Danielle walked up the back stairs of the casino to the office suite, using her keycard to enter. She tossed her purse on the chaise lounge and circled around the big desk. Plopping herself down in the office chair, she kicked off her boots and wrapped her long legs around themselves. There was plenty to do before her evening shift but she couldn’t concentrate. She was nervous, vulnerable, and unsure what Richard’s reaction would be when he found out the truth.
It was past nine am before Richard walked into the suite. Just finishing from his morning jog, he rested himself on the sofa and stuffed a throw pillow under his head. “Ah, I love Ohio this time of year!” He turned to look at Danielle and slicked his hair back out of his eyes. “Do you have the numbers from the weekend yet?”
“Not yet. I just got here myself.”
Sensing the tension in her tone, he asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
Her gut felt like a 50-pound weight dropped to the bottom of it and her heart fluttered at his question. Elbows on the desk, she cupped her head in her hands and bluntly stated, “I can’t do this anymore.”
Lifting up his head, he looked in her direction and quickly sat upright. “Okay, I’ll ask you again. “What - is - wrong?”
Before she could respond they heard the lock beep. Smalls walked through the door and nodded at Richard. “Morning, Boss.” Glancing at Danielle he turned back to Richard. “Am I interrupting?”
Running his fingers through his hair he composed himself. “What is it?”
“Yeah, uh, I was going over the security footage from this weekend and something seemed off. I just wanted to run it by you.”
“Shit!” He took a deep breath and stood up to follow Smalls to the security room downstairs.
Now Danielle was nauseous. “Richard, I really need to talk to you.”
Not wanting to deal with a PMS rant of sorts, he raised his hand at her. “Just - I’ll be back.”
The two men left the suite leaving her alone and distressed. Her concentration level was nil. She attempted to do the deposit from the night before but it continued to come out wrong each time she tried. She grabbed her hair on both sides of her head and pulled it hard. “Ughhhh!”
When Richard returned to the suite, he seemed to have lost his enthusiasm. He stretched out his neck from side to side and walked over to the desk. Grabbing the arm of the chair he turned Danielle toward him. “I’m sorry I brushed you off.” She refused to look at him. Pleading with her, he said, “I told you this wasn’t going to be easy.”
A tear streamed down her cheek and her teal green eyes met his with a vengeance. “That’s not what this is about, Richard.”
“Then tell me.”
Wiping away the tears she asked, “What did Tom want?”
Frustrated he stood up. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Deflecting.” He began to pace. “For the past three months every time I try to talk to you, you change the subject. I know things have been hard since Michelle left, but you have no more on your plate than before.”
Shaking her head, her eyes tearing up again she said, “That’s not true.”
“How so, might I ask? I hired a live-in nanny for Cody, whose mother is probably going to prison for a long time, we haven’t begun to plan the wedding yet, and your job here has not changed in the least bit. Please do tell me, Danielle, how has your life changed so dramatically?”
Not being able to hold it in any longer, she reached into the petty cash safe, pulled out three huge stacks of hundred-dollar bills, and slammed them down on the top of the desk. “That’s how!”
“What the hell is that?” He picked up a stack and fanned through it with his thumb. “Have you not been making the deposits?”
Unable to look at him, she informed him, “It’s our cut.”
Even more confused he said, “Our what?”
She took a tissue from the box at the edge of the desk and covered her nose and mouth as she started to cry. “I’m so sorry Richard!”
Taking hold of her arms he pulled her out of the chair and shook her, his sandy blonde hair falling into his angry eyes. “What the hell are you talking about, Danielle?”
“I didn’t think it would get this far; I swear! I thought he would - he said it would only be a couple times and he would leave us alone.”
Realization washed over his face. Furious, he shoved her back into the chair and circled around the desk, pacing the floor. “Christ, Danielle! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” He stopped and stared out the large two-way mirror looking over the entire casino, one hand on his hip and the other holding his hair back from his forehead. Wiping the stress from his face, he ordered her out from behind the desk and took a seat in the chair. Pushing the microphone to the security room he said, “Smalls, we have a problem. Get up here now.”
Within seconds Smalls came through the door. He noticed Danielle sitting on the sofa hiding her face in her hands and Richard was sitting behind the desk, his eyes frantically searching between computer screens. “What’s up, Boss?”
“Well, my friend, it seems your suspicions have some merit.” Placing his elbows on the desk, he raised his hands together to his lips and centered himself. Releasing a deep breath, he sat back in the chair and looked at Danielle. “Why don’t we ask her why you’re here?”
Raising her head she said, “Richard, please don’t do this.”
His eyebrows crinkled together. “Don’t do this? Don’t do - this?” Slamming the chair against the wall as he rose, he picked up a stack of money and flung it at her. A jolt went through her body as it smacked the top of her foot. Smalls sternly stood there, arms crossed, waiting.
Gripping the cushion beside her knees she screamed, “Stop it!” Richard stood, motionless. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before glaring at him, her teeth clenched, she said, “I didn’t’ have a choice.”
“You should have come to me!”
Rising from her seat, she became more confident. “Oh, that’s ripe.” Walking towards him, she never moved her eyes from his. “And what is the first thing you do? Call him,” she said pursing her lips and pointing a stern finger at Smalls.
Stiffening himself, Richard replied, “Well, I don’t trust anyone but him; and obviously for good reason.”
Refusing to hide the offense, she snapped back, “Funny you should say that because the only person I trust here is myself.” Inching towards him, she begged, “I want to trust you, Richard. I want us to trust each other. But right now, I really need you to trust me and let me explain. Please?”
Unsure if it was her beauty or some other underlying power, he caved in to her pleas and agreed. “Smalls, can you leave us for a moment?”
Removing his arms from his chest he said, “I told you, you couldn’t trust her.”
Richard wasn’t in the mood. “Tom, not now!”
Knowing he meant business by using his first name, Smalls turned toward the door, glaring at Danielle as he left.
Richard turned to Danielle standing before him. “So…”
After finishing up at municipal court, Elizabeth and China arrived back at the office together. As they walked through the main office, Mildred spun around in her chair. “Psst! Liz!” She waved her hand for Elizabeth to come to her desk while China chatted it up with Constance.
She sat in her chair with perfect posture and glanced in the direction of Marilyn’s office before she spoke. She whispered, “I know you have a meeting with Marilyn before lunch and I just wanted to give you a heads up, Peggy is in there!”
Slumping her shoulders, Elizabeth sighed. “Great. Thanks for letting me know.”
A devilish grin swept her bright red lips and she winked. “Anytime, sweetie.”
Once Elizabeth set her things in her office, she plucked a file from her drawer and went back to Marilyn’s office and tapped on the door.
“Yes?”
Opening the door, she peeked her head in.
“Elizabeth, come on in. I was just filling Peggy in on some things. You brought your file?” Marilyn was seated comfortably with her elbows resting on the arms of the chair, clicking a pen in her right hand.
Smiling she replied, “Yes, Ma’am,” and took a seat in the open chair next to Peggy.
Peggy chimed in, “Glad you could make it. That makes two days in a row -”
A tad discouraged, Elizabeth cut her off, “I called and informed Belinda that I had an emergency appointment first thing this morning.” Her eyes met with Marilyn momentarily, who sat there quietly through the exchange.
Looking directly at Elizabeth, and irritated at her perceived disrespect she said, “I know you did. However, I prefer you contact me directly next time.” She looked back to Marilyn for support. She didn’t get it.
“Actually, Peggy, Elizabeth followed procedure by calling the office manager. Shall we continue?”
Shaking off the disregard and looking back to her notes, she said, “Of course.”
Elizabeth quietly took a breath and exhaled, thankful Marilyn could see, first hand, Peggy’s unnecessary flex of authority.
Getting back to the matter at hand, Marilyn stated, “Okay then. Elizabeth, I was just filling Peggy in on some things in preparation for the Gardner trial. As you both know, this one is a first for this office considering Michelle Gardner started out as the victim and ended up being the defendant. While I was under the assumption the defense would bring up some sort of conflict of interest considering Peggy is now helping Richard Gardner, since of course he is now the victim in this case, it appears they are taking a different approach altogether. The defense has filed a motion for discovery and in it they are requesting Elizabeth’s victim file on Michelle Gardner.”
Peggy responded sharply, “They can’t do that. That’s confidential information.”
Confident in her assertion Elizabeth quickly retorted, “Actually it’s not. Unfortunately, Ohio is joined by a few other states that have absolutely no confidentiality statutes when it comes to advocates and victims. Also, Criminal Rule 16 specifically says any evidence favorable to the defendant must be produced.”
Trying to disguise her annoyance, Peggy shook her hair away from her face and tilted her head. “Well, I’d have to look into that to confirm it.”
Slightly grinning Marilyn proudly said, “Impressive Elizabeth. I’m afraid she’s right, Peggy. There is no precedent on the issue, but we are dealing with quite an unprecedented case.”
Peggy clamped her jaw tight, trying hard not to show her disdain and remain professional.
Elizabeth’s confidence grew. “Thank you, Marilyn. I had a feeling this was going to come up so I did some initial research.”
“Nice job. So, for the duration of this case, the two of you will have no access what-so-ever to each other’s file and you won’t discuss the case at all with each other. We certainly don’t need the defense attempting a change of venue, although I’m sure they may try. Peggy, you and I will work together with Mr. Gardner. Elizabeth, you and I will be working together in case the defense calls on you to testify. I need to figure out what information they’re going to use in their plan of attack. I’m assuming they’re going to argue Mrs. Gardner suffered from battered woman syndrome but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Any questions?”
After a slight pause, Marilyn said, “Okay then -”
“Actually, there is something, unrelated, I would like to address if I may?”
Setting her pen on the desk and crossing her fingers in her lap, Marilyn said, “Of course, Peggy. What’s on your mind?”
“Well, with all due respect, I just want to express my deep concern about your decision to keep Elizabeth on the Sara Brewer case.”
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in amused contempt.
Marilyn, instead, looked slightly bothered. “Oh? What is your concern, Peggy?”
Her nose shot up a little higher. “For one, I think Elizabeth’s dangerously inexperienced. In cases such as Sara Brewer’s, the trauma is so significant there should be someone advocating for her who has experience in mental health.”
Elizabeth’s heart began racing as the reality of confrontation presented itself. Her smile was without humor as she let out a breath in frustration before blurting out, “You know, not to discount your experience or education but you do not have a mental health degree. You’re a social worker and I’m not sure how that makes you better equipped than myself?” She took a deep breath thinking, Okay, easy Elizabeth. She shut her eyes for a moment. I really don’t want to get into a pissing match with you.
Peggy’s voice didn’t hide her irritation. “I have ten years of experience before coming to this office. You’ve been dealing with victims for how long?”
Her heart pounding a little faster, Elizabeth continued to defend herself. “I have been working with these women, following cases from Municipal Court to Common Pleas, for the past three years without the assistance of a supervisor. I have a BS in psychology and I have a JD. I think that qualifies me.” She placed her hands in her lap and wrung them together to hide the fact that they were now slightly shaking with anger. Deep breaths… In and out…
Continuing to speak as if Elizabeth wasn’t in the room, Peggy persisted with her attack. “It seems her personal issues, past and present, are having a direct impact on her work and frankly, I think she’s a loose cannon.”
Elizabeth gasped and her embarrassment turned to raw fury. Her hands clasped onto her file as she tried to contain her rapid pulse, fearful of proving Peggy right.
Rolling the stress from her neck, Marilyn interjected, “Ladies, please -” Her eyes fixated on Peggy, “- before things get too personal, this isn’t a playground to tout who is better at hopscotch. Regardless of anyone’s background, if I didn’t think you were qualified, you wouldn’t be sitting in your chairs. Peggy, I’m sorry you’re unhappy with this decision, but it’s final. And save the psychoanalysis for your victims, shall we? If neither of you have anything else worthy of my consideration, I have a trial to prepare for.” Grabbing her pen, she returned to the file on her desk.
Her voice quivering with insecurity, Elizabeth knew this was her chance to speak up, “I do have - I have something.”
Peggy rolled her eyes in agony.
Somewhat hesitant, Marilyn asked, “What is it, Elizabeth?”
As the words formed from her thoughts, they began to strengthen. “I - I’ve been mulling over an idea. Even more so since the Brewer case. What if - what if our office provided, not just an advocate, but an actual victim rights attorney?”
Peggy instantly tried to brush it off. “That’s ridiculous. There’s no funds -”
Putting her hand up as if to silence her, Marilyn, said, “Wait a minute. Go on, Elizabeth.” Intrigued, she placed her pen between her teeth and waited.
Her voice still a bit shaky, Elizabeth continued, “Well, I - I just think that some people have a hard time putting faith in us advocates. I believe they get frustrated at the fact that the defendant has the right to an attorney who represents their best interests but they don’t have the same courtesy. I mean, of course they have you on their side, so to speak, but they also know that you’re not technically their attorney. But what if - what if they did have that option, at no cost to them? Why should only well-off victims who can hire an attorney have access to that? It may give some victims, especially in extreme cases, more confidence to follow through.”
Marilyn released the pen from her teeth and looked curiously into Elizabeth’s blue eyes, mulling over the idea.
Taking her chance to respond, Peggy was all but enthusiastic. “Our department barely has the resources to run effectively as it is. How on earth are we going to gather the funds to hire a victim rights attorney? Our salaries are already mostly covered through specific grants and what that doesn’t cover, fund raising takes care of the rest. It would take months to get a grant written and gather the money to hire someone.” Adjusting herself in her chair, she confidently raised her chin and pursed her lips as if she’d muted any further debate.
“I’ll do it at my current salary - until we work out the specifics,” Elizabeth bravely declared. She was still shaking inside, but hoped she at least appeared certain of herself. “And of course, I’ll need some time off to study for the bar.”
Shocked, Peggy gave her turtle face again. When she failed to respond, Elizabeth thought, Well, that shut her the hell up.
Marilyn clicked her pen. Her thin lips slowly turned into a pleasant smile, showing another side of her. “Well – I’ll – be – damned.”