Hi Folks! Sorry I haven't updated this one in a while, but it's hard to do 3-4 of these stories simultaneously. This chapter has a little bit of interesting content, so if you sticking with me on this one I sooooo appreciate it! Please R&R if you feel the need. Love your comments. Thank you - Carebearmaxi.
Mr. and Mrs. Specter: New Ventures
Chapter 18
Donna handed Harvey the burner phone which looked like it had been discarded after the explosion. Harvey was wearing his gloves as was Donna because they did not want to destroy or mar any fingerprints, accelerent residue, or any type of evidence which could lead to Mike's exoneration.
"I guess we're taking that to the police, correct?" Donna asked.
"Yes, they can look at it first and examine it for fingerprints. Of course we have to tell them how we got it which is not illegal because this was waste taken from where you thought you may have lost property. It should be plausible," Harvey answered.
"I had to sign an affidavit to not sue them for what I found. Claiming that they were not responsible for anything lost or found in the waste they had taken. I looked for other things but nothing else of real value except the phone."
"Ray, go to the Federal Building," Harvey stated. "Who do we know who's still in the US Attorney's office?"
"Joy is still there. I think she is head litigator now," Donna added. She always liked to watch while Harvey's mind worked during a case especially this one since it involved her and Mike.
"Joy Bates? She's an attorney now, that's right."
"Yep, girl has done all right for herself." Donna said smiling thinking that there had been some ambitious women in that secretarial pool from which she plucked herself to work for one ambitious young attorney named Harvey Specter. Years later the transformation was astounding to both she and Harvey.
"Let's talk to her before we hand over anything and see what she says. If this goes to trial, Joy more than likely will try the case. I'm also calling Allison because once the tests are done on this thing, there should be no civil suit against Mike either."
They arrived at the Federal Courthouse where the US Attorney's office resided. Donna and Harvey proceeded to the reception desk and the guard cleared them and they walked through the metal detector after removing all objects from their pockets and Donna temporarily relinquishing her designer bag and emptying out the contents.
"I remember when I worked at the D.A's office. We had to put all our contents in those clear purses. I swear there was more theft that could go on in that office than ever there was on the streets," Donna quipped as they walked swiftly to Joy Bates' office.
"What a dilemma for you. No wonder you were happy to come work for me at the firm," Harvey shot a wry look over at his wife as she walked beside him in her four inch heels. She matched him step for step just like she always had.
They finally arrived at the office marked "Joy Bates - US Attorney".
"Harvey, Donna, I wish I was seeing you under better circumstances," Joy Bates a small woman with large brown eyes and brown straight hair. She was of oriental descent so she had the smooth silky complexion of her Japanese ancestors. Her body frame was small and with her big glasses covering her big brown eyes she looked like an Oriental version of Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
"Nice to see you, Joy," Donna said shaking her former co-pool secretary's hand then Harvey's handshake followed.
"Well, it's good to see you also out of the pool," Harvey said as he sat down.
"Yes, well, I have to say I am feeling rather honored sitting across from THE power couple. You are always were you know. Ok, enough with the sentimental reminscing. What do you have that you need me to see?"
Harvey handed her the burner phone which they just happened to put into a plastic bag and sealed it.
"That is a phone which we think was used to trigger the explosion that took out Donna's business several months ago. You know, Mike Ross, Junior Partner at my firm is being accused of domestic terrorism with an incendiary device."
Joy turned the sealed bag around in her hands trying to see if there were any obvious signs that this had been used as the trigger for the bomb. She did not detect any obvious marks, but she knew full well that forensics may find something incriminating or exonerating.
"Harvey, I gather the police have not seen this yet? How did you find this? This might do well in saving Mike Ross."
Harvey looked at Donna and she continued, "Well, we had gone back to the building since my assistant is now owner to see if I could find some of my sentimental things that I left in my office the day the explosion happened. Nothing was there because the waste management haulers removed the rubble that had been there for months."
Harvey took up the narrative from there. He crossed his legs and folded his hands in front of him as he spoke. He was totally relaxed on the outside but on the inside he was praying fervently for what Joy would tell him about what they found.
"So we went to the haulers' office and Donna went in and talked with them. They let her look in the bin and instead of her jewelry she was seeking she found that," Harvey finished uncrossing his legs, pointing to the bag in Joy's hand. Harvey was now looking anxious.
Joy took off her glasses and looked at the both of them.
"I am sure I don't need to go over chain of custody or illegalities of planting false evidence with you, correct?"
Harvey coasted right into his smooth swaggering talk and used his best charms to tell Joy that, of course, they followed every precaution.
"Joy, I'm hardly an amateur at this. I was an ADA for Manhattan for five years. I was trying cases when you were still in secretarial school."
"Harvey," Donna interrupted him in his swagger. "Uh, Joy went to college not secretarial school."
"Oh, my bad, Joy. Just because you are sitting behind that desk with the seal of the United States at your head doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. This is a Federal Case so we turned this into the Federal authority."
"I'm sorry, Harvey, but I have to be careful. You do know that," Joy said and then picked up her phone. She punched two numbers into it and said, "Yes, is Aggie here?...Great. Can you send him up here? I have a piece of compelling evidence that he needs to put under the microscope."
Joy smiled and stood up and held her hand out to Harvey and Donna.
"It is good to see you both again. This will go directly to forensics and we will let you know what we find. Oh, here he is now," Joy turned to a man who could have been her twin.
"Aggie? These people are Harvey and Donna Specter, Managing partner and COO of PearsonSpecterLitt. This is Aggie Bates, my brother and one of the best forensics experts I have ever known."
"Thanks, sis. Nice to meet you. It looks like you have a burner phone in that bag. Is that what you are suspecting set the bomb off?" Aggie asked taking the sealed bag from his sister.
"Yes, I found it in the rubble in the waste hauler's office today when I was looking for some more personal items that may have gotten thrown out by the bomb," Donna said. "Aggie. Is that sure for Agamemnon?"
The shorter dark haired man looked up at Donna and smiled. "Yes, it is. Our mother was into Greek Tragedies and loved that name so when we were born our parents were joyful and my mother was reading the play when she went into labor, so Joy and Agamemnon."
Donna looked at Harvey who smiled thinly and said, "Fascinating stuff. Well, we have to go. It's getting late and we gotta pick the kids up."
They shook hands all around and got back into the Town Car and told Ray to take them back to the office temporarily because they would be leaving for the day shortly after.
"What about Allison? I thought you wanted to threaten her before the day was out," Donna asked while they rode back in the car. They were sitting in the backseat watching the people and silent for the most part with the enormity of their find.
"I don't know want to jump to conclusions. If I tell her that the Feds obtained evidence before I know it's evidence I am in a world of shit and so is Mike." He took her gloved hand in his and squeezed it. He turned his head to look at her and noticed the worried expression.
"Should we mention this to Mike and Rachel?". She asked offering Harvey a little smile. "I know they are for sure waiting on pins and needles," Donna said as she squeezed Harvey's hand in return.
"Yes, but I don't want to get their hopes up, so..."
"Keep our poker faces on then,"
"You got it," Harvey took Donna's gloved hand and kissed it.
They both then took a ragged breath. Still holding hands, they turned their heads and simply stared straight ahead.
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"Happy news! Guess who called?" Louis said as he met them at the elevator.
"Who?" Harvey and Donna asked simultaneously.
"Jessica! She and Jeff are coming home in a couple of weeks so we can all celebrate the adoption of their little boy."
Louis, who was always excitable, became even more animated when he talked of children. He would be a fabulous father when the time came.
"That's great, Louis, but I need to find Mike. Is he in his office?" Harvey asked having grabbed Louis by each upper arm and being as courteous as he could be when his mind was somewhere else. Later he would digest Jessica news and he and Donna would have a drink in their home when their own children were abed.
"Yeah, Harvey, he's in his office. I think he has a client, though. Check with Amy," Louis said dejectedly.
"Thanks, Louis. Gotta run," Harvey said and ran swiftly in the direction of Mike's office. Donna watched Harvey for a moment and then walked with Louis to her office which came before his along the corridor. Between Louis' office and Donna's was one of the larger conference rooms usually used for partner's meetings or class action plaintiffs.
"So the only thing we need to do is prove that that video has been altered or make inadmissible in court," Harvey told Mike as they stood in Mike's office. Amy had just escorted Mike's last client to the elevator when Harvey sneaked into the room.
"Have you seen Allison yet?" Mike asked.
"No, but I am thinking she is going to want to depose you before you take the stand. I know she'll call you if this goes to trial," Harvey said. He was hoping that he could prove the tape had been altered to fabricate Mike setting the explosives, but saying it was one thing and then doing it was another.
"Benjamin," Mike said looking at Harvey.
"Benjamin? The IT guy?" Harvey looked at Mike. "Yeah, Benjamin may be able to help us. Good thinking."
"Amy!" Mike called.
Amy came running into Mike's office. "Get Benjamin. On it!" She ran back to her desk to call him to up to the 50th floor.
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Meanwhile in Mrs. Ross' office a similiar announcement was occurring.
"You mean Mike could be exonerated?"
"Yes, Rache," Donna said holding out her hand to her friend. Donna sat on one side of Rachel's desk and she sat on the other. Donna clasped Rachel's hand across the desk and both looked at each other in almost relief. They both knew not to breathe too easily yet as the opposition still had to be shown that they had no case.
"Wait, Donna, aren't we going to need help if we're going to prove that tape has been doctored?"
"Yes, Benjamin, we already had Amy call him," Harvey had said coming into Rachel's office knowing he would find his wife with her best friend.
"He's been made aware of what's going on. Harvey is having a judge subpoena the tape. So, we should know in a few hours," Mike chimed.
"I will go see Allison in the morning. I don't want to give her any time to surprise us with any more fabricated evidence," Harvey said restraining himself from smiling that he knew Allison would drop the case once the phone showed none of Mike's fingerprints and the security footage had been altered.
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After Donna and Harvey returned home that night and the kids were finally asleep, they sat down on the couch together. Donna laid her head on Harvey's shoulder and automatically his arm went around her. They shared a glass of wine in silence just digesting all that had happened that day. From the findings at the hauling yard to Louis' news about Jessica and Jeff and their new son.
"Louis told me his name is Jeremiah and he is all of 2 years old," Donna laughed a little thinking how much Jessica had been against a baby for adoption.
"A toddler! Do you think she has any idea what she's signed up for?" Harvey asked taking a sip of his wine and holding the glass to the side of the arm of the sofa.
"No." They both answered the question together. They then laughed a full belly laugh.
"We should have a party for her. Kind of like a baby shower but not. Do you know what I mean?" Donna asked.
"Of course I don't know what that means. That showering stuff is women's work. Have you consulted the other women in the firm?"
"Not yet, but I will." Donna took a sip of her wine and then rising reluctantly from her place in Harvey's arms she placed her glass on the coffee table in front of them.
"Well, I'm bushed, sir," Donna said yawning and stretching. She returned to Harvey and grabbing his loosened tie pulled it further loose while she kissed him. "I'm going to bed." She kissed him again.
"Right behind you, Mrs. Specter," Harvey rose as well and turned down the fireplace and picked up one of Kenzie's stuffed kittens she had dropped in the middle of the floor when Donna carried her to bed. He also yawned wide and stretched and then made his way tiredly to the master bedroom. There he finally undressed and slipped in beside his wife who was already sound asleep. Turning over and spooning his body to hers, Harvey fell asleep content at the accomplishments made that day.