“Maybe you should let things settle down a bit before you go back,” Paul said.
“No way. The best way for me to revive my reputation is to resume my normal duties, which I intend to do. It’s hard for me to believe that you had no idea that Judge Ackerman was dirty. You must be a terrible judge of people to have appointed her to be the head of the criminal court. You knew that she was notorious for having concealed firearms on the bench and in her chambers, among other rumors about her.”
“You trusted her, too, Liz,” Paul said.
“But I have come off as the hero who set her up and cleared the courthouse of criminal activity. I may have posed as her friend just to catch her, while you put her in a position to further her illegal activity. That can’t look good for your future.”
“That sounds like a threat. I’m sure you didn’t mean it that way.”
“You can call it whatever you like. I’m surprised that you were happy to help Jason investigate me when all along you could have pointed out Anne’s unusual behavior, but that’s in the past. I’m ready to move forward in my new appointment next week as chief judge of the criminal division.”
“I beg your pardon. I haven’t made that decision yet.”
“Sure you have. I’ll expect the announcement any time now. You know where to find me; back in my chambers in the criminal division. Better get coverage for that family division I’ve been holding down.” Liz swept out of Marconi’s office. As she left, she glanced around his suite. She planned to run against Marconi for chief of all courts next fall.
I applauded when Liz finished her description of her meeting with Marconi.
“So what’s the problem you wanted to discuss, Liz?” I asked. “It sounds like you’ve got things under control.”
“In my professional life, but my personal life is a mess. It’s about Joe. I can’t trust my own judgment. I’m not Cinderella looking for the prince to save me. That’s how I felt when Joe said he was planning a honeymoon without even consulting me. Maybe I would be jumping into this marriage. You’re so objective. I thought maybe you could give me some advice.”
I couldn’t help myself. I began to laugh hysterically. I couldn’t stop. Liz stared at me. I still couldn’t control the laughs that poured out of me like a waterfall. I laughed until tears rolled down my cheeks.
“What is the matter with you? Is my problem that hysterical?” Liz stood up and looked ready to bolt from my office.
“No, Liz, you’re not funny. It’s just that you are asking a woman who can’t stay engaged to anyone. I’ve had two broken engagements, and now I’ve got Carlos, who I’m wild about, pressuring me for a commitment, and I can’t make up my mind what to do. You really came to the wrong place for advice.”
Then Liz began to giggle. “I get it. We’re a great pair.”
When we finally finished acting like two junior high kids, I thought for a minute.
“Liz, how about this solution? Why don’t you suggest that Joe move in with you for a while and you try out how you get along. If things are smooth and you feel comfortable, there’s always time for a wedding. If not, you’ll both know it.”
“Do you think I can make a better judgment after a few months?”
“Sure. You can look for little signs, like if he leaves the toilet seat up more than twice after you yell at him to quit it, or if he always drinks the milk straight out of the carton.”
That picture sent us both into more uncontrolled laughter. When we settled down again, Liz reached over and squeezed my hand.
“See, Mary, I knew you’d help me find an answer. Maybe I can help you. We could talk about Carlos and how you feel.”
“Thanks, but I think I’m beyond help. Anyway, I’m glad you like my suggestion, and there’s no charge for this consultation.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
Later that morning, Catherine came in to say that Miguel and Maria Corona were in the waiting room.
I went out and brought them into the office. They both tried to hug me at the same time. I was lucky they didn’t break my ribs.
“You will never know how grateful we are,” Miguel said. “Carlos told us how brave you were to stand up to public opinion in representing our son when people believed he was a terrorist. He told us you lost other clients too.”
“Please, it’s been a real pleasure to see you united with Luis. How is he, and will you be taking him home to Argentina soon?”
“Dr. Andreas is keeping him in the hospital for another day. He has developed a strep infection from the jails and he has some very bad bruises that need attention, but nothing is life threatening, thank God.”
“So you’ll be leaving soon?”
“Oh, no, we started this whole project to establish a business for Luis in this country and we intend to complete this purchase. Ambassador Miller is assisting us in getting our funds returned that the federal officers seized. Paulina is ready to turn over the shop to us. We would like you to look at our agreement and to attend the closing with us.”
“I’d be happy to do that. I’m just surprised that you would want to have anything else to do with this country after Luis’s ordeal here,” I said.
“We know that the things that happened to Luis are not the fault of you and all the fine citizens like you. In our own country, we have had governments that don’t reflect the people they govern. We understand. Now we are here to bring you a check for your legal work for Luis. You haven’t even sent us a bill.” Miguel slid an envelope across the desk.
I opened it and removed a certified bank check for $200,000. My hand shook and I dropped the check on the floor. As I pawed under my desk to pick it up before they took it back, I said, “This is really too much.”
“Not at all,” Maria said. “As soon as the shop is open, you and Catherine are to come and pick out any designer outfits that you like. We’ll never forget what you did for our family.”
As soon as the Coronas left, I raced out to Catherine. “Turn on the voice mail. Turn off the computer. We’re going out for the most expensive lunch we’ve ever had. Anywhere you want to go.” I waved the check in front of her.
“Wow, with that check we could have lunch in the Bahamas, but I have to be home when the boys get home, so let’s go to Joe’s Stone Crab on South Beach. I’ve always wanted to go.”
“Well, you can get stone crabs at every fish market and eat them at home, but if that’s what you want, let’s do it.” We locked the office and roared out of the parking lot. Free at last.
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
We spent the afternoon gorging on stone crabs and downing a bottle of sparkling wine. We even took a walk on Ocean Drive and ogled all the tourists who were ogling us. I dropped Catherine at her house. The humidity was intense. Mixed with the sun and the wine, I was drenched in sweat as I swung back into the office parking lot. Carlos was parked there in the Escalade. I actually saw the car a block before I turned into the lot. It’s hard to miss.
“Where have you been? Are you okay? Where’s Catherine?” he asked in rapid sequence.
“We went to lunch, and aside from being a bit drunk, I’ve never been better,” I said.
“Lunch? It’s four thirty. You’re turning into a regular Latin muchaca. I must be rubbing off on you. Listen, I want to talk to you about something. I’ve been thinking. We never go out on a date. We haven’t been to a movie or dancing.”
“Well, that’s because every time we have the time to be together, we end up in bed. That’s not a complaint,” I said.
“Saturday night, I want to go somewhere exotic for dinner. What do you say?”
“I say great. I’m in the mood to celebrate. It’s a date.”
I waved to Carlos as he drove off. He said he had some business to attend to. I decided to check the messages before heading home. I was just finishing reading the e-mails when the phone rang. It was Harlan McFarland.
“Harlan, great story in today’s paper. You must be the newest ace reporter down t
here,” I said.
“Thanks, Mary. I have been offered a full-time job starting right after the Fourth of July, but that’s not what I’m calling about. I wanted to get a statement from you about Judge Hammel.”
“Judge Hammel? What do you mean?”
“Oh, I guess you haven’t heard. It’s been all over the radio and TV. Judge Hammel died this morning. He had a massive heart attack. Died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Yours was the last case he ever heard.”
“Oh my God. I can’t believe it. Do you think Luis’s case did him in? Wait, that’s not my statement for your paper,” I said.
“I know. I wasn’t writing it down. No, I think he was very sick during the hearing. We all commented about how exhausted he looked. He looked bad during the first hearing you had too.”
“How old was he?” I asked.
“Seventy-eight. You were lucky that he was the judge who heard Luis’s case. He had no fear about standing up to the boys from Washington.”
“Just say that I was very proud to be in his court and that he set the example of the importance of an independent judiciary in protecting our constitution.”
“I’ve got it, Mary. I spoke to his son a few minutes ago. He told me that his dad loved hearing Luis’s case, and he thought you were a great young attorney. His son spoke to the judge last evening. He said the judge had chest pains when he got up this morning. His wife called 911 and the judge died on the way to the hospital, even with the paramedics working on him.”
“Thanks for calling me, Harlan.” I hung up and had a good cry.
Friday began with a tropical downpour; thunder, lightening, and street flooding. By ten o’clock it was over and there was a freshness in the air. July was almost here and the change from hot and wet was ending up just plain hot. It’s almost always in the nineties for the Fourth.
Catherine and I spent the day going over files and catching up on the small cases that had been languishing. Of course, no one’s case is small to them, so there was plenty of work ahead of us. Catherine hit on her familiar melody. It’s time to add another attorney or at least an intern. I promised to think about it.
I was just putting out the lights and getting ready to head home when the phone rang. I was tempted to let it ring. The long daylight of June beckoned me to get Sam out for a good run. I glanced at the caller ID and saw the printout “Angelina Martin.” I tried to think of some reason for Carlos’s mother to be calling. Nothing came to mind, so curiosity got the better of me. Sam got put on hold and Angelina got answered.
“Mary, darling, where is your secretary? You spoil your help.”
“How are you, Angie? Everything okay?”
“Yes, of course. Don’t say I only call you when something’s wrong.”
“No, I wasn’t saying that.”
“Well, the reason I am calling is I have the best news, and it’s all because of you. Chicky is coming home.”
“Chicky? Who is Chicky, another cousin?”
“No, Chicky is Celia’s nickname. You know, Carlos’s sister, my little girl.”
“She’s leaving Argentina?”
“Yes. It’s so wonderful. Miguel and Maria decided that Luis would need help organizing the shop and running it. She’s agreed to accept their offer of a position as manager of the boutique. She’ll be perfect for the position. She’s so into high fashion. You’ll love her, darling. And this would never have happened if you hadn’t taken Luis’s case and freed him from those locos.”
“That’s great news, Angie. I’m so pleased for you and J.C. How did Celia get the name Chicky?”
“I think Carlos and his brother used to tease her that she talked all the time, like a chicken squawking, but it’s really an endearing quality. I’m dashing around finding her a condo or a townhouse or something. She simply refuses to move in with us. So when I see you, I will give you a giant hug and kiss. I’m on my way out, so ciao.”
I took a deep breath as Angie clicked off. A high-fashion, constantly talking replica of Angie who is fondly called Chicky. Just my type of girlfriend.
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
Saturday was a sunny, very hot day, a perfect time to give Sam a bath. I hosed him down, soaped him up, and received several showers myself as he continued to shake himself off. We both sat on the grass in the sun, drying off and snoozing.
My second job of the morning was phoning both brothers and my parents. The whole family, amazingly, had left me alone while I was up to my eyeballs in the two big cases. No one answered at either brothers, but Mother picked up immediately.
“I can’t believe you’re actually calling me without my leaving you six messages,” she said.
“Enough with the sarcasm. How is everybody?”
“I know how you are,” she answered. “I read about you every day in the papers. You even made the Palm Beach Post, right next to the banner headline about a new hospital opening. And I saw you and Catherine on CNN coming out of court with that poor boy.”
“So you know I’ve been busy. What about Dad and the doctor’s appointment.”
“I’m so grateful to J.C. for getting him to that nice Dr. Andreas, who persuaded him to go to the cardiologist. He’s on some cholesterol-lowering pills. I always warned him about eating all that chopped liver and the other stuff his mother made.”
“How about your southern fried chicken? I don’t think it’s fat free.”
“He’s also on some other heart pills, but he passed his stress test,”
“Sure he did. He puts the rest of us into stress,” I said.
“Now who’s being sarcastic? Anything else new there?”
“Well, Carlos is taking me out for some fancy, shmancy dinner tonight.”
“Yes, I know. At least Carlos calls me when you’re too busy, so I know you’re still breathing. Are you getting your hair done for the evening?”
“No, Mother. Carlos likes my hair. Gotta go.”
I had completed all my duties and it was only noon. For the first time, I relaxed and watched baseball on TV with popcorn and beer for lunch.
I decided to wear my one good slinky black dress. I bought it a year ago while I was still engaged to Franklin to wear to a client’s anniversary party held at the Miami Club. It used to be off-limits to Jews, blacks, and Hispanics, but having fallen on hard times, it now was only too happy to admit anyone with the $50,000 initiation fee.
The dress still fit, even after the beer and popcorn. I poured two glasses of merlot from the case Lillian Yarmouth sent me. She continued to supply me with more wine than a nonalcoholic could consume.
Carlos arrived promptly at seven looking like a page from GQ again, navy blazer, heavenly blue shirt, Gucci loafers. Heads turned when we were shown to our table at the Forge Restaurant. The problem was that all the heads were women admiring Carlos.
The Forge is not far from the street where I grew up in Miami Beach and even closer to Katz’s Kosher Market. But it’s a world away from the places my family frequented.
My menu had the prices deleted so I snatched Carlos’s and after a quick glance, I returned it to him before it spoiled my appetite. A bottle of champagne arrived while we ate our appetizers of escargot, which are really snails, but bigger than the ones I clean out of my garden.
“You said you had some worries about your next project. We never had a chance to talk about what’s happening after the oceanfront condos,” I said.
“I was worried. I smell a slowdown coming. Look around, and you see Miami-Dade is overbuilt. Downtown Miami has thousands of condos being completed. That’s why I built in Fort Lauderdale. I have a lot of land that I’ve bought, but I was reluctant to start a building that might not have buyers. I was almost tempted to take a trip to Abu Dhabi or some other Arab place where they’re building on every inch of land, but that wouldn’t solve keeping my crews working.”
“You said you were worried. What changed?”
“For one thing, I’ll be remodeling Luis’s boutique.
Miguel decided it needs a complete update, so that’ll keep one crew busy. And then I got the contract to build some affordable townhouses at the university for grad students. I had some land in Little Havana, not so far from the Gables. The university bought the land, and I’ll start the project as soon as the last crew finishes in Fort Lauderdale. So, just like that, everything is moving again.”
By the time we got to coffee and brandy, we were feeling pretty mellow. Carlos took my hand and I felt that electric feeling when we are together.
“You know you never ask me for anything. I didn’t even know the date of your birthday ’til I asked your mother, and it’s not until November. Isn’t there anything that you want?” Carlos asked.
“Yes, there is,” I said. “The only thing I miss about my old job is that the firm had season hockey tickets. Hardly anyone ever used them, so I got to go to a lot of the games.”
“You mean the Florida Panthers ice hockey at that arena way up there in west Broward County? You really drove all that way?”
“It’s not that far and, yes, I love hockey. Have you ever gone to a game?”
“Just once. I was invited to sit in a suite, but I was busy making friends with the elected officials there, so I didn’t see much of the game. If that’s what you want, consider it done for your birthday, but meanwhile I have another present for you.”
Carlos reached in his pocket and produced a small box wrapped in elegant silver paper. “Open it,” he said. He smiled that disastrous smile that always makes me forget everything, including a warning signal flashing in my mind.
I carefully and slowly removed the paper. The little box felt like it was burning a hole in my hand. Carlos was still smiling expectantly. I opened the box and saw the biggest diamond ring I had every seen, even on TV. It was surrounded by emeralds. The light from the candles on the table made the ring look like sparks were bouncing off of it.
Justice in June Page 24