After the Vows

Jim Beckett's Journal

Chapter 21

Dear Johanna,

Artemiz's killer has been found. It is a sad story of a very sick woman. The murder had nothing to do with politics, the suit, or religious bigotry. It was a matter of misplaced love or more accurately, obsession. I don't believe that I've ever described Tony. He is quite a handsome man. That's usually an advantage for a politician. Unfortunately, in this case, it was just the opposite. As Tony became more visible in the media, especially one I mentioned before, Twitter, he acquired a fan following. The woman, Laurie Melman, developed a fantasy centered around Tony. Ultimately she convinced herself that she was actually his wife. In a truly unfortunate coincidence, Laurie was working for a company that does scheduling for a number of small medical groups. She became aware of Artemiz's appointment. In Laurie's mind, Artemiz was an adulterous whore who was trying to steal her husband by getting pregnant. Laurie confronted Artemiz in a rage and beat her to death.

The whole thing came out because Laurie's delusion led her to believe that she actually lived with Tony. She tried to break into his apartment. The neighbors called the police and she was caught. She immediately became a suspect and her DNA was found to be a match. She also made a confession of sorts, mostly screaming that no one had the right to take Tony away from her. Laurie's been sent to Bellevue for evaluation. I don't know that she'll ever come to trial.

Katie and her team tried to keep the facts of the case under wraps, but too many people were involved. It's unclear where leaks came from, but the whole thing was picked up by the tabloids and spread across the internet at appalling speed. Laurie's family has had to go into hiding and Tony is trying as hard as he can to stay out of the public eye as well, until the next scandal comes along to knock him out of the limelight.

It is for the worst of reasons, but my suit is back on track again. With all the media coverage, the women who were reticent about participating or had wanted to pull out entirely, have returned to the fold. That is generating a lot of paperwork, but Dana and her team are humming along. Putting her in charge was one of the best decisions I've ever made and it all leads back to you.

Now that the case has been solved, Katie has more breathing room and considerably less frustration. She's been devoting her time at the loft to making sure Rick eats and sleeps while he finishes up the last few chapters he owes Black Pawn. In a way, as Alexis has finally started to step back a bit, Katie is getting to fill more of the nurturing role. I think she's actually enjoying being a partner supporting him in his work, as he has supported her in hers. Rick is still looking pretty haggard, but Katie expects him to be finished soon so that he can enjoy the holiday he loves so dearly.

Their tree has arrived but as yet stands undecorated. Rick and Katie want to be able to do that together and with Alexis, and they've invited me as well. This is the first time since you were taken from us that Katie has expressed any enthusiasm about a Christmas tree. Last year Rick and Alexis decorated while Katie was working. I suspect that having nailed Bracken and finally having some closure on your death has enabled her to feel the joy of the season again. Seeing her joyful has a similar effect on me.

Martha has been getting marvelous reviews. She's on top of the world. Demand for slots in classes at her school has picked up considerably as well. She has been able to teach a masterclass in the afternoon before she goes to the theater and some special classes on the days when her play is dark. She's talking about expanding the school. Of course that would take money she still doesn't have. Rick has offered to help her, but she is having none of that, declaring that it is her business and she will handle it. She says she made the acquaintance of a bank manager who really appreciates her talent. I think that may have happened when she and Rick were held hostage in a bank robbery. However it happened, she is sure he can help her with financing. I hope she's right. If she goes through with her beauty book, she might make some money on it, but I can't imagine when she'd find the time.

More and more of the Bracken drug empire is falling. The politicians, both local and national are making a big deal about making the streets safer for our children. They've been getting a lot of media coverage, especially on cable news. In fact, they had nothing to do with bringing down anything. It has been the police, working with the DEA on all the information garnered from J.J. who have been the real heroes. As the various aspects of the operation have come down, so have the number of arrests for dealing and possession. Unfortunately there is no doubt that as long as there is money to be made, someone will come in to fill the void. However, at least for the moment, things are better.

Bracken himself has gone dead quiet. There have been no more protestations of innocence. In fact he has completely disappeared from the media. In my experience and probably yours as well, when someone goes silent like that it usually means there is some kind of deal in the works. Bracken may be preparing to throw someone to the wolves to try get some kind of a break. Much as I would hate to ever see anything work out for the man, if it would spare Katie from the agonies of Bracken's trial, I could live with it. I'm pretty sure Katie would not share that view. She wants to see him skewered in full public view. She'd love to be the one holding the skewers. But as public as her life is now, it would become even more so and probably not in a positive way. Bracken's people would do anything to blacken her name. I'm sure that they would just love to dig up the unfortunate sham marriage to a crook named Rogen O'Leary she got herself into one drunken weekend as a college student. She is already thoroughly ashamed that such a thing could have happened. It would be a lot worse if the whole world found out. Who knows what else, real or made up, Bracken's people would try to hang on her? I'm hoping for the best for Katie and the worst for Bracken. Nothing in this world could come close to the pain that he deserves.

Forever love,

JB