“It’s just gossip, Lauren.” He pronounced each syllable of her name, chastened but unrepentant. “A nervous breakdown on the bench is kind of exciting. I heard Judge Lee actually took one of the marshal’s guns and tried to use it on George Stewart.”
“That’s stupid rotten gossip, Allan, and it wasn’t a breakdown. Lee was in shock. He was outraged. He just reacted.” Lauren looked away. Allan’s hand rested on the back of her chair. Lauren reached for the water. He touched her neck and she brushed his fingers away. “Don’t tease. And stop looking at me like that,” she said. “It was awful. Why is it you think everything is just a lark? What happened to Judge Lee isn’t funny. His wife’s in critical condition at St John’s Hospital. Shot in the head and for what? Her car. That’s disgusting. And it wasn’t exciting when George Stewart started in either. He’s scary, Allan, and if you don’t start acknowledging that there are real people involved in everything that happens around here then I think you are one very sick puppy.”
“Wilson, Wilson, what have you done to our little Lauren? She’s beginning to sound like you. Right, wrong; black, white. You’ll never survive in this business.” He nudged her and dipped his head. She turned hers away. He lowered his head further until she almost smiled. “Lighten up, Lauren. I was just kidding. I feel for Lee but you have to admit hysteria doesn’t do much for the resume.”
“People don’t think about their resume when someone they love is endangered or hurt. You don’t know what it feels like to lose control or to have something horrible happen because you couldn’t do anything, or didn’t do anything, or did the wrong thing. Your problem is there’s no one more important to you, than you.”
Lauren’s voice caught. Surprised at herself for becoming so emotional, a wide-eyed Lauren pulled her head back. In the silence that followed she bore Wilson Caufeld’s wordless empathy, Allan Lassiter’s pitying look. Finally, Wilson ran interference.
“Stop baiting her, Allan. No more bickering, Lauren. We all feel for Judge Lee. If we don’t, then we are not fit for our work. Knowing the history between us, I suggest we are ever careful of what we say, especially to one another. Today I want you both to be wonderful and attentive. I want to look at you and be proud.” From the credenza he took a bottle of champagne that had been chilling in a bucket. “We have more festive things to discuss.”
With that the cork went flying. Allan reached up and tried to catch it, but missed. Lauren squealed and pounded the table, face bright, her expression animated.
“Judge, are you getting married?”
“Absurd. I’ll have no romantic talk in my chambers.”
“He’s retiring,” Allan hooted, raising the glass Wilson had just filled and taking a drink as soon as his guess was made. “You’re retiring, aren’t you Wilson? Come work for me. My talent, your name, we’ll make a triple fortune. It will be like old times.”
“Put that glass down,” Wilson admonished, hiding his delight. “I have something to say. There’s a toast. Show some manners.”
“Okay. If I can’t have you, I want your secretary when you retire.” Allan laughed. Wilson cracked a smile.
“A fate worse than death for any woman. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Besides, Barbara’s coming with me, hopefully.”
“Oh, my lord,” Lauren howled again. “He’s marrying Barbara!”
“Enough. You’re both children, teasing about things like that. I’m just happy Barbara’s gone to lunch, so she can’t hear what you’re saying.” He pulled back his chair then changed his mind. He cleared his throat. “I suppose something like this is better said standing. If I thought it would help, I’d put my robes on and hold you both in contempt. That would put you in the proper mood. Now, glasses at the ready.”
Dutifully, Lauren and Allan did as he instructed, giggling until the portly man in the light gray suit lowered his eyes. Wilson Caufeld was choosing just the right words to match the moment. His every utterance changed a future. In his career he had sentenced men to death and men to life, he exonerated and condemned. Seldom were his thoughts directed inward nor did he speak of loneliness, or confusion or how heavily his judgments weighed on his heart. Allan and Lauren remained still. When Wilson spoke, it was with regard for them before a word about himself.
“I don’t often tell you how proud I am of the both of you. I assume you know that I hold you dear.” He looked at each of them in turn then let his gaze rest on Allan. “Allan, for many years I wasn’t sure if I would find you on the right, or the wrong, side of the law. You are a talented young man who can make anyone believe anything. Your charm could have been your undoing; instead it was the key to your fortune. Thankfully, you have a good mind to go along with the rest of your nonsense. Your clients pay you handsomely for it. When I first saw you during that moot court session in your law school years, I thought you were a boy who would be disbarred soon after you passed it—if, indeed, you passed it. But then, when it was all over, you thanked me for teaching you a bit of humility. It took a man of character to do that. You have done well and you have turned tides that I know often felt overwhelming. I am proud to know you, Allan, prouder still to have had a hand in growing you to such an excellent attorney.”
Allan raised his glass in gratitude. Lauren looked to see if that lovely speech had brought tears to his eyes. Before she could decide if it had, Wilson was talking to her.
“Lauren, I have known you even longer than Allan. You are as dear to me as if you were my own daughter. I watched you grow up. After your mother’s death, I was honored to be the one you turned to, not just for professional advice, but for solace and friendship. I was terrified when a young girl looked to me for guidance. Thankfully, I seemed to have found a few meager words that helped you become the lady—or should I say, woman—you are today. In all honesty, though, I believe you have become what you are through your own will and fortitude and intelligence. Your future is as bright as Allan’s. You will never get rich representing the People as I have, but you will always make a difference. That dedication to seek out what is right is in your blood. You have the determination to overcome all obstacles. I only wish that there will be no more in your life that must be faced with the courage you’ve already shown.”
Wilson Caufeld ran a hand over his gray hair, tightly waved and slicked down with pomade against his head. The color of his eyes had faded over the years, yet the passion he felt for his young friends shined bright through, of all things, tears. Lauren steeled herself. In her heart of hearts there was no sense of foreboding. But perhaps this wasn’t good news at all. He was speaking of their singular futures. He was speaking as if he was saying goodbye and Lauren wasn’t sure she could bear that. Not again. Especially not him.
“And so, because you are the children of my heart, the apple of my professional eye, my family, I want to share with you the news I received this morning before you read it in the paper. Allan,” he raised his glass, “Lauren,” he tipped it her way. “I have been nominated to the Supreme Court. With God’s help I will be confirmed, in due course, to sit on the highest court of this great land.”
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***
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
Excerpt from THE MENTOR
Books by Rebecca Forster
Foreign Relations: A Finn O'Brien Thriller (Finn O'Brien Thriller Series Book 2) Page 33