The Empire State Cat's Christmas Gift

by Nic Tatano

  *

  Tish headed across the street trailing a suitcase and a gift. Benny looked up and smiled. “You’re finally outta there?”

  “Yep. They finished up the work on my house yesterday. Just in time.”

  “You’ll be home for Christmas, just like the song. What a nice gift.”

  She handed him a beautifully wrapped present. “A little something for you, Benny, for being such a good friend to me these past few weeks.”

  “You didn’t have to do that, but I’ll take it. So, I understand there might be a verdict today.”

  “Huh? Where did you hear that?”

  “A certain source.”

  “Oh.”

  “Speaking of a certain source, you give him his gift yet?”

  She shook her head. “No. Not sure what to do about that, Benny.”

  “Not much point in going through all the trouble you did and then not give it to him.”

  “It’s complicated, Benny.”

  “No, Tish formerly from the hotel, it’s not.”

  She looked down and didn’t respond.

  “Anyway, young lady, I hope you have a Merry Christmas. And you know how to make that happen.”

  *

  Spencer shoved his way through the horde of media people without saying a word as he quickly headed to the courtroom.

  The jury was back. Obviously they wanted to be home for Christmas Eve as well.

  He found Brent already in the courtroom, smiling and shaking hands with some of the people who had come to support him.

  Tish was seated at her table next to her client. She looked up as he arrived. “Morning, Mr. Capshaw.”

  “Morning, Ms. McKenna. Ms. Riggs.”

  She locked eyes with him for a brief moment, then turned back to her client.

  The jury filed into the courtroom and took their seats. Judge Winston turned to face them. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?”

  The foreman stood up. “We have, your honor.”

  “What say you?”

  Spencer closed his eyes and said a quick prayer.

  Please God, let me lose this one…it’s all I want for Christmas…

  Along with Tish…

  “In the matter of Cynthia Riggs versus Peter Brent and Brent Industries…we, the jury, find for the defendant, Peter Brent.”

  Spencer opened his eyes as his jaw dropped.

  You gotta be kidding.

  He looked at Tish, whose face went ashen. Her client’s sobs filled the courtroom. He stood up, ready to head in her direction when Brent patted him on the shoulder and shook his hand.

  “Great job, Spencer. I never should have doubted you.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Merry Christmas.”

  He was about to tell Brent to go to hell when he saw the man look toward the jury and smile.

  He got several grins back in return.

  The courtroom emptied quickly as the media people had reports to file so they could get home for Christmas like everyone else.

  Tish still sat there, stunned and seemingly in shock.

  When the room had cleared out he walked over to her. “Tish… I—”

  “Not now, Spence.”

  “Listen, I’m sorry—”

  She turned to face him, those spectacular eyes filled with pain. “You should take Benny’s advice right now.”

  He slowly nodded. “I understand. I’ll be around the office all day if you want to talk.”

  She said nothing, wiped away a tear and turned away.

  Spencer started to wish her a Merry Christmas but it didn’t seem right. He headed toward the side door to avoid the reporters, then saw Kayla quickly walking in his direction, carrying a large manila envelope. “Spence, am I too late?”

  “Verdict just came in. They ruled for Brent.”

  “Dammit.”

  “Why, waddaya got?”

  “The proof you needed.” She handed him the envelope.

  Spencer opened it and took a look at the photos and documents. “Maybe it’s not too late.”

  *

  The bailiff walked out into the courtroom a few hours later. “Ms. McKenna, I thought you were still here.”

  “Sorry, I know I need to clear out. I’m still in shock over the verdict and I can’t bear to face the media. I know they’re still out there and they’ve got the back door covered. I needed a place to hide.”

  “Anyway, Judge Winston wants to see you.”

  “Huh?”

  He shrugged. “She said it’s important.”

  Tish gently tapped on Judge Winston’s open door and saw she was on the phone. The judge pointed to a chair in front of her desk and she took a seat.

  “Bill, I appreciate you doing this on Christmas Eve,” said the judge. “I’ll be around all day. I’m not gonna miss this. Talk later.” She hung up and smiled at Tish. “That was the Manhattan District Attorney.”

  “Okay…”

  “He’s on his way to arrest Peter Brent.”

  “Excuse me?”

  The judge handed her a manila envelope. “He bribed the jury, Ms. McKenna. And we’ve got proof.”

  Tish opened the envelope and saw photos of a man in a jewelry store along with a whole bunch of receipts. “I don’t understand. Who is this?”

  “Mr. Brent’s executive assistant buying a bunch of Rolex watches and other ridiculously priced pieces of jewelry for the members of the jury. Then giving them out. Along with receipts.”

  “How did you get this?”

  “You know that transit worker on the jury, the guy in the front row? Someone noticed he was wearing a twenty thousand dollar Rolex and did a little poking around.”

  “So where did these photos and documents come from?”

  “Not exactly sure. Mr. Capshaw brought them to me. He said a woman handed the envelope to him after the trial.”

  “A woman?”

  “He said he didn’t know who she was, but she asked him to bring this to me.”

  “Mr. Capshaw did this.”

  “Yep.”

  “And he didn’t know who she was?”

  “That’s what he said. And I don’t care.”

  “Who spotted the juror with the expensive watch?”

  “Beats me. I wouldn’t know a real Rolex from one of those fifty dollar knockoffs they sell on the street. Guess it was someone who knows things about watches.”

  “Yeah, you would have to know about watches.”

  “Anyway, a bunch of jurors were hanging around doing interviews with reporters. I gave this stuff to a detective and he got a few of them to flip on Brent.”

  “Too bad we didn’t have this earlier.”

  “Well, all is not lost, Ms. McKenna. I’ve scheduled a news conference in an hour. I’m setting aside the verdict and giving the judgment to your client, in the amount of one hundred million dollars, and ordering the patent to be transferred to her name. So she’s free to sell it to whatever company wants to buy it. You’re welcome to join me. In fact, I’d appreciate it if you would. And bring your client. This is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.”

  Tish sat there, jaw hanging open, speechless.

  “Well, Ms. McKenna, say something.”

  “I don’t know what to say. I’m stunned.”

  “Well, then, go say something to your client and get her back down here. She just got the world’s best Christmas gift.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Spencer kept an eye on the television as he watched the live news conference with Tish, her client and Judge Winston taking questions.

  Tish was positively beaming, back to the girlfriend he knew.

  Kayla’s investigative abilities had saved the day.

  The video of Peter Brent being hauled away in handcuffs had made his day.

  Now it was time for his plan to come together.

  He attached the gold locket to Socks’ collar and put the cat down next to the air vent. “Okay, go home.
Don’t fail me now, kitty.”

  *

  Shelley greeted Tish with a strong hug as she returned to the office. “Congratulations! I can’t believe it! I’m so happy for you.”

  “I can’t believe it either. Talk about a gift from out of the blue.”

  “Well, it is Christmas.”

  “What are you still doing here, Shelley? Go home, enjoy the holidays.”

  “I was waiting for you. Also waiting for you is your cat, who apparently has picked up some bling.”

  “Huh?”

  Shelley cocked her head toward Tish’s office. “Go take a look.”

  Tish headed into the office finding Socks at her usual post on the desk. She noticed an old, worn, gold heart-shaped charm hanging from the cat’s collar. “What the heck is this?”

  Shelley smiled at her. “It’s one of those old fashioned lockets.”

  “Did you put it on her?”

  “Nope.”

  “Where did it come from?”

  Shelley folded her arms and rolled her eyes. “Where do you think?”

  Tish examined the locket. “It’s got a little clasp.” She pressed it and the locket opened. A small slip of paper fell out. Tish unfolded it as Shelley looked over her shoulder.

  Observation Deck. 6pm. I will wait 15 minutes.

  -Spence

  Tish turned to Shelley. “Did he come by and put this on the cat?”

  “Nope.”

  “Are you in on this?”

  “Tish, why do you have to analyze everything to death? Just go to the observation deck at six. And claim the Christmas gift you really want more than anything.”

  The bitter cold air smacked Tish in the face as the elevator doors opened. The Empire State Building observation deck was closed earlier than usual for Christmas Eve, but the building super had taken her up to the top. She pulled her coat tight as she stepped out and saw Spence, looking out at the skyline. “Hey.”

  He turned and smiled at her. “Tish. You came.”

  She headed toward him. “Of course I came. I guess the media can’t see us up here.”

  “Not why I chose this as a meeting place.”

  “I, uh, can’t thank you enough for what you did today. I guess I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

  “What did I do?”

  “Oh, a certain person who knows about watches brings a big envelope of evidence to a judge given to him by a woman he didn’t know. Right, that couldn’t be you.”

  “The point is justice was done and you saved your client.”

  “I think you saved my client. I lost, remember?”

  “The jury was rigged. You kicked my ass in court.”

  “I wouldn’t say that. I think we were even.” She looked out at the skyline, so beautiful under a full moon on a crystal clear night. “So thank you for the incredible Christmas present. And you have no idea how Cynthia feels. You saved her life.”

  “Now that makes my day. Anyway, I have a little something else for you. But I wanted to ask you something first.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “When Judge Winston figured out we were in a relationship and asked why you didn’t tell her, you said, I didn’t want to face the man I… and then you stopped and said my boyfriend. I was curious as to how you were going to finish your original thought.”

  She moved closer, locked eyes with him. “I could ask you the same question.”

  “Huh?”

  “When the Judge first assigned you to the case you pulled me into a meeting room across the hall and said I can’t go up against a woman I’m in… then you stopped and said I just can’t. What was your original thought?”

  “I asked you first.”

  “But I’ve already got you trained, according to the judge. So answer me or I’ll take off my glasses.”

  He slowly nodded. “Okay, well, I might have intended to say I can’t go up against a woman I’m in… a relationship with.”

  “Is that what you were going to say?”

  “I said might. But that was not what I was thinking. Your turn.”

  “Well, I might have intended to say I didn’t want to face the man I… have been dating for a while.”

  “Is that what you were going to say?”

  “I said might. However, that was not what I was thinking either.”

  “I see. Tell you what, how about I give you your Christmas present first and then we might be able to resolve these two mysteries.” He pulled a small box from his pocket, then dropped it. “Aw, hell.” He knelt down to get it, then opened the box and held it up to her. “That answer your question?”

  Her eyes bugged out at the diamond ring, a gorgeous emerald cut in a silver antique setting. “Whoa.”

  “That’s my line.”

  “I mean… whoa. My God, Spence, it’s gorgeous.”

  “Matches the woman I want to wear it.”

  “I’m not gor—”

  “Stop! For once in your life, will you please simply say thank you when I give you a compliment?”

  She kept staring at the ring.

  “So, Tish from the hotel, how about you give me an answer by finishing your sentence? And do it quick, because I’m down here on ice cold concrete and my knee is about to lock up.”

  Her eyes welled up as she looked at him. The words grew thick in her throat. “I was going to tell the judge… I didn’t want to face the man I loved.”

  “Funny, I was going to finish my sentence in a similar fashion.”

  “You really love me, Spence?”

  “No, I was saving this for the woman on the jury who’s too young for me.” He stood up, slipped the ring on her finger, took off her glasses and gave her a long, soft kiss. “Again, she’s brilliant in the courtroom, clueless outside of it.”

  Tish held out her hand, admiring the sparkles as it reflected the beams of the moon and the lights from the skyline. He couldn’t have picked a more romantic spot. “I’m not clueless. I’m going to marry the man I love.” She slid one arm around his waist and led him to the elevator. “C’mon, my dear fiancé, much as I love the current setting and having it all to ourselves, it’s freezing up here. Let’s go home and warm up by the fire.”

  “My apartment doesn’t have a fireplace. I guess we can turn the heat up and watch the Yule Log on TV.”

  “Oh, that’s right, you don’t know. My house is ready. I checked out of the hotel this morning. So let’s go get Socks and head home. Our home.”

  EPILOGUE

  Tish’s heart rate kicked up as she and Spence turned onto her street. She poked her finger through the grate on the pet carrier sitting on her lap. “Almost home for good, kitty.” She smiled at Spence. “Applies to you too, if you want to live here instead of an apartment.”

  “Sounds good to me. Which house is yours?”

  “That’s right, you’ve never been here. Turn right. Last house on the left. Number 479.”

  “Okay. Now close your eyes.”

  “Huh?”

  “Just cover your eyes for a minute till we get there.”

  “Okay.” She put her hands over her eyes and felt the car move, then slow down a minute later. “Can I look now?”

  “Yep.”

  She took her hands away and what she saw filled her with joy.

  Her house was fully decorated for Christmas. “Oh my God, did you do this?”

  “I cannot take credit. Madison, A.J. and Rory said you loved Christmas and wouldn’t decorate, so they did it for you.”

  “It looks spectacular. What a wonderful surprise. This night just keeps getting better and better.”

  “C’mon, let’s get you and Socks inside.” He opened the door for her and led her up the walk.

  “This is so beautiful. I can’t wait to thank them.” She opened the front door and was greeted by the sight of a Christmas tree filled with ornaments and twinkling white lights. “They did the tree too?”

  “I would have helped, but as you probably know, men can’t de
corate.”

  “This is really special.” She placed the pet carrier on the ground and opened the door. Socks stepped out, slowly checking out the surroundings. “You’re home, kitty. Don’t you recognize the place?”

  “She’s probably never seen a Christmas tree.”

  “Luckily it’s artificial or she’d try to climb it.”

  Socks walked over to the tree and swatted at an ornament on a low branch. “Okay, I guess we have to do a little re-decorating.”

  Tish cracked open one eye and saw Socks in the bedroom window, watching the large snowflakes fall. She leaned up and looked out at the scene which resembled a Currier and Ives Christmas card.

  She rolled over and saw the other side of the bed was empty.

  Then she heard the coffee machine gurgling.

  She got up, decided to put on Spence’s oxford shirt and headed to the kitchen.

  Spence was already there, setting two cups on the table. “Morning, sunshine. Merry Christmas. And I like the outfit.”

  She walked over to him, threw her arms around him and gave him a strong hug. “Merry Christmas, fiancé.”

  “I like the sound of that. Though wife will be even better.” The coffee pot beeped, he fixed two cups and handed one to Tish. “C’mon, let’s go sit in the living room, enjoy the tree and watch the snow fall. It’s beautiful.”

  “No argument here.” She headed into the living room, then what she saw under the tree stopped her in her tracks. “What the hell? What’s all this stuff under the tree?”

  “They’re called presents.”

  “Where did they come from?”

  “Well, it wasn’t Santa. You were way too naughty last night to make his list.”

  She crouched down next to the tree to take a closer look. “So you did all this?”

  “I got A.J. to hide them in your closet. I got up in the middle of the night and put them out.”

  “All this stuff is for me?”

  “Yeah. Well, except for that basket of cat stuff for Socks. I didn’t wrap it since I knew she wouldn’t care.”

  “You didn’t have to get me all these gifts. My God, the engagement ring was more than enough.”

  “Well, when we were first dating I figured I needed to get you something for Christmas so I started out with something small and not too forward. Then as our relationship got stronger I kept getting upgrades. So you can follow the progression if you open them left to right.”