The dates and ages don't quite match up. I hope you'll forgive the suspension of the time-space continuum for a few brief words.
All reviews are appreciated.
AAAAA
The New York skyline was breathtaking. No matter who you were, where you were going, where you were from, there were just some things that made you stop and take a breath. The Manhattan outline was one of them.
Harvey agreed wholeheartedly. He remembered the first glance of downtown Manhattan when his parents had first brought in into the city from the suburbs. He'd stared at it with wide eyes, wondering how something this beautiful could exist outside of a fairy tale. There was still some part of that little boy in the grown man, a child still full of wonder at the shining buildings, standing tall and resolute. Nothing could ever tear buildings like that down
Fully grown Harvey had just stepped out of the file room with the briefs that he needed when he heard a commotion by one of the TVs in the lobby. He walked over to the quickly gathering crowd. He saw smoke billowing out of one of the buildings of the World Trade Center. At first Harvey thought it was some kind of movie trailer, perhaps an upcoming action flick that he probably wouldn't have the desire or the time to see. Then he got close enough to hear the voice over.
"…sources say that the damage is structurally catastrophic. It is unclear whether or not fowl play was involved. New York Firefighters are making efforts to contain the blaze and NYPD are working to evacuate the building…."
The newscaster continued as the file fell from Harvey's limp hands. He scrambled in his jacket pocket for his cell phone and dialed a number.
The phone rang for what seemed like an eternity before Harvey was dropped into voicemail.
"This is Detective Specter. Please leave a message." The voicemail said. Then the beep sounded in Harvey's ear. He hung up and frantically tried a second time, staring at the TV screen while his heart pounded in his ears and dread settled in his stomach.
"Yeah?" An out of breath voice said on the other line, the connection scratchy.
"Maggie! Thank God!" Harvey sighed with relief at the sound of her voice. "Where are you?"
"We're trying to get people out of the North tower. Are you safe?"
"I'm at the office. We're fine." Harvey answered.
"Listen, I have to…wha…what is…Oh my God…OH MY GOD!" Maggie yelled on the other end of the phone just before there was a large BOOM and the line went dead.
Harvey watched in horror on the TV screen as an airplane crashed into the South tower, sending a fireball up into the already blackened sky. Harvey felt like throwing up as even the news reporter was shocked into silence, a few screams sounding in the office as the Pearson Hardman building felt a tremor. Harvey clawed at his cell phone, calling Maggie's number again and willing her to pick up.
After the sixth try, Harvey made a beeline for the elevators, but was stopped by none other than Jessica Pearson herself.
"Harvey, no." she said in a desperately calm voice.
"Don't stop me." Harvey growled.
"I know you want to help Maggie, but she has a job to do right now. Maggie would want you to stay where it's safe." Jessica said, keeping a firm grip on Harvey's shoulders.
"The sky is falling out there on top of her and you want to tell me what Maggie would want?" Harvey seemed to be having a hard time breathing.
Then, the cell phone in his hand started to ring. Maggie's name was on the caller ID. Harvey flipped it open a brought it to his ear.
"Maggie! Are you okay?" Harvey asked.
"I j-just called to ask-ask how the weather was." Maggie's gasping voice was back, joking to cover the shaking in her tone. Harvey wanted to cry with relief.
"You get away from there and you get where it's safe." Harvey ordered a break in his voice.
"I can't do that, Uncle Harvey." Maggie said. "Under no circumstances are you to go outside. The dust is getting really bad out here and I don't want you to breathe this shit in."
"Maggie, no." Harvey said firmly.
"I have to. I'm the one of the guys that stays." Maggie said in a final tone that made Harvey's heart swell with pride at the same time his stomach turned. "Stay inside. I won't be able to call you for awhile, so make sure you keep yourself safe and stay where you are. I'll come get you when I can, okay?"
"…okay." Harvey whispered finally, feeling his body jerk when he heard a loud noise and a scream on the other side of the phone. "Maggie?"
"I need to go. People need help." Maggie said quickly. "Uncle Harvey?"
"Yeah, I'm here." Harvey answered quickly.
"I love you." Maggie gasped.
"I love you, too. More than anything." Harvey said, trying to keep his voice steady. His stomach did a flip when Maggie hung up. He turned haunted eyes at the television coverage that played across his screen, unable to look away as he feverishly prayed to whatever cruel deity allowed this to happen in the first place for some kind of mercy.
SSSSS
Harvey stood before the courthouse, never before hesitating to take the steps until now. He wondered what had made their arraignment fall on September 11th. He looked up the steps, suddenly realizing how many there were.
"Are you ready for this?" Mike asked from beside Harvey.
"Doesn't matter if I'm ready for this, kid. It matters that you are." Harvey answered, mentally trying to shake the screams he heard on the other side of the phone that day out of his head.
"Well, then we're in good shape." Mike said in confidence.
"Good." Harvey said shortly before climbing the steps.
They arrived in courtroom 11B ten minutes before their scheduled time. Harvey recognized Donald McMurphy himself walk into the huge oak doors a few steps ahead of them.
Must be quite a chuck of change for Tate to be paying for a partner to handle his arraignment. Harvey thought as he and Mike took their seats. Harvey felt a pit in his stomach when he sat on Mike's left side.
He should be lead chair, damn it.
But as Gerald Tate was led into court by the bailiff gripping his upper arm, Harvey felt such a rage that he knew he wouldn't be able to see straight, much less argue proficiently in court and win.
There was no case more important than this one.
"How's it going, Specter?" Tate sneered as he was led past. Harvey gripped the edge of the table.
"Run to your lawyer, Tate." Harvey growled. Mike and Harvey watched as Tate was sat next to McMurphy, who scurried over to them.
"I'll thank you not to speak with my client." He said in a nasally voice.
"I'll thank you to advise you client to keep his comments to himself." Mike fired back.
McMurphy opened his mouth to retort, but was interrupted by the bailiff.
"All stand for the honorable Judge Furnish." The bailiff called.
The few occupants of the courtroom stood as a statuesque man in black robes sat down at the bench.
"Arraignment 11A-12 The people vs Gerald Tate." The bailiff said.
"What are the charges, councilor?" Furnish asked Mike.
"First degree murder." Mike said in a full voice.
"The defense objects on the severity of these charges, you honor." McMurphy said. "The evidence against my client is purely circumstantial and we expect leniency. Mr. Tate is a pillar of the community…"
"Please." Mike groaned. Harvey looked at him in surprise along with all the other occupants of the room. "Pillar of the community my ass."
"Do you have something to add, councilor?" Furnish asked.
"Gerald Tate has been the CEO of a hostile corporation that had used cutthroat tactics many times before. He's used everything from brute force to blackmail and threats, which is why the prosecution has petitioned the court to suspend bail." Mike argued. Harvey looked at the way he held himself, the way his blue eyes held a fine razor edge that was not prepared to give an inch.
This was not a man to be trifled with.
"Prior allegations are not relevant." McMurphy inserted.
"Not when the charges brought by the prosecution are challenged, which would not be happening if the officer who had worked the case were not one of the murder charges in question. The defense brought 'pillar of the community' before the court to describe Mr. Tate and expected the prosecution to swallow it."
"Well, I never…" McMurphy bristled.
"Your honor," Mike began, taking a deep breath, "one of this city's finest has fallen in the line of duty. Margaret Specter was one of the people who stepped into the fire without a second thought while the rest of us were running away as fast as we could. Charges against killing her should not be taken lightly. Ever. Especially not today."
Harvey swallowed, keeping his composure carefully.
"Now, that is disrespectful." McMurphy said. "The prosecution is cheapening the tragedy for the entire nation for his own benefit."
"Enough, councilor. I've made my decision. The charges stand. How does the defense plead?" Furnish asked.
"Not guilty." The McMurphy squealed.
"The accused will be detained without bail in a county facility until trial in conducted a week from Wednesday." Furnish said, banging his gavel and left the courtroom. Gerald Tate was dragged from the room, snarling at Mike and Harvey.
McMurphy stomped over to the prosecution table. He put his palms down on the surface and leaned close to Harvey's nose.
"This is going to be the worst trial of your life, Harvey." McMurphy slithered.
"I'm already there, Donald." Harvey growled, his eyes cutting to the middle of McMuphy so badly the other man took a step back. "Mike and I are coming for Tate, so I would keep your threats to yourself until you fully appreciate the freight train that's going to drop on top of you."
McMurphy grabbed his briefcase and left to courtroom while partner and associate watched.
"Yeah, we're ready for this." Harvey said to Mike.
