Chapter Two
NO ONE HAD ever accused Harriett of being a cheerful person. Pleasant maybe, but she personally abhorred perpetually cheerful people. Looking through her clothes, she couldn't have been any further from cheerful. Eventually, she thought what the hell, and pulled out a sapphire silk slack suit. She had already made up her mind to turn down the case but decided to hear what her potential client's brother had to say. Time had not lessened the nagging sense of loyalty she felt toward Alex and Winston and Dunne. A tap on her bedroom door interrupted her thoughts.
"Aunt Harriett?" a girl's voice said. "Can I come in?"
"Yes, you may," Harriett corrected as she pulled on a white blouse with a ruffled front and began buttoning it.
A teenage girl of eighteen stepped into the bedroom, her long blonde hair piled loosely on top of her head. Plopping down on her aunt's bed, she said "Great suit! Is it new?"
Harriett smiled warmly at the girl. "No, I just haven't had a chance to wear it lately."
"Hot date?" the girl smiled back.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Harriett said with a laugh, "I don't have hot dates anymore, Lacey. I'm too busy worrying about your hot dates."
As she caught her niece's face in the mirror, Harriett noticed the teenager's uncanny resemblance to her father when he had been her age. She couldn't help but be amazed that in what seemed like the blink of an eye, Lacey had, in fact, become an attractive young woman and was at an age that could give any parent ulcers from worrying.
"I have a game tonight," Lacey said. "Will you be able to make it?"
"What time is the game?" Harriett asked.
"Seven-thirty."
"I wish you had told me sooner, sweetheart. I'll miss the first half, but I'll eat as fast as I can. Okay?"
"Great," Lacey said as she sprang up from the bed.
"Lacey," she said as the girl reached the bedroom door.
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry I've been so busy lately."
The girl smiled at her. "I know how you are when you have a case. But you owe me an obscenely lavish shopping spree for my infinite patience," she said dramatically.
A FEW MINUTES before seven, Harriett stopped her midnight blue show truck in front of the Austin Country Club. Looking around the parking lot, she noticed there didn't seem to be an overabundance of trucks, and the parking attendant looked around the expensive wood paneled interior as if he had just been beamed aboard a flying saucer.
She had never been to the Austin Country Club and was surprised by the pleasant, understated atmosphere inside. Harriett had played golf once or twice when she was younger, but somehow the idea of smacking a little dimpled ball around and then walking after it all day had lacked an appeal for her. Too much exercise for too little gratification. Alex, dressed in a gray, subtly pinstriped business suit that showed off her well-defined, athletic body, strode across the lobby toward Harriett.
"Let me show you where we are," Alex greeted her, smiling warmly as her eyes wandered over Harriett.
"Sorry if I'm late," Harriett said.
"You're not," Alex said as she rested her hand lightly in the small of Harriett's back and escorted her toward a small room that adjoined the main dining area.
Sitting at a table near the rear of the room, a man who appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties stood as he saw Harriett and Alexis approach. Seated next to him was a young woman whom Harriett assumed was Paige Dunne. Alexis's sister had successfully blossomed from an awkward teenager into a beautiful raven-haired woman.
"Parker, allow me to introduce Harriett Markham," Alex said. "Harriett, State Senator Parker Collins."
Harriett extended her hand to the man. "Senator."
"And although she's changed just a little since the last time you saw her, I'm sure you remember my sister, Paige," Alex smiled, placing her hand gently on the young woman's shoulder.
"She's certainly changed. Much more beautiful than I remember." Harriett said as she saw a pink flush travel up Paige's neck.
"I hope you don't mind if I pre-ordered your dinner, Ms. Markham," Collins said. "Alex told me you liked prime rib, medium rare."
Another one of those annoying bits of trivia, Harriett thought as she glanced at Alex out of the corner of her eye. She said, "That's fine, Senator."
"It's not necessary to call me Senator, Ms. Markham," Collins said as she took the seat across from him. "We should be on a first name basis if we're both going to be involved in my sister's case."
"That actually hasn't been decided yet. I've only agreed to hear what you have to tell me about the case. Alex may have already told you that I'm not very enthusiastic about traveling to Dallas for a trial."
"I'm not an attorney, Harriett," Collins said casually, "but Alex believes you might be able to get a...what did you call it, Alex?"
"A change of venue," Alex said flatly as she settled in the chair to Harriett's left.
"Right," Collins smiled. "You might be able to have the case transferred here to Travis County."
An Hispanic waiter poured coffee, and Harriett waited until he left before resuming her conversation with Collins.
"Why don't you tell me a little about the case," she said, stirring creamer into her cup.
Collins took a deep breath and looked briefly at Paige for support before speaking.
"It's very difficult for me to talk about, Harriett. The whole thing seems so unreal. My sister, Sharon, has been arrested for murder."
"Whom is she accused of murdering?"
"The police claim four people."
Harriett turned her head slightly toward Alex, but her face revealed nothing.
"She was arrested by Dallas police the day before yesterday. So far, our family attorney has been representing her, but it's his opinion that she needs someone with more criminal expertise to represent her. That's when I contacted Alex, and she recommended you."
"What charge did the grand jury hand down?"
"Murder, first degree, times four," Alex said over the top of her coffee cup.
"Did your sister allegedly kill all of these people at once?"
"No. Apparently they were spread out over the last year and a half."
"Did she have any relationship with them? Co-workers? Acquaintances?"
"Total strangers. Three men and one woman."
"Do you know what evidence the police have that indicates your sister is a suspect?"
"They have a weapon. It was found at her home and the police claim her fingerprints are on it. According to our family attorney, they have some other evidence that doesn't look good for her, either."
"Sounds like a slam dunk for the prosecution. What exactly would you expect me to do for your sister?"
Leaning forward on his elbows, the look on Collins's face became more serious. "I want you to make sure she receives whatever help she needs. If you knew Sharon, you'd know she couldn't possibly have committed any of these crimes. Unless she's lost her mind."
"Do you have some reason to believe she's mentally ill?"
"If she did, in fact, kill those people, it's the only possible explanation. She's such a gentle, quiet woman that the thought of her toting a rifle around and blasting innocent people seems totally incomprehensible to me."
Harriett took a drink of her coffee and glanced at Alex. Setting her cup down, she turned to Alex and asked quietly, "Could I speak to you for a minute?"
"Of course," Alex said as she rose from her chair.
Harriett left the table first and opened the door leading into a service hallway. Alex came through the door a moment later.
"I can't believe you thought for even one moment I would consider taking this case," she seethed as she spun around to face Alex.
"I don't know another attorney who could handle it better," Alex said calmly, folding her arms across her chest.
"You know as well as I do, Alex, that this case is extremely similar to the Wilkes case."
"No, it isn't. Sharon
Taggart isn't anything like Jared Wilkes. He was a sexual predator, and Sharon certainly doesn't fall into that category."
"They're both serial killers for Christ's sake! I don't handle cases like that anymore, and you damn well knew that before you contacted me." Harriett began to pace back and forth in the narrow hallway, fighting to bring her emotions under control.
"The Wilkes case was a long time ago, Harriett."
Snapping her head around to look at her, Harriett said, "And I still think about it every goddamn day. I can't go through that again. I won't. And it's not fair for you to ask me to."
"Look, Harriett, in all likelihood Sharon Taggart is going to be found guilty. What Parker and his family want is to avoid the death penalty. That's what you'd be working for, not an acquittal."
"If she killed those people then maybe she should receive the death penalty," Harriett argued.
"She deserves the best defense she and her family can afford. I believe that and so do you. I've heard you say it a thousand times. Even the most perverted criminal deserves the best effort an attorney can put forth."
"I do believe that, but if I took this case I might not be able to put forth my best."
Alexis took Harriett by the arms and waited until their eyes met. Alex's cool gray eyes hadn't lost their ability to demand Harriett's attention.
"You have to put the Wilkes case behind you, Harriett. You did your job, and the consequences turned out to be tragic, but the prosecution didn't do its job. If they had played by the rules, Jared Wilkes would never have gotten out of jail. You were not responsible for what happened."
"I'm turning this case down, Alex. One serial killer is enough for a lifetime."
"At least talk to Sharon before you decline the case. Then if you still want to turn it down, I won't try to convince you otherwise."
Harriett shook her head. "The best I can do tonight is tell Collins that I'll think about it and give him my decision in a few days. I'd like to talk to my law partner first."
"Fair enough," Alex said as she lightly squeezed Harriett's arms before releasing them.
Harriett loved prime rib, but that evening she could have been eating cardboard and wouldn't have known the difference. Dinner seemed to last forever, and she was eager to get away from Alex, Collins, and Paige. Memories suddenly dredged up about the Wilkes case, coupled with others associated with Alexis Dunne, overwhelmed her. She thought she had gotten over the past and successfully walked away from it. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
At the end of the longest evening of her life, Harriett waited for the parking valet to retrieve her vehicle.
"I wouldn't drag you into this case if I didn't think you could handle it," Alex said as she came up behind Harriett.
"I still believe you must have an associate who can handle this one."
"We've never had an associate as good as you, Harriett," Alex said warmly.
"How is Doug?"
"Doug's Doug," Alex shrugged with a smile. "You know how he is."
The thought of Douglas Winston made Harriett smile slightly. He was a bear of a man and as gentle as a puppy. Although Doug and Alexis were equal partners in their law firm, there weren't two people on the planet more different. Doug hated the social niceties required by their clients and turned anything even remotely social over to Alex. Doug preferred hunting and fishing to cocktail parties and, as far as Harriett knew, had only attended parties given for Winston and Dunne employees.
Looking down at the pavement, Harriett wasn't sure whether she wanted to ask the next question or not.
"And how is Gwen?" she finally managed to ask.
"We're not together anymore," Alex said matter-of-factly.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Alex."
Alex looked at her and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, "No, you're not."
Harriett was grateful when she saw her truck coming toward them. The valet jumped out and held the door for Harriett as she walked around the front of her vehicle.
"This yours?" Alex laughed.
"Yes."
"What did you do with your Beemer?"
"Traded it in. It wasn't really me. I grew up in dusty, small town West Texas, remember?"
Alex opened the passenger door and looked around the inside of the truck.
"Pretty fancy," she nodded. Her eye caught Harriett's for a moment. "Maybe you've changed more than I realized," she grinned.
"And maybe you didn't know me as well as you thought you did. Do you need a ride?"
"I can take a cab."
"Get in, Alex. You might as well see how it feels to ride around in a cowboy Cadillac."
Twenty minutes later, Harriett wheeled her truck into the drive near the front entrance of the Omni Hotel in downtown Austin.
"They have a fair bar here," Alex said. "Can I buy you a drink before you go home?"
"I can't. I promised Lacey that I'd make the last half of her basketball game."
"How is Lacey?"
"Graduating from high school this year."
"She must be tall like you if she's playing basketball," Alex said. After a pause, she continued, "I'm going to be in Austin a couple of days. I'd like to see you again."
"That's probably not a good idea, Alex, but I appreciate the offer."
Alex hesitated a minute before getting out of the truck and entering the hotel. Harriett had to stop herself from following her with her eyes. It would have been a good evening for several drinks. Pulling the truck into unusually light traffic along Congress Avenue, she headed toward Interstate 35 and St. John's Prep.
Chapter Three
TRYING TO SETTLE her mind, Harriett leaned back against a pillow on her bed and rested a legal pad against her drawn up knees. She had ten days to prepare a motion for an appeal on a pro bono case involving a homeless man who had been arrested and convicted in the death of another homeless man during a fight over squatter's rights for a piece of worthless dirt and weeds under a train trestle in southern Travis County. But no matter how hard she tried, every time she tried to concentrate on her motion, Jared Wilkes's face flashed through her mind. She was furious at Alex for helping him escape from the mental prison in which she had had him safely locked away.
Jared Wilkes had been a young man who had everything: wealthy, doting parents who had conceived him late in their lives; and the finest life had to offer someone of his social standing. And yet he had chosen to become a serial rapist and a murderer.
NEARLY TWELVE YEARS earlier, she had been preparing for a well-deserved long weekend and clearing the last of her paperwork from her desk when Alex tapped on the door and peeked into her office.
"Do you have a minute, Harriett?" she asked.
Harriett smiled when she saw her. Even if she had been busy, she would have made time for Alexis Dunne.
"Of course. I'm just finishing up some paperwork. Nothing is going to distract me from this weekend," she smiled.
Alex wasn't smiling, and Harriett became immediately apprehensive. They had planned this weekend together for so long, but the look on Alex's face told her all of their precautions and well-laid plans were circling the drain.
"No one deserves the time off more than you, Harriett."
"But," Harriett frowned.
"One of our clients has a problem, and Doug and I both think you're the right associate to handle it."
"And I don't suppose this client can wait until Monday."
"You could refuse the case. We'd certainly honor your wishes," Alex continued.
Sensing Alex's managerial mood, Harriett leaned back in her chair and exhaled, "What's the client's problem?"
Alex returned to Harriett's office door and opened it.
"Eleanor, please hold Ms. Markham's calls for about thirty minutes," Alex said to Harriett's secretary.
Alex depressed the lock on the office door and closed it behind her. Harriett wondered how much Eleanor knew or thought she knew about her relationship with the firm's senior
partner. Alex unbuttoned the coat to her suit and sat down on the couch as Harriett rose from her chair and poured two cups of coffee from the coffeemaker on the credenza behind her desk. Handing one to Alex as she joined her on the couch, Harriett kicked her heels off, leaned back slightly and looked at Alex.
"So tell me about this case only I am qualified to handle," she said with a smile.
Alex sipped at her coffee, looking as though she was organizing thoughts in her head.
"The client is Jared Wilkes. His father is Clarence Wilkes, CEO of Wilkes Transport, one of our corporate clients. Jared was arrested this morning by Dallas PD," Alex explained.
"What's the charge?" Harriett asked.
"Rape and murder times four," Alex answered quietly.
"He's accused of raping and murdering four women?"
"Four teenage girls between the ages of sixteen and nineteen," Alex nodded.
"I see," Harriett said.
"The deaths have occurred over about a ten month period."
"Do you know what the police have in the way of evidence?"
"Nothing specific. Of course, old man Wilkes is absolutely positive his son is innocent and wants the best Winston and Dunne has to offer." Turning to look at Harriett, she said, "And that's you."
"Why aren't you handling the case, Alex? After all, you are Winston and Dunne."
"Wilkes, the son, wants a younger woman for his counsel. Thinks the jury will believe he didn't commit the rapes if a woman is presenting his case."
"He's probably right."
"He's a nothing," Alex said with a touch of anger in her voice as she leaned her head back on the couch. "Been kicked out of every prep school and college in north Texas. As far as I know, he's never done a worthwhile thing in his entire privileged life. But he's never been in any serious trouble before, either. Just the usual juvenile problems with speeding and drinking."
"Where is he now?" Harriett asked, softly brushing her fingertips lightly along Alex's temple.
"Waiting for you at police headquarters."
"I haven't agreed to take the case yet."
"Fact is, Harriett, Junior knows we handle his father's legal matters and said he'd read about one of the cases you defended last year. Clarence Wilkes didn't exactly ask us to recommend someone. He demanded we assign his son's case to you."
Redress of Grievances Page 2