Betrayal (17 page)

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Authors: Fern Michaels

BOOK: Betrayal
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“Depends on the case. Your lawyer shoulda explained this to you, Mrs. Rocket.”
“Yes, thank you.” Kate hung up the phone. When she'd met James for the first time, something hadn't felt right about him. She'd had doubts. Now she wished she had listened to her gut instinct. It hadn't failed her yet, but she'd failed herself by not listening. More than anything, she had failed Alex.
Chapter 19
R
oy Black explained over the telephone all the reasons he couldn't take Alex's case. He recommended another attorney in Naples, Coleman Fitzpatrick. Kate clicked with him immediately. He assured her he would arrange for a visit with Alex, then he wanted her to relax. He said she should've known beforehand what would happen if Alex was convicted, telling her it was always a possibility. She felt as though she could trust him.
While waiting for Coleman to arrange a visit, Kate occupied herself with cleaning the house she'd lived in for the past few weeks.
She scrubbed the kitchen counters, cleaning out the refrigerator and freezer. Then she polished all the appliances, including the toaster. From there she stripped the sheets off the bed she'd slept in and tossed them into the washing machine. She swept and mopped the tile floors and vacuumed the rest of the house. When she attacked both bathrooms, she scoured shower tiles that didn't need it and tubs that hadn't even been used. After she finished, she took a long soak in the Jacuzzi tub she'd just cleaned.
She knew she needed to call Gertie before she heard the verdict on television, but she'd put it off. Saying this aloud would only make the situation more real. Thank God Alex had the good sense to arrange their finances in such a way that she needn't worry. Gertie would take care of everything. The dogs were in the best of hands, so Kate could concentrate on helping Alex get a new trial, getting him released. She didn't know what to expect at this point. She sure as hell wouldn't sit idly by and allow Coleman Fitzpatrick to make any decisions without consulting her first. She would send a letter to the American Bar Association. James had duped them into believing Alex wouldn't go to prison. Kate sure as hell wasn't going to let another life-altering mistake slip past her.
The phone rang, and she jumped out of the tub to answer it.
“Can you be at the jail in an hour?” Coleman asked.
“Of course.”
“I'll meet you in the main building. I'll be wearing beige slacks and a blue polo shirt.”
Kate was glad he'd thought to tell her what he'd be wearing. She wouldn't have been able to pick him out of a crowd of three since they'd only spoken on the phone.
“I'll find you. Thanks, Mr. Fitzpatrick.”
“Sure thing, Mrs. Rocket.”
“Coleman?”
“Yes?”
“Call me Kate.” For the first time in weeks, Kate felt like smiling. She hung up the phone and dressed as quickly as possible in navy pants and a red and white striped blouse. She looked like a sailor. She didn't care. All that mattered was Alex. She was going to see him. He'd meet Coleman, and they'd simply have to start from square one.
When Kate arrived at the jail, reporters were still scattered about the parking lot. Court TV's crew had set up a temporary soundstage on the front lawn. She wished she had remembered to wear sunglasses or a hat. Her auburn hair stood out like a black eye. She swerved into the left lane, driving away from the jailhouse.
She parked the Mercedes three blocks away in a Publix parking lot. She'd walk the rest of the way.
Fifteen minutes later she slipped inside the building without being noticed. She gave herself a mental pat on the back.
True to his word, Coleman Fitzpatrick waited discreetly in the main lobby.
Kate hurried over to him. “I can't thank you enough for what you've done.”
Coleman shook her hand. “All in a day's work, Kate. Now let's get out of this lobby before those vultures figure out you're here. I've already made the necessary preparations for your visit with your husband. You'll have to show your identification and go through a screening. This is normal and shouldn't take more than five minutes. Follow me.”
Kate was impressed. He'd accomplished more in a few hours than James would have in a week. She followed him through a maze of institutional hallways. They rounded a corner and were stopped by a deputy. He ran a wand over them before allowing them to continue down the next hall. They walked a few feet and were greeted by another deputy seated behind a glass wall. “I'll need to see your IDs, please.”
Kate removed her license from her wallet and slid it beneath the glass on a metal tray. A visitor's badge was returned to her along with her license. Coleman did the same. A loud click opened a door to the side of the glassed-in office area. Another deputy led them down more hallways. He took a ring of keys from his belt, inserted one into a lock. He opened a heavy steel door. Seated in what looked like a cage was Alex. Glass and wire separated them. Alex sat on a small stool. A countertop was in front of him and an old-style telephone was placed on the wall to his left. Tears clouded her vision. Alex looked terrible. He wore the orange jumpsuit and black flip-flops.
Kate sat across from him and picked up the telephone to her right. “Oh Alex!” She splayed her left hand on the glass. He followed suit.
“This is bad, huh?” Alex joked.
“Yeah. I am shocked, Alex. I want to shoot James Conroy good and dead.”
“Mrs. Rocket, careful what you say. Your every word is being monitored,” Coleman said as he stood behind her.
“Sorry. I can't help it. Has he been here since the verdict?”
Alex shook his head, then remembered to speak into the phone. “No, he hasn't. I'm sure he has some paperwork to take care of. Remember, Kate, he doesn't have his staff here to assist him. He's working out of his car and a hotel room. I wouldn't be too hard on the guy.”
Leave it to Alex to see the positive side of a tragic situation.
“I don't care if he's working out of the White House with the president to assist him! He didn't provide an adequate defense. He never did anything like an effective cross-examination on Sara. He knew that she trashed the studio, that on that same day she told Emily and you that she didn't want to go when you went to meet the Taylors. You were with Emily or the Taylors the entire time before the police arrived to investigate the destruction of my work in the studio. So there was no way in hell that you could have molested her when she says you did. And that's the most recent incident she described, the one she was most likely to remember the details of, so she couldn't have been molested when she says she was. How could we not have noticed that he wasn't providing you with anything like an adequate defense? Do you think he was in cahoots with the Winters or something? He should be disbarred. If I have anything to say about it, he will. The bastard.”
“Getting pissed at this stage isn't going to help, Kate. You know that. I'm as shocked as you are, I was sure I'd be helping you pack up. I never imagined it would come down to this.”
Alex had aged ten years since the verdict. Bags sagged beneath his eyes, and Kate swore she saw a dozen new creases around the corners of his eyes.
“I've hired a new attorney, Coleman Fitzpatrick.” Kate motioned for Coleman to step up and take the phone she held out. He stooped to Alex's eye level.
“I can't say I'm glad to meet you, but I guess I am. What do you think the chances are of cleaning up this mess?” Alex asked.
“We're going to take one step at a time. First, I want you to understand that I won't make you any promises on the outcome. I might be able to get a new trial, I might not. I might try to reduce the sentence, but whatever I do, I won't lie to you or lead you to believe there is hope when there isn't. Right now, the best I could do was finagle this visit. I'll need a few days to get the transcript of your trial. I doubt it's even been typed up yet. From there, I'll see what choices we have. For now, I'm afraid you're going to have to go through the system as ordered. It's not going to be easy, but anything worthwhile never is. Roy Black called and told me everything he knew. What I'll want to do at some point is go over every statement you made to the authorities, everything the Winter girl said. This might take some time, but that's the downside of worthwhile.”
Resigned, Alex said, “I appreciate your honesty. So I'm gonna be here a while.”
“I'm afraid so. You're going to Orlando's reception center. I checked. You won't be allowed visits, except from me. I can communicate for Mrs. Rocket if needed. She can write letters to you, and you'll be allowed to answer them. That's where we are now. I'll let you have a few more minutes with your wife. Visit's about timed out.” Coleman gave the phone back to Kate.
“We'll get through this, Alex. I want you to focus on you, don't let this temporary setback worry you. I can take care of myself. I have Gertie if I need her. She'll come and stay with me if I ask her to. I'm going to look for an apartment here in Florida. I'll go to Orlando; that way we'll be close to one another.”
“Kate, I don't want you moving to Florida, I don't care how temporary the situation. You go back to Asheville where you belong. You can write letters just as easily from there as you could in Florida. I mean this, Kate. I don't want you living here alone. Hell, I don't want you in the same state as the Winters. Who knows what they might do next? I won't take no for an answer on this. I hate to sound like a bastard, but I insist you go home.”
“Alex! I don't want to leave you here,” Kate cried. “This isn't how it's supposed to be!”
“I don't want to be here either, trust me. But this is what we've been dealt. We have to take the punches as they come. Coleman seems to know the ropes. If I can hang tight for a few months, you can, too. Please, Kate, do this for me?”
She nodded. How could she not? It was her Alex locked behind these walls, not her. If he wanted her to go home, she would go even though it broke her heart. She felt like she was leaving him to rot in jail.
Sara and her parents should be there.
They
lied,
they
broke the law. Someday, Kate would exact her revenge. For now, she'd live one day at a time.
“Of course, Alex. I'll do anything you ask. I love you.”
Alex splayed his hand on the glass. She matched her palm to his.
“I love you, too. Always, Kate. No matter what happens, remember that.”
“I will, Alex. I promise.”
Chapter 20
Asheville, North Carolina
Three months later ...
 
F
or the first time since her return home, Kate was excited. She was leaving for Florida later in the day. Alex had been sent to Dade Correctional Center in Florida, close to Miami. She'd reserved a hotel for the upcoming weekend. She would be permitted to see Alex both Saturday and Sunday for a full eight hours each day. Coleman had called her the night before with the good news.
Gertie, ever the trouper, continued to care for the dogs, though she hadn't bred any new pups. She told Kate they'd wait for Alex to come home. Kate agreed, telling her it was something for them to look forward to.
She'd been as outraged as Kate when Kate told her the verdict. They spent a few evenings together drinking away their sorrows, then Gertie went back to her cottage. She didn't leave, except to feed the dogs. Kate spent most of her days writing letters to Alex. She told him everything was fine, when in reality, it wasn't. She'd left Chloe's for good. She hadn't been inside her studio since the day she'd cleaned up after Sara's vandalism. She ate when she could no longer stand the pain in her stomach. She drank at least a bottle of wine daily. She'd let herself go. Her clothes hung on her. Her cheekbones jutted out in sharp angles. She couldn't recall the last time she'd shaved her legs. There was no reason to. Alex was gone, and she was miserable. She never let on in her letters, but now she would see him face-to-face. He'd know she wasn't happy. She'd promise him that she'd be happy when he came home. Until then, she was only existing.
She asked Gertie to come along. A few weeks ago, she'd hired a young girl to help out at the kennels. Kate was sure Lauren would be fine if left alone for a weekend. Gertie wouldn't hear of it. She'd insisted Kate go alone, telling her that she and Alex needed as much time by themselves as possible. Kate silently agreed, but hadn't wanted to hurt Gertie's feelings by not including her in the invitation.
She'd hired a limo to drive her to the airport. She was flying commercial. She didn't think she could bear to see the looks of pity on the faces of Joe and his flight crew. Later, when Alex came home, she'd rent the private plane. Until then, she didn't want to explain anything to anyone.
Kate heard the limo as it pulled into the driveway. She turned off the lights in the house, set the alarm that Alex insisted she have installed since he wasn't there, and took her luggage outside.
The driver put her bag in the trunk, opened the rear passenger door, and waited until she was buckled in before he closed it. Impersonal and efficient. Just what she wanted. No small talk or polite conversation. Get her to the airport in time for her flight to Miami, and she would be a happy camper.
Kate arrived at the airport in time to catch her flight. She slept, knowing she needed to do whatever she could to lessen the dark circles beneath her eyes. Three hours later she was at the Hertz kiosk picking up her car. With instructions to the hotel in her purse, she found the Ford Taurus in the assigned parking slot. She drove to her hotel.
After a shower, Kate took a long nap. She dreamed of Alex. Sara was living with her while Alex served his term. Sara kept telling Kate that she'd lied because her mother asked her to. She said she was sorry. She begged Kate to let her go to the authorities with the truth. Kate kept telling her what was done was done.
What was done was done. What was done was done.
She bolted upright in the bed. It was pitch-black in the room. For a moment Kate forgot where she was. Then she remembered. She was going to see Alex in the morning. She'd had a nightmare, that was all. Tossing the covers aside, she went to the minibar. Two small bottles of Chablis later, she went back to sleep. This time there were no dark dreams. Just pure, deep sleep.
At six in the morning, Kate woke refreshed, without the slightest bit of a headache. Wine usually gave her a nasty hangover, but she hadn't drunk all that much. She showered, then shaved her legs for the second time in twenty-four hours. She blew her hair dry and applied cover stick to hide the dark circles. Mascara, blush, and a swipe of coral lipstick. Coleman told her there was a strict dress code when visiting. If she didn't adhere to it, she would be turned away for the day. Not wanting to take any chances, she'd packed a pair of camel-colored slacks that were too hot for Florida weather and a long-sleeved, plain white blouse. Beneath it she wore a cream-colored T-shirt so you couldn't see any skin or bra lines. She'd sweat, but she'd do whatever she had to in order to see her husband.
She found her way to the Dade Correctional Facility without too much hassle. Once she parked in the designated visitor area, she had to walk about half a block to the entrance. She supposed this was for safety purposes; an inmate would have a distance to travel if he decided to leave through the main entrance. She couldn't imagine someone ever being that brave, but then again, she never imagined she'd be visiting Alex in a prison.
She'd been issued a number once her name was placed on Alex's visitation list. She brought the number with her. She entered what looked like a waiting room. There were dozens of other people. Young, old, male, female. Every race you could imagine. Small children raced around chasing one another. She would hate to think of a child of her own having to visit a place of this kind, but that wasn't going to happen. Some of the younger women wore skirts so short and blouses so tight, Kate thought it a miracle they could move. If the dress code was as strict as Coleman said, then these gals were in for a surprise.
A few minutes later Kate heard her name called. She went to the officer at the visitors' desk. She showed her ID, and they searched her purse. Once she went through this, she was sent to another room, where there weren't that many people waiting. This was the clearance room. Kate supposed they were checking to make sure she was a true, bona-fide registered visitor. Another few minutes passed. She was escorted into an area that looked like a ten-by-twelve steel room. She was told she would have to undergo a body search, but she hadn't realized to what extent. The female guard was brisk and efficient as she felt Kate's legs, up and down. She was frisked, then told to walk through a scanner. When no alarms sounded, Kate was allowed to go to the visitation center. This reminded her of the cafeteria in high school. A large square room with long tables and metal folding chairs. Thank God there would be no glass to separate them. In her instructions she learned she was allowed to hug Alex upon entering. Afterward, however, there would be no touching allowed. If a guard saw any, she would be asked to leave, and her next visitation would be canceled. It was almost like she was a prisoner. Kate figured they housed some hard-core killers. Coleman told her to be careful and obey the rules no matter how she felt about them. After going through the process, she knew she wouldn't have any troubles. She would follow the rules to the letter. She would take no chances if violating the rules meant losing what little time she had with Alex.
She sat at the end of one of the long tables. About when she started to wonder where her husband was, she saw him enter the room. His hands and legs were shackled. A guard removed the metal bondage, and Alex walked over to the table.
Kate felt tears fill her eyes. She didn't care. She was with Alex. He walked to her side of the table and took her in his arms. Kate clung to him. She didn't want to let go, but after what seemed too short a time, Alex backed out of their embrace. He'd lost at least thirty pounds. He was too thin. His skin looked yellow, like he was jaundiced.
“I've missed you so much,” Kate whispered through her tears.
“Let's sit down. The guards are watching us.” Alex's first words to Kate in three months.
She did as instructed. “God, Alex this place is terrible! I can't imagine how you get through each day.” When the words were out, Kate wished she could have taken them back. It was terrible of her to say that to Alex. He needed her support, not her criticism.
“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that.”
He smiled at her, and all was right with the world. “It was my first reaction, too. Surprisingly, it's not as bad as it looks. It's not home, but the guards are decent. The food leaves a lot to be desired, but I didn't expect I'd be eating Chloe-quality food. I'm handling it, Kate, that's about all I can say.”
“I'm glad. Not that I'm glad you're here, just that you're able to handle the place. I guess it could be worse.” She didn't see how, but didn't dare say the words aloud.
“Have you spoken with Coleman? Anything new?” Alex asked.
“He called to tell me about the visitation. There was no news about your case, Alex. I am so sorry. He only recently got a copy of the trial transcript. What should've taken a few days stretched into a few months. He told me as soon as he had something worth reporting, he'd come and tell you himself. I trust him Alex. It's the system that I don't trust. You were railroaded, bamboozled, and screwed any way you look at it.”
“True. But it isn't the system that screwed me, Kate. It was Sara and her parents. If they had a shred of decency in them, they would've come to me in private. They could've told me what Sara was saying. I think we could have worked this out. If I'd had a chance to talk to the kid, I think she would've told the truth. I'm beginning to believe it was just like you said. I think Debbie encouraged her. Once Sara saw the attention she was getting, I think she went off the deep end. I've had a lot of time to think about this. I really believe they're in it for the civil suit. Has that been filed, or do you know?”
“Coleman said it hadn't, but that wasn't unusual. It may take a few more months, for whatever reason. They can't touch us; remember, Gertie has control of everything.”
“How is that old gal? I thought she might come along. I had her name put on my visitation list.”
“I asked her to come. She insisted she had to stay with the dogs. She's hired a helper. Her name is Lauren. She looks like a fashion model. Lean, leggy, and blond. Says she wants to be a veterinarian. She's really good with the dogs, and Gertie can't stop talking about her, so I think she'll be around for a while. Gertie said to tell you she's not breeding any of the pups until you're home.”
“You tell Gertie I said to get her ass in gear and start breeding the dogs. I've still got families on a waiting list. We don't know when or if I'm coming home anytime in the near future. Life goes on, Kate. I don't want you or Gertie to wait for me. Tell her to start breeding or I will kick her old ass if I ever do get out of this place. Your parents would flip over in their graves if the kennel were to close down. I made a promise to them, and I'll keep it, Kate.”
“She just wanted to wait for you. She knows there's a waiting list. I'll tell her to hop to it. Now, tell me how you pass your days while you're here.” Kate wanted to talk about something else. She couldn't bear to think of the kennels without Alex.
“They're not very exciting, but it's not as bad as the holding center in Orlando. At least here, we have a bit more freedom. There's a library. I've read every John Grisham book there is. I'm working on another Stephen King now. I never realized just how brilliant he is. You should read his books, the guy has one hell of an imagination. When I'm not reading, I work out. They have a gym. It's not state-of-the-art, but it's better than nothing. A few of the guys here are actually quite decent. They've been screwed, too. It makes me wonder about the justice system, Kate. I realize that Sara was behind all this, but what does it say when a system allows innocent men to rot in jail because they just happened to be the unlucky bastards who were actually innocent, but in the wrong place at the wrong time? Brad and Ron, two of my cellmates, were charged with possession. Neither of them ever took drugs in his life. Then all of a sudden Brad gets divorced, his wife starts dating a cop. Brad thinks the cop is abusing their seven-year-old daughter. Next thing he knows, he's charged with possession of cocaine, and, boom, he's in prison. Same thing with Ron, but no wife involved. A business associate screwed him out of a large sum of money. When he filed a suit in small claims court, the dude lost the case. Again Ron was pulled over on a bogus traffic stop. The officer found heroin in his trunk. That arresting officer just so happened to be the brother-in-law of the business associate.”
Kate had watched too many episodes of
Law & Order
. All convicts claimed they were innocent. All had been framed or screwed in one way or another. She'd let Alex continue to believe in his cellmates' innocence. He didn't have many friends right now. He needed someone to confide in while he was in prison.
“Then I hope the persons responsible for planting the drugs get caught. If they're police officers, this certainly wouldn't be a good place to wind up.”
“You can say that again. Ron told me a few months before I got here a former cop was killed. He didn't say what he was in for. Apparently some of the guys didn't like his attitude, and they killed him. So, no, I would say a cop's as good as dead once he's inside.”
Kate was horrified at the ease with which Alex had adjusted to prison. He spoke as if he'd been there for a long time.

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