Secrets Of The Guilty [Nanowrimo 2019]

THIRTEEN*

"Judge Matthews will see you now." The man pushed up from his desk, one hand at the intercom, the other tucked under his jacket. Eli followed him, nodding her head in thanks when he opened the door for her. One of the first things that she noticed, was the light, then the photographs lining the walls and the trinkets guarding the edges of the large desk. Most of the pictures were vanity-photographs, not surprising for someone like a judge. A few with the mayor and some more while golfing. The one of Lyle Belmont struck her the hardest.

The soon to be mayor -if all goes his way- was all teeth next to the petite frame of the judge. An older picture going by the date of the band behind them. They were at a charity tournament, no less.

Then Eli noticed the women commanding the desk in the middle of the room. Dressed smartly and focused like a laser on her, staring at Eli with a smile so wide and pleasant that it almost seemed like they were old friends. She only spoke when the door clicked shut.

"Eli Marlow," she said in faint and fascinating southern lit, "a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasures actually all mine," Eli jumped forward. The excitement peppering her voice might have been a little too strong but it worked on the Judge. The petite women, moved around her desk, clutching Eli's in a tight grip. This close it was easy to see the women's age and stress level but her eyes were cheery and warm. Her hands firm.

Judge Amy Matthews didn't look like the type to grow crocked. The number of Diplomas and commemoration plaques that line the wall behind her, solidified her qualifications. Her dedication was also on the wall but the one behind Eli. Impressive and intimidating. Every surface seemed to shine and sparkle in the light flooding into the room.

"Sit. Sit. What can I do for you today? My assistant said you wanted to ask a couple of questions?"

"I do actually." Eli took the offered chair. "It might be nothing exciting but I am doing a piece of some of the best-covered stories the paper has printed over the last decade. The ones with the most reader reactions or shock value, you know? The money ones."

"And you'd like my help?" Amy frowns. She sits across Eli at her desk. Lush, high-backed leather chair that fills the open space behind her.

"Yes. One of our most buzzed-about articles was actually one of your old cases," Eli glances down at her notepad, pulling her pen down the lines slowly as if looking for the written name. "The Gemwell Docks case. I have a standard list of questions here I'd love to ask you."

Amy leans back in her chair. The warm expression souring around the edges, before being covered up by a look of welcome. Her poker face-covering any tell that Amy might have.

"I'll see how much I can answer. I can't comment on certain things."

"Of course. All my questions are boring and all we want at the paper is to get a better understanding of the impact and dedication that goes on after the news story hit the public." Eli cleared her through, flipping through the small notebook again. Pulling her lips to the side before speaking. "I worked on the original article but the crimes division took over most of the follow-up."

That lie seemed to settle Amy. She leaned forward, pulling her elbows up to the edge of the desk. Her creme blouse almost sparkles in the bright natural light corner offices seem to have in abundance. Her eyes catching on the picture of Lyle again for just a second before she looks back at Amy. The amount of glass in the room is distracting enough with the glare and shine.

"My first question is about you're reputation painted a picture back then about a no-nonsense approach to the murders that took place at the docks. Can you tell me if you feel your opinion has changed regarding the profession of the women?"

"Absolutely not. Everyone is entitled to a proper investigation with the best teams suited for each type of crime. It was terrible what happened and the professions those women had shouldn't have been relevant to their representation."

"You said, just now, best team available. Do you believe that the detectives on the case were or are the best of the best?"

"For this case specifically I do. I found that the CCPD handled everything delicately and gave each person involved the same level of care and determination."

"I have here that the detectives on the case were Hatley and-"

"Roughen," she supplied. The investigation and subsequent trial were covered under a publication ban almost two months in. The official reason was the obstruction was the delicacy of the case. So, Eli made the best guess she had with the first detective, and now she had them both.

"He was involved with the Fenton hostages negations, wasn't he? Actually, wasn't Fenton also on the Gemwell docks trial?" Eli had played the recording back a dozen times before laying her questions out making sure to craft her questions with the right amount of pressure and sympathy. No one else knew about the dock's connection apart from the negotiations team that was with her. Which included, Roughen funny enough. That thought alone was enough to raise Eli's heart rate. "Oh, how careless of me, you two were friends. I'm sorry to bring it up."

"We were work friends who shared the occasional drink after a long trail. He was a good man. The impression he made on you must've been shocking."

"A little unusual, I admit. How about we take on something a little lighter? A part of the followup piece is about the people involved in the cases, their legacies and the impact they have on the people around them. Without going into to much detail, would you say you are as fair and honest as your reputation makes you out to be?" Amy sits back in her chair, legs crossed under the desk. A little pink dusting her cheeks.

"That's very flattering. I like to think so, I tend to do things by the book. My father was a District Attorney, he kind of instilled a straight line way of thinking. That doesn't always win me any favours or praise but the law is the law and I have to follow it, even when it isn't fair or as just as it should be."

"That's perfect. Can I quote you directly?"

Amy turns back to her, an eyebrow raised. Eli keeps eye contact, raising from her chair to shake the Judges hand. Though she kept her eyes level with Amy's, she knew her hands were twisting the finger on her middle finger, under the table before she extends the naked hand to Eli. Hands reveal emotions.

James taught her that. 

"My final question, and I'll be out of your hair. I went down to the records department to try and find the original work that I'd cited for the first article and I was told that it was all removed and sealed. I was wondering if I could get a permission file signed so I can access the microfilm? Since it was a few years ago, the department converted most of the larger files. I just need a judge to sign, I hope I'm not being to forward."

"I'd love to help however I can. I'll have my assistant send over the filed out paperwork, do you have a card?" 

11/18/19