While Justice Sleeps(49)
Obviously surprised by the response, the FBI agent argued, “Then what do you recommend?”
“I recommend you do as Avery suggests. Either arrest her or leave her alone.”
“Then you leave us no choice.” Vance waved a hand at the FBI agent. “Agent Lee, place Ms. Keene under arrest.”
Lee folded his arms, not moving toward Avery. “Hold on, Major, we’ve got—”
“No grounds,” Chief Roseborough interrupted. “Which is why you will do no such thing. I have agreed to place Avery on administrative leave pending your investigation and proof of malfeasance.”
“I agree we don’t have cause to arrest…yet. But with all due respect, this isn’t what we asked for either. I requested immediate termination. Administrative leave was a compromise. I’ve only known her a couple of days, and I have a difficult time placing any trust in her veracity or judgment.”
“What do you suggest?” the Chief asked.
“That Agent Lee detain her as a material witness, at least,” Vance suggested. “And that she relinquish guardianship to a third party, if Mrs. Turner-Wynn isn’t the right person. She is a flight risk.”
“I’m standing right here,” Avery reminded them sharply. “I don’t plan to go anywhere.”
Major Vance jabbed a finger at the damning report. “In a matter of days, you’ve amassed quite a bit of power and a small fortune. I don’t think we can afford to wait for the hat trick.”
Avery turned to plead with the Chief. “I promise you, I have no reason to run. I didn’t want any of this, but I want to do what he asked of me. Please.”
The Chief studied her, then stood, forcing everyone to step back as she rendered her verdict. “I will certainly cooperate with the FBI in this matter, but the management of the Court’s employees is not your domain. Avery will be on administrative leave, but she holds Howard’s power of attorney. I would urge against a material witness warrant, Agent Lee.”
When Vance moved to protest, Lee shook his head once. “We appreciate the Court’s cooperation in this matter, Madam Chief.” He turned to Avery. “I will need you to go to the Hoover Building with me.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said no.” Avery bent and collected her bag. She plucked out her badge, having neglected to put it on that morning. Special Agent Lee had made wearing it unnecessary as he’d bundled her past security. She slapped the badge on the desk.
“Chief Roseborough, I will accept the forced leave of absence. There’s nothing much I can do about the restricted access. But until they have any evidence that I’ve committed a crime, I will not be going anywhere other than home.”
“We can make your life very difficult,” Agent Lee warned.
“Because I’ve been having such an easy time so far this week?” Avery spoke past the knot in her throat, the tremors of nerves that expected handcuffs in an instant, finding instead the bolster of righteous indignation. She turned away from the FBI agent. “Chief, I am Justice Wynn’s clerk. I know the bounds of civil liberties, and I won’t be pushed past them. He wouldn’t want it, and you shouldn’t ask me to.”
Chief Roseborough watched her silently, then released a low chuckle. “I won’t. He trained you well, Avery. You’re dismissed.”
Clawing for dignity, Avery made her way out of the office and past the inquisitive eyes of the Chief’s secretaries. Her composure held as she entered the elevator and rode down to the lobby. A stream of clerks waited in line near the metal detectors.
A brunette with a piquant face and the soul of an archconservative called out, “Hey, Avery! Going the wrong way, aren’t you?”
Her life was ruined. Whether they found anything to condemn her or not, a forced administrative leave and the publicity from Jared would end her life in DC. But no one had to know that yet. “I’m taking some leave to deal with this stuff for Justice Wynn.”
“Hope he’s going to be okay,” offered a short, burly man whose IQ had been recorded in The Guinness Book of World Records. “We’ll be pulling for him.”
“Thanks.” Avery began to push at the heavy glass doors, but the brunette stopped her.
“Wait,” she told Avery. “The vultures are camped outside with their cameras. See if they’ll let you use the other exit.”
With her badge, she could have, but she was no longer one of the Court. She was an outcast. Still, she’d learned a few tricks from Rita. Always be kind to the folks who make the world run, including security guards and secretaries. After the clerks had clambered into the elevator, she found her favorite security guard.
“What can I do you for, Ms. Keene?”
“Vince, the press is outside waiting for me. They want to talk about Justice Wynn.”
“So you need another way out.”
“And a taxi,” she added on a plea.
“Let me see what I can do.” Vince signaled to his colleague to take over the metal detector and motioned for her to follow him. Five minutes later, he helped her into a cab.
“I really appreciate this.”
He flushed with pleasure. “You just take care of the judge. He’s good people.”