Page 8 of Reclaim

“You went to hold his hand,” he says through clenched teeth.

“What?” Taylah’s voice breaks through.

“Yes,” I glare at both of them, “occasionally physical touch is comforting for people who hear life changing news.”

“Stop trying to twist what I say,” he argues.

“No, Joe. Stop trying to twist what I do. Everyone knows you hate this job, yet for some reason you’re still here. You treat your clients like b-grade citizens and your desire to help them to do better is non-existent. So, if by me being the opposite to you means I’m crossing lines, then I’m crossing fucking lines.” The tension spreads from my shoulders, up to my neck, and settles at my temples. My pulse hammers at either side of my head, the weight of my outburst sitting heavily between us.

“Whatever.” He looks at Taylah. “I know what I saw.”

He walks away, and the fight immediately leaves my body.

“Want to tell me what that was about?”

“Not right now, no.” I resume eating and ignore Taylah’s perceptive stare. For the first time in my life, Joe might be actually right. I haven’t stopped thinking about Jagger since I walked out of Goulburn. His eyes, his hands, his hurt, his heart. It’s on a continuous loop of intrigue and heartache for a man who has somehow become more than my job.

He wears his sins on his sleeves and carries the burden of his actions through every decision he makes. If he didn’t have to leave, I know he would stay there forever. Thinking the world is a better place without him.

The shrill ring from my desk phone pulls me out of my Jagger Michaels bubble. Taylah reaches for it before I do.

“Hello, Legal Aid. This is Emerson Lane’s phone.”

“Yes, she’s here. May I ask who’s calling?” I’ll just get her for you.” She hits the hold button, and hands me the phone.

“Who is it?

“A Hendrix Michaels?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You know him?”

“It’s my client’s brother.”

“Okay, take this call. But I want an update on what happened between you and Joe.” I nod and wave her away. Picking up the handset, I let myself get sucked back into the vortex of Jagger Michaels.

“Hello, Emerson Lane speaking.”

“Hi. This is Hendrix Michaels, I’m-”

“Jagger’s brother.” I finish.

“Yeah, he said if I had any questions regarding his release I could contact you.”

“You spoke to him?”

“Yeah, it was a shock to me, too.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it sound like that.”

“It’s no big deal.”

“What can I help you with?”

“Well, I read up on what conditions are usually given upon release, and I wanted to make sure I can do whatever I need to give him a head start. “

“Um, do you have a pen and paper handy?”

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