Disclaimer: See chapter 1

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To say the least, Chico Mendez was baffled. Ralph, the guard, had told him his lawyer was there to see him. The only lawyer he'd ever had was Miss Crest and why would she come to see him. She hadn't seemed that interested in him when she handled his case so he couldn't understand why she'd have an interest in him now. He'd told Ralph there must be some mistake but Ralph had assured him there was not. "The guy called in advance and made arrangements for a meeting room," Ralph told him. Guy, Chico pondered, what guy?

Lloyd Graham sat in the small nondescript room designated for prisoners to meet with counsel. He'd driven the black Saab he'd rented at the airport in Kansas City through the gates more than half an hour ago. He'd sat for a few moments just staring at the huge facility; the main building which housed administration and the inmates, the outlying buildings where prisoners worked making textiles, print material and furniture, the guard tower with its ever watchful sentries and lastly the massive wall which enclosed it all.

Once inside the building, he had gone through the process of having his credentials, his briefcase and his person, closely inspected. He'd visited clients at the jail in Lancaster and the surrounding areas often but he'd never had cause, before now, to visit a federal penitentiary where the regulations were much more stringent. After he successfully passed inspection, he was told to wait here and the prisoner would be brought to the room.

Lloyd surveyed the room while he waited. It was furnished with a small table, its laminated surface supported by metal legs along with three straight backed chairs, which also stood on metal legs and were upholstered in a dull brown vinyl. The prison obviously did not care about either the décor or the occupants' comfort. As he mused on this thought, he looked out the window covered with metal bars that gave a view of the 'yard' until the door opened and the guard led in a young Latino man. He was tall and well built with thick wavy black hair that just touched his shoulder. He had a friendly face that, at the moment, looked confused.

Lloyd waited until he heard the door click shut behind the guard, then said to the young man, "Chico, it's good to finally meet you," he extended his hand, "my name is Lloyd Graham."

The young man's eyes widened in surprise but they also lit up at the recognition of the name. "Mr. Graham," he said, grabbing the lawyer's hand with both of his, "you are the one who's been helping my abuella."

Lloyd nodded, "I've arranged for transportation for your grandmother on behalf of a client."

"Who, Mr. Graham, who would do that for my grandmother?"

"I'm not at liberty to say Chico. My client wishes to remain anonymous."

"Okay," the young man replied, still looking nonplussed.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I'm here?" Lloyd asked.

Chico nodded, "Yes sir."

Lloyd indicated the chairs and sat down and waited until Chico was seated across the table from him and said, "I've gone over your case and I feel there are some options your attorney could have pursued but didn't. I would like to pursue those options."

"What for?" Chico asked, shaking his head.

"To possibly see if we can get you out of here sooner than expected," Lloyd replied.

Chico regarded him with what Lloyd considered reasonable suspicion. "Mr. Graham, don't get me wrong but nobody ever did nothin'," he shook his head, "I mean anything for me before. Why would you do this for me?"

"Chico, I understand your feelings and doubts but let me say, I'm doing this for someone who cares about you and wants the best for you. There's no ulterior motive, if that's what you're thinking."

"Look, Mr. Graham, I don't got no money…" Chico stopped and corrected himself; "I mean, I don't have any money." The professor had been working with him on his speech. He told him he could make a better first impression when getting a job or meeting people if he spoke well. He couldn't understand why the professor cared. It wasn't like he was planning on meeting the president or anything.

"Chico, you don't need any money. I'm doing this pro bono. Do you know what that means?" Lloyd asked. Chico shook his head. "It's a Latin phrase which means for the public good. I don't get paid; I'm just doing it for the good. Sometimes it makes us old guys feel good to help somebody out who deserves it but can't afford it. So, what I need is your permission to go ahead with this. I'm not making any promises. I won't lie to you, jailhouse appeals are difficult but I'll do my best to get the best possible outcome for you."

"Okay," the young man replied.

"Do I have your permission to go ahead with this?" Lloyd asked.

"Yeah, I guess so, Chico nodded.

"Good, okay Chico, I need you to tell me everything that happened on the night of the liquor store robbery. Don't leave anything out, no matter how small. I need you to tell me about any conversations you had with Miss Crest and the federal prosecutor. This is all very important Chico. I want you to keep a little pad of paper and a pen with you in case there's something you remember that you forgot to tell me. I want you to write it down so you don't forget and then call me. Okay, let's start with the robbery."

Chico took a deep breath, "It was Saturday night…"

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William Reid paced in the lounge. He'd come here looking for Chico only to have one of the other inmates tell him Chico was meeting with his lawyer. That must mean Lloyd Graham was taking Chico's case. That was good. Allie's dad sounded like a good man. He looked up as the door opened and Chico entered. The young man rushed over to him.

"Professor, you'll never guess what happened!" Chico went on to animatedly replay his meeting with the lawyer. He still looked confused about why this was happening to him but had decided he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"That's great Chico, I really hope it works out for you," William told the gentle young man he'd come to look on as a son. Just then Larry appeared at the door, informing William that he had a visitor.

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William Reid entered the visitors' room looking for Lloyd Graham. He wasn't hard to spot. William grinned; not many visitors came to Leavenworth in a tailored Brooks Brothers' suit in a navy pin stripe. He sized up the man who was sitting at one of the tables with two seats. Lloyd Graham was slightly younger than he was, William thought. He had wavy dark brown hair and the start of crows' feet at the corners of his eyes. He had an intelligent face with direct brown eyes. He'd be considered a very attractive middle aged man by most women, he suspected.

Lloyd had kept his eyes trained on the visiting room door waiting for William to walk through it. He knew the man as soon as he entered. The hair was grey but he knew it had once been the same shade of brown as Spencer and Evan's. The eyes were the same as those that looked so lovingly at his daughter. William had slightly more meat on his bones but the same bone structure and innate thinness was present. There was no mistaking that this man had fathered Spencer Reid.

Both men seemed to silently take stock of the other for a few moments after which William headed toward the table. Lloyd stood as William approached and extended his hand. "William," he said as the other man took his hand, "Lloyd Graham."

"Chico told me about his meeting with you. Thank you for taking his case," William began as he sat in the empty seat at the table.

"You were right in your assessment," Lloyd replied. "Chico does not belong here. I thought while I was here I should try to see you."

William nodded, "How are Spencer, Allie and the baby?" he asked.

"They're all doing very well. For someone who was afraid to be a father, Spencer's taken to it like a duck to water." Lloyd pulled out his wallet and removed something. Murray, the visiting room guard, was quick to come in and monitor the situation. "It's just a picture of our mutual granddaughter," Lloyd told Murray. "William's never seen her." Murray nodded and Lloyd passed William the picture of Joanna.

William gazed at the picture of the baby that Spencer had taken for Allie and smiled. "Oh my," he said, "she's a little beauty isn't she?"

"That she is," Lloyd agreed.

"I hope Spencer wasn't too hard on Allie about the letters," William said, still looking at the picture.

"He was very upset at first. It takes a lot to make Spencer blow but when he does, watch out," Lloyd remarked. "But he's a very forgiving man."

"Do you think so?" William asked and no one could miss the hope in his voice.

"Yes," Lloyd told him, "but it won't happen overnight. You can't push your way into his life just because that's where you've finally decided you want to be. You have to wait until he allows you in."

"Do you think he ever will?"

"I don't know. He's a father himself now. Maybe that will change how he views things. I've put in a good word for you and so has Allie but the final decision is his. He's suffered a lot because of your actions and maybe he feels that you should suffer because of them too." Lloyd paused for a moment before he added, "And I can't say I blame him."

William nodded at the truth of Lloyd's words. What they said was true, payback was a bitch.