family. And I’m going to make damn sure I do my part to sort through the facts.”
“We are going to need you in order for us to do that,” Ben said. “I need all of you. But that’s why we are here, and that’s what we need to talk about.”
Everyone was paying close attention to what Ben had to say. “I need all of you to realize that this is going to alter your life, potentially forever. You saw the paper this morning, right? Kelly and Dana aren’t here because they are ashamed to be associated with this. And there are a large number of people in town, I’m sure, that won’t look favorably at any of us for defending Dwight. Your peers, friends, family… they will associate you with this case. This case is going to get attention, and you’ll be right in the middle of it. And so will I. But I need you to know all that before we go into this, because I don’t need anyone backing out mid-stream. I know we haven’t tried cases like this before. The risk of public criticism has never been so great, and I expect it to be personal, too. Freeden will be at the heart of a case that is in the spotlight, and you’re going to be smack dab in the middle of it.”
He leaned forward, arms rested on the table. “So, if you’re going to back out, or you don’t want to be a part of this, I need to know today. You don’t have to tell me in this meeting, but I need to know today. Because when we enter a not-guilty plea at the arraignment, it’s going to get even crazier. Can I count on all of you to be on board?”
The team members looked around, moving their eyes from person to person to see what the others would say. Finally, Deb spoke up.
“Ben, I have always trusted you. And yes, I know it is going to tear this town apart. But if you believe the man is innocent, then I do, too. And no matter what, it isn’t right to send that man to jail, not if he didn’t do it.”
“Ben, I’m with you,” Tracey said. “I owe you. You saved my family during our darkest financial strife. Let us stay in your rental house for two years rent free when we didn’t have the money.” She stopped and looked around at the others. “You all know this happened. I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. So yeah, I’m here with you. Until the end. You’ve always been good to me, and I trust you.”
“Thank you guys,” Ben replied. “Thank you… this means a lot.”
“Let me ask this, Ben,” Kristen said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity you gave me, too, but let’s be reasonable here, okay? You are very good friends with Dwight and we all know that. How can we be so sure that your friendship isn’t clouding your judgement?”
He leaned back again. “Well, that’s a good question, Kristen. Truth be told, I have no proof that the man is innocent. But I’ve been doing this a while,” he paused, “and I know a guilty man when I see him. We have to research, fact-check, and trust me, we will, and if what we find is damning evidence against Dwight then we need to advise him to plead guilty, or change his plea if by that point we have already entered a not-guilty plea. But like I said, I know a guilty man when I see him. And the man I saw last night at the jail,” he paused again, shaking his head, “that man did not look guilty.”
“That’s a very emotional remark,” Kristen said. “I’d be careful of your emotions getting in the way.”
“I know, and frankly, you’re right,” he replied. “But sometimes, going with your gut is best.”
“I’m trusting you,” Kristen said, still appearing to be skeptical, “you know I am. But I’m not sure I agree that going with your gut is best in our profession.”
“Just promise me this, Kristen,” he said. “Give him the benefit of the doubt until we know otherwise. I’m not sold on anything yet, either, I’m just telling you what I know and how I feel.”
“Fair enough,” Kristen said. “You know I’ll do everything I can regardless.
“I understand if you need time to think about whether or not you want to continue to be a part of this team moving forward,” Ben said. “Please let me know by the end of today.”
“I’m in,” Ken said.
“Me too,” Liz replied.
“Me as well,” Deb followed.
“And me,” said Tracey.
“You know I’m in,” Kristen added in her usual monotone manner.
Ben looked at Brenda. “And you?”
“Sure, what the hell. They don’t like me around here anyway.”
He smirked. “Okay, well we have work to do. I plan to touch base with Dwight today, and meet him tomorrow to get the entire story. Brenda, I need you, Deb, and Tracey to man the office and begin gathering the police report and documents that are already available. Get in touch with the district attorney’s office and get what they already have in place, too. We’re working around the clock until this is done.”
“Are we safe?” Liz asked abruptly.
The place fell silent again, and all eyes turned to Ben. After a long pause, Ben said, “I think we are, but do be aware that this case will trigger emotions of all kind, and that these are tense times.”
“Reason I ask,” she said as she looked down at her Samsung phone, “is that my husband just texted me and told me to turn on the news.”
Brenda got out of her chair to turn on the television that was mounted on the wall at the far side of the conference room. “What channel?”
“Texting him now.” She waited for seconds, and already had a reply. “He said…WYTG twenty-five Freeden News.”
She switched it to WYTG. Most of the team was surprised it had hit television news already, but Ben wasn’t. He had seen the reporters at the jail the previous night. Now they were broadcasting live from in front of city hall in downtown Freeden.
“Dwight Kerry stands accused of first-degree murder and statutory rape of seventeen-year-old Braxton Jones, a local boy who was a long-time student of Kerry’s in his music and choir classes. There is already a considerable amount of anger in the community. We spoke to several community members earlier today at the local landmark eatery, 3rd Street Café.”
The picture cut to an earlier recording. “Death row at a minimum,” said a local interviewee.
Another standing beside her added, “He deserves to die, sooner than later.”
The live feed returned and the reporter continued, “Now the arraignment is coming up this week and it remains to be seen whether or not Kerry will plead guilty. Local firm Bailey and Associates is leading the defense, and the community is not taking too kindly to one if its own, Ben Bailey, defending Kerry for such a heinous crime.”
“If ole’ Ben Bailey and his team can feel good about it, then that’s on them,” another interviewee said. “But they will answer for it, I assure you of that.”
The team looked around at each other.
“Answer for it?” Liz asked.
“Yeah, I heard that,” Ben replied. Then he stood up, placed his hands on the table, leaned against it, and looked up at the team. “Be safe folks. When you
