Delayed Justice

by Cara C. Putman

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16

  Jaime’s dreams had been filled with images of lions, wickedly white witches, and four siblings colliding with a beautiful girl and her beast. It was as if her subconscious couldn’t release the questions that filled her after reading Chandler’s book or seeing the movie. Maybe she should invite him over for dinner to talk about the book since she’d chickened out last night. After the quick walk around the complex, she’d wanted to settle into the peace of the moment rather than disturb it with her questions.

  Could she trust him with her thoughts?

  He’d cared enough to give her a book he valued. Then he’d watched the movie with her, even though it was more a family movie than a grand adventure. He was giving her space.

  She tapped a quick question into a text. Come for dinner tonight?

  He’d been sticking close, almost as if to keep her safe. She wanted to deny she needed it, but last night’s scare in Shirlington made her grateful he’d decided to be her self-appointed knight in shining armor.

  She tapped her phone against her chin as she waited for a reply. Maybe it had been a bad idea, too spontaneous. She knew better than to risk her heart becoming invested.

  Sure. What time?

  Her fingers trembled as she typed a simple word. Six?

  See you then After a moment: Aslan or no Aslan?

  She glanced around her small apartment and noted Simba perched on the couch back. The cat had places to hide if he wanted, and he’d enjoyed the company last night. He would be fine, and so would she.

  Bring him

  She’d barely noted his smiley face emoji when a text came through from Savannah.

  Need to see you ASAP. I have an opening at nine.

  See you then

  Time to fly if she wanted to arrive in Old Town on time. Maybe her mentor had good news for her. She definitely needed some. After the appointment, she could grab groceries for this impromptu dinner on her way back.

  With a minute to spare, Jaime knocked on Savannah’s door. The woman rarely closed it all the way, instead keeping an open-door policy for staff and friends. Still Jaime felt the uncertainty of why she’d been called holding her back from entering like she belonged.

  “Come in, Jaime.” Savannah smiled at her, her dark hair slicked behind her ears and a brightly colored scarf knotted at the throat of her dark sheath dress. “You made good time.”

  “Nothing much demanding my attention today.”

  “Let’s see if we can’t change that.”

  “Does that mean you heard back from the bar?”

  “I did. Their investigation showed everything we expected. They aren’t even calling a hearing. Instead, I expect the letter clearing you to be in my in-box today.” She shifted and clicked a few buttons on her mouse. “I’ll forward it to your boss at the PD’s office and get you back to work tomorrow.”

  “That’s great news. Thank you!” Jaime fought to keep her voice steady. She should be elated because her name was cleared, but would Grant call her back to work? “Do you think he’ll let me?”

  Savannah frowned, highlighting a web of wrinkles along the bridge of her nose. “This letter should take care of it.” She clicked another button and then leaned closer to the monitor. After a moment she tilted and twisted it so that Jaime could read the letter. “See? It’s a full clearing and closure of the case.”

  Jaime shook her head and then sank onto the edge of a chair. “It’s more than that. Don’t forget that last week when I was there, someone was pressuring Grant to fire me.”

  “Have you talked to Grant?” Savannah’s question was sharp.

  “No, I didn’t know how to broach it. I wasn’t supposed to be at the office, let alone lurking outside his door. Someone wants to squeeze me out.” Jaime hadn’t wanted to say the words, but she knew they were true. She just couldn’t prove it definitively.

  “I’ll strongly encourage Grant to have you report to work tomorrow. This was just a hiccup in your career.”

  “What? No push to have me join you?” There were days the idea appealed to Jaime, but she didn’t want to be her own boss. She might be high on justice, but she had a little too much mercy in her to chase down a client for payment.

  Savannah leaned back in her chair, steepled her fingers, and studied Jaime. “You know you have a safe place to land when you’re ready. If you never are, that’s fine too. I trust God will lead you in the right direction.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “Say what?”

  “That you trust God with my career?”

  Savannah’s lips twitched as if she fought to remain stoic. “Because I do. I trust Him with everyone I care about.”

  The words wrapped around Jaime. Was God pursuing her through friends who brought Him into routine conversations? “It isn’t that simple.”

  “It never is, yet it is.” Savannah shrugged and then stood. “I’m always here if you have questions about God.” Then she grinned. “Until you do, let’s see what Grant does. Then we’ll take the next step. Until then anything we say is just conjecture. The other reason I called you in is I have a message from Madeline. She has questions about Tiffany’s testimony at the grand jury hearing. I’d like you to stay point for her, regardless of when you restart at the public defender’s office. Y’all have a rapport and she trusts you. I’ll clear it with Grant if needed.”

  “I would like to continue helping them.” Tiffany needed her, and maybe Madeline did too. Jaime stood and waited for Savannah to sweep in for one of her warmth-transferring hugs. “Thanks for all your help.” The words were muffled by Savannah’s shoulder.

  “It’s what I do.” Savannah stepped back. “Now go enjoy your last free day.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Jaime felt the warmth of freedom as she walked out of the office, and hesitated before turning toward Hayden’s office. The door was cracked, and she heard Hayden’s calm voice. Jaime waited until the conversation stopped and then knocked.

  “Come in.”

  She pushed the door open and walked inside. Hayden met her gaze with a quirked eyebrow. “Savannah just gave me the letter clearing me from the ethics investigation.”

  “That’s good, though I’m not surprised.”

  Jaime motioned to the chair. “Can I sit?”

  “Sure.”

  Jaime did, and then took a breath. “Would you be willing to call Senator Wesley’s office on my behalf? I need to know that I tried my best to hold Dane accountable. With my options as narrow as they are, I’d like to meet with the senator if he’ll make time.” Jaime looked around, noting the peaceful pastoral painting that was opposite the typical lawyerly bar admittance hangings. Oh, to be in a setting like that rather than embroiled in all the conflict that was her life right now.

  Hayden crossed her arms and leaned back. “Um. I already did. The impression I got was he was going to have someone from his staff contact you.”

  “When did you talk to him?”

  “Saturday night. Andrew and I had dinner with his parents, so it provided a great forum. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone followed up today. With the hearings in motion, it’ll be a priority or it won’t happen at all.”

  Jaime’s phone vibrated, and she glanced at the screen. “Senator Wesley’s office?”

  “As I was saying.” Hayden stood and headed to the hallway. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

  “Thanks.” Jaime’s fingers trembled as she swiped the screen. “Hello?”

  Dane resented being called to meetings. He was the one who should do the calling. Hadn’t he earned the right after his years of faithful service to his country?

  The senator apparently didn’t think so.

  Instead, the man insisted that Dane show up on demand like some faithful knight of old called to serve the prince. Only the senator wasn’t a prince, and Dane wasn’t a knight of old. No, he was a man who would rise to an elite rank in a matter of weeks. It was a done deal.

  Or so the man had assured him just tw
o weeks ago. Yet something wasn’t right.

  Senator Micah Langdon swirled his brandy in a thick cut crystal glass. The trappings of wealth that he’d tugged close couldn’t hide the fact he was still an uncouth rebel at heart. “We’ve got a mess on our hands, Nichols.”

  “I’ve got it handled.” He barely resisted the urge to spit the words.

  “I don’t think you do. My intelligence says these charges could stick.”

  No question about whether he did what was alleged. Interesting that the senator didn’t seem to care. Maybe that meant there were things in that man’s past that could be useful to him today. He’d have to dig deeper.

  “You have one week to fix this. Make the charges disappear before the media gets wind of them. The last thing they need is the illusion you’re unfit for duty.”

  Dane’s back straightened at the insinuation. “I shouldn’t have to fix this. Innocent until proven guilty.”

  The man chuckled, but it grated. “Those are nice words, but words the media doesn’t care to embrace.”

  “I know. I’ll get it taken care of.”

  “See that you do, because I will not push your nomination through to commission without the assurance that this will not erupt in my face.”

  “It won’t.” No need to tell the man that surveillance was well in hand. His niece was a fool. She might think there was security in her apartment, but she didn’t know anything. It had taken two minutes to slip into the apartment. Small, dank place that it was.

  Service entrances were such an easy access point, especially when one had the right credentials. So easy to manufacture with today’s technology. She’d never know what happened or who was there, but she’d know someone was. He had a staff of men who would do his bidding to move up the ranks with him. It was a simple trade: their futures for hers.

  Maybe in time she’d understand she’d messed with the wrong man, but he doubted it.

  CHAPTER 37

  TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16

  This is Andy Gomez, legislative aide for Senator Wesley.”

  Jaime frowned at her phone and held it away from her face before pulling it back to her ear. “Yes?”

  “Senator Wesley would like to schedule your testimony for the subcommittee.”

  Hold up. She had not signed on for this. All she’d wanted was a chance to talk to the senator privately. “What do you mean?”

  “The senator always prefers for witnesses to cooperate without a subpoena, but we can send one if necessary.”

  “I still don’t understand. Testify for what?” Jaime leaned back against the chair, all the fight leaving her.

  “The senator believes you may have important information on Dane Nichols, and he wants the subcommittee to hear it from you.”

  Jaime closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “When would I testify?”

  “You’ll appear next Tuesday at noon in the Russell Senate Office Building.”

  In the quick pause, Jaime’s legs began to shake. Her heart raced until she wondered if this was the beginnings of a cardiac event. “Testify about Dane?”

  “Yes. Someone passed along your lawsuit. Said you wanted to talk to the senator.”

  Jaime tried to focus, to breathe, but she just couldn’t. “A subcommittee is more than one senator.”

  “That is true.” He chuckled. “You’ll check in with me, and then I’ll escort you to the hearing room. Because you’re an attorney, think of this as testifying under oath in a court.”

  “That’s it?” Her thoughts raced. She wasn’t prepared. Not for this. “Will Dane be there?”

  “Possibly, but not required.”

  “What if I don’t want to? I can’t do this.”

  “Ma’am, I hate to be this blunt, but you don’t have a choice.”

  She slumped over her knees and reminded herself this was what she wanted. The moment she mentioned the lawsuit to Hayden, this was a real risk. In fact, she’d asked Hayden to start this in motion. She should be thrilled. Shoulds didn’t make it real though. “Will media be present?”

  “Possibly. It depends on how interested they are in what’s happening. Right now there hasn’t been much because the hearings have been routine. Anything could happen though.”

  What could she do? A congressional subpoena had great authority she couldn’t ignore. “I’ll meet you then.” She repeated the information and then hung up.

  Hayden slipped back into her office. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes. No. I don’t know. Your future father-in-law is subpoenaing my testimony for my uncle’s hearing.”

  “Really? That’s great.” Hayden walked behind her desk and sat. “This means those making the decision will hear your side of the story. Know more of who he is.”

  Jaime put her head in her hands as she leaned over. “Now the entire world will know what he did to me. Then they’ll choose who they believe.” She felt deflated and ready to crawl into bed, but that wasn’t who she was becoming.

  “They could also hear your story and realize this man does not have the character we expect in our generals.”

  “What if I black out during my testimony?”

  Hayden studied her. “Then it further reinforces that this is not a minor issue. Only harsh trauma causes that kind of ongoing reaction.”

  Jaime looked at her fisted hands. She’d opened the door for all of this when she filed the criminal charges. She knew that. Now she must live with the results, but she didn’t have to live through them alone. “Then you’re my attorney.”

  “Absolutely. Let’s get you a few minutes with the senator.” She winked at Jaime. “He owes me one.”

  That afternoon Jaime followed Hayden through the Capitol Visitors Center. There was something about her heels clicking on the white marble that founding fathers had trod upon that made her knees tremble. She lived in the nation’s capital. Some days she could pretend it was just another city. One moment in these halls of power brought the reality crashing over her. Decisions that impacted the course of her country happened here.

  “We’ll take the tunnel to Russell.” Hayden led her beneath the senate chambers to the bowels of the Capitol, where they boarded a monorail. “This is a fun way to get between buildings. Normally you’d have a staffer with you, but I’ve got a pass.”

  “Thanks.” Jaime didn’t even try to grin as her stomach clenched at the upcoming meeting and what it represented.

  “You’ll be fine. Senator Wesley is a nice guy underneath the suit. You’re a friend of mine, so that should help.”

  Senator Wesley sat on the powerful Armed Services Committee, and his office location near the standing committee’s room reflected that stature.

  “Did you know that Russell is three stories on the side that faces the Capitol and Constitution Avenue, but from C Street there are five stories above ground?”

  Jaime shook her head. “Hayden, Washington trivia isn’t going to distract me from what this meeting means.”

  The car jerked to a halt, and Hayden squeezed her shoulder and then stood. “This is our stop.”

  The Russell Building was as impressive on the inside as it was from without. While the façade outside was Doric columns and marble overlays, inside a checkerboard pattern covered the floor, and carvings covered most surfaces around doorways and soaring to the ceiling. Even the knobs indicating which floor the elevators were at had an Old World elegance.

  Hayden led her through the warren of halls and stairs toward the senator’s offices. “You can text as soon as your meeting is finished, and I’ll come lead you back out.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m meeting Andrew for coffee. He happened to be spending today with his dad.”

  Jaime nodded, but her thoughts were already back on the hearing. The Armed Services Committee considered fifty thousand nominations for armed services positions each year.

  Could her voice make a difference in such a pressured environment?

  The familiar
cold sweat slicked her hands. She took a deep breath, held it a moment, then another moment, then hissed it out slowly. Then she repeated the action until she felt her heart rate slow. She could beat this panic . . . and eventually her uncle.

  She’d left nothing to chance on this road, except for the timing.

  Clean, simple, direct.

  Now that she had launched the first volley, she felt as she had each time her mother had taken her to Uncle Dane’s house. The marbles rolled freely through her stomach until nausea loomed strong enough that no amount of controlled breathing would send them away.

  Hayden led her to a heavy wooden door that had a United States and a Virginia flag standing next to it. “This is it.”

  A minute later, Hayden introduced her to the receptionist, a solemn woman somewhere in her late forties. “Please have a seat. The senator will be with you shortly.”

  Jaime nodded and ran slick palms along her pants. Thank God she’d dressed for work when she met with Savannah that morning. “I can’t breathe.”

  “You’ll do great. Scott just wants to hear your story. Learn the truth.”

  “He may be Scott to you, but to me he’s an intimidating US senator.”

  “He won’t be after you meet him.” Any further words of comfort Hayden might have shared were cut off when the door to the senator’s private office opened.

  Jaime’s heart took off in a gallop, trying to outrace the dance in her gut.

  The silver-haired senator looked every bit as noble as his pictures portrayed, the man Andrew Wesley would become evident in the strong posture and rugged Cary Grant look. Jaime tried to see the hints of teddy bear softness that Hayden promised lurked beneath his surface, but all she saw was the iron focus and will of a man who was sure of who he was and what he could accomplish. Somehow she must direct that focus to the issue of her uncle.

  A studied but focused smile revealed his perfect teeth. He walked toward her, and she rose from the couch, forcing her legs to lock rather than wobble.

  “Miss Nichols, it’s a pleasure.” He shook her hand with the firmness of someone who knew his place in the world, and it was making important things happen. Then he turned to Hayden. “Thanks for bringing her here and making me aware of her story.”