Love and Injustice

by Mary Crawford

  “I know. I saw pictures of ‘em on the news. They’re nice and tight too.”

  I take the towel from around my neck and throw it at Anthony’s chest. “It’s too bad. You were a good trainer — but, I need someone who’s on my team. I won’t be back.”

  As I turn to leave, Anthony places his hand on my shoulder. “Wait, I didn’t mean it like that —”

  “Not much room for misunderstanding there.” I respond as I duck out of his grasp. “Next time you might want to think before you talk.”

  Anthony looks up at the guy standing next to us and shrugs, obviously looking for backup and sympathy.

  “Don’t look at me,” he responds. “Tori has a point.”

  It isn’t until I hear a very familiar sexy voice that I realize Cody Erickson has probably overheard my whole humiliating, very personal conversation — as if I thought my crappy day couldn’t get any worse.

  Fortunately, Cody can’t see the internal dialogue consisting of copious amounts of self-flagellation running through my mind when he reaches his hand out toward mine. “You look like you would rather be anywhere than here. Want to grab a cup of coffee?”

  I pause for a moment. “Not really dressed for it.”

  “They don’t care at Tough Breaks. It’s kind of a come-as-you-are sort of joint.”

  Shaking my head, I stare down at the floor. “Nothing personal Cody, I’m not ready to face the public right now.”

  “I can work with that. Coffee to go works for me.”

  “Tori, you can’t quit on me. You’ve got goals to reach —” Anthony argues.

  Cody stares down Anthony. “I think Ms. Clarkson made it clear her goals have changed.”

  “He’s right, Anthony. Lose my number. Permanently.”

  “Ahh, man! You’re my best client. I didn’t say anything to you that everyone else isn’t saying.”

  “That’s the problem. I expected better from you. I thought you respected me. I figured you were my friend. Although these days, I suppose I don’t know who my friends are anymore.”

  “I don’t know if that’s exactly true,” Cody murmurs in my ear as he places his hand in the small of my back and escorts me out of the gym with so much class it seems as if we’re leaving a five-star restaurant.

  “That’s because you don’t know the whole story,” I mumble.

  “Maybe not, but I know you.”

  With everything going on in my life right now, Cody’s simple declaration is enough to make me sway on my feet and dissolve into tears.

  The retro rack of stereo equipment in Cody’s comfortable den makes me smile. It reminds me of the set up my dad used to play gospel and blues music after church when I was little. “Aretha Franklin, Etta or Nat King Cole?” Cody asks me as he turns on his stereo speakers.

  “How did you know I’m a fan?”

  Cody smiles as he studies me intently. “I’ve watched you dance at a charity ball or two. You seem to enjoy all music, but you really love the old stuff.”

  I’m a little startled at his observation. I know I’ve watched him over the years, but I didn’t realize he reciprocated. “We’ve never danced together. Why is that?” I blurt.

  He hands me my hot chocolate and croissant before sitting down and crossing his leg over his knee. “I don’t know. I guess we could never get our timing right. When I was single, you were dating the Navy pilot. Whatever happened to him?”

  I let out a burst of startled laughter. “Oh, you mean the guy who was more attached to his little black book than me? I took him to the airport and dropped him off. I changed my phone number and moved. I think he got the hint.”

  “Ouch! That’s one way to send a message. I’m sorry I was so rude to you about him back then. I had no clue you were dealing with all that. It looked oh-so-perfect from the outside.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Appearances can be deceiving. What about you? Are you still dating the girl with the crazy laugh?” I stop short and cover my mouth with my hand. “Oops, I probably shouldn’t have said anything. That was rude.”

  Cody throws his head back and laughs. “No, that’s probably the nicest thing you could’ve said about Rainah.”

  “I take it that it didn’t end well?” I ask after I sip my chocolate and take a bite of my croissant.

  “It tends not to be a healthy relationship, when the only reason someone is dating you is to dig up dirt on you so she can get the case against her big brother overturned.”

  “Wow! I thought I was the only one whose life was completely crazy.”

  “I’ve heard some hints today.” Cody takes a bite of his bagel, then he leans forward and wipes some whipped cream off my nose with his napkin.

  Embarrassed, I take the napkin from him and wipe my face. “Really? Only today? Try again, Detective —”

  “I swear, it’s the truth.”

  I look around his small, but tidy home with bookcases brimming with books stacked all the way up to the ceiling. “Funny thing, your house looks pretty normal to me. It doesn’t look like a cave or mysterious time traveling-portal. Do you suddenly go to another universe when you cross your threshold?” I tease pointedly.

  Cody chuckles. “I only wish it was something that mystical and fun. I like to escape into my books, but that’s not what I was doing. Unfortunately, I had family stuff to deal with. I’ve been across the country dealing with my family in Arizona.”

  I cringe at his statement. “I wouldn’t wish family drama on anyone. I have enough of my own.”

  “It’s okay. You couldn’t have known. My parents are better, I think. We knew my grandma would die soon. She’s had health issues for years; we just didn’t realize my grandpa would follow her so quickly.”

  “I owe you an apology. I was making all sorts of assumptions based on how people have been treating me lately. That is not fair to you. You've done nothing wrong. I just find it hard to believe you know nothing about what’s happened recently. My name has been dragged through the mud for a solid month.”

  “I’m sorry. Can you tell me what happened?”

  “I don’t know. Are you even going to believe me? Nobody else does,” I can’t help but snap.

  “You know, I’m pretty good at sorting out fact and fiction. It’s sort of what I do for a living. I’m known for giving people the benefit of the doubt and not pigeonholing people based on stereotypes or my prejudice about a case. I wouldn’t be very good at my job if I wasn’t,” Cody answers defensively.

  “I get that. I understand we’ve been colleagues for a long time … and we have respect for each other. But I’ve been let down by a lot of people I thought knew me. I mean really knew me. All those people seem to have vanished into thin air. I guess these days, I don’t know what to expect from you.”

  “How about you just tell me what happened — rather than assume I’m already guilty of something I haven’t done yet?” he challenges.

  The quiet confidence in his voice makes me sit up and take notice. Reluctantly, I meet his gaze and concede, “Touché.”

  “You know, most of the time you and I are on the same side. I don’t expect to change sides anytime soon,” he prompts gently.

  “Oh you have no idea how quickly things can change. I woke up one morning and everything I thought was true about my life was suddenly false.”

  “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. I know I sound like I’m spouting clichés, but it’s true. It should have been a high point for me, career-wise. We got that victory against the puppy mill — you know the one providing bait dogs to the dogfighting ring? The DA was shocked the jury came back with punitive damages on the case. He had warned me all along not to pursue charges, but Doctor Stuart Eastwood from The Critter Clinic helped me collect all sorts of genetic information on the dogs I never even knew existed. Mitch from Hope’s Haven dug up tons of background on their training methods and we were able to nail them. The defense couldn’t argue with a vet with his credentials and nationally acclaimed
trainer of search and rescue dogs. It was a high-profile win for our office.”

  “Derek Zane should have been thrilled with that outcome,” Cody comments as he nurses his coffee.

  “Yeah, one would think — especially since I followed it with an even bigger victory.”

  “That’s right. You were the lead prosecutor in the modeling service case, weren’t you? My former partner, Dylan, said he had to testify. I guess he did some undercover work on that case.”

  “Let’s be honest. The only modeling involved in the Boyles case were the selfies those girls took in order to be considered for ‘jobs’ with that creep,” I comment dryly as I make air quotes.

  Cody shakes his head and sighs. “You know what they say about karma? The prison system has its own hierarchy. People who take advantage of young girls don’t fare very well. He may face his own form of punishment.”

  “Well, I know better than to comment — because I do believe in karma. I got my victory in court. What happens to him from now on isn't really my concern. I’m just happy he can’t victimize any other people.”

  “You’re telling me you were punished because you won two high-profile cases?”

  “Not officially, but it sure seems like it. It’s weird too — because I was finally feeling worthy of the promotion I got when Fleming passed away.”

  “What were you officially accused of?”

  I set my hot chocolate down on the table and rub my temples. “I swear … I keep expecting this to get easier every time I tell it, but it’s still surreal. I can’t believe these words are coming out of my mouth. You have to believe me, this isn’t even remotely true. I mean, how long have we known each other? I don’t know…. what? Nine years? Maybe ten? You have to know this isn’t me! I would never do this.”

  Cody gets up and squats in front of me. He grips my hands. “Do what, Tori?”

  I draw in a shaky breath and let it out as a heavy sigh. “I might as well tell you, because like you saw at the gym today everybody assumes I’m guilty and you’ll hear sooner or later — probably sooner. I guess I should probably tell you my side. If you’re like everyone else, you’ll assume the worst anyway.”

  Cody raises an eyebrow. “Didn’t we just have this conversation? I’m usually on your side, remember?”

  “Right. We’ll see.” I let go of Cody’s hands and spring to my feet and scoot past him. “I’m sorry, too many years of presenting cases. I’m more comfortable if I can pace while I tell you this. It’s how I practice my opening and closing statements.”

  Cody stands and gestures toward the big picture window. “Be my guest. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable.”

  “Trust me, none of this will be comfortable,” I say as I toe off my shoes and set them by his front door. I walk over to his refrigerator and grab some bottled water, remove the cap, and take a long drink.

  As I set the bottle down on the kitchen counter, a shaggy mutt of a dog comes wandering around the corner. “Who is this?” I ask as the dog nuzzles my thigh.

  “That’s Calico Jack. Every time the refrigerator opens, he thinks he’s going to get treats. He’s partial to string cheese.”

  “Aren’t you cute?” As I reach down to pet the little spiky-haired terrier, I notice he’s missing an eye. “Oh poor baby! What happened to his eye?”

  “No one knows. He’s one of Dashonte’s first rescue dogs after he started working at Stuart’s vet clinic. Darya and I were working on a task force together. She has a soft spot for Dashonte. Somehow she convinced me I needed a dog. It turns out she was right. Calico Jack and Darya’s two dogs, Atlas and Dozer, go on play dates together all the time.”

  “You’re a good man, Cody Erickson.”

  “And you’re stalling, Tori Clarkson,” Cody counters.

  “What? He is cute,” I protest. I take a deep breath and pause to take a drink of water before I start to pace. “Okay. As near as I can tell, the whole thing started when I was on my way to depose a witness in the puppy mill case. Milton Cavanaugh was the handyman at Eight Paw & Palmdust Kennels. As it turned out, he was much more than that. He handled all the money for the dog fighters, but I didn’t know that for sure in the beginning. To me, he was just a witness I needed to depose.”

  “A real charmer, I’m sure,” Cody mutters as he rolls his eyes.

  I stop, close my eyes, and lean my head against the wall as I remember the disheveled, perpetually nervous, soft-spoken gentleman. “Actually, he was disarmingly charming in his own way. If you encountered him on the street, you would never guess he was capable of an evil thought. He’s one of those men you would guess would have his own little herd of hand-fed pedigreed lapdogs at home. I’ll admit I was shocked when I finally figured out how deeply he was involved in the crime ring.”

  “We all have perps who fool us — but what does he have to do with the demise of your career? Did you let him go or something?”

  “Oh, I would be blessed if it was only something so simple —”

  “It’s funny how that works. Things that blow up in our faces typically aren’t so simple.”

  “That’s the weird thing about this. I'll never figure out what role Milton had in this whole nightmare. I don’t know if he is the instigator of all my problems or merely an innocent bystander.”

  “What do you mean?” Cody asks with a puzzled expression.

  I yank on my ponytail to tighten the holder. I’ve given up wearing my hair down because I’ve developed a nervous tick of twirling my hair so hard it’s starting to fall out.

  “Let me ask you a question — how much of Anthony’s crass conversation did you overhear today?” I ask, bracing myself for the answer.

  This time, it’s Cody who looks more than a little uncomfortable.

  “Probably more than was socially polite for me to overhear. Let’s just say I know more about your sexual activities than I should, considering you and I have never dated.”

  A growl rises from my chest and a stricken expression crosses Cody’s face. “Sorry Tori, you asked.”

  “Remember, those things you heard … they’re all rumor and allegations. I didn’t actually do those things. I’m not even sure how they got started unless it was from Mr. Cavanaugh’s defense team. I barely even touched Mr. Cavanaugh, and I certainly didn’t touch him inappropriately,” I insist, my voice breaking with emotion.

  “I’m sorry if this is difficult to share, but it would help me understand if you could start at the beginning,” Cody cajoles.

  “You know, that’s the odd thing about the story. It doesn’t matter how many times I explain it to people, it makes no more sense than it did the first time I tried to piece it together.”

  “Why don’t you give it a shot? I’m great at putting puzzle pieces together.”

  “We were in the old executive suites where So They Said Court Reporting Services is located. I like to use their offices to take depositions because it’s neutral territory. A lot of times, sessions there feel less confrontational than if I ask people to come to the prosecutor’s office. I was getting ready to take the elevators up to the conference rooms when the elevator was blocked open by Mr. Cavanaugh and one of the building’s cleaning staff. I used the door open button and allowed them to come in.”

  Cody nods.

  “The elevators in that building are old and rickety. They are temperamental at best. On this day, the elevator seemed to pause between floors and Mr. Cavanaugh didn’t deal with it well. Honestly, I thought the man might have a heart attack on the spot. He started sweating and silently sobbing. He had a set of rosary beads in his hands. He was audibly praying and running the beads through his fingers. When the elevator settled on our floor, it jerked abruptly. The beads broke and went flying all over the floor.”

  “Oh no, poor guy.”

  “At that point, the man dissolved into tears and started openly crying. He started to explain how the beads belonged to his mother. I felt horrible for him. Honestly, at this point, I forgot he was
a witness in my case. I just wanted to fix his problem. So, I slipped off my high heels and dropped down to my hands and knees in the tiny little elevator and tried to find several dozen amber colored beads buried in variegated brown carpet in the dark.”

  “I guess no good deed goes unpunished, huh?”

  “You have no idea. I was in the midst of getting the beads off Mr. Cavanaugh’s clothes when the elevator opened. Rather than ask me what was happening, his defense attorney made all sorts of assumptions. Four months later, after the trial was complete, and we won, I was hauled in front of my boss and told that if I didn’t resign immediately, they would release highly suggestive cell phone footage. They insisted it proved I had been sexually inappropriate with a defense witness and it would completely destroy my career.”

  “Do you think any evidence exists?”

  “Of me being sexually inappropriate? Oh, heck no! It never happened! Of me picking up Mr. Cavanaugh’s rosary beads? Maybe. I wasn’t paying any attention to what the cleaning staff was doing. He was behind a big utility mop bucket. There was barely room for any of us to move in the tiny elevator. I can imagine he wouldn't have had enough light to film anything — but who knows … with video editing software. The way things were in that elevator, I could’ve looked like a veritable porn star while I was picking beads off the floor and off of Mr. Cavanaugh. I can’t control that, but I do know I wasn’t offering anyone any sexual favors at any point. I was there to take a deposition — I just had the stupid luck to try to be nice to someone along the way.”

  “You’re right. The story doesn’t make any sense. They simply took one person’s word for it and didn’t do any investigation. I mean, it’s not like the defendant’s side would have reason to be biased against the prosecution’s office or anything —” Cody’s speech trails off.

  “I know! Right? It’s crazy. People lie about us all the time. For many people, we are the personification of evil. So why in this one instance did they choose to believe them?”