Read In Search Of Dreams (Story) Episode 10

Episode 10

Rob stares into space, letting Lori’s voice
resonate through his head for a minute. “Thank
you, Robert.”

He stands, stretches, and heads out of his
office, down the corridor, and knocks on his
father’s door.

May as well get this over with.

“Come,” Shawn Carter’s voice bids him
enter.

“Hey, Pop.”

“Robert, what can I do for you?” he asks, setting
his pen down and leaning back in his chair. His
voice is clipped and businesslike, but friendly
enough; his years in Tennessee having done
little to erase the hint of Boston in his accent.

“I have a case.”

“Do you?” he asks, raising an eyebrow at his
son.

“Yes, Pop, I do. I’m tired of being relegated to
just traffic violations, and I just got a call from
someone – someone who specifically requested
me – and I want to take her case.

” Her case? I see now,” he smirks.

“Pop, it’s not like that. Her father was killed in
an accident, and she has reason to believe that
it could have been prevented. Wrongful death
case.”

” Young lady?”

“Pop, you know I’m not like that. Besides, she’s
colored,” Ro sighs, knowing that while it
doesn’t make a difference to him, it will to other
people.

“This is more than you can handle,” Shawn says
tersely.

“How do you know unless you let me try?” Rob
says, raising his voice some. “All I’ve done since
I graduated in May are traffic violations! Oh, and
the one very exciting will.” He rolls his eyes and
continues. “I’d like to do something to help
someone, really help them. Even if it’s just once.

Even if I lose. I’m tired of being a walking
encyclopedia of traffic laws.”

“What kind of accident?” Shawn asks, leaning
forward in his chair to rest his chin on his
steepled fingers.

“Um, a work accident, I reckon. She mentioned
somethin’ about wanting his former coworkers
to be safe.”

“Where did he work?”

“Alined Paper.”

Shwan inhales through his teeth. “That’s a big
company, Robert. Eugene Alined has deep
pockets and is going to have high-powered help.

Alfred Boudreaux is his personal attorney, if I’m
not mistaken.”

“Alfred Boudreaux doesn’t scare me. The
man is an idiot, led around by his wallet and his
pecker.”

Shawn barks a surprised laugh. “I see you’ve
been doing your homework.”

“So can I do this?”

“You’re going to do it even if I say no, Robert. I
know you.”

“I’d feel better about it if you were behind me.

And don’t start in about that it’s going to be
hard because she’s a colored girl going up
against a powerful white man. I know this
already. And don’t tell me to refer her to Abe
Jameson. He’s got his hands plenty full with
Civil Rights cases right now, anyway. I want this
case.”

Shawn sighs. “Very well. Just… be careful. You
are young and idealistic and you were educated
up north. People around here, people in power,
don’t think the way you think.”

“You do. Mostly.”

“Well, I’m not from here. You know that.”

“You’ve been successful here.”

“That’s because I know how to play the game.
You haven’t fully learned yet. Robert” he sighs,
“I have been a lawyer for thirty years. I’ve seen
all manner of crime and wrongdoing during that
time. I’ve seen enough to know that the actions
of a human being are not driven by the color of
his skin. In fact, some of the most horrific
things I’ve seen done during my life have been
perpetrated by white people, and often it’s white
people thinking that they are better than
everyone else. Hitler. Stalin. Mussolini. Those
twisted bastards in the Klan. Not to mention the
ones that are just sick, like Ed Gein or Charles
Starkweather. So, no, I do not have a problem
with you defending this little black girl…”

“Father,” Rob interrupts, “she’s not a little girl,
she’s a grown woman with a good job and
everything.”

“Oh? What does she do?”

“She’s a teacher. Teaches kindergarten at
Lincoln Elementary.”

“I see. She’s educated. That will help. But as I
was saying, just because I do not have a
problem with your taking this case doesn’t mean
that you will not meet with opposition from
others. I’ve been around here long enough to
know that you should not underestimate
Boudreaux. He’s an idiot, yes, but he’s also a
snake in the grass who would sell his own
granny to the highest bidder if he could make a
couple dollars.”

“I know. And thanks, Pop.”

“Do me proud.”

“I’ll try. I will,” he amends. “Marcus in today?”

“Ask Lisa. I never know where that boy is,”
Shawn says, picking up his pen and waving it in
the direction of his secretary beyond the door.

“Will do. Need him to fetch copies of some
reports for me, you know,” he says, nodding at
his father.

“When is your client coming?”

“3:15.”

“Good luck,” he calls as Rob leaves.

Rob strolls over to Lisa’s desk a few feet
away and leans against the side of it next to
her.

“Marcus will be here in fifteen minutes,” she says,
answering his question before he even asks it.

“How do you do that?”

“I’m a leprechaun,” she says, finally looking up
at him. “Duckling, you’re always looking for
Marcus. It wasn’t difficult to guess.”