Redress of Grievances by Brenda Adcock Read Free Book Online Page A

this
one?"
    Harriett
began to relax a little. "Like you, Mr. Wilkes, I try to seek out the
best."
    Wilkes
leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath. "I suppose you've already
checked out my background, Ms. Markham. Same as I did yours. These big city
corporate types make me nervous, but I trust you. You do whatever you think is
best for Jared. Boy's always been a pain in my ass, but I can't believe he did
what they're claiming he did."
    "How
is your relationship with Jared?"
    Shrugging
slightly, Wilkes replied, "He looks at me and sees a well used, bottomless
wallet. I doubt he sees anything more. We've never been what you'd call close,
but he is my son. My wife and I have to believe in him."
    "I
don't think his case will have a negative effect on your business."
    "I
couldn't care less. I didn't start my business to become popular, just rich.
And I've done that. It won't be long before I'll be ready to hang it up
anyway."
    "Will
Jared be taking control of your company?"
    Wilkes
laughed. "There's not a chance in hell that will ever happen. I've made
arrangements to turn the company over to my board of directors with a
recommendation for a new CEO. There is a provision that will assure the
continued care of Jared and his mother, of course. But neither of them will
ever have control of Wilkes Transport."
    Harriett
wasn't sure how to respond to what Wilkes had said and decided not to pursue
it.
    "My
son is a nice looking kid with money. Always had the fastest car and money to
do whatever he wanted. He wasn't abused or deprived in any way. We took him to
church on Sundays and sent him to the best schools. My wife and I have been
better than average parents, but Jared still turned out bad. The only hope I
have for him now is that he will eventually grow up emotionally as well as
physically and become a productive adult. Despite what I know he's done in the
past, these crimes seem to be uncharacteristic, even for him."
    "Does
Jared have a steady girlfriend?"
    "Yeah.
Sylvia Jennings, but I don't know why she stays with him. She's a nice girl.
Probably better than he deserves."
    "I'll
need to speak to her. Do you have an address or phone number for her?"
    "I've
got it at the office. I'll see that you get it today."
    Wilkes
stood up and when Harriett shook his hand, his grip was firm, yet gentle.
    "I'll
do the best I can for Jared, Mr. Wilkes," Harriett said.
    "I
appreciate that, Ms. Markham."
    From
that day on, Harriett didn't see Clarence Wilkes again.
    Chapter
Six
    SYLVIA
JENNINGS WAS a pretty twenty-three year old intern with a Dallas advertising
agency and had been dating Jared for nearly two years at the time of his
arrest. In an effort to get a clearer picture of Jared Wilkes as a person and a
man, Harriett arranged an interview with Sylvia in a conference room of Winston
and Dunne. There was something wholesome looking and quiet about Sylvia when
Harriett first met her, and she seemed an unlikely match for Jared.
    "I
appreciate your willingness to meet with me, Miss Jennings. Would you object if
I called you Sylvia?"
    "Of
course not. I'll do whatever I can to help Jared. I went to see him yesterday
and he looked so pathetic."
    "Well,
maybe this will all be over soon. Tell me about your relationship with
Jared."
    "We
met a couple of years ago at a party thrown by a mutual friend, and we've been
together pretty much since then."
    "Are
you living with him?"
    "No.
I have my own place, but I spend the night at his place, or he does at mine
fairly often."
    "Has
he ever asked you to move in with him?"
    "Once,
but I have an office in my apartment and do a lot of my work there in the
evenings. There really isn't enough room at his place for my drawing table and
stuff. Plus, I can be pretty messy at times."
    "How
long have you and Jared been intimate?"
    "Is
that important?" Sylvia said, somewhat defensively.
    "It's
not my intention to embarrass you, Sylvia, but because of the nature of the
charges against Jared, the subject of his