33
Wade, Rachel, Regan, Nate and Chief Williams, sat in the office of Alex Burnett. They all listened as Rachel laid out her findings to them.
“Here’s the ugly truth. Facts as backed up by the documents attached to my story. The financial documents only told one side of the story,” Rachel began. “Beginning two years ago, deposits in the amount of $10,000 were made into the accounts of Elijah Kennedy and Thomas Price. Each after ten inmates had been assigned to the PIE facilities. For Paula Reid, deposits in the amount of $50,000 were made into an offshore account in her name in the Cayman Islands, twice a year. Checking the court records of each judge, at least ten inmates were assigned to the two facilities each month. This all coincided with a social affair held at the Carmichael where all three judges, Wyatt Chambers and this unidentified man attended. My source indicates that he remembers serving drinks in a private room of the Carmichael to five of the people in that picture. Said he would never forget the feeling of danger while in that room with them.”
“Did they threaten him in some way?” Chief Williams asked.
“I asked the same question,” Rachel said as she shook her head. “He said no. It was the feeling of being surrounded by a group of Klansman ready to put a noose around his neck.”
The room was silent for a while.
“I have to say, when I started this story, I was annoyed at the way Chad Perkins had been treated. Now, I’m enraged at the thought that there are more young men who did not have a caring cousin to complain on their behalf. Where are those families? Who is going to find justice for them?”
“Where are the girls?” Regan asked. “We know they also sentenced young women of color to some of these facilities.”
“We haven’t dug deep enough.” Rachel stated. “There are young people of color being taken off our streets under the guise of justice. Now what are we going to do about it?”
Chief Williams and Alex Burnett glanced at each other. It seemed to Rachel they had no idea what to say.
“The first step should be a call to the Department of Justice,” Wade stated. “The concern there, is depending on who gets the call, this administration may applaud what these judges are doing.”
“The official course would be to make a complaint with the Chief Judge in the district,” Rachel advised, “who happens to be Judge Reid.”
“Get the hell out of dodge,” Nate hissed.
“I’m afraid she is correct,” Alex explained. “The next level would be the Judicial Conference of the United States. That process is tedious. Those young men and woman need action now.”
“Do we have anything connecting Chambers to the murder of Phillip or Kennedy?” Chief Williams asked.
“No,” Nate responded. “Everything is circumstantial. We have the connection between him and the person who made the call.”
“Did anyone review Chambers’ back records?” Alex asked. “What account did the payment to Mosley’s account come from?”
Regan went through her notes. “Peace Intervention Emergence.”
“I think you may be able to make a case for murder for hire,” Alex suggested.
“I would question how the call led to the murder,” Regan countered.
“Yes, you would, but that would be once the trial is under way.” Alex smiled. “Think of the number of discovery motions we can request before a trial date is set.”
Rachel looked from Alex to Regan, then back to Alex. “I’m getting all tingly, like a euphoric feeling over here.”
“That’s me sitting next to you,” Wade replied.
Rachel looked to her side beaming. “You are getting too good at the flirting thing. I’m going to jump your bones as soon as this investigation is over.”
The people in the room laughed.
“No, it’s not you,” Nate corrected, “I’m getting that same feeling. Alex, can we get warrants to search the premises of PIE Headquarters.”
“At the very least, Chambers’ office,” Regan acknowledged.
“What is PIE?” Rachel asked.
“The acronym for Peace Intervention Emergence. Tony made it up so he didn’t have to keep saying the whole name.”
“Chief.” Alex raised an eyebrow. “I’ll handle the case personally for the DA’s office. I just need the word from you.”
All eyes in the room turned to the Chief. He hesitated, then nodded.
“Make the arrest, Reigns.”
Rachel jumped up with excitement, threw her arms around Wade’s neck, then kissed him as if they had just finished making love, long, thorough and slow.
When she stopped he held her in place, as she adjusted his shirt, clearly affected by the kiss.
“You know you can’t keep running around kissing me without some after effects, right?”
Rachel licked her lips, as she exhaled trying to gather her thoughts. “That right there is going to kill me.” She turned to walk out the door. ‘I’m going to cover this arrest with Detective Reigns. I want to see due justice served.”
“Was that good for any of you?” Chief Williams asked. “I felt that heat in my seat.”
“I think we’re getting used to it.” Regan looked at Wade. “How was it for you, Wade?” she asked as he continued to stare at the door Rachel walked through.
“The internet said Virginia is for lovers, I’m beginning to believe them.”
Regan laughed as she pulled out her phone. “I’m going to give my father a call to give him a heads up on this.”
Alex picked up his office phone. “I’ll contact the governor’s office. He needs to be aware of what is about to go down.”
Chief Williams nodded. “I’ll fill the Mayor in.”
Wade pulled out his phone. “I better make the news desk aware. We are going to need coverage”