Page 5 of Pursuit of Happiness

“At what compromise to their principles? Don’t get me wrong, I’mall for moderation when it comes to things like foreign affairs, but when itcomes to civil rights, gun control, poverty, the environment, someone has totake a stand on the side of what’s right and just.”

“And you think I would be that person?”

Stevie looked taken aback by the question, and she took a momentto answer. “You come closer than Armstrong.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement. “It’s not as difficult for mesince my New York constituents expect me to lean left, but Connie’s had to workhard to build a base in a state that has teetered back and forth betweenliberal and conservative. What she’s managed to accomplish in the South hasgroomed her for this position.”

“You have a point.”

“I’m guessing you don’t concede that very often.”

Stevie grinned. “Only when necessary.”

Meredith tossed a half-eaten onion ring down and pushed her plateaside. “I couldn’t possibly eat another bite.”

“I’m thinking you’re mostly a salad girl.”

“Is that so?”

Stevie blushed slightly. “Either that or you work out a lot.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment. And inspiration not toskip my morning run.” Meredith noticed for the first time that she hadn’twanted to glance at her phone the entire time they’d been sitting at the bar.The relaxed vibe was refreshing, more like a date than a business meeting. Shetipped her empty glass at Stevie’s. “Are we having dessert or another drink? Mywaistline can’t afford both.”

“Which one will convince you to change your mind on thesentencing guidelines?”

And just like that, they were back to business, but Meredithdidn’t want to be. “Tell you what, let’s have whichever one you want tonightand skip the shop talk. Tomorrow, send me whatever additional information youwant me to review, and I’ll have my staff put together a position paper. Ipromise to give it a full review before we vote on the amendments.”

“And if you’re convinced about my position, you’ll sway some ofthe other committee members?”

“If you convince me, I’ll convince them.”

Stevie stuck out her hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal. Andprepare yourself because we’re having apple pie. With ice cream.”

As Stevie waved a hand at the bartender to order their dessert,Meredith reflected on what a pleasant surprise this evening had turned out tobe. Sometimes being prepared was overrated.

Chapter Two

First thing Monday morning, Stevie filled out the prisonerrequest form and handed it to the warden at the DC detention center. Heexamined the form and pointed to a row of chairs along the wall.

“We’ve got a space for you at the third window.”

Stevie shook her head. “I need a room.”

“The notes say no contact visits for this guy.”

She’d dealt with this before, increased restrictions ondefendants deemed to be a threat to national security, and she was fullyprepared to push back. “I’ll take the room,” she said, keeping her tone evenbut firm, and hoping her hard stare conveyed what she didn’t want to have tosay. A few beats passed and she was about ready to tell the warden he’d hearfrom the judge, but he relented before she had to go all law-and-order on him.

“Sign the sheet,” he said in a curt voice.

She complied. She didn’t blame the guards for having a little bitof attitude. Working in the prison every day had to be a drain, but ultimatelyher allegiance was to her client not their keepers. Once she was in theattorney room, she selected the best two of the three chairs and positionedthem on either side of the rickety table in the center of the room. The filewasn’t very thick, and she spread it out in front of her, counting on the factthe guards would likely take their time getting the client to her to allow hertime to prepare.

She’d skimmed the file the night before, but she’d beendistracted and she knew why. She’d been completely unprepared for MeredithMitchell in real life. She was even better looking than she was on camera, andher charm was palpable. Stevie had half expected Meredith to be uncomfortablein the casual bar with its restrictive rules, but by the end of the evening,she had the surly owner eating out of her hand, and a casual observer wouldthink she was a regular. Except for the encounter with Adam Rondel, the entireevening had been easy and comfortable, and Stevie couldn’t remember the lasttime she’d enjoyed herself as much. So why did she feel unsettled?

Maybe it was because now that Meredith had agreed to take asecond look at the committee’s report, she no longer had an excuse to seeMeredith again.

The door opened and jarred her from her reverie. Three guardsescorted a tall, skinny guy who looked to be in his late twenties into theroom, and she shoved aside all thoughts of Meredith Mitchell and focused onassessing her new client.

He slid into the chair across from her and tucked the extra foldsof his orange jumpsuit under his legs while she motioned to the guards that shewanted to be alone with him. The one in the lead shrugged and motioned for theothers to follow him out. She waited until the door was firmly shut behindthem, and then turned to her client. “Are you William Barkley?” She felt sillyasking the question, but when she was a young lawyer, she’d had a veryconfusing new client conference until she realized the guards had brought outthe wrong inmate.

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