The Risk Takers

Part 14 | Field Trip

As soon as I get to work, I immediately sprint to the bathroom and make it just in time for the next round of morning sickness to hit. The smell of freshly brewed coffee hit my nose when I entered the lobby and apparently it disagrees with the itty bitty baby.

After I get myself together, I strut into my office and find Emma patiently waiting in the large leather chair by my desk.

"Good morning Ellie!" She beams brightly as she hands me a small Starbucks cup, "I wasn't sure how you liked your coffee so I just got you a vanilla latte." I smile and thank her for her generosity but immediately wonder if I am even allowed to drink coffee. I take the cup from her and set it on my desk to possibly enjoy later.

"I also have the paperwork from yesterday-," she starts to say but she's cut off by Kavanaugh busting into my office.

"Eleanor, we need you in the conference room. Now." He says curtly before swiftly leaving my office and I glance to Emma, "I don't know what that's about but make your self comfy and I'll be back in a few minutes." She eagerly nods her head and I rush out of my office and into the conference room, where powerhouse Brian Peabody stands worriedly with Kavanaugh. They both are in their dark posh suits, with their designer watches gleaming at their shirt cuffs .They are business from their clothing to their furrowed brows and power stances. I click the door shut behind me and glance to them nervously.

"Is everything okay?" I ask and they look to each other before Peabody asks me, "Do you know a John Gates?" I think back to all of my clients but the name doesn't ring a bell.

"No, I don't think so. Why? Who is he?" I watch them glance to each other again but I am too far away to hear what either of them is thinking. Kavanaugh then says, "I don't know if you have seen the news this morning but there was an explosion in a science lab that is connected to Cal Tech. A man was arrested after he was caught fleeing the scene and when they took him into custody, he called our offices. He told Monica you were his lawyer."

They can see the surprise on my face as I respond, "I did see that on the news this morning but I honestly don't know who John Gates is. I don't know why he is asking for me personally."

"This has already gone public and his name will be released soon, so we need to get you down to the station where they are holding him so you can speak with him. We don't know the facts yet but from what we've been told, it looks like this man is not only responsible for the explosion but for the death of two scientists. This could be a massive case with a lot of press coverage," Peabody says and I nod my head to the seriousness of the charges. I still have no idea why I was personally sought out but if this ends up being a big case, I'll be grateful to have been called in.

"Okay, I guess I will go down and meet with him right away then," I say as I stand from the long conference table. 

"I have to be in court today but if you need assistance let us know," Peabody says as I stand by the door and I know they are both eager to hear why I have been called down by this man.

I find Emma still sitting patiently in my office and I grab my bag off my desk, "Okay Emma, you might have an exciting first day after all. I need you to come down to the police station with me to talk to a potential client." I catch her "deer in headlights" look and I can tell she had prepared herself for office work today and not a field trip. She quickly shrugs on her tan trench coat and gathers her belongings awkwardly in her thin arms. She keeps up with my quick pace all the way to my car and throws her seat belt on as I peel out of the parking lot.

When I arrive at the police station, Emma and I are directed to holding rooms in the back of the old building and I decline the officer's offer for a cup of coffee. We go through security and Emma's nervousness oozes off of her as we stick our visitors badges onto our shirts. We plop into small blue plastic chairs outside of the holding area and I pull out my tape recorder and notebook from my briefcase.