Elizabeth sat at her desk organizing her files for the upcoming week. There was a stack for letters that needed to be drafted and mailed in order to advise of pretrials and a stack for phone calls that needed to be made before the end of the day. Deciding to get the phone calls out of the way she picked up the receiver to dial a number. Getting a busy signal, she hung up the phone, closed the file and set it to the side for later.
As she opened her next file, her cell phone vibrated against the desk. She picked it up to see a text from Martinez. Call me when you get a chance, she read. She heard footsteps coming down the hall. God, please let that be China!
Peeking around the doorway, China said, “Hey! It’s Friday!”
Looking up and smiling back, Elizabeth’s eyes showed signs of exhaustion. “If it’s not the Friday of my retirement, I’m totally not interested.”
“Awe, come on, Liz,” said China as she plopped her files and her purse on the seat in the chair next to her.
Elizabeth’s phone vibrated again from another text. Liz, it’s really important. She took a deep breath and released it, making a motorboat noise between her lips.
“Who was that?”
“Martinez,” she replied as if it hurt her to say his name.
“Okay, what’s up?” She became defensive for a moment. “Did he do something wrong?”
“No, no. Nothing like that…”
“Okay, so, is it because you feel guilty about eating pork?” China laughed so hard her eyes welled with tears.
Elizabeth couldn’t help but join in, shaking her head the entire time.
Her hand on her chest, China tried to calm herself. “Oh, oh-my-God. I’m sorry, Liz, it’s just too easy!”
Trying not to laugh, Elizabeth couldn’t keep a straight face. “This is serious!”
China took a tissue from Elizabeth’s desktop and proceeded to pat the tears from under her eyes, careful not to smear her mascara. “Alright, alright. What’s going on?”
Her phone vibrated again. “Shit. Hold on a second. I should really call him and see what’s so important.” She rolled her eyes placing the phone to her ear as China sat patiently checking her own phone.
His voice was melancholic. “Hey, I know you’re busy and probably trying to get some things out of the way before the weekend but I have some bad news.”
“Well, I guess that’s par for the course,” she said shaking her head with a grim look on her face while she looked at China.
“I’m sorry, I just wanted you to hear it from me, I guess.”
Her eyebrows scrunched together. “What’s going on?”
“We found Pam DeFranco’s body this morning, Liz.”
“What?” she asked in disbelief.
“It’s been confirmed. I’m so sorry, Liz. I know this was the last thing you wanted to hear. I’m afraid I’m going to be tied up this weekend with the investigation.”
She placed her elbows on her desk to rub her forehead, her left hand still holding the phone to her ear.
“Liz?”
“I’m here.” She sat back in her chair and let out a sigh of sadness mixed with disgust. “I wasn’t expecting that at all. You do what you gotta do and I’ll talk to you when I can?”
“Alright. Again, I’m sorry, Liz.”
“You’ve been saying that too much lately.”
“I’ll talk to you soon,” he said before hanging up.
China put her phone down. “So? What the hell was that all about?”
Before Elizabeth could answer they heard Marilyn scream from the front of the office. “E-liz-a-beth!”
China jumped. “Well crap on a stick. I don’t think I’ll ever get use to that damn cackle.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I have received my summons.”
Picking up her large purse and her files, she began to leave Elizabeth’s office. Lifting up her free arm and waving it like a bird’s wing she said, “Ca-caw!”
After letting out a giggle, Elizabeth sighed and stretched out her neck before meeting Marilyn in her office. Knocking her knuckle on the door a few times, she peeked her head in. Thankfully, Peggy wasn’t around. She wanted to speak with Marilyn privately.
Looking up from the mess on her desk, Marilyn gave Elizabeth a slight smile. “Come on in, Elizabeth.” Her face was fresh but looked tired from being in court all morning.
Grabbing the door to close it, she asked, “Do you mind?” Marilyn peeked over her wire-rim glasses and nodded her okay. She shut the door and took a seat in one of the leather chairs opposite her boss. Normally, being called into her office would call for a Valium, but Elizabeth kept telling herself she didn’t do anything wrong. This time.
Marilyn set down her pen and removed her glasses from her face, placing them on the file she was currently working on. “Peggy told me about the blog post in the Tribune.”
Taking a quiet deep breath she replied, “Well, I assumed that’s what you wanted to talk to me about.”
“One of the things I wanted to talk to you about. Honestly, Elizabeth, I read the post and I can understand why Peggy was concerned.”
It was typically unlike her to question authority, especially Marilyn’s, but this time Elizabeth stood up for herself. “Marilyn, I really don’t know why Peggy is up in arms about this. This isn’t the first article the Tribune has written about this office. I explained to her my conversation with Pam DeFranco and she blew me off. Not only that, she sent me home for the day not even realizing the day I had, with every intention of leaving early anyway. I’m a little upset at her lack of empathy and how she handled the situation, frankly.”
Marilyn sat quietly for a moment gathering her thoughts.
Before she could respond, Elizabeth continued. “What surprises me the most about this is that you, of all people, know how media can twist words to make something out of nothing to sell a few more papers or get a couple more subscriptions. I don’t feel guilty or bad about what I told Pam. It was the truth. Her husband committed a crime and he had to answer for it. Hence, the whole ‘bull by the horns’ metaphor.” She paused and looked into Marilyn’s concerning eyes. “I can only be responsible for what I say. I am not responsible for how it’s interpreted or misinterpreted for that matter.”
Sitting back in her chair and crossing her legs she said, “I see where you are coming from. I do. But in our line of work, we really do need to be careful how we say things and to whom. Now, Peggy may not have handled it exactly how you would like but at this point in time she is your superior. She is in charge of your unit now, Elizabeth. I know you and China are not liking this change but it’s one you’re going to have to learn to live with.”
Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, Elizabeth knew what she was saying was true. Well, part of it anyway. Superior, pfft. Superior bitch, maybe. “I’m not sure it matters now anyway. Martinez just called me and said they found Pam DeFranco’s body this morning.”
“Oh, dear. I’m sorry to hear that.” She leaned forward and picked up her pen again, placing the end between her teeth as if it helped her think. “Any suspects yet?”
“I have no idea. He just said he would be tied up all weekend due to the investigation.”
“Of course.”
There was a strange silence between them before Marilyn chimed up again.
“I heard about what happened with the hearing, Elizabeth. I am so sorry.”
“I guess I just wasn’t meant to be there.”
“I’m afraid that’s the other issue I wanted to speak with you about.”
Elizabeth stared curiously into Marilyn’s aging eyes. “It was just a miscommunication. I didn’t want to go. Martinez somehow talked me into it.”
Her words were as slick as her dark hair pulled into the bun behind her head. “Martinez meant well and had you spoke at that hearing, it would have been good for you and probably… I’m sure it would have swayed the boards decision.” Sitting forward in a caring manner, she folded her hands on top of her desk. “There’s no easy way to say this, Elizabeth, but I wanted to tell you as soon as I got word.”
The hair on her neck stood up and her pupils dilated in fear. Her heart began palpitating at the words she anticipated would leave Marilyn’s lips next. Grabbing onto the arms of the chair she asked, “They’re letting him out, aren’t they?”
She nodded her head. “He’s due to be released next Friday. I’m so sorry, Elizabeth. I wish I could have done more.”
Her heart beat faster and stronger and she struggled between breaths. This – this can’t be happening. Though it was difficult, she mustered a deep enough breath to ask, “I thought – they - had 30 days - to decide?”
“Up to 30 days. Are you okay? You’re not looking so good, Elizabeth.”
Her brain was on information overload. She felt a tingling sensation through her body as she tried to stand. Still trying to breath, her tan skin became a pale white before everything went dark.
When she came to, she felt a pillow under her head and saw Mildred’s face. She was kneeling in front of her patting her face with cold, wet paper towels from the bathroom. Marilyn, China, and Constance stood hovering above them, speaking quietly.
Mildred smiled showing her white teeth behind red lipstick. “Hey, sweetie. Welcome back.” She helped Elizabeth sit up and handed her a coffee cup filled with water and ordered her to take a sip. Constance whispered something to Marilyn and walked back to the main office area.
“Mildred? What happened?” she asked as she tried to stand.
“Whoa, hold on a sec.” Helping her into the chair she explained, “You just had a teeny fainting spell.” She handed the cup to Elizabeth. “Here, honey. Drink this and sit right there until you feel the dizziness wear off. If you need anything I’ll be up front.”
She took another sip of water. “Thanks, Mildred.” Her conversation with Marilyn came rushing back to her. She stood up and held the back of the chair for balance.
Before leaving, China said, “Hey, I’ll meet you in back, Liz.”
Placing her hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder Marilyn asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. I’m going to go back to my office and finish some things up.”
“I’m sorry, Elizabeth. If there is anything I can do, please let me know. If you need to take the rest of the day -”
“I’ll be okay, Marilyn. Thank you. I appreciate everything you’ve done.” She was embarrassed. “I apologize for this,” she said waving her hand. “It was just a little too much bad news for the day.”
“No need to apologize, kiddo. I understand.”
Elizabeth smiled shyly as she turned to walk back to her office. Walking through the front office, she was uncomfortable. She imagined everyone’s thoughts about her situation and had a feeling they would be talking about her like they did the poor victims that passed through. The last thing she wanted was to be pitied.
China saw Elizabeth go into her office. She walked to the door, leaning her back against the frame. “Hey, sunshine. You okay?”
Holding onto the edge of the desk, she tilted her head back and took a deep breath. Tears formed in her eyes, one sliding from beneath her lash and down her cheek. Quickly wiping it away with her hand she said, “This has to be the worst day I’ve experienced in a while.” She sat down in her chair and reached for her purse from under her desk fumbling through it for her pills.
China unfolded her arms and sat in the chair across from Elizabeth, offering her undivided attention.
Finding the pills she unscrewed the lid and popped one into her mouth, washing it down with a sip of water from her cup. Her face was full of anxiety. “He’s getting out next Friday, China.”
“I know he is, honey. I’m so sorry.”
“What am I going to do? What if – I’m not sure – shit!” She rested her head on the back of the chair for a moment and shut her eyes giving the pill a chance to kick in and clear the clutter in her mind. Opening her eyes, she looked at China who was waiting patiently, allowing her to rant further. “Pam DeFranco is dead.”
“Oh wow...” China’s face dropped further. She was unsure of what else to say.
“Yeah.” Shaking her head and rolling her eyes she said, “Martinez is going to be tied up all weekend and I’m sure Monday is going to be a shit show at court with all of this if an arrest is made. And now Steve.” Her face was red and her eyes became watery again.
Attempting to change the negativity in the air, China burst with enthusiasm. “You know what we need? A girls night. Why don’t you come over tonight? We can fire up the hot tub and drink some wine. No guns though. I don’t want to shoot with you in your current state of mind.” She was serious in a humorous way.
Elizabeth smiled and brushed another tear from her face. She really didn’t want to be alone for the evening and she could never dismiss China’s innate ability to lighten any mood. “You know, that sounds really awesome. But tomorrow is Saturday. We’ll miss the beach. And you mean to tell me you don’t have a date set up for a Friday night?”
“The beach will be there next week and I told you, Chester is old news.” She rose from her seat. “Come over around 6-ish. I’ll make dinner for us.” She turned to her before going across the hall. “Everything’s gonna be alright, Liz.”