will cooperate in filing a motion to suspend the trial."
Their hands clasped together in the cool air.
Lin Qi nodded slightly, withdrew his hand, and without saying another word, turned and walked towards the door.
Stepping out of the villa, the Denver highland sun was somewhat dazzling, and the dry autumn wind swept through the streets, dispelling the gloom at the Rocky Mountains.
He climbed into the back seat of the Chevrolet waiting by the roadside, and the moment the door lock closed, Lin Qi took out his personal cell phone and dialed Rob Pelinka's confidential line.
The phone was answered almost immediately after ringing halfway. It wasn't Rob Pelinka's voice on the other end, but Kobe's heavy, panting breathing. Clearly, the young man had been waiting by the phone.
"Lin?" Kobe's voice came through the receiver, taut like a fully drawn bowstring.
"I just came from Cherry Creek." Lin Qi leaned back in his leather chair, his voice so calm it betrayed no emotion. "The deal's done."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. A full two seconds passed before Kobe spoke in a low voice, "... They agreed to drop the charges?"
"There's no such thing as a free lunch, Kobe."
Lin Qi spoke calmly, shattering his illusions without hesitation. "The other party is a prominent local family, not some receptionist who can be appeased with two million dollars. They have agreed to cooperate in requesting a substantial suspension of the legal proceedings. The court will approve a freeze on the trial process, and all preliminary hearings will be postponed indefinitely."
"What does this mean?" Kobe pressed.
"This means the media's satellite broadcast vans will be removed from Eagle County, and the media frenzy will quickly cool down," Lin Qi stated clearly. "You won't need to travel by chartered plane to Denver's snowy mountains while playing basketball in the new season, nor will you need to sit in the dock and be humiliated by prosecutors under the watchful eyes of the entire nation. You can go back to Chicago and focus entirely on playing basketball, completing a full season."
Kobe visibly breathed a long sigh of relief, but as a highly vigilant superstar, he keenly grasped the crux of the matter. "What's the cost? They can't stop for no reason."
"The price is that you must sign the procedural documents and voluntarily relinquish your right to expedited review," Lin Qi said slowly.
The breathing on the other end of the phone suddenly stopped.
Rob Pelinka is a Juris Doctor, and Kobe had already been educated on countless legal principles by his lawyers over the past two months. He knew very well what giving up the right to a summary trial meant; the protection granted to him by the Sixth Amendment had been torn up by his own hands. The prosecution's charges were not dropped, but the case file was simply sealed in a filing cabinet.
"Give up the right to a expedited trial..." Kobe's voice instantly lowered, filled with barely concealed vigilance and anxiety. "Lin, the case has only been frozen; the charges are still in. What if... what if they reopen the trial later and I lose?"
Faced with Kobe's question, tinged with fear, Lin Qi looked out the window at the Denver street scene rushing by, his expression calm, and gave a cold and direct the Answer.
"If that day ever comes and you lose the case, just go back to Europe, go back to Italy."
Kobe froze, his fingers tightening suddenly around the receiver.
"You grew up in Italy, you're familiar with their language and culture, it's your second home."
Lin Qi's voice was calm and resolute, as if he were solving a math problem with a predetermined the Answer: "Across the ocean, Europe don't care about the United States judicial system. Converse's lifetime contract will still be honored on schedule, and Olympia Milan will definitely sign you. Even if things get out of control, you can still dominate the Europe court, still get a top salary, and still have the adoration of the entire continent."
"If this stalemate continues, you could be completely devoured by public opinion and legal proceedings next month. Signing this agreement will secure your golden decade in the NBA, quell all the media storms, and even if the worst happens ten years later, you'll have another way out: if all else fails, you can go back to Italy."
"Giving up the right to a expedited trial and suspending the case will only benefit you."
A long, deathly silence fell on the other end of the phone.
Only Kobe's heavy breathing could be faintly heard on the radio.
After a long while, Kobe's deep voice came through the receiver. Although it carried a hint of heaviness from being held hostage by fate, the initial confusion and panic were gone.
"... Send the document to Rob, I'll sign it."
"Very good."
Lin Qi hung up the phone and casually tossed it onto the leather seat next to him.
The Chevrolet sped along the highway, heading straight for the airport tarmac.