Redress of Grievances by Brenda Adcock Read Free Book Online

tell him Winston and
Dunne has accepted the Wilkes case, and we'll send a courier over to their
office in about an hour to pick up whatever they have on the case."
    "Anything
else, Ms. Markham?" Eleanor asked almost eagerly. To Harriett, Eleanor
seemed like an old racehorse chomping at the bit to join in another race every
time Harriett took on a new case.
    "I
want to see what the police and DA have put together first, but you might ask
Wayne Graham to stop by if he has a chance."
    That
would make Eleanor happy, too. Harriett suspected that Eleanor had a thing for
Wayne Graham, an independent investigator on retainer with Winston and Dunne.
Most of his work consisted of eavesdropping on the unfaithful, but every now
and then, a case that required real investigation presented itself. Wayne had
left the Dallas Police Department when they refused to return him to active
duty after he had been wounded apprehending a suspect, and Harriett had
represented him in a lawsuit against the police department. He had used his
settlement to open his own business and would do almost anything for her. Based
on Harriett's recommendation, several large law firms had used his services over
the last five years. She loved talking to Wayne. There was something about him
that reminded her of her father, although in a much cruder version.
    Coffee
was already brewing in the coffeemaker when Harriett sat down behind her desk
and opened her briefcase. She glanced over the notes she had taken during her
brief interview with Jared Wilkes and began jotting down a series of questions
she wanted to ask his parents. In the midst of her thinking, the intercom
buzzed. Without looking up from her notes, Harriett reached across her desk and
picked up the receiver.
    "Yes,
Eleanor," Harriett answered as she continued writing.
    "Mr.
Wilkes is here to see you," the secretary announced.
    Harriett
glanced at the clock on her desk. Seven forty-five.
    "Show
him in," she said, setting her pen down.
    Clarence
Wilkes strode into her office before she hung up the phone. He was a massive
figure, which seemed to match what Harriett had heard about him. A former truck
driver, he had grown tired of working for other people and started his own
transport company, which now rivaled older, more established haulers. The key
to Wilkes's success had been his treatment of the drivers who worked for him.
He could be a tyrant if he caught drivers using drugs or alcohol and imposed
drinking rules similar to the ones for airline pilots. Drivers for Wilkes
Transport earned above scale money and were provided with an extensive benefit
package. In the years since he began his operation, Clarence Wilkes had never
been cited for any labor or transportation violations and was the recipient of
dozens of citations from state and national organizations. His reputation was
that of a straight to the core type of man who didn't tolerate obfuscation
well. Within seconds of entering her office, Wilkes was ready to get down to
business.
    "Dunne
tells me you're willing to take Jared's case. That right?"
    "Yes.
I've spoken to your son but won't be receiving the specifics from the police
and district attorney until later today, Mr. Wilkes. After I know what they
have as far as evidence is concerned, I'll determine the best course of action
for Jared's defense."
    "It
doesn't matter what they have as evidence, Jared will be pleading not
guilty."
    "I'm
afraid that will be up to Jared and me, Mr. Wilkes. He is the client."
    "And
I'm the wallet who's going to pay your fee," Wilkes snapped. "You'll
be taking instructions from me."
    "No,
I won't, and if that's what you're expecting, then I recommend you find another
attorney."
    For
a minute Clarence Wilkes and Harriett Markham stared at each other, each
waiting for the other one to blink. Finally Wilkes smiled slightly.
    "You're
not from Dallas, are you?" he asked.
    "Anson,"
she said.
    "How'd
someone as feisty as you get saddled with an uptight company like