Chapter 79

Walking into the busy office, Catherine was struck by the intense atmosphere around her. Now this was what she would call stimulating! No ill reflection on her father and the course of law he'd chosen, but she had immediately felt like she could belong here!

Shaking off these thoughts, she asked to see Joe Maxwell, who she had been told was in charge of the case. Catherine was surprised at how young Maxwell was, he seemed young to already be an assistant district attorney. Greeting him with a hand shake, she introduced herself and told him why she was there.

"Why didn't you come forward before this Ms. Chandler? Why wait more than two months?"

"I don't honestly know, but I do want to help you catch these guys now. I was told that there was another attack after mine, and you were prosecuting the case?"

"We were prosecuting it," Joe grumbled.

"What happened?"

"Our only witness was killed!" he snapped.

Catherine closed her eyes and remembered the talk in the van before they slashed her face. She asked, "Her name wasn't Carol, was it?"

"How the hell did you know that?"

"I think they had her and I mixed up. They kept calling me Carol."

"I don't suppose you can remember what they looked like, can you?"

With a shudder as she thought about it, Catherine nodded and said, "And I would be willing to testify if they can be brought in."

Joe got up, went to the office door, and called out, "Radler! Bring me the line up pictures on the Bradley case! We might have another witness."

Returning to his desk he told her, "If you can identify these guys Ms. Chandler, we will put you in witness protection. I don't want them killing you off too!"

"That's not necessary Mr. Maxwell. I have a very safe place to stay," she told him as a young black woman came into the office.

"Where's Radler?" Joe demanded.

"He's out investigating that double homicide that happened last night," she told him, handing Joe a folder.

"Damn it! We need to hire more people!" Joe fussed.

Catherine heard the words coming out of her mouth before she had a chance to think the impulse through, "If you are really hiring, I would be interested in a job here."

"You have to be kidding? Catherine Chandler working here?" At her inquiring look, he continued, "I know who you are! I do read the papers you know. Don't you work at your Daddy's cushy law firm?"

"I do, but I have been thinking about a change for a while now," she told him.

"You have to know that the pay here would suck compared to what you make there. Hell, the pay here sucks compared to most other places!"

"I understand that and don't care. There is one thing you should know though…"

"Isn't there always?" he interrupted.

Catherine gave him a 'look' and informed him, "I am pregnant, so wouldn't be able to do much field work until after the baby is born, but I can do research, prepare briefs, file motions, conduct interviews."

"We couldn't give you maternity pay for a pre-existing condition."

"I understand that, but I would still be interested in the job."

"Okay, I guess we could give it a try. Radler could use an assistant. He's one of our, hell, he is our best investigator, but he could sure use some help with his paperwork."

"Great! When do you want me to start?"

"Why don't we see if you can identify these guys first? If you need to remain in hiding until the trial you couldn't start until after that."

"As I told you before Mr. Maxwell, I have a very safe place to be where they couldn't find me!"

"We thought that with Carol too, but they got to her and beat her to death!"

"I assure you, I will be fine," Catherine told him.

Joe rolled his eyes and handed her the photos one at a time, there were nine in all. Catherine had no trouble at all in identifying the three men that attacked her from the group. She pointed them out to Joe and he in turn pointed out a fourth man and asked, "Do you know him?"

"No, should I?" she questioned.

"Carol Bradley identified him as Marty Beldon, he was the owner of the escort service she worked for and said that he was the one that ordered the attack on her."

"Sorry Mr. Maxwell, I never saw him, but the other three were the ones that attacked me."

"I'll issue warrants for them to be picked up immediately. Now we need to get you into protective custody."

To be continued….