Page 27 of Maddy's Justice

Less than a minute later, Gavin Blake barged into Brandon Stafford’s office without knocking. Stafford was on the couch and Cliff Spenser in a leather chair opposite Stafford.

“Good, you’re both here,” Blake said.

“We’re waiting for you,” Stafford said. “What took you so long?”

“It’s a good thing I hung around for a bit. This Kadella, he asked Melanie for the information about Olivia Harris and Amy Kempton,” Blake replied.

“Shit!” Stafford quietly said.

“Relax, Brandon. What are they going to find out?” Spenser asked. “Nothing. They vanished. Quit. Poof! Gone!”

“I don’t like it,” Stafford said.

“I don’t either,” Blake agreed. “They said they have a couple of investigators who are very good.”

“Did you get their names?” Stafford asked.

“Um, no. Sorry. I should have.”

“Dummy,” Stafford muttered.

“Relax,” Spenser said. “I’ll get the investigator’s names and check them out. In the meantime, don’t sweat it. Besides, what can they find out?”

When Gavin Blake closed the office door, Marc and Connie began to pack up to leave. As they did this, Melanie nervously folded and unfolded her hands, which Marc noticed.

“Something on your mind?” he pleasantly asked.

“Yeah, it’s um a little embarrassing,” Melanie replied. “I, ah, need a favor. From just you,” she told Marc.

“You want me to wait…?” Connie started to ask.

“No, I guess not. It doesn’t matter. I have a nephew,” Melanie started, “who’s in trouble. My sister’s son, Dylan Martin.”

“Okay,” Marc said then sat down again. He was directly across from her with Connie to his right, still at the conference room table.

“I assume it’s some kind of criminal problem.”

“Yes,” Melanie said and nodded. “Right about now I’m supposed to preface this by saying, ‘he’s really a good kid, but he fell in with the wrong crowd.’ Except, it’s not true. He is the wrong crowd.”

“Or, he has his head stuck so far up his ass he needs to have oxygen pumped to his brain,” Connie said.

Marc and Melanie both laughed at the image, then Marc said, “A typical criminal defense client.”

“You’re right,” Melanie continued, “That is his real problem. I got a call from my sister who is also a Connie,” she said looking at Connie Mickelson. “He got busted in Burnsville with drugs in his possession. I don’t know what or how much. A public defender got him out on bail at the first appearance.”

“When was that?” Marc asked.

“Yesterday. He applied for a public defender but was denied. They let him use one just for the first appearance. He has assets but he can’t get at them. So, he doesn’t qualify for one,” Melanie said.

“And you want me to do what, exactly?” Marc asked.

“Meet with him, at least. See if you can help him. I know we’re coddling him, but he has a disease. A sickness. He needs help. He’s done jail time before. I’m not sure where. My brother and I will guarantee your fees…”

“Don’t worry about that,” Marc said. “Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll take him on and see if I can’t get him accepted by the Dakota County Drug Court.”

“What’s that?” Melanie asked. “I mean, I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know what it is or how it works?”

“It’s a diversion program designed to give drug offenders a chance to clean up, get off drugs and stay out of jail,” Marc replied. “Despite what some media and politicians want you to believe, the prisons are not filled with kids caught with an ounce of weed in their back pocket. In fact, except for serious, violent crimes, you have to work hard to get sent to a federal or state prison. Especially for drug offenses, even selling. Prison cells are expensive and drug court is a way to give people a chance at a fresh start. Let me talk to Dylan and we’ll take it from there.”

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