What Deke hated most about the allegation that he was a serial john was the likely impact it would have on his wife. Only three years ago, Deke had been wrongfully accused of murder. The knives had come out when his back was exposed, and Teri had been forced to bear the brunt of the attacks. He feared that was how it would play out again.
Despite Deke telling the others to not involve themselves in the campaign being waged against him, his defenders had ignored his stated wishes and on their own time had tried to establish a time line using photographic evidence that should have killed the story.
Should have.
Judging by the conversation taking place at that moment between Gina and the managing editor of the American Enquirer, it didn’t appear that would be the case.
“. . . and the horse you rode in on,” Gina said.
Gina waited to hear a response, but there wasn’t one. She looked at her phone, shook her head, and said to Deke, “He hung up.”
“And you’re surprised?”
“That bastard knows everything was a setup,” she said.
“At least you got his promise that they’ll detail our denials, along with our time line.”
“They’re still going to run one or more of the pictures, and you know what they say about a picture being worth a thousand words.”
“More like a thousand lies,” Deke said.
“Especially if they run the picture with some clever headline like, Hooker Lawyer Caught in Cozy Embrace.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Deke.”
Deke pretended to be unfazed by what he knew was going to be ugly. “I’ve been in worse spots.”
“After the story comes out, we need to go after your accuser, as well as the publisher of the American Enquirer.”
They had discovered that “Mindy’s” real name was Madeline Parsons, an escort who worked out of Atlanta and provided companionship to “older, successful gentlemen.” According to her still-active website, an evening of her “discreet” company came with a price tag of two thousand dollars.
Deke said, “She’ll say it was a case of mistaken identity, at which time the Enquirer will print their retraction right under some advertisement for adult diapers.”
Gina nodded, but her attention was still directed at her phone. Sounding surprised, she said, “Hannah Barber, the legal correspondent for the New York Times, left me a message. She wants to interview me for a story she’s working on.”
Deke’s groan was visceral. “You don’t think the Times is dignifying the Enquirer’s gutter journalism, do you?”
“I doubt it. Usually their focus is on important legal issues, or court battles.”
“Call her,” Deke said.
Using her cell phone, Gina called the reporter’s number. Barber picked up on the first ring.
“Thank you for calling me back, Ms. Romano,” she said. “I understand you represented Mr. Deketomis in a motion to show cause hearing earlier this week in Atlanta. I’m interested in what took place.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Barber. Judge Irwin has put a gag order on the Welcome Mat Hospitality case, so I really can’t comment.”
The reporter said, “I don’t need you to directly comment, but I would like you to confirm what I have heard from others.”
Gina had turned up the volume of her phone, and was holding it out so Deke could hear as well.
“Why don’t you ask your questions, Ms. Barber, and I’ll decide if it’s appropriate to comment.”
“Thank you. Is it all right with you if I tape this conversation?”
“Go right ahead,” Gina said.
“Ms. Romano, it was reported that Mr. Deketomis was sanctioned by the court, and your firm was fined fifty thousand dollars.”
After a short eye consultation with Deke, Gina replied, “That’s correct.”
“And I understand that during the proceeding you vigorously defended Mr. Deketomis after he was upbraided by the judge.”
“I can’t comment on that specifically, but I will say that I vigorously defend all of my clients.”
“Understood. But for the sake of clarity, I’m told that in the courtroom you challenged the impartiality and validity of Judge Irwin’s gag order and further amplified upon Mr. Deketomis’s publicized remarks.”
Gina mouthed the letters WTF to Deke before responding, “I’m afraid I can’t talk about that, Ms. Barber.”
“I have it on good authority that you told the judge that because you and Mr. Deketomis were officers of the court, that it was your moral responsibility to alert the public to the known dangers of sex trafficking, and that public safety should always trump judicial overreach. Is that accurate?”
Deke began writing on a legal pad, and held it up for Gina to see. A single word was written: Source?
“Where did you hear this, Ms. Barber?” Gina asked.
“I can’t reveal that, but as I explained at the onset of our conversation, the purpose of this call is to merely confirm what has been stated to me on the record.”
Deke wrote something else on his pad and held it up: Comment generally, not specifically.
“I can’t discuss what occurred in the courtroom, but our firm has a long history of advocating for public health and safety. And I do think that young women, in particular, need to be cautioned about the predatory practices of human traffickers.”
“Do you deny that you told Judge Irwin that his gag order serves corporate interests?”
Deke and Gina exchanged glances. Finally, Deke wrote: Non-denial denial?
“Ms. Romano?” asked the reporter.
“I can’t comment specifically, but I will say that I’m not a fan of gag orders being weaponized.”
“I’m told Judge Irwin threatened to hold you in contempt of court.”
“I think that’s something you had better ask Judge Irwin,” Gina said.
“I already have a call in to him.”
Deke covered his mouth to mute his laugh.
“Well, good luck with that,” Gina said.
“One more question, Ms. Romano, and I don’t think it violates the gag order muzzling you.”
“Ask it.”
“Did you say to Mr. Bines that it fell to him to have to defend the emperor’s new clothes?”
Deke offered a thumbs-up to Gina.
“I might have said something like that,” Gina said.
The legal correspondent laughed. “That might be part of our headline.”
Gina’s smile bespoke her approval. But the idea of something else appealed to her even more. “It would make an even better illustration.”
“Illustration?” The reporter sounded confused.
“I make that suggestion off the record, of course, but just imagine the visual of Judge Irwin wearing only a white horsehair wig.”
“We don’t do those kinds of illustrations in our daily paper,” the reporter said.
“Pity.”
“But sometimes illustrations are used in our Sunday magazine.”
“God, I love the First Amendment,” Gina said.
“Thank you for your time, Ms. Romano.”
“It was truly a pleasure, Ms. Barber.”