Memories of Midnight

Frederick Stavros was an intense young man, eager, ambitious, and idealistic. For years he had worked out of a shabby office in the poor Monastiraki section of Athens, fighting for indigent clients, often working without fees. When he had met Napoleon Chotas, his life changed overnight.

A year earlier, Stavros had defended Larry Douglas, on trial with Noelle Page for the murder of Douglas’s wife, Catherine. Napoleon Chotas had been hired by the powerful Constantin Demiris to defend his mistress. From the beginning, Stavros had been happy to let Chotas take charge of both defenses. He was in awe of the brilliant lawyer.

"You should see Chotas in action," he would say to his wife. "The man is incredible. I wish I could join his firm someday."

As the trial was nearing its end, it took an unexpected turn. A smiling Napoleon Chotas assembled Noelle Page, Larry Douglas, and Frederick Stavros in a private chamber.

Chotas said to Stavros, "I have just had a conference with the judges. If the defendants are willing to change their pleas to guilty, the judges have agreed to give each of them a five-year sentence, four years of which will be suspended. In reality they will never have to serve more than six months. He turned to Larry. "Because you are an American, Mr. Douglas, you will be deported. You will never be permitted to return to Greece."

Noelle Page and Larry Douglas had eagerly agreed to change their pleas. Fifteen minutes later, as the defendants and their lawyers stood in front of the bench, the Chief Justice said, "The Greek courts have never given the death penalty in a case where a murder has not been definitely proven to have been committed. My colleagues and I were, for that reason, frankly surprised when the defendants changed their pleas to guilty, in mid-trial…I pronounce that the sentence on the two defendants, Noelle Page and Lawrence Douglas, shall be execution by a firing squad…to be carried out within ninety days from this date."

And that was the moment when Stavros knew that Napoleon Chotas had tricked them all. There had never been a deal. Chotas had been hired by Constantin Demiris not to defend Noelle Page but to make sure she was convicted. This was Demiris’s revenge on the woman who had betrayed him. Stavros had been an unwitting party to a cold-blooded frame-up.

I can’t let this happen, Stavros thought. I’ll go tell the Chief Justice what Chotas did and the verdict will be overturned.

And then Napoleon Chotas had come up to Stavros and said, "If you’re free tomorrow, why don’t you come and have lunch with me, Frederick? I’d like you to meet my partners…"

Four weeks later, Frederick Stavros was a full partner in the prestigious firm of Tritsis and Tritsis, with a large office and a generous salary. He had sold his soul to the devil. But he had come to the realization that it was a bargain too terrible to keep. I can’t go on like this.

He could not shake off his deep feelings of guilt. I’m a murderer, he thought.

Frederick Stavros agonized over his dilemma, and finally came to a decision.

He walked into Napoleon Chotas’s office early one morning. "Leon – "

"My God, man, you look terrible," Napoleon Chotas said. "Why don’t you take a little vacation, Frederick? It will do you good."

But Stavros knew that that was not the answer to his problem. "Leon, I’m very grateful for what you’ve done for me, but I…I can’t stay here."

Chotas looked at him in surprise. "What are you talking about? You’re doing fine."

"No. I – I’m being torn apart."

"Torn apart? I don’t understand what’s bothering you."

Frederick Stavros stared at him incredulously. "What…what you and I did to Noelle Page and Larry Douglas. Don’t you…don’t you feel any guilt?"

Chotas’s eyes narrowed. Careful. "Frederick, sometimes justice must be served by devious means." Napoleon Chotas smiled. "Believe me, we have nothing to reproach ourselves with. They were guilty."

"We convicted them. We tricked them. I can’t live with it any longer. I’m sorry. I’m giving you my notice. I’ll stay here until the end of the month."

"I won’t accept your resignation," Chotas said firmly. "Why don’t you do as I suggest – take a vacation and…?"

"No. I could never be happy here, knowing what I know. I’m sorry."

Napoleon Chotas studied him, his eyes hard. "Do you have any idea what you’re doing? You’re throwing away a brilliant career…your life."

"No. I’m saving my life."

"So you’ve definitely made up your mind?"

"Yes. I’m really sorry, Leon. But you don’t have to worry, I won’t ever discuss – what happened." He turned and walked out of the office.

Napoleon Chotas sat at his desk for a long time, lost in thought. Finally, he made a decision. He picked up the telephone and dialed a number. "Would you tell Mr. Demiris I must meet with him this afternoon? Tell him it’s urgent."

At four o’clock that afternoon, Napoleon Chotas was seated in Constantin Demiris’s office.

"What’s the problem, Leon?" Demiris asked.

"There may not be a problem," Chotas replied carefully, "but I thought I should inform you that Frederick Stavros came in to see me this morning. He’s decided to quit the firm."

"Stavros? Larry Douglas’s lawyer? So?"

"It seems that his conscience is bothering him."

There was a heavy silence.

"I see."

"He promised not to discuss what…what occurred that day in court."

"Do you believe him?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I do, Costa."

Constantin Demiris smiled. "Well, then. We have nothing to worry about, have we?"

Napoleon Chotas rose, relieved. "I suppose not. I just thought you should know."