Key Characters and Roles in the Legal Thriller The Client

Key Characters in the Legal Thriller

This document details the main characters involved in the high-stakes legal drama surrounding the murder of a U.S. Senator, focusing on the young witness, Mark Sway, and his unconventional attorney, Reggie Love.

Mark Sway: The Eleven-Year-Old Witness

Mark is an exceptionally intelligent and resourceful boy, only eleven years old. Despite being terrified, he demonstrates remarkable composure in handling the dangerous situation he finds himself in. His quick thinking is evident in how he maneuvers his lawyer, Reggie Love, to Clifford's garage and orchestrates his escape from custody.

• Resourceful: Mark shows a deep understanding of life and often references films in real-life situations.
• Troubled Past: He started smoking at age nine and is even showing his eight-year-old brother how to smoke.
• Personality: As noted in Chapter 4, “Mark was a thinker and a worrier.”

Ricky Sway: Mark's Younger Brother

Ricky, Mark's eight-year-old brother, is delicate and less worldly than Mark. He suffers severe shock after witnessing a suicide. For much of the story, Ricky is either asleep or awake but unable to speak, reflecting the trauma he has endured.

Dianne Sway: The Single Mother

Dianne is the mother of Mark and Ricky. She has been raising her children alone since her husband left five years prior. The boys are relieved by their father's absence, as he was reportedly violent and often drunk. Dianne lives with her family in a trailer park and is deeply distressed by her youngest son's hospitalization.

Reggie Love: Mark's Unusual Attorney

Reggie Love is a female lawyer with five years of experience. Her birth name was Regina, but she adopted the name Reggie after separating from her doctor husband. Reggie has a troubled past; the FBI discovered her struggles with drinking and drug use, leading to her ex-husband gaining custody of her children. She proves to be an unconventional attorney by agreeing to take Mark's complex case for a symbolic fee of only one dollar.

Barry Muldanno: "The Blade"

Barry Muldanno, or simply “The Blade” as he prefers to be called, is a prominent Mafia member accused of killing a senator. He is characterized by his flashy appearance—wearing shiny suits and excessive gold jewelry—and his enjoyment of a fast life and the fear he instills in others.

Muldanno is cold-blooded and ruthless. Knowing Mark possesses crucial information, he sends a hitman to threaten him. When his associate, Gronke, failed to inflict serious harm on Mark, Muldanno was disappointed and suggested hurting Mark's family instead. Luckily, Gronke was not “in the mood” to carry out the further violence.

Roy Foltrigg: The U.S. Attorney

Foltrigg is a U.S. Government lawyer tasked with proving that Barry Muldanno committed the senator's murder. He relentlessly pressures Mark to talk. Ultimately, Foltrigg proposes taking Mark to court in New Orleans, confident that the change of venue will force the boy to reveal what he knows.

Slick Moeller: The Crime Reporter

Slick Moeller is a crime reporter working for the Memphis Press. His real name is Alfred, a fact known to very few. Moeller maintains a strict code of ethics, never revealing a source who has trusted him with information. He is exceptionally well-informed, often knowing details about crimes even before the police.