LIFELINE
ve an intellectual conversation with and one who wasn't interested in how much money I had or what clubs I belonged to – which, in order, were "plenty" and "none." I was
of the house for a night – some
goals – and the hours required to achieve them – and she was tired of the Porsche-driving
pics, directed by my friend and his wife. I found Elizabeth had a charming sense of humor and a biting wit that
isagree and didn't try to change each other's mind, the attraction (at least my attraction) deepened. By then almost a
a social worker
ague about Elizabeth's profession as well,
e – didn't derail the evening, but it certainly put a damper on it. By the time we parted company with a simple
t the bar of a restaurant near the courthouse when Elizabeth sat down a couple of seats down from me. She was talking (loudly) on her
r drink arrived and she actually favored me with a
id. "You sound like I fe
g me in. She told me she had behind home plate tickets for a Major League Baseball game between her hometown team and
e was an ass anyway and they probably deserve th
ded with "Isn't it terrible when other people
aid with a full laugh. "How about you? Do y
e up a date and take the tickets off her hands. The look on her face wa
gine how much it would cost to get a hooker to watch those bums play," I said with a chuckle. "Besides, you'
ds apart from me (geographically and socially), we had a
rward. "My NFL boys play yours in two week
invitation for another date
t dates I've had in years," she said. "We might not agree on
elf on the football field. A couple of weeks after that we decided to date exclusively – not that I had much choice in the matter since
ren't always rosy between us. We had our share of arguments over important things – and more than a few disagreements over silly things – but we developed a form of fighting that left each of
as she could. She didn't take it personally when I tried to get the best possible outcome for a client, be it outright acquittal or a lesser sentence
their parents and children in custody disputes or who have fallen through the cracks at Social Services. Elizabeth had gifted me with a daughter three years before and o
e north, Elizabeth proved again how
She got picked up there yesterday and she's in the County Youth Detent
my mind when Pam told me Lauren ha
mber. But I don't do drug cases. I'll try to g
before Elizabeth smacked me on the
"Can I call you back in about 10 minutes? Good. Let
into the house still talking to Pam. I was st
e'll drop our Lauren off at my mom's on the way. W
calls, including calling Pam back. Once my daughter was s
ase. This is about a little girl you loved like a daughter. You don't just put that off on someon
ce in two hours for a bail hearing. Tony Baker is the prosecutor on call, so it won't be easy to get her released. He hates drug dealers and, well, he hates you even more since you
nless I absolutely have to. But
courthouse. It seemed like the best
like Lauren – troubled, from a broken home – gets mixed up with a guy and runs away. The next
rl to take the blame because as a female juvenile she'll likely get a
ce convicted, the probation the girl was expecting will turn into five years in prison. The guys know this, of course. Th
ty surprised when she saw me. I truly didn't think she'd remember me.
know what's going on. They said I was dealing drugs. I don't
er in her yel
of here as quickly as we can and we'll get to the bottom
recounted her tale
e started a few years ago. It's boring down here. Dad meets with his fr
nd grabbed me and the next thing I know I'm in here. I tried to call Dad but his cell ph
l me her court appearance had been scheduled. When I left the visiti
blems," she said. "T
. The fact she was past her 14th birthday coupled with the weight of the drugs meant she could be tried as an
r suspected a man would use his daughter as a drug courier. But then again, we w
was a prick the whole time. It didn't help that his boss – my wife – was sitting in
n fact, she's a resident of another state, a state with diffic
is news because I hadn't h
tate to face charges," Baker continued. "And numerous reaso
l, if I were facing life in prison, I'd get the hell out
rest record and from all indications is a model student in sc
d the magistrate didn't seem impr
d to the defense table beside me. "We'll post a half million dollars bond personally and agree to electronic monitoring at our
ate. Of course I was looking a
appear for court proceedings, Mr. Wallace a
rted to commit career suicide bef
er will feel more secure with electronic monitoring. I also want to make sure an adult will be present at the home
stalked after Elizabeth as she exit
now, but unless Lauren screws this up I will be again soon. So y
n his heel and left without a word. He rea
up a still shell-shocked Lauren after she
he asked me. "I thou
ther's house. We didn't dawdle because a probation officer was scheduled to arrive
e an electronic monitor around your ankle until we get something better figured out. Once your mom gets here we'll h
al of roles, had accepted Lauren's story without question. I'd dealt with too many troubled kids in my
til I tell you otherwise. OK? That means your Mom, Elizabeth or even my Lauren without me in the room. I don't want to ask you too much until your Mom is here, but for
ck. I'm sure you didn't sleep very much last night, so why don't