Free Redress of Grievances by Brenda Adcock

I'd hear from you."
    "I'll
speak to Sharon Taggart, but I won't make any promises."
    "I
don't expect you to, Harriett. Listen, I was in the shower. Why don't you meet
me at the airport, and I'll fly you to Dallas this morning."
    "No.
I have a few things to clear up at my office. Nothing big, but I need to make
sure I don't leave anyone in a lurch. I think I'd rather drive to Dallas
anyway."
    "Shall
I make a room reservation for you, or would you rather do that yourself,
too?"
    There
was a chill in Alex's voice Harriett hadn't heard before.
    "Just
let my office know where you make the reservation. I'll probably be on the road
by noon."
    There
was a pause on the line before Alex spoke again, the edge no longer in her
voice. "I'm sorry, Harriett. Would you mind if I rode to Dallas with
you?" she finally asked.
    "Well,
I...," Harriett started.
    "I
could acquaint you with a little more about the case."
    "I
suppose that would be all right," Harriett said hesitantly. "I'll
call you when I'm ready to leave my office."
    "I'll
meet you at your office after I check out."
    Harriett
dressed in tan jeans and Ropers, pulled on a lightweight sweater, and packed
enough clothes for a couple of days.
    Carrying
her suitcase downstairs, she set it down in the front hallway before joining her
niece in the kitchen. Lacey was reading the sports section of the newspaper as
Harriett poured a cup of coffee.
    "Anything
about your game in the paper?" she asked.
    Turning
the paper toward her aunt, Lacey pointed to an article as she chewed a mouthful
of cereal.
    "Better
keep this for your scrapbook," Harriett smiled. "I have to go out of
town for a couple days, Lace."
    "A
case?"
    "In
Dallas," she nodded as she sipped her coffee. "I might not take it
but promised to speak to the defendant. Will you be okay here alone, or do you
want me to call Grandma?"
    "I
think I can handle a little alone time."
    "Remember
the house rules, Lacey."
    "Can
Devon come over while you're gone?"
    "I'm
not real comfortable with that, honey."
    "You
can trust me, Aunt Harriett. After all, I am eighteen now. An adult according
to the law."
    "I
do trust you. I'm just not as trusting of your boyfriend yet." Harriett
smiled.
    As
she looked at her niece, the thought of her growing up so fast saddened her.
    "If
you need anything call Nick or Phyllis."
    "You're not going to ask them to drop by unexpectedly, are you?"
    Harriett
laughed. "I've taught you right from wrong already. Now that you are an
adult, at least in the eyes of the law, it's up to you to practice what I've
been preaching all these years."
    Lacey
carried her bowl to the sink and rinsed it out, stopping on her way out of the
kitchen to kiss Harriett.
    "Have
a good trip, and call so I know you got there in one piece, okay? I love
you."
    AS
SOON AS she was in her office, Phyllis came in carrying a mug of coffee and set
it in front of her.
    "I'm
going to Dallas for a couple of days, Phyllis. See if there's anything on my
calendar that can't be pushed back until I return."
    "A
case?"
    "Maybe.
I'm conducting a preliminary interview to decide whether to take it."
    "Is
it a big fat hairy one?"
    Harriett
smiled at Phyllis. "The fattest and the hairiest."
    She
spent the next hour and a half putting the finishing touches on a few briefs
and the motion for a new trial for her homeless client and took them to Phyllis
to be typed.
    "Make
sure this motion reaches the Appeals Court by Monday," Harriett instructed
Phyllis.
    "This
the train trestle guy?"
    "Yeah.
Kinda makes you glad you can afford to pay rent, doesn't it?"
    The
front door opened, and Alexis Dunne walked in carrying a small suitcase.
    "I'll
be with you in a moment, Alex," Harriett said. "Did Nick call in
before he went to court this morning?" Harriett asked Phyllis.
    "Yes.
His case is going to the jury this afternoon. Does he know you'll be out of
town?"
    "I
left a note on his desk. What about my appointments?"
    "I
rescheduled them for next week. Let me know if I need to push