The Mentor

by Rebecca Forster

  “I don’t think she’d mind.” Lauren motioned to the phone. Eli didn’t move toward it. He just kept looking at her.

  “Think I ought to risk kissing you goodbye?”

  “I thought we were starting from scratch,” she flirted.

  “You drive a hard bargain.” He ran a finger down her cheek just to remind her they had already gone beyond the beginning. “I’ll poke my head in before I go.”

  Lauren opened the door to Wilson’s chambers and backed in. She was grinning like Doris Day backing into Rock Hudson’s bachelor pad. But when the door closed, Rock Hudson wasn’t in chambers. Allan was.

  “Hey, hey, Lauren. What a surprise.” He was sitting at Wilson’s desk, the computer was on. She had turned it off. He had his hands in the cookie jar or, more specifically, the drawers of Wilson Caufeld’s desk.

  “Well, this is a surprise. I thought you were too busy to help clean out Wilson’s office.” Lauren dropped her purse. “What changed that hard heart of yours?”

  “You’re not going to give an inch, are you?” Allan sat back, closing the drawer to his right as he did so. Lauren’s eyes flicked to it, he pretended he didn’t notice. “I was a jerk the other morning. I wasn’t in the mood for visitors and it was pretty weird finding someone in your place when they weren’t even asked.”

  “Since this seems to be a day for apologies, I’ll do my part. You’re right. That was rude of me. I’m sorry.”

  “Great. Friends again?” He was smiling but his fingers were drumming the arms of the chair.

  “Sure, but I still don’t know why you’re here.”

  “Edie was asking how you were. No, really,” he insisted when Lauren looked skeptical. “She knows how she’d feel if it was her, and she wanted me to make sure you were okay.”

  “That’s why she fought so hard to have me retained,” Lauren muttered as she moved a stack of manila folders from the floor to the credenza. Allan’s eyes followed—the folders, not her. “Forget I said that. It’s nice she’s worried, but I’m doing just fine. Since you’ll probably see her before I will, tell her I’d love to get back to work. I really would.” Lauren surprised herself with her candor. “Sorry, this has nothing to do with you. Maybe you and Edie should just leave me out of your conversations, much as I appreciate your concern.”

  “Okay, so what can I do here? I thought there might be some things you wouldn’t know what to do with. Business things that were in play before you were part of the fraternity.” Allan was anxious to get on with business.

  Lauren raised an eyebrow. She leaned casually against the credenza and eyed Allan carefully.

  “Did you decide that or did Edie?” she asked. “Maybe she thought you should keep an eye on me, so I don’t do anything stupid.” Lauren laughed he looked almost hurt.

  “Okay, let’s get to it. I was just tossing most everything that related to business before 1995. I’m forwarding anything after that to the appropriate divisions or parties. Anything I can’t identify I put in that pile.” She pointed toward a stack in the corner. “Maybe you want to start with those things.” Lauren headed for the desk and was by Allan’s side before he could move. It took ten seconds for her to see what was going on. Every drawer was open except for the small one he’d managed to close. Not one file was out, packed or culled, but everything had been moved. She closed the drawer near his knee then the one by his foot just in case he decided he didn’t want to stay and help after all. “It kind of looks like all you’re doing is looking through Wilson’s stuff, which won’t be helpful at all. Maybe if you tell me what exactly it is you’re looking for, I could find it. Then you can get back to the important business you do.”

  “Jesus, Lauren, you make me sound like a criminal,” he snorted, smiling for her, not at her.

  “Are you? Is there something Wilson might have kept that you don’t want anyone to see? Not even me?”

  Allan stood up and walked past, unflappable when he was alert. “Lauren, give it a rest.”

  “I would have except that you keep piquing my curiosity. You’ve been acting edgy, Allan, and I’m not the only one who’s noticed it.” Lauren was giving him every opportunity to explain himself, but Allan was smooth.

  “Curiosity killed the cat, Lauren. In your case, I do believe you did yourself right out of a job if I recall.” He flipped through the stacked files and turned back to her.

  “That’s unfair. At least I’m trying to do something. You buried Wilson and forgot he ever existed. Now I find you here rifling through his drawers. I’m beginning to think something is really wrong. Now, you either want to confide in me...”

  “Hi, guys, what’re you doing?” Allan and Lauren looked toward the doorway where Eli was grinning at them both. Allan started nodding. His head went up and down in big gestures as the light bulb flickered on above it.

  “Okay. This makes sense now. You two are still playing games. Very funny, Lauren.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “This!” Allan slapped at some of the papers on the desk. “You’re sitting in here pretending you’re wrapping up Wilson’s business and instead you’re helping him investigate me. This is getting so ridiculous. Lauren, I feel really, really sorry for you. I don’t know where Wilson and I went wrong that you can’t see what’s happening here. Mr. Warner is playing you for a dupe.”

  “We’re not the ones who were sneaking around in here. Eli just came to take me to lunch.”

  “He was here to soften you up because he knows that he’s at the end of his rope.” Allan looked at Eli. “I hate to tell you but that big, sinister falling out Wilson and I had was about money. That’s it. It was about my salary and so you can quit your little treasure hunt.” Allan walked a few paces but didn’t come as close to Eli as he had intended.

  “I got the feeling there was something more to it, Mr. Lassiter,” Eli said evenly. “I’d really like the details so I can finish the file on Judge Caufeld. I like my work to be as complete as possible.”

  “Wouldn’t you just love that?” Allan put his hands in his pocket, pushing back his jacket. Today he wore paisley suspenders. “Look, I know what you’re trying to do and I’m really sorry to disappoint you. The problem I had with Wilson was private. We sorted it out and anything that happened between us then is irrelevant now. He’s dead, Warner, and I think it’s time you stopped your little renegade investigation because it’s over and done.” Allan shook a finger. “You know what I’m talking about, don’t you, Warner? You didn’t bother to tell Lauren, did you?”

  “What are you talking about, Allan?” Lauren demanded.

  Eli opened his mouth to answer, but Allan held the spotlight. He paced. He rounded Lauren and leaned over her shoulder as he watched Eli. “He’s looking for a spectacular bust, Lauren, and he’s not going to let up even though everything has been settled. He didn’t tell you that did he, Lauren? He didn’t tell you everything’s being wrapped up.”

  “Eli?” Lauren turned wide questioning eyes his way but Eli wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at Allan.

  “I didn’t keep anything from you, Lauren. I just found out,” Eli said evenly.

  “So, ends the mystery of who killed Wilson Caufeld. There was no militia conspiracy. I did not skulk down the street and lie in wait for Wilson Caufeld and then shoot him. There were no surprises to uncover, nothing in the near or far past. Tell her who killed Wilson Caufeld, Mr. Warner.”

  Eli turned his head, speaking to Lauren. “They arrested a gang banger by the name of Damien Boyd.”

  Lauren put a hand to her forehead. She thought she might swoon. She had been right about Henry, and Eli had been so wrong about Allan. She blinked and watched Eli. “You really just found this out?”

  Eli nodded. “Yes.”

  “I heard it yesterday. I’m surprised you didn’t.”

  “I wasn’t part of the investigating team, and Jackson had me in Oklahoma for three days following up on a background investig
ation that hit the skids. I came right here from the airport.”

  “Now, I will assume that there won’t be any more talk about the difficulties I had with Wilson being so serious that I might be considered a suspect in his murder.”

  “I didn’t realize you had been told,” Eli said.

  “I thought it was fair,” Lauren muttered guiltily. “He needed to know what you thought.”

  “I don’t understand a whole lot of this,” Allan fussed, “but I hope you’re both satisfied. I think we all have the answers we need. We can put this behind us.”

  Eli still looked at Lauren. He wasn’t hurt. He didn’t feel betrayed. He understood her loyalty to Allan Lassiter. Loyalty was a hard thing to leave behind.

  “Are you satisfied, Lauren?” he asked.

  “If Mark and Abram are satisfied with what they’ve got then, yes, I am. Are you?”

  Allan stepped between them. “I’d suggest you decide right now whether or not you’re going to let this go, Warner. Anything you do, or say, that in any way harms me or my reputation, will be considered harassment at the very least. You won’t have a job if you keep this up. Make no mistake, I can, and will, see to it.”

  “Allan, stop.” Lauren took hold of his arm. “That isn’t necessary.”

  “No, that’s all right. It’s good to know where I stand,” Eli interjected. “I think I’ll just go ahead and do my job.”

  “As long as you know exactly what your job is, I think that’s a great idea,” Allan said.

  “My job is to find the truth, Mr. Lassiter. Always has been, always will be. Lauren, I enjoyed lunch.” She saw him to the door and then closed it.

  “Good riddance,” Allan mumbled, but his victory was short lived. “What? You look like I’m the one acting like an idiot.”

  “You are,” Lauren said quietly. “Now, I’ve got something to say to you and I want you to listen. I’ve thought a lot about what Eli has to say and I’ve defended you with everything I’ve got. But your own actions are making it more and more difficult for me to look at you and say that this is just your way of handling your grief. I don’t think you have any grief, Allan. I think you feel something, though, and I want to know right now what it is.”

  “I can’t believe I’m hearing this from you!” Allan said and held out his arms to her.

  “Don’t!” Lauren ordered. “I’m not stupid. I’ve played the little girl in our trio for too damn long. Wilson is dead, Allan, and I want to know why that doesn’t bother you very much.”

  “I feel relieved that someone’s been arrested for his murder,” Allan said coolly.

  “That wasn’t the question.”

  “Don’t try to best me. I’ve been in more courtrooms and asked more questions than you have.”

  “What about lies? Have you told any of those, Allan?” Allan’s tongue rolled inside his cheek. He was swallowing words Lauren desperately wanted to hear. In the heat of the moment is when truth was told. She wanted him at the boiling point, and she wanted it now. “What were you looking for in here, Allan? What’s so important that you had to sneak around to find it? And, Allan, if you knew about Damien Boyd when you walked in here, why didn’t you tell me yourself?”

  Allan raised a hand, made a fist, and brought it down through the air. Without another word, Allan turned on his heel and left, the outer door slamming behind him. Lauren followed a minute later.

  She didn’t know it all. But now she was going to do everything possible to figure it out very, very soon.

  20

  “Monique.”

  Lauren walked past Abram’s secretary and into his office without waiting to be announced. Abram was working, his little toy soldiers sat forlornly on their raised battlefield.

  “Lauren?”

  “Sorry for bursting in on you, Abram, but I really think there are some things we should talk about. I figured if I asked Monique to announce me there was a good chance she might lie about whether you were here or not.” She looked over her shoulder. “Isn’t that right, Monique?”

  The woman who had come in with the express purpose of making up an excuse for her boss ducked back behind the door leaving Abram Schuster to take care of himself. It was almost time for her to go home anyway.

  “You’re probably right. I should object, but I’m not going to. I think we’ve all been reacting far too quickly to any little thing that comes our way. Our nerves are stretched thin by the ridiculous scramble recently.” Abram sighed. “Sit down. Tell me what’s on your mind. I’ve been hearing what’s on everyone else’s.”

  Abram laced his hands over his middle. He was pale and drawn, as if he’d been working long hours. Then the look in his face became hopeful, his eyes were raised toward the door. Lauren looked, too. There in the doorway stood an equally exhausted Edie Williams.

  “Sorry. You’re busy.” She hadn’t seen Lauren since she’d been put on leave; she didn’t want to see her now.

  “Come on in, Edie. I have a feeling Abram wouldn’t mind if you joined in the conversation.” Abram raised his palms as if to say it was her game, she called the shots. Lauren didn’t smile when she asked, “Do you have a few minutes, Edie?”

  Edie slipped inside the room and settled herself near the window. She crossed her arms as if to hold herself together. The long hard day she thought might be coming to an end just looked like it was going to extend itself.

  “Lauren?” Abram opened the floor.

  “I’ll keep this short. I heard there was an arrest in Judge Caufeld’s murder. I heard it happened yesterday, and I want to know why I wasn’t informed.”

  Abram glanced at Edie and her at him. Only Abram looked back at Lauren. Edie found the floor more interesting.

  “Edie and I decided it was best to keep the arrest rather quiet since we don’t want the press making more of it than it is. Mark concurred, of course.”

  Lauren almost shot out of her chair. “More of it than it is, Abram? Wilson was a federal district judge, he was the first federal district judge to be nominated to the Supreme Court, and you don’t want to make more of it than it is? Do you hear yourself?”

  “Abram means he doesn’t want to have this case tried in the press. We controlled the Mexican Mafia and the Stewart trial to a great extent, and we’ll do the same on this.” Edie jumped to Abram’s defense. “One thing at a time is what we’re shooting for. The Stewart prosecution has given us more headaches than it was ever worth. Our strategy is to focus on it, finish it, and get it to the jury before we give the public something else to chew on. It’s an administrative decision. Besides, if we do our job right, when we get to trial on the Caufeld matter, the case will be airtight. That’s what we want, isn’t it? We want someone to go down for that.”

  “I don’t just want someone to go down; I want the killer to go down.” Lauren backed off, curious to find that Edie was speaking like she was the U.S. Attorney. She picked her way through this unknown territory. “Okay, semantics. I can even accept there might be public perception problems if both cases aren’t wrapped up properly. What I can’t understand is the other end of this whole thing. I would have thought common courtesy would dictate a call to me. I’m not just a federal prosecutor. I was part of Wilson’s family and...” Lauren fought back tears. She hadn’t anticipated this. The tears, she’d imagined, were gone for good. “...and Allan Lassiter was told. I’m not sure I understand why his relationship with Wilson Caufeld is considered, by some, to be of greater importance than my own? I find it not only unprofessional I find it appalling.” Lauren sat quite still even though there was really nothing more to say.

  Edie pushed herself off the window ledge and stood closer to Abram. She actually put her hand on the back of Abram’s chair. Everyone, it seemed, was getting friendly, the further Lauren was pushed from the circle. The sad thing was that she didn’t want to be pushed away.

  “I’m responsible for that oversight,” Edie said evenly. “I’m sorry. I simply had more opportunity to disclose that
information to Mr. Lassiter.” She gave a nod toward Abram to explain her formality. “I suppose, given everything I’ve been thinking about lately, I assumed he would tell you.”

  “No, you didn’t, Edie. You didn’t even think about me because I’m out of the loop.”

  “Professionally that’s true and you know why that is.” Edie didn’t give an inch. “Nobody is responsible for your credibility rating but you. If we were to bring you back into the loop because of a personal link to the Caufeld case, there might be even more questions about who exactly is making the big decisions in this office.”

  “Now that is funny.” Lauren rearranged herself until she sat on the edge of her chair, hands clasped together to keep from using them in a gesture that might be construed as disrespectful. “The reason that last statement is so funny is that it wasn’t long ago you were happy to let me call the shots. My personal relationship to Wilson Caufeld was considered more than a plus. As I heard it, my relationship with the judge was considered vital to the prosecution of the Stewarts. I believe I was advised to tiptoe up and look over the top of Caufeld’s fence. Wasn’t that what I heard?”

  “Players change, Lauren, and so do strategies,” Edie said quietly.

  “I have a feeling things might change even more if I were to start talking about how things work around here,” Lauren responded in kind.

  “It wouldn’t be anything new,” Abram scoffed, but Lauren could see his indifference was a bluff. Common sense dictated he should be worried.

  “No, I suppose it wouldn’t be anything new. In fact, it probably wouldn’t be more than a paragraph or two in an editorial in the Times.” Lauren sat back, more relaxed now that she knew how things were and where her strength lay. “But I suppose there are other things to consider.”

  “For instance?” Abram was getting paler as she talked.

  “The pendulum could swing the opposite way. Politicizing the U.S. Attorney’s office could be fodder for a movement to reassess the people who make policy. If you’re playing games with prosecutions, you’re endangering the public. The right person could make a case for that. And, even if there isn’t a hue and cry, some of the movers and shakers might be very curious about the way you made a young attorney lead on a case as important as a militia bombing. They wouldn’t think twice about why I accepted it, but they might wonder whether a man who dismissed a seasoned prosecutor in favor of someone like me, is the kind of man who would make a good federal district judge. He might seem rather indecisive.” Lauren looked at Edie. “They might further wonder whether a woman who was willing to take second seat in such a trial would be an effective U.S. Attorney. I could call some of those people who might be interested in this story. They were all friends of Wilson’s. What do you guys think?” Lauren smiled. The expression on Edie’s face was a curious mix of admiration and concern. The thing that was missing was fear. Lauren gave her high marks for that. Abram, on the other hand, wasn’t pleased.