A Long Road to Redemption

Chapter 33

Jim Cooper's mood had not improved over the last few days. He was not the type of man to be bullied into doing things he did not want, but today was different. Pierson was out of town when he called him, but now he was back and wanted to see him first thing this morning. The problem was that Pierson's office was not on his usual way to the office, which meant no coffee and Danish this morning. Sure, he could stop somewhere else, but it's not his normal routine, and going to his usual coffee shop after meeting with Pierson was just too much of a change.

"Mr. Pierson is expecting you, Mr. Cooper; go on in," said the secretary outside of Pierson's office. He walked in like he had many times before. The office, as always, was immaculate and well-decorated. The paintings on the walls were all original; the wood used in the walls and furniture was of the finest quality. Cooper thought he could live in this office just as easily as his house.

"Come in, Coop," Pierson said in a voice too cheerful for a man of his character, "I hope I got the right type of coffee and pastry for you. I sent my assistant, Mr. Goldman, to get it for you since you wouldn't be going that way today."

"Thank you, Mr. Pierson. I appreciate it," Cooper said as he took the cup of coffee and the bag that held the Danish pastry. "This is unexpected."

"Well, I thought I would surprise you today. I must admit it's not every day you get such monumental news," Pierson said. "Please sit. Have you met Mr. Goldman before? I have so many lawyers I can hardly keep up with them all."

"Yes, we've met before. A few years ago, when that driver of yours got caught with that shipment of Xanax."

"Oh, that's right, I remember now. That was a close one." Pierson responded.

Cooper began to shift nervously in his chair. He sensed something was building and knew it would explode any minute. This was a game of cat and mouse, and Cooper had few illusions about what part he was playing. He needed to find a way out of this somehow. "Look, Mr. Pierson, I-"

"You know, I thought I understood our relationship here, Jim, I really did," Pierson said. "Whenever investigations get too close to me, you fix them. That's pretty simple, right, Jim? In return, you never have to worry about whether you'll have enough money to retire. Simple."

Pierson got up from his chair and walked to the window. He slowly closed the blinds in his office. "I like simple in business arrangements. I really do. So explain to me how this gets complicated. You were supposed to keep all the details about Lawson's death quiet. A misguided girl goes to jail to pay for her crime, and justice is served. I must say you did a fantastic job. To a point." Leonard turned around and slowly, menacingly began to walk toward Cooper. He stopped just a few inches from Cooper's feet.

"Mr. Pierson," but Pierson stopped him by raising a finger to his lips.

"Shhhh. It's time to listen, Jim. Time to listen very, closely." Pierson held his finger to his lips a few seconds more. "You know, I really didn't think it would be so hard to make a guilty girl look guilty. You were supposed to put her away for life. You blew that part, didn't you?"

"Mr. Pierson, there was no way I could push for first-degree murder. There just wasn't enough. I did what I could."

"Of course you did, Jim. Of course, you did. I guess I'm partly to blame, too. What can I say? I love a pretty face, and she tried to change my wayward son. Pity can be such a weakness at times, can't it?" Pierson leaned down and rested his hands on the chair's arm rails. "Isn't that really where this went wrong, Jim? We pitied someone we should have crushed. But you know it shouldn't have mattered. No one likes a criminal, not even a pretty one. Unless," he paused, letting the room's tension continue to build, "unless there's a reason to doubt their guilt."

By this time, Cooper began to sweat despite the air-conditioned office. Pierson was in full villain mode now. He'd seen him like this many times but never directly at him. What worried him most was that Goldman's gaze had fixed on him, and he held it like a statue. Cooper could feel his heart in his throat, and his breath grew rapidly.

"How careless of you to leave the original death certificate in the coroner's office like that. I know. Who keeps paper records these days, right?" Pierson said almost happily. "An old-fashioned fool like Meeks. That's who keeps paper records. In a world of high tech, everything you should have known, an old fossil like Dr. Meeks would still keep a paper record."

There it was. The sudden flash of anger Cooper knew was coming.

"And then there's Taylor. A true do-gooder trying to ride to the rescue like he's Wyatt Earp," Pierson said as he finally rose and backed away. "You got sloppy. You left too many breadcrumbs. Now Taylor thinks he's got a case. You should have known that a Boy Scout will always be a Boy Scout. Now he's trying to reopen the case."

Pierson walked back to his desk and sat down again. "So how do we fix this Coop? How do we fix this?"

"I uhm. I think. Maybe," Cooper could not seem to get out of his way to respond. Pierson was out for blood now, and this large cat was ready to pounce. The ease in his voice and the relaxed posture left no doubt he was in charge and was in full intimidation mode.

"Well, spit it out, man. What the hell are we going to do?" Pierson burst forth suddenly. "This is your mess; how do we clean it up?"

"We could kill the girl," was all he could come up with.

"Kill the girl. Damn, Goldman, why didn't we think of that?" Pierson said. "Oh, that's right, there's the flash drive you still haven't found. You want to try something that doesn't bring the feds and every other agency down on our heads?"

"Then what about Taylor? He could be gotten rid of easily enough. Perp with a gun takes him out on a case, and this all goes away," Cooper said.

"Well, an idea on the table. I like it, but there's a small problem. Mr. Goldman, tell him what you found out."

Goldman produced a file and handed Cooper a picture. "This is Shelia Lee, a crime reporter and ex-lover of Roger Taylor." Cooper looked at the picture, and it didn't take him long to guess what was happening. "She's been looking into some of the women Lawson had," he paused and looked at Pierson. In response, Pierson gave a slight nod. "Relations with. We think she may be working with Taylor."

"Got complicated, didn't it, Jim?" Pierson added. "All because of some bread crumbs and a pretty face." Leonard got up and walked back to where Cooper was sitting. "Take care of the detective. I don't care how but take care of him. We'll handle the reporter."

"Mr. Pierson, I will. I swear I will make Taylor sorry he ever laid eyes on that girl. I just."

"You thought you may never walk out of this room, didn't you, Jim?" Pierson said with a smile on his face. "Jim," Pierson said as he rested his hand on Cooper's back, leading him toward the door, "you don't get to where I am in life by going around killing people. That's what he's for," Leonard said as he glanced at Goldman. Then he laughed and slapped him on the back. "I'm kidding, Jim; don't look so nervous. Do your job or next time, I won't be kidding," he said as he opened the door, pushing Cooper through it. The door closed, and Jim Cooper left Pierson's office feeling lucky to be alive.

Pierson turned around and fixed his gaze on Goldman. Gone was the happy demeanor he showed just a second before. "I have a new assignment for you, Goldman."