The kingmakers redemptio.., p.19
The Kingmaker's Redemption, page 19
“Sam, I know all of this must be putting a terrible strain on the two of you. Obviously, I can’t help directly, but if you need some help with Maya’s care, I’ll gladly provide financial support. The same goes for Sandy. Whatever she needs—”
“Don’t worry about any of it, Jack. We’ve got all of it under control. We need to work together and ask the attorneys to see if they can get the court to at least let you talk to Maya by phone. Will you work on it with your attorney?”
“Of course. You can’t imagine how much I miss her and would love to hear her voice. I can only imagine how sad she must be. I have asked my attorney to try to set up a call, but I’ll ask him again and emphasize just how much more important it is now. Oh, and Sam, we are all so lucky to have you and Diane looking out for us.” Jack’s voice cracked. Tears were running down his face as he said goodbye to Sam.
He pulled into Mickey’s driveway, turned off the ignition, and sat alone in his car for several minutes feeling sorry for himself. Finally, his moment of self-pity over, he got out of the car and marched into the house intent on turning things around.
But when he stepped inside, he found Mickey on the floor barely breathing with Molly at his side whimpering as only a loving dog could.
“Mickey!” he shouted as he knelt next to him. He quickly called 9-1-1 and gave the operator the needed information. While they waited, he comforted Mickey and Molly until help arrived. He held his friend’s hand and told him that everything was going to be all right.
The paramedics were there within a couple of minutes and tended to Mickey. He was conscious but struggling to breathe. Jack held his hand. “You’re going to be all right, Mickey,” he said. Mickey looked up and winked but was too weak to speak. The paramedics put an oxygen mask over Mickey’s nose then loaded him into the ambulance and took off for Memorial Hospital.
“I’m following right behind,” Jack yelled. “I’ll see you at the hospital!”
Jack quickly took care of Molly then texted Miles before heading to the hospital. On the way, he called Bobbie.
“Forget something, Jack?” she said.
“Your father has had some kind of an attack, from his COPD I think, and the paramedics have transported him to Memorial. I’m on my way there now.” Jack tried not to sound panicked, although he most certainly was.
“Is he going to be all right?”
“I don’t know, but if I were you, I’d get over there immediately to see him.” The tone of Jack’s voice convinced her of the gravity of the situation.
“I’ll leave as soon as we hang up. Please call me on my cell if anything changes, good or bad.”
“Will do.” Jack had finally convinced Bobbie to see her father. Hopefully, it wasn’t too late.
His whole world was crumbling, and Jack felt powerless to stop it.
CHAPTER 33
Jack and Miles were chatting in the waiting room of the ER when Bobbie arrived.
“Hi, Bobbie.” Jack tried his best to sound calm.
“Any news?” she said.
“Nothing yet. Since we’re not family, they’re not forthcoming with information or letting us see him. You will need to get through the nurse at the desk. She’s the gatekeeper.”
With that, Bobbie sprang into action. She approached the nurse behind the desk and politely, but firmly, announced her presence. Bobbie’s growing impatience was apparent, but she held it together. Handing the nurse her driver’s license, she asked, “Now may I see my father?”
“I’ll check with attending staff to see if he’s in treatment or can have a visitor.” The nurse got up and disappeared behind a doorway.
Jack saw Bobbie motion for him to join her at the desk. To his surprise, she wrapped her arms tightly around him in an embrace. He could feel she was trembling.
“Jack, he can’t die. Not now. There is so much we need to say to each other.”
“I know, and you will,” Jack said, continuing the embrace.
The nurse reappeared and asked Bobbie to follow her into the examination area. She exchanged a hopeful smile with Jack, and then disappeared through the door.
Jack returned to his seat next to Miles, embarrassed at how much he had enjoyed holding Bobbie. Miles smiled as if he knew what Jack was feeling.
Mickey was still being treated in the triage area of the ER. The attending physician came out to speak to Bobbie before allowing her to see her father.
“Your father has an advanced case of COPD. Do you know what that is?” she asked.
“I do.”
“He’s had a major flare up of the disease, similar to an acute asthma attack. He’s going to be OK once we get it all settled down, but this disease only gets worse. You can see him now.”
As they entered, the doctor said, “Mr. Martin, your daughter’s here.”
Mickey was barely able to lift his head, but broke out into a broad smile, tears flowing freely down his face.
“Hi, Dad” was all Bobbie could muster. Unable to speak with the oxygen mask on, Mickey simply held out his hand. She took it in hers, signaling she was warming to the idea of starting anew.
She sat with him in silence for a short while before the attendants came in to move him from the ER to the intensive care unit. They gave her the room number and told her she could rejoin him there but to allow about an hour for the staff to get him situated.
Jack and Miles were reading magazines in the ER lobby when Bobbie returned.
“How’s he doing?” Miles asked.
“He has a bad case of COPD, but I’m sure you knew that. This was a big-time attack. He’s stable and they’re moving him to intensive care. Once they get him settled, I’ll go up there to be with him. Once I get the lay of the land, I’ll let you know about visiting him. I assume it’ll be awhile.”
“In that case, Miles and I will go back to Mickey’s to attend to the dog. On the way back, we could stop and pick you up something to eat if you’d like.”
“Thanks, but I’m not hungry. You should get something for yourselves though.”
“I like that idea, I’m starved,” Miles interjected.
“OK, we’re off then. Don’t worry, Mickey’s tough as nails,” Jack said in parting.
Bobbie smiled half-heartedly and headed off to see her father.
As they got into the car, Miles chuckled. “Do you two have something happening?”
Jack blushed. “Maybe something at some point, but not now.” Given Mickey’s illness and his pending trial, Jack thought he should put any romantic thoughts about Bobbie aside for the time being, but he couldn’t help himself. He was smitten.
Miles and Jack stopped by Sammy’s Deli to pick up some provisions on the way back to Mickey’s. When they got back, Miles took Molly for a walk. Jack took the opportunity to check his phone for emails and missed calls. The emails were mostly ones trying to loan him money or sell him things he didn’t need. The only missed call and voicemail was from Steven. He played the message.
“Jack, good news! It looks like the judge will allow you to have a supervised phone call with Maya. I’ll work out the details with the authorities as soon as possible and be back to you.”
Maybe, just maybe, things will actually start turning around in a positive way, he thought.
Jack poked his head into Mickey’s room and saw Bobbie had fallen asleep in the chair next to Mickey’s bed. She was awakened by a nurse who was helping him sit up. The oxygen mask that had covered his face had been replaced with a smaller one, which was just a tube with two small hose nozzles that fit under his nose. Jack stayed long enough to overhear their brief conversation.
“Hi,” he said in labored speech.
“Hi, Dad. How are you feeling?”
“Better, now that you’re here. I’m sorry …” He broke down.
Bobbie gently touched his hand. “We both have apologies to make. We’ll get to them later. I’m here now. Let’s focus on your recovery. Once you’re feeling better and home, we can go into all that.” With every word she spoke, Mickey’s eyes brightened.
“Deal,” he declared, and soon after, he fell asleep.
It was apparent to Jack that Bobbie had realized the time had come for her to begin her long overdue reconciliation with her father. A step she was finally willing to undertake. Given his condition, they would have plenty of one-on-one time together to figure out their path forward, he thought.
CHAPTER 34
Ted Erickson had a habit of poking his head in Faye’s office when she was at her busiest. She only had three weeks before the trial.
“How are the cases coming together?” Ted asked.
Faye shuffled a few files on her desk and barely looked at him. “Lots to do! All but the McKay case are ironclad. Lots of evidence, multiple infractions, corroboration, the whole nine yards—”
“Take a breath,” Ted said as he stepped into her office. She paused for a moment. She could only imagine how frantic she must look.
In a slower pace, she said, “In the McKay case, all we have is stuff downloaded onto his personal computer and some pictures in a folder in his desk drawer. We’re likely going to need something more substantial to get a conviction.”
Ted sighed. “You better find something or we’re in a pickle. If we don’t have enough for a conviction, he walks, but a prominent citizen has had his reputation and career ruined and we’re to blame. We cannot lose this one now that we’ve charged it. Get on the phone with the folks at DOJ. They brought the case to us, so they need to help us wrap it up.”
“I’ll do that right now,” Faye promised as Ted headed out the door.
She sat back in a huff. Her desk was piled with files, and she was shaking from her third cup of coffee. Focus, she chided herself. With a shaky hand, she called the DOJ. A half hour later, she was on a conference call with Obregon and Harris. She shared her concern about not having more corroborative evidence, and if that was the case, Jack McKay may be acquitted. They got the message and promised to see what else, if anything, their investigators could come up with.
The call to Maya was made from Steven’s conference room with a court-approved social worker sitting in. Jack sat there feeling irritated that this was how he had to talk to his daughter but also grateful that he would hear her voice.
Sam answered the phone.
Trying to sound cheery, Jack opened with, “Hi, Sam. How are you?”
“Fine, Jack. How are things going for you?”
“As well as can be expected. Particularly, since the court has approved my calling Maya. Any word on Sandy’s progress?”
“Nothing yet. I’ll get Maya.” Sam was obviously not up to discussing Sandy’s situation with Maya within earshot.
“Hello,” Maya said in a hesitant voice.
“Hi, Maya. It’s Daddy. How are you?”
“Daddy, when are you coming home?” Maya asked in her whiniest voice.
“Soon, honey. I still have work to do.” It was true, considering how much work it would take to get acquitted.
“Mommy’s gone too. Grandma says Mommy is sick and had to go to a hospital where I can’t see her.”
“I know, and I’m sure she’ll be home soon. Are you having fun with Grandma and Grandpa?” Jack tried his best to change the subject.
“Yes, I guess so,” Maya whined.
She and Jack chatted for a few more minutes. When they ran out of small talk, Jack finished with, “I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you too, Daddy.”
The call ended. Jack felt sadder than he did before the phone call. He thanked Steven and left.
The ride back to Mickey’s was a blur. He had to feed Molly and then go to the hospital to visit Mickey. After the call with Maya, Jack reflected on all that had happened to his family. He thought about his honeymoon with Sandy. How they walked hand in hand down the Malecón in Puerto Vallarta, eating tacos from street-side carts, how they made love on the balcony of their seaside hotel room. He recalled the excitement when he found out Sandy was pregnant, the joy when Maya was born, and what a wonderful child she had turned out to be. Now all that was shattered.
It took a while, but Jack collected himself and headed off to the hospital. When he got to the room, Mickey was holding court. In attendance along with Bobbie and Miles was Carl Rafferty.
“Quite an entourage, Mickey. Lucky for you the hospital doesn’t charge by the number of visitors you have.”
“Lucky for you that you have such an esteemed group working to save your ass.” Mickey, who was obviously feeling much better, loved sarcastic repartee.
“So where are we?” Jack asked.
Bobbie took over the proceedings. “For starters, I’ve asked Carl to join our team until your case is resolved. He’ll be invaluable. Particularly in the courtroom. Miles has more information on the call made to the janitorial service and the download log from the McKay & Associates network server.”
Miles took over. “According to the phone system log, the call to the janitorial service’s number was made from the office conference room at 5:23 p.m. on March thirteenth. It matches the information we had previously. Also, on that same night, the network internet server log shows there was a substantial download made to your workstation from a site on the dark web. Turns out—drumroll please—it’s a porn site. This all ties together perfectly. Unfortunately, nothing in this establishes who canceled the janitorial service or who initiated the download.”
“I won’t even ask how you came by all that information,” Carl interjected.
“Good idea,” Miles said with a chuckle.
“I suppose the same person, or an accomplice, could have placed the pictures they found in my desk drawer.” Jack surmised.
“Of course,” Mickey added. “Bobbie will find out if there were any fingerprints on those pictures at discovery.”
“I’ll also have to share the information Miles has uncovered during discovery, assuming they don’t already have it,” Bobbie conceded.
“So what’s next? Do we simply wait to see what evidence the prosecution has?” Jack was impatient to find some evidence that would establish his innocence.
They discussed, at length, the names and possible motives of others at the firm who might have been accessories to the crime, how the Party—assuming they were behind all of this—became aware of the DOJ Task Force investigation, and then devised their plot to bring Jack down and Lindsay’s campaign with him.
There were obviously a lot of moving parts and people involved, so a trail of clues inevitably was out there. They just had to find that trail in the short time left before the trial.
“Peter Evans,” Peter said picking up his office phone.
“Peter, it’s Drew Tucker. The executive committee has agreed to continue with McKay & Associates, provided Jack remains on leave from the firm. However, if he’s convicted, we’re done with your firm. At least as it’s presently configured.”
“So if Jack were to be convicted, we’d have to reestablish ourselves as a different entity to maintain your business.”
“Yes. But I’m sure you’d have to do that anyway, wouldn’t you? Besides, it would let you back into Randall Davies’s good graces as well.” Drew was showing Peter his path to future prosperity, and he was very grateful.
“Makes total sense. Thanks for the encouragement and guidance, Drew.”
“You’re welcome. Keep moving on our collaboration with PetroMark. It’s a top priority around here.”
“We will and thanks again.”
Excited, Peter called Carol Meyers into his office.
“I just hung up with Drew Tucker. He gave us a vote of confidence and a path to maintain their business if Jack should be convicted.”
“That’s amazing. Things couldn’t have fallen better for us under the circumstances.”
“Agreed. Now let’s redouble our efforts on finalizing the Consolidated-PetroMark marketing plan. The sooner we get it moving, the sooner we get the revenue stream flowing.”
Mickey had been released from the hospital and was resting back at the house. Jack sat at his bedside. After some “can I get you anything?” small talk, the subject turned to the future.
“Listen, Jack. We both know my time is short.”
“Stop it!”
“No. We have to talk about this stuff. I’m leaving the house to Bobbie, of course, but I want you to make sure Molly is properly taken care of. Maybe Maya will want her.”
“With Sandy’s situation in flux, we’ll have to see. Regardless, I promise Molly will have a good home. Speaking of homes, Bobbie lives in Madison, so I guess you’re leaving it to her to sell.”
“Probably true, but it’s the only thing of real value I have to leave her. My pension and Social Security payments leave with me. Hopefully she’ll invest the proceeds from the house wisely and have some security down the road. Besides, this is her childhood home. She should have the right to do with it as she pleases.”
“Of course,” said Jack, changing the subject. “Enough future planning. What would you like for lunch?”
“Haute cuisine. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich accompanied by potato chips. Your specialty.”
“Yum!” Jack replied as he headed to the kitchen. Walking away, he considered how empty his life would be without Mickey. He also wondered just how much his relationship with Maya would be altered. Both scenarios frightened and saddened him.
CHAPTER 35
Bobbie and Carl met at the courthouse steps for the discovery phase of the pre-trial. The evidence exchanged was enlightening for both sides.
In addition to several members of local law enforcement, including Bill Timmons, the forensic expert from the crime lab, and representatives of the DOJ Task Force, the prosecution’s witness list included Gil Lattimore, a forensic technology expert, and, surprisingly, Victor Forsch, owner of an adult video store on Grant Street.
