Day 24: Morgue (Garrett's POV)
"What the hell do you think that you are doing?" Renee Walcot said as she slammed one of my press packets down on my desk, "Do I need to remind you that you work for me?"
"Renee, I work for the people. Right now, you are doing the public a huge disservice by allowing Jacobson and Davidson to walk the streets like any other free person," I commented . . . I tried to contain my anger.
"Your evidence is circumstantial at best," Renee yelled . . . she didn't bother to close the door to my office . . . she planned on making an example of me. I was more than ready for her.
"I have DNA linking Jacobson to the murder scenes . . . I have fingerprints and financial record linking Davidson to the bombs. How the hell is any of this circumstantial?" I yelled back . . . her face was growing red.
"You have to go through me," Renee hissed . . . she placed her hands on my desk and leaned over it . . . she looked like a serpent.
"Are you going to re-file all the charges that you dropped?" I hissed right back at her.
"You don't understand anything about this case . . . about money flow and job security," Renee whispered, "I suggest you hop right on board and shut your damn mouth . . . otherwise, don't be surprised if you are asked to resign from your position . . . probably forcibly."
"I hope you don't mind that I recorded our conversation . . . my next press conference is in three hours," I said coolly . . . making sure that she knew that I wasn't kidding.
"Dr. Macy . . . don't pursue this. These men are dangerous . . . Jacobson and Davidson are only the tip of the iceberg," Renee said.
"Bring it on," I challenged her, "I have a call in to Governor O'Leary . . . he's calling me back this afternoon . . . apparently he's very interested in finding out why no arrests have been made."
"Garrett, don't be stupid . . . he's a lame duck governor. You better try to make amends with Richards . . . in four months, he's going to be your boss," Renee replied.
"Not if I have anything to say about it . . . I'm going to use names tonight. I'm sure the public would like to know where Jacobson and Davidson work," I threatened.
"Be wise, Garrett," Renee said as she walked out of my office . . . I couldn't believe that she was playing into the game that Ellington had devised . . . I knew she was cold and unfeeling, but corrupt too.
I had hoped that Jordan was having a better time than I was.
Day 26: Governor's Office (Garrett's POV)
I walked down the long marble hallway . . . it was intimidating. I had never been in the capital building . . . let alone on business so serious. Nigel, Bug, and Peter were in tow . . . we probably looked like a mob of gangsters . . . all in black suits with black suitcases . . . Nigel even went in and got his hair cut and his roots dyed.
We all met for coffee this morning . . . talked about how to present our case and our suspects. Nigel had made a PowerPoint presentation . . . he had complied all the press packets and all the photographs he could get his hands on. Each member of my team had an area of specialization that they would be talking about. I had gone home last night and practiced explaining the information about the evidence found in Jacobson's office . . . this was more stressful than going into the court room and testifying.
"Governor O'Leary will be with you in one moment. Please feel free to begin setting up your equipment," his secretary said as she led us into a large conference room.
"Okay, let's get ready. Everyone . . . just take a deep breath. We have a solid case . . . we have all the forensics to put the puzzle together. Remember that," I said as I prepared my notes . . . Nigel and Bug were busy setting up the computers for the PowerPoint and one for the re-enactment software . . . it was useful in explaining the blood spatter found in Jacobson's office.
"Dr. Macy, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances. I've asked DA Walcot to sit this one out . . . I want to hear what you have to say un-interupted," the governor said as he stepped into the conference room . . . shook my hand . . . tried to look pleasant . . . I imagine he hadn't been getting much sleep . . . five press conferences in three days . . . probably gave him a lot of information to digest.
"I understand," I replied.
"I've invited a few members of the State of Massachusetts Supreme Court . . . they are going to help me determine if you have credible forensics. Just judging from the media . . . I think you are right on," he said as he took a seat at the head of a long mahogany table, "We can start whenever you are ready."
We talked for hours . . . blood spatter, DNA, fibers, bombs, financial records . . . Governor O'Leary requested two breaks . . . one due to the graphic photographs that Peter was using to explain the consistency of the method of strangling . . . another to get some air . . . all O'Leary said was 'heavy stuff.' Damn right . . . this was some heavy stuff.
We presented our case for seven hours . . . Bug was up there for the longest duration of time. He explained every nuance of DNA . . . he talked about probabilities . . . he talked about the transfer of DNA during an altercation. He told O'Leary that Jacobson's DNA was found at all the crime scenes . . . primarily in fingernail scrapings . . . these girls fought until asphyxiation prevented them from fighting anymore. I had never been so proud of Bug.
Nigel talked about the bombs . . . how to make them . . . and where Davidson purchased the items. He surprised everyone by playing the surveillance tape from the hardware store . . . you could see most of the items clearly . . . all bomb making materials. O'Leary just nodded his head as the judges scrambled to take notes on everything that we had presented.
Everyone was consistent and unyielding . . . I couldn't believe how they pulled together. I even let Nigel explain the theory that we were working from. O'Leary asked for a short recess . . . he needed to talk with the judges. They were only gone for five minutes . . . O'Leary thanked us . . . he had already issued arrest warrants for Jacobson and Davidson.
"I've never had to do this before . . . DA Walcot . . . she worked for my campaign for years. She was my legal advisor throughout my two terms in office . . . when I told her that I was going to retire from politics, I just never thought she would become the kind of politician I spent eight years trying to get out of our legislature," O'Leary lamented.
"People change . . . people get caught up in the ideals and power," I commented.
"Dr. Macy, thank you for taking the time to catch these guys . . . I sure as hell hope Ellington has nothing to do with this . . . to kill his own daughter . . . it seems un-human," O'Leary replied, "You and your team will be honored properly."
"Thank you, but catching Jacobson and Davidson is enough," I replied as I walked down the hallway to where Bug, Nigel and Peter were waiting for me, "In a couple days . . . In a couple days, we can bring her home."
Day 28: Ladysmith, Wisconsin
"Jordan, Garret is on the phone . . . he has something to tell you," Woody said smiling as he handed me his cell phone . . . I was shocked that it got reception up here . . . there was nothing within a fifteen minute vicinity.
"Garret, I miss you so much," I said.
"Jordan, you can come home in a couple days. The governor's office has filed charges against Jacobson and Davidson . . . they were arrested in a coffee shop yesterday," Garret said . . . the sound of his voice was so comforting . . . it felt like home.
"Together . . . I guess they aren't as shrewd as they thought they were," I replied stunned, "Does the attempted murder charge still stand?"
"Yes, it's been assigned a sentence of 100 years in prison without parole. Jordan, how have you been doing?" Garret asked sounding concerned . . . he was such a worry-wart.
"Good . . . you know Wisconsin . . . not much trouble to find," I replied.
"Are you being good for Woody?" Garret asked.
"I'm trying . . . Thank you . . . thank you for working so hard," I said into the cell phone . . . I began to choke up.
"Jordan, I just want you to come home . . . this place isn't the same without you," Garret replied.
"Call us when we can come home," I said.
"Okay, behave yourself . . . I'll see you in a few days," Garret said . . . I hung up the telephone . . . it felt like a million weights were being lifted off my shoulders . . . I could smile again without the thought of Jacobson lurking in the far corners of my mind.
"Are you ready to go home?" Woody asked cautiously . . . these last few days were a vacation from reality . . . all our time spent talking . . . making love . . . living in a relationship isolated from the real world.
"I don't know . . . I kind of like this," I replied.
"Just because we go back to Boston . . . doesn't mean things need to change," Woody replied . . . kissing my forehead . . . taking he book I was reading out of my hands setting it on a table next to the couch.
"I know . . . I just don't want to un-do this. You know old habits are hard to break," I reply casually . . . he obscured my words by kissing my lips as I was talking . . . he didn't want to hear it.
"If you ever want to run . . . do me one favor . . . call me first . . . if you still want to run after talking to me for five minutes, I'll let you go," Woody whispered.
"I don't know what I'm more afraid of . . . being with you or losing you," I replied honestly.
"Jordan, I cannot even explain to you how afraid I am that you will run . . . it's almost as scary as the nightmares I have about Dalton Park . . . about Jacobson," Woody replied . . . he ran his fingers through my hair . . . he kissed my eyelids.
"It's over now . . . Garret made sure that everything was taken care of," I replied . . . I let my hands linger on his chest as he pulled away from me.
"We should go out . . . celebrate," Woody suggested.
"Umm . . . I don't think Ladysmith is one of the hot spots in Wisconsin," I replied . . . laughing at how excited he was getting.
"How about if I cook for you?" Woody suggested . . . most of the food we ate was prepackaged and frozen.
"What's on the menu?" I asked . . . Woody sat next to me on the couch . . . there was this dime size spot on the back of his neck . . . I immediately nibbled on it . . . it rendered him helpless . . . often times he couldn't even speak when I would attack his neck. It was true again this time . . . we lost another day . . . our bodies entangled . . . ignoring the world around us . . . enjoy this refuge fully before we would be forced back into Boston . . . back into our old lives.