It was early the next morning when Rossi and Hotch joined Laurel downstairs in the breakfast room.
"You need to eat more than that," Rossi told her when he saw that she only had a sweet roll and some juice on the table in front of her.
"I have a granola bar in my purse," Laurel told him. "The way I feel, that should be more than enough."
"Take a deep breath and calm down," Hotch advised her as he sat down next to her. "Everything is going to be fine. We got through yesterday without any problems. You can handle today."
"Good News!" Rossi held up his cell phone. "I just got a text from my accountant. Aretha Jackson's accountant just sent through her proposed repayment plan."
"And?" Laurel questioned.
"He is going to open negotiations with the parties involved," Rossi reported. "He thinks that they can do better."
"I am going to need enough money up front to pay the taxes," Laurel worried. "I don't need any problems with the IRS."
"That is one of the issues he will be addressing," Rossi assured her. "Trust me, he knows what he is doing."
"Now, for our trip downtown," Hotch began. "Garcia got me the address for the City Attorney's Office, so I suggest we start there."
"It's Friday, so everyone is going to be in a hurry to leave for the weekend," Rossi added. "And, that should work in our favor."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"I'm sorry, but you can't just walk in there!" the administrative assistant was outraged. "Stop – Or I will call the police! They are just down the hall."
"The police are the ones who started this problem," Laurel told her. "So, please, call them."
"I would love to file another lawsuit against them," Hotch added.
"What is going on out here?" A short man, wearing a rumpled suit and carrying an armful of files, bumbled through the door from the inner office. He stopped and stared at Laurel.
"You!" he spit out.
"Me!" Laurel spit back.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"Who is this?" Hotch asked.
"The city's defense attorney who I had to stare at every day for close to three weeks," Laurel replied. "And, even after it was proven that the Houston Police Department was in the wrong, he refused to accept it. To say he is a sore loser is to put it mildly."
"It looks like you got demoted," Hotch nodded towards the armful of files that the man was juggling.
"All because of this little twit right here," was the heated reply. "Well, if you are here to get more money, forget it. That won't work twice."
"This little twit and her daughter almost lost their lives," Rossi pointed out. "And, as for getting more money, I will have you know that they never received their original settlement."
"Never received it?" the man repeated loudly. "All that money and you never received it? And I got demoted over it?" He began laughing hysterically.
"That's right," Hotch spoke up. "And, now there is also interest due on it. So, I would suggest that you help us locate the person or persons responsible so we can get this straightened out or I can guarantee you that you won't be dealing with a demotion, you will be dealing with unemployment."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"You're right, that money never was paid out." It had taken several tries, but they had finally located the person in the City Comptroller's Office responsible for settling Laurel's claim against the city.
"That's right," Hotch affirmed. "And, now, there is also interest due on the original amount."
"I'm sorry, but that can't be authorized," was the immediate reply. "Only the original amount can be paid out."
"You have been holding my money and probably using it," Laurel pointed out. "It's like I gave you an interest free loan."
"Well, it's not like we were using it," the woman prevaricated. "It was in a holding account."
"And probably earning interest," Rossi pointed out. "You were delaying making payment to Ms. Mercer so that the city could make money from her unfortunate incident."
"You can't prove that!" was the swift reply.
"Okay, I've had enough," Laurel declared standing up. "Is that alternative newspaper still being published around here?"
"They have a history of investigating and then publishing very embarrassing stories," she explained to Hotch and Rossi. "Some people think it is only good for lining the bottom of their bird cages, but a couple of elected officials are no longer in office thanks to them."
"Aha - The power of the press," Rossi remarked sagely.
"Oh No! You can't be thinking of going to them with this," the woman gasped out.
"Why not?" Laurel questioned sweetly. "This is just the kind of story they relish – Single mother working three jobs, missing money, out of control police department."
"Please sit back down," the woman pleaded. "I am sure we can work something out."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"So, your accountant will be getting the preliminary information on Monday." It was later that Friday and Laurel was recapping the results of their meeting while Hotch drove back to the inn.
"He's your accountant now, too," Rossi reminded her. "And, yes, you should be hearing from him by the end of the day Monday. And, knowing him, I would suggest you get a cell phone and put him on speed dial. The two of you are going to have a lot of things to discuss."
"A cell phone?" Laurel questioned weakly. "Another thing I never thought I needed. I really have no idea where to begin – What features do I need? What kind of a plan do I want? And, I will probably have to get one for Paige, too. I'm getting a headache!" She leaned her head back against the headrest in the car.
"Don't worry. Garcia will be glad to give you a hand," Hotch volunteered the tech's services. "She loves updating people on the latest technology."
"I'll give her a head's up when I text her the details of our return flight," Rossi offered. "That way she can have a list of suggestions ready for you when we get back."
"Thanks, Dave," Laurel sighed. "I know I should be glad this is all over with, but all I can think of is that another mess is just beginning."
"Think of it as an opportunity," Hotch suggested. He looked over and smiled at her. "A chance to build the type of life you really want - For you and for Paige."