Hidden in Plain Sight
Saturday
Gideon stares at his byline: 'The Curious Case of Mike Owen' front page above the fold. He structured the expose to begin with his tenure as public defender. He detailed Mike's mediocre court performance; the abysmal case mix up; the ethics charges and his subsequent resignation. The middle section covered his uneven tenure in the private sector in Atlanta. Curiously the firm provided perfunctory details despite direct questioning or obvious court records. Gideon determined the obstacle to the truth-Andrea Blake, Judge Blake's wife.
The question for Gideon: How much collusion and did it continue once he transferred to Kings' County? Finally, he focused on Owen's childhood and upbringing in a fundamentalist Christian household. He wanted to tell the whole truth but Judge Blake's prosecution was more important. Gideon committed to shielding the victim. The spotlight needed to stay focused on the monster.
"Are you sitting here waiting for your Pulitzer call?" a female voice teases.
"Rae-Ann to what do I owe the honor?" Gideon looks up from his spot at 'Eden'.
"Out enjoying my day…Great piece by the way," she points to the paper. "I would love to know what you are not telling us," she divulges.
He gestures for her to take a seat,"What makes you think there is more to the story?"
"The way my mind works," she shrugs. "Why did he come to Kings' County? Plus unless I am wrong he and my previous counterpart left their positions about the same time," she ponders.
Damn she is good. "Hmm…a lot of theories, but enough about old news; let's talk about something new," he suggests.
"What might that be?" she questions.
"How our first date is going?" he flirts.
"Is that what this is?" she tosses her hair. Old habits die hard.
"Of course…why else would you leave your favorite spot?" he calls her out by pointing toward the corner. He noticed her when he first arrived.
She blushes, "I have no idea what you are talking about," she offers a coy smile.
Abe met with Glenn and his team. "I know you have some fancy program that can prove me right," he explains. He holds up the newspaper with various pictures of Mike Owen from various angles. "PD Owen is the dude in the DVDs with Blake and his wife," he states. "I know those recordings and the height and head shape are identical but I can only eye ball it…that isn't hard evidence," his frustration is clear.
Glenn looks at the team, "Do not sit there…get the man his evidence," he directs.
"Thanks for backing me up…taking me seriously," Abe responds.
Glenn watches him, "You are a good deputy and we all need to say it more."
Michonne is flying down the interstate toward Atlanta. She left her final dress fitting in Macon to pick up her road trip companion. "Justice I cannot thank you enough. I hate this will take time away from your date night," she doesn't get to finish.
"Are you kidding me…I feel like I am part of the Royal Wedding," she gushes. "You and Officer Rick are life goals-for real."
Michonne laughs. During the Junior Senator's shadow day Justice offered to be the wedding attendant: managing the guest book and wedding gifts. "I still can't believe I had not thought about that detail. No wonder people hire planners."
"My cousins and I do it all the time…it is usually fun unless the bride or her mother is a hot mess," she giggles.
"So, you ready to start applying for college?"
"Yes and no. Can I ask you something?" she replies tentatively.
"Go for it," Michonne responds.
"Do you think you would have this life if you went to a different college or a specific school?"
Michonne is quiet. "I don't know…maybe I would have gotten here sooner or worst-later. What I know for sure is that I am where I should be. If I have learned anything; be willing to change-adjust. I had a life plan that I held onto for a long time. Once I was forced to alter it I found my happy ever after," she shares thoughtfully.
Justice watches her from the passenger seat. "I made a plan freshman year and I am not sure…thousands of people graduate from Stanford or Harvard and how many actual change the world or make a real difference in their communities. But look at Carl. He was a kid in a hoodie in a comic book store when you found him. Now he helps make the law work for our town," she shakes her head not sure she is making sense.
Michonne looks at her, "Wow…you are amazing and so far gone," she laughs.
"I don't know about amazing…but he has mad skills," they both laugh knowingly.
Rick and his groomsmen are at 'The Haberdashery' in the middle of a fitting session that is a full hour past their level of patience. He held his arms up and out for the hundredth time, "Sir…I assure you the fit is fine," he coaxes.
"Mr. Grimes this is not your area of expertise…I do not mean to be rude but perfection will be delivered," he declares.
"I appreciate the effort but do you hear the mumbling and grumbling from my Guys?"
He nods his head, "I do but I received a call from your mother…need I say more?" he glances over with an unimpressed stare.
Rick sighs, "Hey Fella's…lunch is on me," he announces.
"Well there is that…It's the least you could do…stop measuring my inseam," they complain in chorus.
"Shane you got a minute," Simon calls out.
"Sure, what's up?" he falls into the chair with a slouching swagger.
"First…this is for you," he slides over a black American Express card. "You have an expense account…you need it based on the new clients you sign to long term contracts," he explains.
He slides the plastic to himself. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"No thank you…I believe we can build a brand, expand maybe make an empire," Simon boasts.
"I like that…we need to be solid here…word of mouth can go a long way," he suggests.
'I agree and I need you to lead that effort…be the face. No one wants to see this grizzled mug. You with your lovely lady look like success. Find some industry events…use that ambition for the team," he directs.
Shane can barely contain himself. All my dreams are coming true. "I will get right on it," he stands to exit.
"Good…before I forget-sign these bank authorization documents. I do not want you to have any issues securing convention registrations, hotels, client dinner…you understand how business works," he implies.
"Of course," Shane scrawls his signature in all the flagged spots. He checks his watch, "I need to do a perimeter sweep at a strip mall and follow up with some individual owners."
"Great…glad I can count on you," Simon replies with a wide toothy smile.
"You look amazing," Michonne compliments her trio of bridesmaids. They are having their final fitting at the bridal shop in Atlanta. The long sleeve, ice blue jersey with the side split is both demure and sexy. "I love the addition of the dusting of crystal along the neckline," Sasha admires in front of the wall mirror.
"I love the split…do you think we show enough leg?" Maggie extends her leg to the side.
"Maggie I love you but if you and Glenn try to get it on in one of my luxury portable bathroom units I will slice you with my chain saw," she warns.
Rosita turns and looks over her shoulder, "I wish I had more ass."
They sigh and glance to the right to observe the source of Rosita's angst, "Let it go…that is pure motherland." Justice stands on the podium in a modest scoop back, tea length version of their dress.
Jolene enters and breaks their conversation. She was beyond frustrated. Every shop prior had been a disappointment. The choices were either too matronly, frumpy or not dressy enough. She tagged along today at Michonne's insistence. "What do you think?" she questions.
"Wow…Was there not a mirror…Sit down Helen Mirren," the Girls praise.
She rushes to one of the mirrored stalls. The one sleeved, full length, pewter colored dress set off all her womanly curves, "Finally…something me and my Spanx can work with," she laughs.
The wedding party gathered at Michonne's favorite sandwich shop. She is two bites in when the conversation shifts to her final fitting. She focuses to make sure she does not give anything away. "Things went great…I told them I would not be starving myself so leave room for the father, the son and the Holy Ghost," she jokes. Everyone laugh and Rick squeezes her knee under the table.
He jumps in to further re-direct the conversation. "Sasha, how did 'smooth operator' propose? His version boiled down to…I asked she said yes," he teases. She captivates the group with the re-tell while Daryl hides his blushing face between her shoulder and neck.
Outside the window across the street unnoticed Mike Owen watches the jubilant group. He holds up his phone and reads 'The Gazette' headline again. All his deceptive behavior and plans were exposed. There was no way forward but at least it could not get worse.