The click, clack, patter, pop of rain falling on the steps just outside the courtroom only served to reinforce the notion Johnson held that dreary times follow those in dreary places.
Who would have thought that within just three short weeks Johnson would go from Mufflin and Mufflin copy boy, to what Fox News called "the most corrupt corporate executive to emerge in the post-Enron era". Sure, the whole thing was a setup. He knew that, Jan knew that, and he was pretty sure that his boys knew that, but what the SEC thought was different entirely. The case they were making in federal court that day promised to put Johnson away for a very long time. Fortunately Johnson's defense attorney was considered the very best, and it was going to take the best to get Johnson off the hook. The defense was built around the fact that Johnson's company had engaged in zero deals while Johnson was at the helm. An accident really, as the outgoing CEO forgot to give Johnson the company handbook when he left, and as such Johnson, and Mufflin and Mufflin, were completely helpless. The SEC lawyers had not studied the case thoroughly, and were not aware of this minor detail. They should have been going after the previous CEO, and not Johnson, which would come to light by trial's end. For the time being, however, Johnson's apologia would have to be presented convincingly to the court. One false move and Johnson could find himself in a very sticky situation.