Finding Isadora(42)

“So do I. But let’s face it, some people do rotten things.”

“Okay, Grace, then you tell me. Who’d try to frame me and send me to prison for years and years?” My father glared at her.

Grace winced at the “years and years,” then shook her head. “I’ve been thinking and thinking but I haven’t a clue,” she admitted. Then, turning to Gabriel, “Maybe my naive man is right and it’s not a frame job. It’s possible that someone with the same initials dropped the lighter. And it may have nothing to do with the fire.”

“Anything’s possible.” Gabriel sounded doubtful. “I asked the cops if they’d run the initials through their database. They said yes, and the only likely prospect they turned up was Jimmy Lee. You’ve already told me none of your picketers have the initials JLW. So don’t discount the idea of a frame job. Keep your eyes and ears open. See if anyone’s been bad-mouthing you.”

“We’re getting together with some folks tonight. We’ll see if anyone’s acting strange,” Jimmy Lee said reluctantly. He passed the platter of grilled vegetables to Gabriel. “The meeting’s about the government cuts to programs for people with disabilities. We’re going to organize a protest, maybe a letter-writing campaign, rattle the cages of those government *s.”

“Thought about legal action?” Gabriel asked, helping himself to a generous selection of peppers, zucchini, onions, and mushrooms.

“A lawsuit? Could we do that?”

“You and your friends likely wouldn’t have standing to bring an action unless any of them are suffering personally because of the cuts. The people who’d have standing are those with disabilities, whose employment, health, or quality of life are threatened. Get some of them together, file a class action suit. Might win in court. Even if not, it’d bring a lot of public attention. Bad PR for the government *s.”

Gabriel passed the vegetable platter to me and I helped myself as I listened to the conversation.

“Come to this meeting and talk to us about it?” Jimmy Lee invited.

“Glad to. When and where?”

“Seven. Here. Though the group’s up past two dozen now.” He glanced around the small room doubtfully.

I winced at the thought of so many bodies crammed into this tiny apartment. And what did they intend to do with Alyssa? Someone would for sure be smoking pot.

“My place is big enough,” Gabriel said. “Would that work? You’d have to contact everyone and let them know.”

“No problem. Hey, that’s cool,” Jimmy Lee said enthusiastically.

Grace poked him with her elbow. “I’m not sure we can leave the apartment tonight.”

“Why? Oh.”

Knowing they were thinking of Alyssa, I jumped in. “I’ll look after that for you.”

“Would you, hon?” Grace asked gratefully.

Terrific. Now I was even more complicit. But it seemed like the least I could do, babysitting a frightened girl so my parents could do their bit to make our corner of the world a more humane place. It figured Gabriel would so easily let himself be co-opted to the cause. They were three peas in a pod, my parents and Richard’s father.

And the world would be a far better place if there were more like them.

I could be one, if I chose to. Grace could probably prevail on Libby’s mother to baby-sit tonight so I could go to the meeting at Gabriel’s. It was an important issue, one I believed in strongly.

The three of them were discussing what to bring in the way of food and drinks, firming up the details for the evening. Munching on grilled vegetables and home-made bread, I felt like an outsider. All it would take to become one of the club was to say I’d come to the meeting, and offer to bring a box of wine. But habit—my long-time desire to be someone different from my parents—kept me silent.

When talk turned back to Jimmy Lee’s case, I said, “Gabriel, you’ve spent a lot of time on this. What about your fees and disbursements? Are you sure I can’t contribute?”

My dad promptly said, “I got it handled, Izzie.”

“Jimmy Lee and I’ve worked it out,” Gabriel confirmed.

“Have you really?” I asked skeptically.

“Same arrangement as last time Gabe represented me,” Jimmy Lee said. “Little bit a month until it’s paid off.” He dug into the bowl of kim chee.

“That’s not fair to Gabriel. You’re asking him to finance you.”

“Isadora, this is between Jimmy Lee and me,” Gabriel said firmly.

“But…” As I’d suspected, the man had no more business sense than my parents.

Grace’s brow furrowed. “Hon, Gabriel knows we don’t want to take advantage of him.”

“He’s in business,” I said to her. “Not only is he spending time on this case, he’s laying out money for disbursements.” I turned to Gabriel. “It’s not right you should be out of pocket for expenses.”

He shook his head, looking more amused than annoyed. “Thanks for your concern, Isadora, but I can afford to front a few disbursements.”

Jimmy Lee studied him. “Never really thought about it, but I guess a lot of your clients are like me. Not exactly deep pockets.”

“More like holes in their pockets.” Gabriel gave a rueful laugh. “You’re rich in comparison to some.”