Fallout
Chapter 27
"What are you doing?" Angela asks as Wesley makes notes on a legal pad.
"Getting ready to work on a case at the legal clinic tomorrow."
"I thought you weren't allowed to work as a lawyer until your suspension is up – even pro bono."
"I'm not," Wesley explains. "But California law says I can work as a paralegal. That's what I'm going to do. Paralegals do a lot of the work on a case anyway. All I need is a lawyer to present it to the court."
"Who have you got?"
"One of my criminal law professors at Stanford, Curry Maitland. He was bored to death after he retired last year, so he came to work at the clinic."
"If he was going to be bored, why did he retire?" Angela wonders.
"At the time, he didn't have a choice. He had a stroke and lost some of his long-term memory. That doesn't help when you're trying to cite precedents."
"So you're going to remember them for him?"
"As much as possible. I can help put the briefs together and sit at the table with him as long as I'm not co-counsel. Maitland is still sharp as a tack. He just needs the action."
"You need the action as much as he does," Angela asserts. "I hope this works out. I'll call the nanny and make sure she's here tomorrow morning."
Wesley moves in for a kiss. "I already called her."
Grey frowns over the podium. "Intelligence reports that cartel soldiers from San Diego, Orange County, and the Inland Empire are moving into LA. We have to assume that they're planning to reconstitute operations here."
John raises his hand. "Sir, any information on who's taken over for Abril Rojas?"
"Only that someone apparently has. The communications picked up so far indicate that orders are coming out of Guatemala. If a local chief is in place, neither the DEA nor the LAPD knows about it. However, none of that changes our job. Patrol cartel territory and check out former dealing sites. Report any activity you see. Also, keep your eyes open for any new operations. The steps the city's already taken will prevent the re-opening of the gaming dens, so the cartel may have other plans. If you see anything suspicious, call it in.
"I need everyone possible on the street. That means anyone who can ride solo will. Bradford will be coordinating field operations across divisions. Chen, you'll be on patrol. Some roads are still impassible from the quake. I've outlined designated patrol zones to allow for as complete coverage as possible. Check the board when you pick up your gear. I'll alert you to any changes. Now, get out there and protect the city and yourselves."
John's considering whether to take time to go by the food truck for lunch when he gets a call from Grey on a private channel. "Nolan, I need you at a hostage situation at the legal clinic on West 8th."
"Sir, when I talked to Lopez this morning, she said something about Wesley working as a paralegal there. Is Versace taking the lead?"
"Her unit is across town on another situation. She's sending her second, Sergeant Wiley, but he's at least a half-hour out. I'm also en route, but for now, you're it, Nolan. Try to keep anyone from getting killed until Wiley and I get there."
Nolan swipes his arm across his suddenly sweaty forehead. "Yes, Sir."
The Journal of John Nolan
When Grey called, I thought my stomach would jump out of my mouth. The last time Wesley was involved in a hostage situation, I wasn't much help. He nearly died. And today, his life was in my hands again. I couldn't afford to screw up. I knew I'd just have to keep Wesley and the other hostages alive until Wiley got there, but those minutes seemed like a lifetime.
At least I knew Wesley's cell phone number. That gave me a way to reach out to Nina, the hostage-taker. She was willing to talk. More than willing. The words came out in a flood. She said her boyfriend is in prison awaiting trial because he couldn't raise the bail. He's been there for months. She insisted he wasn't guilty of anything. And, of course, under the law, she was right. He wasn't convicted.
The timing of his arrest couldn't have been much worse. Nina's pregnant and they were planning to get married. That's something for which I had sympathy. I'm sure Wesley did too. Now she's close to delivery. Her feet are swollen, and she found staying on them for her waitressing job at a fancy burger joint almost impossible. Then she got fired. I don't know if it was desperation, pregnancy hormones, or what, that drove her. Before she left the restaurant, she took the gun the manager who fired her kept under the register.
Somehow, Nina convinced herself that someone at the legal clinic could get her boyfriend, Tommy, out, and they just hadn't been trying hard enough. She was determined not to leave until Tommy was free and threatened to shoot someone if the lawyers couldn't make it happen. But she was willing to talk to me on Wesley's phone as long as he and an old lawyer friend of his kept working to find a way to get Tommy out.
I didn't know how else to make the personal connection Versace instructed me is essential. So I told Nina my story of leaving school when Sarah got pregnant. And I told her how sick Henry was as a baby. Then I asked her what she thought would happen to her baby if she went to prison for killing someone. What if he was sick like Henry? Would he get the help he needed?
Around that time, Nina started to sob, and Sergeant Wiley arrived. I was hoping he could take over or at least give me some sage advice. But he decided that since Nina was already talking to me, I should try to get her to come out or at least give up the gun. Harper's always accused me of talking too much. Bishop said the same thing. But I guess I found the one niche in police work where my verbosity is an advantage. I suspect that Nina's total exhaustion also might have played a part in getting her to give up. She finally agreed to hand over the gun to Wesley if he promised to keep trying to get Tommy out. He meant his promise.
Once Nina gave up her gun, I went along when the medics took her to the hospital. I stayed with her for a while until someone came along to evaluate her mental condition. I have no idea what the diagnosis was, but I hope it will convince the DA not to charge her. And Wesley told me that he's arranged for Tommy's bail. I'm not sure, but I suspect he may have paid it himself. That baby is going to need at least one parent. I'm hoping he'll have two.
So I guess I've chalked up one successful negotiation. I hate to think what would have happened if I'd let something happen to Wesley – or Nina's baby. I suspect that Angela might have shot me in the most painful spot possible. Thank God I didn't have to find out.