Hadrian's Lover (34 page)

Defense attorney Faial Raboud had reluctantly agreed to a private meeting with National Prosecutor Graham Sabine, to be accompanied by Crystal Albright and her mothers. Faial judiciously chose to keep Frank Hunter and his fathers ignorant about this conference. She will reveal all to them after the fact, but emotions are running too high right now for the family—anger, hurt, and disillusionment have built voraciously into a desperate need to scapegoat Crystal Albright. The girl certainly holds her share of responsibility in this tragedy, Faial acknowledges, but she is not deserving of Dean Hunter’s severe reaction—his extreme hate for her. The man’s anger and pain have taken him beyond the realm of reason.

Scanning the meeting room while she waits, Faial notes that it is the standard issue of the conference meet and greet. Situated on the third floor of the national government’s central office building (Hadrian’s tallest building), the room has north windows that open onto the building’s roof garden. The room is filled with natural light, offering no light fixtures for after daylight hours. No sunrays ever penetrate the room, though, as the sun is always too far southeast or west for any of it to enter the building. Outside this wall-length gemstone is one of the most beautiful roof gardens Faial had ever seen. Being early July, every flower is in bloom, including the tiger lilies and the ever present wild rose. “Ahh,” Faial sighs involuntarily, there is a Brown-Eyed Susan. And another! She loves the Brown-Eyed Susan! That had been her genetic father’s nickname for her. She also notes a spray of daisies, carnations, and gladiolas.

Blinking and looking to the time display in the upper left of her eye screen, Faial sighs, this time disconcertedly. Graham Sabine is late. Sabine
is always late,
she reminds herself. Graham Sabine is not known for his punctuality. Faial believes he is tardy on purpose in an attempt to unbalance
the opposition. By leaving her to sit alone, waiting, worrying, Faial reasons, Sabine means to create tension, bringing on a state of mind he hopes will discombobulate her. This tactic never worked the last two times he tried it, so it amuses Faial that he continues to use it on her.
Who was it that said insanity is to do the same thing over and expect different results?
Even though she can’t remember the original author, the thought still makes her giggle.

Bringing her thoughts back to Frank Hunter, Faial’s jovial mood diminishes. Though unaffected by Sabine’s repetitive tactics, Faial is fully aware of the case’s complexities. Getting Frank Hunter off will not be easy. Her partner told her she was crazy to take the case, but there is more to this than a killing. Instinct compels her. The statements of Dean Hunter and Jason Warith have exposed an ugly truth about Hadrian, a truth she has tasted, felt, but prior to this case, has never been able to expose. Andrea Hodgson’s case taught her all about the ills of imposing stringent sexual preference laws on individuals. Like her client Andrea, Faial had come to believe Darya Danson dressed in drag to lure women. Though she could never prove this supposition, it had opened her eyes to the realities of imposed sexual preference. Men and women must be free to choose with whom they wish to share their bodies. If society needs law to avoid excessive procreation, so be it, but no one, Faial has come to believe, has the right to decide whom a man or a woman should love. The whole notion that incidents of rape and pedophilia will increase astronomically if heterosexuality becomes legal is sheer nonsense. Rapists and pedophiles are a class all their own. It is unfair to use their despicable behavior against normal sexual drives. Whether Hadrian’s citizens are ready to accept it or not, Faial reasons, heterosexual desires are as normal as homosexual ones.

Although she currently lacks proof to support her beliefs, the Frank Hunter case, Faial truly believes, if played right, will reveal the evidence required for much needed reforms. The fact that her client has confessed to murder doesn’t make her task any easier. Somehow, she has to get through to the boy that there is more to this case than the act of suffocation. That act, as Faial and the boy’s fathers believe, was assisted suicide, but Frank is not helping matters. Using this time alone while waiting for Sabine and the Albrights, Faial turns her mind to the seriousness of this case.

Frank Hunter’s confession is damaging. As soon as the nurse entered Todd Middleton’s room, Frank confessed. He repeated the same story to government law officials, even to National Prosecutor Graham Sabine
prior to speaking with her! When Faial finally had an opportunity to meet with her client, he uttered the exact same words again. It was like listening to a soldier spout off rank, name, and serial number: “Todd is dead. I killed him. I suffocated him with his pillow.” Even so, Faial is sure she can work around Frank Hunter’s self-damning act. Although her client is taciturn, making it hard for her to uncover motivation, she did get a lot of background information from his fathers and Jason Warith.
Jason Warith,
Faial smiles.
Now there is someone I look forward to working with.
They are like-minded with respect to Hadrian’s reeducation system, yet he is not so open-minded regarding the radical change for which she is hoping—making the heterosexual lifestyle legal. Even so, Faial feels almost akin to Jason Warith, as if she has finally encountered a kindred spirit. They may not agree on every point, but together, they can pave the way for some necessary changes to occur in Hadrian. It would help to have some founding family backing, but Faial knows that is asking too much.

Focusing her mind back on today’s meeting, Faial considers its potential ramifications; if Graham wants to meet about Crystal Albright, no doubt he knows her testimony will be damaging.
I wonder if he knows about the phone messaging? Not likely,
Faial reasons,
as that would have required the girl to expose herself.
Reaching her hand inside her coat pocket, Faial smiles as her fingers caress the thin metal. Today’s meeting will be revealing, especially if what Dean Hunter says is true—
Of course what he says is true; I have all the evidence I need right here.
She taps the phone as she considers this. The text message he judiciously saved says it all, but the evidence will be all the more effective if Faial can get the girl to admit to the truth in court.
I want to hear her say it
, Faial ruminates.
I want the court to hear the words come right out of her mouth.

As the door opens, Faial turns to see Sabine enter followed by three women, one of whom is Vice President Stiles. Sabine purposely kept Stiles’ presence from Faial, hoping to add shock value to the start of this meeting.
So
, she realizes,
he has founding family support.
Fortunately, Faial learned long ago to school her expressions. Although Faial feels the surprise Sabine intended, he is not fortunate enough to witness her distress. Faial’s face remains, as it always does when she encounters opposition, impassive. A forced smile blossoms on his pudgy face as Sabine leads his entourage around the oval conference table.

“Graham,” Faial nods in greeting.

“Faial.” Graham leans forward, casually resting his forearms on the
glossy jack pine table, his hands clasped together, unsuccessfully feigning a relaxed countenance.

Graham is not in control,
Faial immediately surmises. The three women are all sitting with their backs against their chairs. The youngest, Crystal Albright, no doubt, has dropped her head. Gail Albright, the genetic mother, has all her attention focused on the girl while Vice President Stiles, Crystal’s mama most likely, sits with arms folded under her breasts. Stone gray eyes, like a frozen pond, bore down on Faial. She could easily see how this woman won her way into office. Even without her founding family status, she would have accomplished much, maybe even got to where she is today. Smiling now, she returns her gaze back to the prosecution. “It’s been a while.” Their mutual greeting, though polite, is strained. These two have faced off in court before. Both times, Faial won. Sabine’s smile suggests to her that he believes he is on the winning team this time. Faial has no illusions; this is going to be an impossible case to win, but through it, she is going to break a little ice, crack open something she believes needs revealing.
With luck,
she muses,
I may just create an old fashioned river break-up!
Disgusted by Sabine’s puffed up confidence, Faial adds, “The Andrea Hodgson case I believe.”

Sabine’s smile turns quickly to a scowl. He lurches forward, unclasping his right hand and directing his index finger her way. Elena Stiles, sitting next to the man, rests her hand on his shoulder. Sabine resumes his posture of ease, hands re-clasping, and his smile, though strained, once again blossoms on his face. “I see you are alone—no client?”

“I saw no need to bring them.” Faial’s smile solidifies into confidence. Having successfully exposed Sabine’s weakness, that of being a poor loser, she also exposed the true nature of the hierarchy in this room. Elena Stiles, as she had rightly assumed, is the woman in charge. Even so, Faial knows the balance of the meeting has tilted in her favor—for the moment.

“Is it too emotional for them?” Sabine asks sincerely.

“That, and their presence is unnecessary. As, I suspect,” she adds assuredly, “is this meeting.” In response to Gail Albright’s quizzical look, the menacing glare given by Elena Stiles, and Sabine’s chagrin, Faial adds, “I have all the evidence I need right here,” reaching now into her pocket and retrieving Todd Middleton’s cell phone and presenting it, “to subpoena the girl.” Faial hones in on Crystal Albright as the girl looks up and stares at the object as if it were a viper ready to strike. Her wide eyes and pale
clammy face are all too telling. Sabine glares at the girl, then her mothers. Gail Albright grips her daughter’s hand under the table and Crystal’s head drops. Sobbing commences and Mama Elena grips Crystal’s other hand, silencing her whimpers; even so, her upper body continues to convulse.

“I see.” Sabine resumes his smile for Faial, a very tight smile. “And do you really believe that evidence is usable?”

Faial nearly laughs, “Absolutely.”
What game is he playing at?
Faial wonders. Elena Stiles gives no clues; she remains stolid and angry, but, for the moment, silent.

“You realize there is no way you can prove Crystal Albright is the author of said text.”

Faial’s smile widens imperceptibly. “I haven’t mentioned a text yet.”

Sabine remains in control. “What else could it be?”

“Good guess.” She decides to throw Sabine a bone. “And, yes, as I have the original text.”

“May I see the text message?” Sabine reaches across the table for the device.

Faial pockets the phone and replies quite congenially, “Of course.” She blinks to open her voc line. “Is your voc id the same?”

Sabine sits back, disappointed by the way things are progressing. He had really hoped Faial would have been sufficiently intimidated by the VP’s presence simply to hand over the phone and all documentation. “Yes.”

With a blink and a quick whisper, “Graham,” Faial sends off the link. Sabine’s eyes slit as he receives the data.

“Send it to me,” Elena Stiles demands, “esHgov33vp—uppercase the ‘h.’” Faial obliges. As soon as Elena receives the data, she passes it on to Gail and Crystal. Gail immediately begins blinking and reading. Crystal ignores her voc—she already knows what the document contains.

After finishing his read, Sabine pronounces, “You still can’t prove Crystal Albright is the text author.” Sabine is reaching here and Faial knows it, but he has serious political clout behind him. “Anyone could have written this.”

“Really?” Faial isn’t falling for it. She knows better, and one quick look at Crystal proves how easy it is going to be to get the girl to babble once she is on the stand. She is obviously drowning in the deep end of her own fear and guilt. Looking now at the girl’s mothers, Faial is held by the arresting stare of Elena Stiles. It feels as if Elena can read her mind. Vice
President Stiles just sits there, impassive, and then suddenly, she cocks her left eye and Faial knows.
This woman will not allow Crystal Albright on the stand.
Looking back to Sabine, grim with determination, “I will subpoena her.”

“No, you will not.” Elena speaks so softly each word becomes an explosion.

It is hard to stand up against a founding family member, even when one is as formidable as Faial Raboud, but stand up to her she does. “I am merely following the rules of legal engagement established by your forefamily and the other founding forefamilies.” Determined not to allow Frank Hunter to be sacrificed on the altar of politics, Faial persists, “My client has the right to a fair trial and he is innocent until proven guilty.”

“Your client has already confessed—he is guilty!” Elena Stiles, now in control of the meeting, treats Graham Sabine like a piece of furniture. His head is bowed.
No doubt he is fuming,
Faial reasons. Had it not been her client’s life at stake, Faial would have enjoyed watching Sabine so successfully subdued.

Not being one to cave under the bully, Faial announces, “My client is still entitled to a trial. That is the law according to the founding forefamilies’ constitution. This case is going to court.”

“The national prosecutor can arrange for his sentencing based solely on his confession,” Stiles insisted.

Faial instantly lowers her head. Placing her hands atop her head and resting her elbows on the table suggest defeat, adding a long drawn out sigh for emphasis. All the while, she is rapidly blinking out a voc message to her aide—“with Frank?”—“good”—“stick like glue”—“tell you later”—“no visitors”—“no voc contact”—“keep out of his eye”—“no pen, no paper”—“trust me, he’ll ask.” All the time she is voc’ing, Faial is desperately hoping she is not too late. They must have someone near him right now, and knowing the state her client is in, Frank Hunter would willingly sign his life away.

Sabine, responding to a tap on the shoulder by Elena Stiles, looks up to observe Faial Raboud’s physical position. Believing her to have been subdued, he takes full advantage to stick the knife into the jugular. “There is precedent. The Nation vs. Almer.” Gerald Almer had murdered Henry Wilfer. It was a crime of passion. Gerald Almer had walked in on Henry and another man. He reacted badly to the sight. Having brooded over his lover’s betrayal for months, Gerald eventually took action. Having staked
out Wilfer’s new home, he waited for a night when his ex was alone. He then snuck into their housing complex and slit his throat. Like Frank, he turned himself in, confessed, and then asked that a trial be waived. He did not want to be exiled, asking instead that the state assist in his suicide. Having given Faial time to register this new information, Sabine now twists the knife. “We plan to do the same with your cli—”