by Rachel Dylan
When he walked in, he saw Abe and walked over to shake his hand. “Abe, good to see you again.”
“It’s been a while. How’ve you been?”
“Good. Staying busy.”
“And you like being out on your own?”
“Love it. It’s hard work, but it’s totally worth it. I’m glad I took the risk. I don’t know if you’ve met my partner Ryan Wilde. He’s out in a deposition today, but we worked together at my old firm. He’s been a big asset here.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I know him. You also mentioned something on the phone about another lawyer.”
“Yes, Olivia Murray. She should be here any minute. She’s really taking the lead here. I’m just assisting.”
“Great. Can’t wait to meet her. From what you’ve told me so far, this seems like an interesting case.”
They made a few minutes of small talk while they waited on Olivia to arrive. When she walked into the room, he took a deep breath. She looked even more beautiful today than normal. He had to be careful or he was going to get hurt. He realized that.
“Hi.” She walked over to Abe and offered her hand. “I’m Olivia Murray.”
He smiled. “Abe Perez. Nice to meet you.”
As Grant watched them shake hands, a jolt of jealousy hit him. He had absolutely no reason to feel that way, but he couldn’t help it. It also made things worse because he got the distinct impression that he had stronger feelings for Olivia than she did for him.
“Let’s have a seat and get started,” Grant said.
They sat down at the table, and the mood shifted to considerably more serious.
“I’m ready when you guys are,” Abe said. He had his laptop open and a notebook in front of him.
Olivia proceeded to fill him in on the background facts and getting him up to speed on where things stood with a lot more detailed information than he’d been able to give Abe over the phone.
“So, if I’m hearing you right, you believe the pastor was set up to take the fall here?” Abe asked.
“I definitely believe that,” Olivia said. “Grant, on the other hand, I think is still a bit on the fence.”
“It sounds to me like I need to do a deep dive on the pastor and on Beverly Jenkins. If she is involved in some way, I’ll find out how. People like to think they’re crafty and can cover their tracks, but in my experience, there’s always some evidence left behind.”
“I agree,” she said.
“But there’s one thing I have to warn you about.” Abe looked directly at Olivia.
“What?” she asked.
“You would be hiring me as an investigator. I don’t have an agenda. I look for the truth, wherever it leads. So it could be, and I’m just putting this out there, that I find evidence implicating your client. I will bring that evidence to you in the same way I’d bring any other evidence. I believe a lawyer needs to know what’s out there on all sides so you can do your job, but I want to be able to do my job as well. Will that be okay with you?”
“I understand,” she said.
“I don’t want there to be any misconceptions if you decide to hire me for this case.”
“I know from talking to Grant that you have a substantial background in law enforcement. That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to speak to you, because you understand the system.”
“My history on the police force has helped me become a much better investigator. I’d bring my full skill set to a case like this.”
“All of this sounds good, but before we officially move forward, I also have to say something from my side in the interest of full disclosure.”
Grant knew exactly where Olivia was going, and he didn’t have any idea how Abe would react.
“Sure, what is it? Better to get it all out into the open now,” Abe said.
“You have to realize, given that my client is a pastor, there are some religious issues that would naturally flow from this case.”
“Of course. That doesn’t bother me at all.”
“But I wanted to let you know it may be a lot more than you expected, and I wanted to explain that to you up front.”
“How so?” Abe asked.
Olivia looked over at him and then back at Abe. “There are two New Age companies that are players here. One is called Optimism and the other is Astral Tech. They are run by Layton Alito and Nina Marie Crane.”
“And why are they involved?” Abe asked.
“These groups hate the church. Their New Age beliefs cross strongly over into the occult, and they’ve made it their mission to try to wipe out Windy Ridge Community Church.”
Abe raised an eyebrow. “So you’re trying to tell me that these New Age groups have a beef against the pastor.”
“Exactly, and that these people are truly evil and will stop at nothing to pursue their agenda.”
Was Olivia going to bring up the whole angels and demons thing? Based on Abe’s initial reaction, he hoped she’d keep that to herself, at least for now.
“So I’m telling you all of this because I want you to be aware that this may not be a cut and dry situation. I don’t know what your religious beliefs are, but I didn’t want to hide anything.”
Abe leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “I’m not deterred by any of this. I appreciate that you told me what you think is going on.”
Grant worried for a second that Olivia was going to push this issue given Abe’s skepticism.
“Thank you,” she said. “If you’re on board, I’ve got a retainer agreement from my firm for your services. The billing rate is in the agreement. If you have any issues with that, we can negotiate it.”
He nodded. “Thanks. I’d like to review it and then we should be good to go.”
“Thanks. As you can imagine, we’re anxious to get started.” She pulled a document out of her bag and walked it over to Abe. “Why don’t we give you a few minutes to look it over.”
“That’d be great.”
Grant stood up and walked out of the conference room with Olivia by his side.
“So you think you’re going to like working with him?” he asked.
“I think he has the background we need on something like this.”
“I was worried there for a minute that you were attempting to scare him off.” He laughed.
“No. I just didn’t want to hide what I feel like is an important aspect to this investigation.”
“How did it go with Dan?” Grant hadn’t wanted to get into those details in front of Abe at this point.
She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “You wouldn’t believe it, but Dan is thriving in prison. He’s sharing his faith with the inmates, and he says he feels better than he has in months.”
Grant thought that was odd. “I have to say something.”
“I don’t think I’m going to like this.”
“What if he feels like he’s somehow making amends for his wrongdoing? And that’s why he wants to be there?”
“You have so little faith,” she shot back.
He hadn’t expected her to have such a strong reaction. “It’s not my faith we’re talking about here, Olivia. The situation with Dan is strange. We knew he was feeling off lately.”
She shook her head. “I told you this at the beginning. I really don’t need you second guessing his innocence. It’s not productive.”
“I’m just being completely honest with you.”
“And you don’t think it’s possible that God is using this situation for a larger purpose? That Dan is actually making an impact at that prison?”
“I guess it’s possible.” But Grant had a nagging bad feeling about the entire thing.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“I’m having some concerns about where you are in all of this. I know that you jumped in headfirst last year into this spiritual stuff. Given that you lived your whole life being a skeptic, I wonder if you have some of those thoughts creeping back in.”
“That’s not what I said. I asked whether you were having doubts.”
It frightened him how well Olivia understood him. Because if he was being honest, he was having doubts. Not necessarily about God specifically, but how all of this fit together and what his role was. “It’s complicated.”
She nodded and took her hand in his. “I told you months ago that this road could be challenging and that there would be many questions. I don’t expect you to have unrelenting strength or faith at this point in your life. I do appreciate your honesty and that you trust me enough to tell me how you’re feeling.”
“Olivia.” He took a step closer to her. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, but he wasn’t sure how she’d react. And besides that, Abe might walk out of the conference room any minute.
“Yes?”
“Maybe we should continue this conversation later in private.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll go check to see if Abe is done reviewing the retainer agreement.”
He watched as she walked back down the hall. He hoped the Abe could get down to the truth and, even more so, that Olivia would be able to handle it.
**
Stacey sat in Latte reading a new book Morena had given her about witchcraft. She’d been a little hesitant at first to embrace the full-blown aspects of witchcraft, but the more she learned, especially about the history in America, the more riveted she was. In fact, she’d devoured a few books on the Salem witch trials over the past few weeks.
And because she knew what she’d seen with her own eyes last year, or at least had dreamt in a vivid way, she believed she could have contact with the spiritual realm. The idea of that happening again on her own terms excited her and drove her to push further.
Every once in a while, there were whispers of doubt in her mind, but she kept reminding herself she wasn’t hurting anyone. That all of her efforts were used for what she believed were the greater good. More independence, openness of thought, a culture where everyone could take their own path. That was what she was focused on, and her path right now was a bright one. This internship and the subsequent offer for full employment after college had changed everything for her.
There was also a part of her that thrived on the power she felt when she was practicing witchcraft. It wasn’t like she was sitting around with voodoo dolls and pins trying to get revenge on the mean girls from her high school. No, she was calling upon guidance and spirit strength from another realm, and it was unlike anything she’d ever known. A world of different sense and experiences was wide open to her like she was staring out at the ocean, and there was literally no end to where she could go.
Her whole life she’d been a wallflower. She didn’t have a big circle of friends. Her family didn’t have money, and often she was content to blend in with the crowd.
For the first time in her life, she wanted to stand out. She had a fabulous new wardrobe and, even more importantly, a huge dose of confidence, thanks to Layton and Morena. Definitely not the church.
Her thoughts drifted to Pastor Dan. It was difficult for her to imagine him being a criminal and a thief, but stranger things had happened. She’d learned a long time ago that people in life let you down, and it was dangerous to put blind faith in anyone.
“Stacey,” a female voice said from behind her.
She turned around and saw Nina Marie standing there with a smile on her face. Immediately, a sense of apprehension washed over her. “Hello,” she said, trying to be polite.
“I love this place, don’t you?” Nina Marie held a brightly colored coffee cup in her hand.
“Yes. I come here all the time.”
“Do you mind if I have a seat?”
She couldn’t say no. That would be entirely rude, and besides, they were supposed to be working together now. “Sure. Go right ahead.”
Nina Marie grinned and sat down across from her. Today she wore a simple, yet elegant blank pantsuit. She got the impression Nina Marie was always put together. She could only hope to be that refined one day.
“What’re you reading?” Nina Marie looked toward the book on the table.
There was no point in trying to hide it. Nina Marie understood this New Age world much better than she did. “It’s a book on advanced witchcraft told from a New Age perspective.”
“May I?” Nina Marie pointed to the book.
“Of course.”
Nina Marie picked it up and silently flipped through it for a few minutes. At first she thought it was all for show, but then she realized that Nina Marie was actually reading parts of it.
She thought it best to just let her do her thing, so she sat quietly enjoying her vanilla chai latte. Nina Marie’s tortoiseshell glasses framed her face perfectly. She figured Nina Marie was probably in her forties, just like Layton. She watched as Nina Marie started to frown. Then she finally put the book down and looked back at her.
“Stacey, this book is rubbish.”
“What?” She wasn’t expecting her to say that. “It’s a top seller in its category.”
Nina Marie leaned forward. “Is it trendy? Yes. But it’s a bunch of bull. They’re trying to get you to buy into their way of thinking so you will start purchasing all their products. Take it from someone who knows a great deal about marketing and promotion, especially in this area.”
“So you think the author doesn’t know what she’s talking about?”
“I don’t. It’s fluff, Stacey. Pure and simple. I can’t imagine that Layton recommended this book to you.”
“No. I found it on my own.” She felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”
“It’s okay. No offense taken.”
“Can I tell you something?”
“Sure.” She had no idea what Nina Marie was going to say.
“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I have a feeling that you’ll understand once I explain.”
“All right.”
“From the very instant I met you, I knew that you were unique. I mentioned it to Layton, and he got all territorial on me.”
“He’s a strong-willed man.”
“Exactly. He’s a man, and I want to share something with you. I was foolish for a bit a while back and fell for his charms. He’s handsome, smart, powerful, and rich. What more could a girl want?”
Did Nina Marie think she was dating Layton? “I think that you’re mistaken. There’s nothing going on between me and Layton.”
“There may not be now, but I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you, woman to woman, that I think Layton wouldn’t be good for you.”
“Like I said, nothing is going on there, and I have no intention of starting anything. I’m completely focused on school and work right now. Not any guy. Even if he is a man like Layton.”
“Good. Then let me take it a step further. I think you’re special, but I also think Layton has certain limitations.”
“What do you mean?”
“As a woman, you have a different set of abilities in the spiritual realm than a man does. Layton can help you, that’s for sure, but he can only take you so far. There are things that he will never be able to tap into because he’s a man.”
“But I have Morena helping me out, too.”
“Morena is fairly sophisticated, but she doesn’t have my level of experience.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I’d like to work with you. I believe with my help there is truly no limit to what you can achieve.”
Her offer was tempting, but what in the world would Layton say about it? “I’m flattered, but I’m still not sure how this would all work. And … Layton is pretty particular about my training.”
“Don’t give Layton another thought. You need to be looking out for you. Layton knows how powerful you are, and he doesn’t want to be challenged by a woman. Believe me. I’ve lived through that and it
wasn’t pretty.”
“But you can’t seriously be suggesting that I work with you behind Layton’s back.”
“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting.”
“I need to think about this.”
Nina Marie grasped onto her hand, and immediately she knew this woman was the real deal. And it frightened her even more.
“Take all the time you need.” She squeezed her hand. “But I know you can feel this is the right thing for you. I don’t have an agenda like Layton does. I truly want to help you.”
“Thank you.”
“Make no mistake about it, Stacey. Layton Alito is a dangerous man. He’ll have no hesitation about taking you out if you become too powerful. You need to watch your back.”
She watched as Nina Marie stood and walked away. A chill shot down her arm at Nina Marie’s warning. Did she really have anything to fear from Layton?
Chapter Seven
Tony Sampson sat at his desk in the prosecutor’s office and ended the phone call. He had just double-checked and found out that Dan Light was still behind bars. Why in the world hadn’t he made bail? There could only be one plausible response. His church family hadn’t come forward with the money. That had to be a devastating blow to a man like him and to his attorney.
Nothing about this situation seemed right to him, but he was planning on working this case just like any other. Even though it had a lot of media attention, he needed to build a rock solid case to put before a jury. If he weren’t able to construct that type of case, then he’d need to start thinking about a plea deal. The worst scenario for him and his career right now would be to suffer a loss.
It had been a while since he’d taken an embezzlement case to trial, so he wanted to brush up on the required elements under state law. He did a quick search in his legal research database of choice and pulled out his legal pad to draft a quick checklist.
Element one, fiduciary relationship. Check. As the church’s pastor, there was no doubt on element one.
But as he reacquainted himself with the rest of the three statutory requirements, that’s where the facts and evidence building would come in.
Element two, acquisition of property through the relationship. Dan had access to the church’s bank account given his role as pastor, and it helped his case that only three people had access, that he knew of.