by Rob Edwards
But now was not the time. The fight wasn’t even close to being over, and she couldn’t handle that kind of distraction. She flipped off the phone and slipped it back into her pocket, only to have it start ringing. She pulled it out to see Darlene’s smiling face on the screen. “Hey, Dar. What’s up?”
“Jude, turn on the TV. Now!”
Judith hurried over to the remote. “What’s going on?”
“Just turn it on to GINfo.”
Judith clicked on the TV to see aerial pictures outside the prison. Hundreds of supporters were jammed into the parking lot waving signs and shouting. The ticker on the bottom read: “Hundreds show up in support of Delton Hayes, and Noah Higgins.”
“What the hell is this?” Judith said.
“It’s amazing, is what it is.” Darlene laughed. “Sister, you little rebel. You’re making a difference.”
Judith turned up the volume on the set. Tom Boyer and Jenna Hanson hosted the GINfo morning show Sunnyside, and Jenna, blond hair shining brilliantly as always, was at the news desk talking to the camera. “…is just the tip of the iceberg. We have heard that Michigan Governor Mitchel Anderson, has been watching this story closely for quite some time. And it’s been reported that after he watched the “Deep Dive” presentation last night, he put in a call to Kansas Governor Cahill, to get extradition started for Delton Hayes. And sources in Two Rivers have confirmed that both Marmont State College and Two Rivers Correctional Facility have received calls from Governor Anderson this morning. So it appears that the Michigan Governor is intervening in this situation. But with all the supporters outside the prison, something needs to…”
The phone buzzed in Judith’s hand. She pulled it from her ear and saw it was a call from Lansing, Michigan. “Dar, I’m getting a call from Lansing. I think the governor’s calling me, right now.”
“Oh my God. Call me back.” Dar hung up and the phone rang again. Judith punched the screen. “Hello?”
A strong, firm man’s voice answered her. “Is this Miss Judith Higgins?”
“It is.”
“This is Governor Mitch Anderson. How are you doing today?”
“Uhhh…okay?” Judith rolled her eyes and stomped her foot, upset she sounded so stupid.
“Glad to hear it,” the governor responded, forging ahead with the business at hand. “I saw the video GINfo did on your son last night. I’ve also been watching your situation for a while now and I’d like to discuss it with you. If you’re willing to, that is.”
“Ummm, sure. Let’s do it.”
“Great. Is it possible to come to my office at around 11:00 this morning? I’ll have some people here, and we can round-table this thing.”
“Thank you, Governor. I’ll be there.”
“Excellent. See you then.”
Judith clicked off the call just as Noah wandered aimlessly out from the bathroom. “Noah,” Judith said. “Mommy’s going to talk to the governor today.”
Noah plunked down into a chair and stared, confused, at his empty bowl.
“Oh, sorry.” Judith hurried over and prepared his Captain Crunch.
She had lived in Michigan her entire life, but when she parked in front of the ornate Capital Building, Judith realized she had never been in Lansing before. She dumped every last coin she had into the parking meter, then headed across the street to the governor’s building.
She was required to empty her pockets and go through the scanner before she could even reach the information desk. The clerk directed her to the fifth floor, and when the elevator doors opened, an attractive young red head met her, and escorted her directly into a posh conference room with a large wooden table.
A meeting was already in progress and she was surprised to find that she knew most of the individuals around the table. Dr. Fitzpatrick sat closest to the door next to a man in a business suit with thin gray hair. Taysha Williams gave her a cheery smile from the other side of the table. She was sitting next to Warden Luzynski. At the head of the table sat Governor Anderson with a young Hispanic woman sitting on his right and an Asian man on his left. The governor’s suit coat was off and his sleeves were rolled up. He looked every bit the part he portrayed in his political ads, three years ago. “Ah, here she is.” Governor Anderson raised a hand and gestured her toward a seat at the far end of the table. “Join us.”
Judith took her seat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think I was late.”
“You’re not late, Miss Higgins,” The governor said. “I just wanted to get a head start so I completely understood the issues before you showed up.” He glanced around the table. “I’m assuming you know most everyone in attendance?”
Judith looked over at the man next to Dr. Fitzpatrick. He nodded at her. “I’m Dr. Philip Baden, President of Marmont State College.” She nodded at him. “Pleased to meet you.”
He smiled politely and nodded back.
The governor pointed to the two people flanking him. And these are my assistants, Gina Villarreal, and Stuart Shin.”
“Nice to meet you.” They both said and nodded in her direction.
“Nice to meet you, too.” Judith said.
“Miss Higgins, I don’t want to waste your time,” Governor Anderson said. “We’ve been talking for about a half hour now on the idea of a pardon for Delton Hayes.”
“That would be wonderful,” Judith said.
“Would it, though?” The governor said, sitting back and crossing his legs. “Nobody denies he’s been terrific in Dr. Fitzpatrick’s program. But he has been taken care of during that time.” The governor leaned forward and flipped through some papers in a folder on his desk. “But as I scan the parole board’s review of him, their greatest concern was that he didn’t have any way of supporting himself, nor the education to do so in the real world. With no job, and no place to live, he was destined to be a ‘back-slider,’ as they say.”
“So the answer is to keep a good man locked up because he doesn’t have the education?” Judith said.
“Honey,” Taysha interrupted. “In order for the warden and I to feel comfortable for him to get out, we would have to know he has a place to lay his head at night.”
“He can start on my couch,” Judith said. “And that’s only until I get a bigger apartment, so he can have his own room.”
“That’s what we needed to hear,” Taysha smiled, and patted Warden Luzynski on the shoulder. “Isn’t that right, Warden?”
Warden Luzynski nodded and cleared his throat. “Yes. That’s right. If he could stay with you, that would help his transition a great deal.”
“Done,” Judith said. “What next?”
“There’s still the matter of education,” Dr. Baden said. “And that’s the reason Governor Anderson has asked me to this meeting. “I have agreed to see to it that Delton is given the support and opportunity to get his G.E.D. once he’s released. And then I’m required to give him a scholarship into the program of his choice.”
“And will you?”
“I will give him a two-year scholarship, nothing more than that. I have to be concerned about precedents.”
Judith looked over to the governor. He shrugged. “That’s where we were when you walked in. Still in the negotiation phase, if you will.”
“Negotiation over,” Judith said. “Where do I sign?”
“Hold up,” Taysha said. “I think Delton deserves more than that.”
Judith shook her head. “I am confident Delton will be happy with that. The goal here is to get Delton out, on his feet, and together with Noah again. Anything beyond that is a blessing.” She looked back at the governor. “Where do I sign?”
Governor Anderson chuckled. “Gentlemen and ladies, it appears we are going to make this thing work. Now I need the room with Miss Higgins, to finalize the deal.”
Without another word, everyone stood to exit the room except the governor’s assistants. Taysha passed by, not looking too happy with Judith’s agreement. But that was okay, Delton was getting more than an
ybody else in his position, and she would help him the rest of the way.
When the door closed, Governor Anderson stood. “With an agreement like this we don’t require signatures, Miss Higgins. We can handle the whole deal with a simple handshake.” He walked over to her end of the table. “But it’s going to require a little more effort on your part.” He stopped in front of her, sat on the edge of the table, looked down, and smiled.
Judith didn’t smile back. “What kind of effort are we talking about?”
“We’re coming upon an election year, Miss Higgins, and I won’t deny that I like how this whole thing will make me look.” He drew in the air in front of his face. “The whole, ‘defender of the persecuted’ looks pretty good when it’s attached to a guy like me. I’m not going to lie, I want that.”
Judith shrugged. “So what is it you want from me?”
“The simplest thing in the world, really.” He leaned down to her. “When the election craziness gets kicking into high gear, all I want from you is your undying support. I want to put you on stages and commercials, selling the voters on how I’m the answer for those who are struggling. When Delton was in need, it was me who heard the cry, and decided to give him another chance. Is that something you can do?”
Judith looked up at his smile, which looked so plastic now. She considered if this was akin to selling her soul to the devil. But she decided it was a small price to pay for Noah. “Yes,” she said. “I can do that.”
Governor Anderson held out his hand.
Judith didn’t reach for it just yet. “But I’ll need one more thing from you.”
The governor leaned back and crossed his arms. “And what might that be?”
“Delton has a sister living with a foster family. I want her pulled from them and moved in with me too.”
Governor Anderson narrowed his eyes.
“You do that, and I will shout the virtues of Governor Mitchel Anderson from Detroit to Iron Mountain.”
The governor smiled. “Done,” he said, and held out his hand once more. “Now, Miss Higgins, let’s get your man out of jail.”
Judith took his hand firmly, and shook it.
The governor turned back to his assistants, clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Stuart, get Governor Cahill on the phone.”
Chapter Fifty-Three
“Delton Hayes was returned to this facility last night, and we’re about two hours away from the arrival of Governor Anderson,” Brooke Winthrop, the famous blond reporter for GINfo stated.
Judith wrapped a towel around her wet hair and ran out of the bathroom. She grabbed the remote off the arm of the couch, and turned the volume up.
Brooke Winthrop was standing in front of the Two Rivers Correctional Facility sign, amongst a large crowd of people, carrying Delton Hayes signs, and waving to the camera from behind her. “His people have confirmed that he is planning to sit down with Delton Hayes to discuss the situation, with the intention of pardoning the young man.”
“The place looks crowded around you.” The well-groomed anchorman said, from the comfort of his studio.
“The crowd is massive here this morning,” Brooke said. “In fact, if we can take a shot from the copter overhead, you can see that there are literally thousands more people here than there were yesterday.”
The shot was from way overhead. It showed people filling the parking lot and beyond. “We see it now,” The anchorman said. The camera zoomed out to see the crowd down the road surrounding the fencing. “Oh my goodness, Brooke. The place looks like it’s under siege.”
“It kinda feels that way, Doug.”
“Have you seen any sign of Judith Higgins?” Doug asked.
“She hasn’t arrived yet,” Brooke said. “But when she does get here, she will be able to pull in to this parking spot.” The camera panned off Brooke to the direction she was pointing. “The police have kept all cars out of the prison parking lot today, and are only planning on letting certain ones pass. Obviously the governor and his security team,” The camera panned back to Brooke. “And Judith Higgins. This is where we’re camped so when she arrives, we’ll see her.”
The scene cut back to Doug in the studio. “Yes, I’m just hearing that she has not emerged from her apartment. So we’ll be able to let you know when that happens, and she’s on her way.”
The camera cut to an image of a familiar-looking building. It took Judith a moment to realize that was her apartment building. She got up, and pulled the front curtains back to see news vans and busses pulled up in front, with rows of cameras pointing directly at her. Realizing she was still in her robe with her hair wrapped, she screamed and yanked the curtains closed again. “Shit, Judith.” She said to herself. “This is what you wanted. Now you’ve got to deal.”
Her phone rang and she rushed back into the bathroom, clicking mute on the TV as she passed. She picked up the phone and tapped the call, even though she didn’t recognize the number. “This is Judith.”
“Hello, Miss Higgins, this is Jeff Taggert, down at Fillmore National.”
“Uhh…hi?” Judith fumbled for words. Of all the people to hear from this morning, the CEO of Fillmore was not the call she would have expected. “How can I help you?”
“You can help me stop the bleeding,” Mr. Taggert said. “Since your fifteen minutes of fame the other night, our little firm here has been inundated with emails telling us how awful we are for treating our employees so badly, and investors are walking away, saying it’s embarrassing to be involved with such a backward company as ours. Our analysts are calling it the ‘Higgins Event’ and they say it could be one of the worst financial disasters our company has ever faced.”
Judith had her hand over her mouth, in case she were to laugh out loud. She moved it slightly to speak. “I’m sorry to have caused you so much trouble.”
“I’m thinking your sincerity is questionable but that doesn’t matter. I want to make it worth your while to help us out.”
“And how are you planning on doing that?”
“By doubling your salary if you’ll agree to come back to work for us.”
Judith shook her head. The thought of dealing with Bernie another day wasn’t worth it. “I’m sorry, Mr. Taggert. You could triple it, but I can’t work for Bernie…”
“I’m not asking you to work for Herbstreit. We don’t want you in that department. We want to make use of your real talents, down in public relations.”
The news took Judith’s breath away. It took a moment to regain it so she could utter, “Are you serious?”
“I’ll tell you how serious I am, Judith. There’s a ten thousand dollar bonus in the deal if you let the news media know today, that Fillmore National has rehired you with assurances that your son’s needs are not only your concern but ours too.”
“Ten thousand dollars?”
“Ten thousand dollars,” Mr. Taggert said.
Judith looked back at the curtain. “Mr. Taggert, I’m standing here in my robe, wet hair, and no make-up. If you make it twenty thousand, I’ll go tell them right now.”
There was a commotion on the other end of the phone. Judith could hear Mr. Taggert tell someone to turn the TV up. Then he came back on the line. “I’ve got GINfo on the TV here. I’ll watch you do it. Twenty thousand, if you go out there right now.”
“Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Taggert. I’ll see you week after next.” Judith clicked the call off, and walked to the front door. Unwrapping her head, she let her wild wet hair string down in all directions. She chuckled as she pulled open the door and walked out.
As soon as her foot hit the porch, the numerous cameramen had jumped to their cameras, and had them pointed directly at her. Reporters ran to their side, holding up recorders to capture her every word. Judith smiled with satisfaction at what she had wrought. “I just received some really good news and wanted to share it with somebody.”
“And what’s that?” One of the reporters shouted from the mass.
; “I just got a call from Jeff Taggert, CEO at Fillmore National Life,” Judith said. “He’s offered me a job, and he told me they are enacting a policy of support for single parents, especially those with children who have special needs. And he’s asked me to consult in the construction of the program.” She turned and stepped back into her apartment, but then decided to use her soapbox to extend the conversation. She turned back to the cameras. “I think other companies should take this as a challenge, to be as forward thinking as Fillmore National.” Then she stepped inside, and closed the door.
Judith ran over, grabbed the remote, and turned up the volume to hear Doug. She was surprised to see a picture of her in her bathrobe already placed in a box above his left shoulder.
“…to hear, as Fillmore National has been taking a beating on social media the past couple of days, since Miss Higgins stated she had been released from the company because of their lack of compassion over her autistic son. So this apparent turn in their collective company consciousness is refreshing and, from what it sounded like, long overdue.”
Judith’s phone chimed and she pulled it out of her pocket to see a text from Darlene. “I’m leaving the house now. Will pick you and Noah up soon. Get dressed and stop prancing in front of the cameras half naked! Have you no shame, girl?”
Judith looked in the kitchen and saw Noah staring at the box of Captain Crunch. She smiled. He looked so sad, but she knew he would be happy by the end of the day. She went into the kitchen and gently nudged him by the shoulders. “Come, Noah. We need to get the best day of your life started. Go get your clothes on.” Noah slid out of the chair and she followed him to his room, then she slipped into the bathroom, took out the phone and dialed Jack. It was up to her now to make things right. He had held up his end of the bargain—in fact he had done far more. It was up to her to do the same?