23
Monty and Wade were in District Attorney Alex Burnett’s office discussing the situation. Wade was sitting in a chair in front of Alex’s desk while Alex sat behind the desk listening. Monty was standing near the window looking out as he took in all Wade knew about Rachel and the case.
“Rachel Fontaine is thorough. She will not release any details of her story until her investigation is complete,” Alex stated. “I’ve been the recipient of two of her investigations and I have to say, everything she documented was verified.”
“What do you know about Jerry Levine?”
“He’s a prick. More interested in keeping his job than doing his job.”
“Can he be trusted with a story?” Wade asked.
“If it will get him ratings, yes. He’ll keep it under wraps. Why do you ask?”
“According to Rachel he has taken several of her stories and handed them to Lisa Cahill.”
Alex nodded in agreement. “I know several of the stories reported by Cahill were Rachel’s investigations. There were times when I needed to clarify facts. So I’d call the station. Cahill referred me to Rachel every time. She knew none of the facts on any of the cases. Rachel ran the information down without hesitation. I wondered why Rachel wasn’t reporting the stories herself. She certainly has the knowledge and flair for the dramatics to deliver them with passion.”
“Speaking of a flair for the dramatics,” Monty laughed. “You two have to see this.”
Wade and Alex walked over to the window. “What is it?” Wade asked.
“The women in black,” Alex laughed. “I can’t believe they pulled that out of the closet.”
“Damn if they don’t look good,” Monty exclaimed.
“Rachel stands out amongst her sisters.” Wade nodded with an admiring smile.
Monty glanced at him. “You got a soft spot where Rachel is concerned. You need to scratch that itch.”
“She’s my employee, Monty. We don’t cross those lines.” Wade walked away from the window to retake his seat.
“Unless the woman is worth it,” Alex stated as he returned to the desk. “Rachel Fontaine is worth it. That girl has been on her grind since high school. She was a standout in journalism during college and has done a hell of a job keeping Cahill relevant.”
“What about her personal life?” Monty asked.
“What, you mean men?” Alex thought for a moment. “I was too busy chasing Regan to really pay attention to her little sister. I can’t say I remember any particular boyfriend.”
“Why are you asking?” Wade glanced at Monty who was taking the seat next to him.
“Your interest in a female puts me on alert.”
“She is an employee, nothing more,” Wade insisted.
“I think he protests a bit too much,” Alex teased as a knock sounded at the door.
Regan opened the door. “Your secretary stated it was okay to come in.”
The men stood. “Yes, please do.”
Regan stepped inside followed by Riley and Rachel. “Hello Rachel,” Alex hugged her. “How are you doing?”
“Sore, but still living.”
Alex smiled. “Always the kidder. Wade here is telling me we may have another situation on our hands. Have a seat. Fill me in on what you know.”
“You look pretty damn good for a man who was just in an automobile accident,” Rachel said as she took a seat next to Wade. Riley and Regan stood near the door, as Monty joined them.
“You still have bruises. Did you get some rest?”
“A little.” Rachel exhaled. “How much did you tell him?”
Wade shook his head. “Just the basics. It’s your story. You tell it.”
She held his eyes. “You know you just made me wet all over. I mean literally, my thong is soaked.”
Every eye and ear in the room were now tuned into the couple siting in the chairs.
“Nine small words turn you on?” Wade asked.
“For you, only three.” She smiled.
“My ears are too tender for this conversation,” Alex commented.
Monty was the first one to laugh out loud, joined by Regan.
“I think you need to watch what you are saying out of your mouth, young lady.” Riley exclaimed.
“Did my mother just walk in the room?” Rachel looked back over her shoulder.
“Abby would have told you to work that thang,” Regan laughed. “Riley, go sit down somewhere.”
“What happens if I sing to you?” Wade teased.
Rachel leaned over and whispered, “You get to taste what’s under the thong.” In the same moment, she turned to Alex. “Alex, I’m afraid this story may get a little messy.”
Alex looked from one to the other then exhaled as he sat up. “Let me worry about messy. Tell me what you know.”
As Rachel told her story, Regan eased over to stand next to Alex’s chair as he took notes.
“Which judge did you speak with in Hanover?” Regan asked.
“Judge Paula Reid,” Rachel replied.
“Have you mentioned that name to Daddy?”
“No,” Rachel answered.
“I did.” Wade nodded.
“Did Judge Kennedy’s name come out?” Alex asked.
“Did you tell them everything I told you?” She gaped at Wade.
“No.” Wade stared at Alex. “In fact, I gave no names at all.” Wade raised his eyebrow. “It seems we are not the only ones with information.”
“Alex.” Regan glared at him. “What do you know about this?”
“No facts,” Alex stated. “A few months ago a defendant’s mother came to me regarding a policy I was not aware of stating that while a defendant is incarcerated they are responsible for their own room and board. That debt had to be worked off by cleaning homes or working in the fields of law abiding citizens. The mother was upset because it was not mentioned in her son’s plea agreement.” Alex reached into a file cabinet behind his desk, searched through the files then pulled out a folder. He checked the name then gave the folder to Rachel. “Since the case was not tried in my jurisdiction, there was nothing I could do to help the woman. But I kept the case with the intent of investigating it more. I think this may be connected to your story.”
Rachel read through the file until she found what she was looking for. She glanced up at Wade. “He was assigned to Reliance Correctional Center by Judge Elijah Kennedy.”
Wade took the file to examine it closely. “Is this the only case you have like this?”
Alex nodded. “Yes, however, after hearing this I am certain there are more cases out there.” He sat forward. “I have no authority to investigate any of this, but you as a journalist can certainly build a story strong enough to warrant a federal investigation.”
There was a knock on the door followed by Detectives Reigns and Tony Harper walking into the room.
“Nate.” Alex stood, then walked around the desk to greet his friend. “I take it you all know Detective Reigns and Detective Harper.”
“We’re going to step out so you all can talk,” Regan offered.
“No.” Nate walked over to speak to Rachel. “I think my case and your discussion are related. Ms. Fontaine, in your investigation did the organization PIE come into view?”
Rachel shook her head. “No.”
“What about the name Wyatt Chambers?”
“Not to my recollection.” Rachel looked up as she asked. “Who is Wyatt Chambers?”
“One of the partners in Centerville Maximum Security Center and Peace Reliance Correctional Facility.”
Wade turned to Rachel. “It’s time to follow the money.”
“I cannot investigate what’s happening with the judges,” Nate explained. “However, if there is a connection between those facilities and Chambers I can certainly take him down for murder.”
“Murder?” Riley’s head popped up from her cell phone text messages.
“Have you connected this Chambers to Philly’s death?” Rachel asked.
“Slightly, I need more.”
“This story is getting a bit dangerous, don’t you think Wade?” Monty stared at his brother.
Wade thought for a long moment.
“Don’t….don’t do that,” Rachel said to him. “This is what I do. It’s my job. I can’t run from a story every time you think it may be dangerous. If we do that, we need to stop calling ourselves a news network. We are supposed to report the facts, the good, the bad and the ugly. We don’t get to pick and choose.”
Wade stood. “There is something called public trust. We can only earn it by reporting facts. Not fantasies or our opinion. Provable facts. The only way to get that is to investigate, verify and report the facts. The public has a right to know if the most trusted citizens of our democracy are failing us by lining their pockets from the highest bidder. No, I’m not going to tell you to stop the story. Follow the facts where they lead. But you will report to me every step of the way.”
Rachel stood, kissed him square on the lips and said, “Damn if you didn’t just turn me the hell on.” She turned towards the door. “Come on, sisters in black, we have a story to track down.”
The men watched as the ladies walked out the door.
“Was that good for you?” Tony asked. “Because I got a nut just watching it.”