After the Vows

Jim Beckett's Journal

Chapter 9

Dear Johanna,

I had a quick dinner with the kids last night and they updated me on the Donovan case. They managed to get some DNA from their suspect, but the story sounded like a comedy of errors. Katie put a surveillance unit on the man to determine his habits and discovered a coffee shop he frequents daily. They established that his pattern was to get some kind of large coffee, sit for awhile drinking it, and throw the cup away. Kate and Rick were sitting in the coffee shop waiting for him to show up. They had arranged with the manager that there would be a little symbol marked on the man's cup by the barrista. That way Katie and Rick, probably Katie, as Rick tends to be a bit squeamish, could retrieve the cup from the trash when the subject left. The symbol would have allowed Katie to prove that the cup belonged to the suspect, so that the DNA testing would be admissible.

Unfortunately, the suspect did not follow his pattern. About halfway through drinking his coffee he had an allergy attack. He was sneezing so violently he knocked over his coffee. He got another cup with no symbol on it. Rick managed to snap a picture of it, so there was at least a record of the name on it and what it looked like. The suspect left the shop with the coffee. Rick took off after him while Katie tried, unsuccessfully, to call in additional help with surveillance. The suspect headed for the subway with Rick following. Rick managed to call Katie before he lost his cell signal underground. Finally the suspect finished his coffee and threw the cup in the trash on the subway platform. Rick snapped a picture of him doing it but didn't want to go after the cup. I believe his comment was "eww." Katie finally arrived to retrieve the evidence. Fortunately the suspect was also caught by the surveillance cameras in the subway throwing away the cup, which bolsters the evidence of Rick's photo. There were some similar cups in the trash, but none with the same name on them, so the evidence should be solid.

The DNA was matched with what was recovered on the body and the suspect was brought in for questioning again. This time Rick got to join Katie and he raved about what a great job she did. She brought the suspect to tears, even in the presence of his attorney, admitting what he had done. Here is the unfortunate and possibly chilling part. His attorney immediately wanted to turn around and make a deal to reveal who put the suspect up to the shooting in the first place. So far there is no hard evidence that anyone besides the suspect is responsible for the shooting, but Katie and her colleagues are looking at his financials, phone, and computer history for signs that someone else might be involved. If the attorney is dealing honestly, I'm hoping whoever solicited the shooting has no connection to Bracken.

Thinking positively, having a suspect in custody means that the pressure on Rick and Katie, as well as their friends in the NYPD has let up considerably. Ryan has been able to pick up some time working for me and Katie and Rick have a small amount of down time again. Things are tighter for Rick than they are for Katie. He has deadlines to meet and he got no writing done while he was going through the Donovan files. Nonetheless, Rick and Katie have agreed to meet J.J.. Katie is always reticent about things like that. She doesn't like being thought of as Nikki Heat. Rick usually likes to meet his fans, except perhaps for hairy men who want him to sign their chests. That sounds ridiculous doesn't it, but Rick told me and Alexis confirmed that it has happened more than once. Katie doesn't want Rick signing anyone's chest, especially now that they are married, and he has agreed to keep his signatures to books and posters. I set up a coffee with the kids, J.J., and me for tomorrow morning. Katie wants me there in case things get, as she expressed it, "weird."

In the short time he's had, Ryan has been doing a fine job for me. He located a bar where a number of company employees drink, and picked up stories about rising above the "little ladies." He was able to track down who some of those women are and has brought in additional cases. He has a real knack for getting people talking. Katie told me that in the past he has been extremely successful with undercover work. He's staying away from it now because of Jenny and Sarah Grace.

I dug out my recipe for corn casserole and did a trial run. I tried it out on my paralegals and on J.J.. They seemed to consume it with no grimaces of distaste and no ill effects, so I suppose I'm ready for Thanksgiving. Rick informs me that as expected, he will have a huge turkey. He has ordered a fresh one which he is supposed to pick up the day before. At least he won't have to worry about last minute defrosting. Martha went on a date with a celebrity chef for the purpose of picking up some tips for her creations. The man was so taken with her that he is going to provide the canapes that she was supposed to make. Someone just has to pick them up. Given everyone's schedules on Thanksgiving, that someone will probably be me.

Alexis has talked a bit about inviting Declan to the meal, although I believe that he also has an invitation from his own family. Rick doesn't like the idea at all, possibly because of the Pi fiasco. He would rather not see Alexis serious about anyone, at least until she graduates from school. Knowing Rick, that may extend to graduate school. Katie doesn't want him there for another reason. She thinks that we may be discussing things that shouldn't go outside the family circle. She may be right about that. Martha, in her grand fashion, would love to invite the world. She is riding so high right now she wants everyone to join in the celebration. The decision will have to be made soon. I'm hoping that even if Alexis invites Declan, he will decline to keep his own family happy. That might make Alexis a bit unhappy but overall might work out for the best. Whatever happens, I'm looking forward more than ever to the day.

Forever love,

JB