The Client

XIV - Becoming

"Mr. Price," Judge Stone said, accentuating each syllable as he laid his glasses on the bench in front of him. "So good of you to join us. Do you think we could proceed now?" He had the impatient look of a cat whose toy mouse had been taken away. I looked around the packed courtroom. Every eye was on me, waiting.

"Your Honor, may we approach?"

Judge Stone covered his microphone with his hand and motioned Paul and me toward the bench.

"Judge, I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm going to be able to continue the trial today."

The judge's face contorted as he took in what I said. "On what grounds? It's only," he glanced down at his watch, "fifteen after three. We still have almost two hours of testimony today."

"There's been an accident." It was the only thing I thought would sound serious enough. "My wife was shopping in New Orleans and someone hit her at an intersection."

"Oh no. Is she okay?" Paul asked.

The lie came easily. "I think so. She's been taken to the hospital down there. She may have a concussion, but she was awake and talking to me."

"Do you have any family or friends in New Orleans who can go check on her?" The judge looked at the clock on the back wall of the courtroom.

"We don't." At least that was the truth.

Judge Stone scowled. He didn't like it when people disrupted the flow of his court, but he wasn't a monster either. "I'd usually say let's go ahead and finish, but since this was slated for a two-day trial and there's no one on the docket for tomorrow, I'll make an exception this time. Go ahead and go. We'll resume at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. I hope your wife is okay, Mr. Price."

"Thank you, Judge," I said before he changed his mind. I glanced at Paul and thought I saw relief on his face. He'd gotten a rough start and I figured the delay would give him some time to regroup.

I grabbed my things from the prosecution table as the judge explained what was happening to the jury.

"Somewhere you'd rather be, Jack?" Lester asked, eyebrows raised over accusing eyes.

"There's been an accident. I'll explain later," I lied. I left the courtroom before he had a chance to respond.

I called Rachel on the way back to my truck.

"Hey Jack. How's the trial goi – "

"Rachel, listen. Ronald is going back to New Orleans in less than an hour. We're going to follow him there." All the words ran together.

"Uh," she responded. "We? As in –"

"Yes, you're coming with me."

"What about your trial?"

"It's taken care of. I'll explain later. Just get ready. I'll be home in ten minutes."

I was home in nine. I could have made it in seven or eight if all of the lights were green—one of the many benefits of living in a small town. Rachel was waiting on the couch and jumped up as soon as she saw me. I rushed past her toward the bedroom to change. My suit was staying on— if Eddie's information was sound, the place was meant for a more upscale clientele—but I wanted to change shoes. The slick soles on the ones I was wearing would be a disaster if I was forced to run.

"Jack, what's going on?" she pressed, following closely behind me down the hall.

"Diversification." I flung my tie on the bed. "I should have realized it before. They're keeping girls in two separate places. Ronald's going to the other spot tonight."