AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Cardozo? Cardozo?”
Kaj blinked, his boss’s voice cutting through his fear and self-recrimination. He refocused on his screen, where Reuben Hogan’s face wore a worried frown. “Sorry.”
“What happened?” Hogan demanded. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“We have visitors.”
“Go. Check on Elijah.”
Kaj shook his head. “I can hear him.” The sound of his son’s laughter was more of a balm than any of his own self-talk. “He’s with his bodyguard.”
Hogan’s brows rose in surprise. “You hired a bodyguard?”
“I did.”
Hogan’s surprise turned into a frown. “But... You’re no longer on the case. You no longer have any power over Aaron Gates. Why do you need a bodyguard?”
Kaj shook his head, happy that he’d talked this out with Val. He’d been recused, exactly as he’d expected. “Because NOPD hasn’t picked up Rick Gates yet and we’re still not sure who was actually behind the abduction. If it was Sixth Day, I can’t afford to assume that they’ll immediately back down. And because my son can’t sleep and his health is being impacted.” That was the argument that seemed to do it for Hogan, who was now nodding. “I’ll keep the bodyguard for a week and then revisit.”
“I’d likely do the same thing.” Hogan hesitated. “You do know that your being recused from Aaron Gates’s case has nothing to do with my confidence in your ability, right?”
“I know. It’s the right thing to do. Every time I think of Aaron Gates, I get so angry.”
“Understandable.”
“I keep thinking that I want to see him punished for putting his hands on my child and then I have to remember that it wasn’t Aaron. It was Rick, even though Aaron could have orchestrated it from jail. So as much as I hate losing the opportunity to meet him in court, it’s just too personal for me now.”
“Not sure that Aaron is capable of orchestrating anything right now,” Hogan said. “He’s barely coherent. Still detoxing.”
“What about Dewey Talley? Has NOPD found anything on him?”
“Nothing yet, but NOPD says that they have a few leads. They’ve ramped up the search for Talley and his distribution network. Nobody’s quite sure how big it is right now, but it’s a top priority. I’ll keep you up to speed as much as I can. You’re recused, but you have the same right to information as any other victim. If it’s any consolation, I’m taking Aaron’s case myself.”
Kaj was relieved. “It is, yes. Thank you.” Hogan wasn’t married and didn’t have children. The man was married to his job, so there wasn’t anyone else in his life who could become a Sixth Day target. “Should I swap one of your cases?”
He and Hogan had been up to their ears in new cases, as the other prosecutors were occupied with fixing what Hogan called “a right mess.” They’d recently learned that one of their prosecutors had been guilty of gross impropriety, and all the man’s cases were under review.
“Probably,” Hogan said, “but we can discuss that when you’re back in the office. You still have the Doyle/Butler case, after all. Is Miss Butler ready?”
The case against Trevor Doyle for rape was far from a slam dunk, but Bella Butler made a very compelling witness. “We start voir dire on Monday. And Miss Butler is about as ready as she’s ever going to be.”
“I hate he-said-she-said cases,” Hogan grumbled, “but I think you’ve got a good shot at putting him away.”
“I hope so.” Listening to rape victims’ stories was always difficult. Bella’s had been no different. “Doyle is slimy.”
“I agree. Go on, now. Spend time with your son. And let me know sooner rather than later if you need to take a more extended leave. If I need to take the Doyle/Butler case, I’ll need time to prep with your second chair. Will I see you in the office tomorrow?”
Kaj hadn’t thought that his boss would take over the Doyle trial, but it made sense. It would be heavily covered by the media, and his second chair, while an excellent attorney, wasn’t accustomed to a trial with this level of exposure. Hogan was a better choice.
Kaj felt better just knowing that was the backup plan. “I don’t think I’ll be coming into the office this week, but I’ll be available for conference calls if anything comes up.”
“I thought as much. Call if you need me.” Hogan gave him a small salute before ending the call.
Kaj leaned back in his chair, trying to clear his mind. If Hogan was worried that he’d have to bail on the Doyle/Butler case, Bella Butler must be nervous as well.
Kaj picked up the phone and dialed the woman’s number.
“This is Miss Butler’s office,” a crisp voice informed him.
