The Organization (24 page)

“But now I’m curious,” Naomi replied, taking a bite of risotto.

Harriet hesitated and said, “It’s just… when you said you work at Drake Hall, I had this nagging little feeling about something and I just had to look it up.”

“What kind of nagging feeling?”

“Well, a long time ago – it must have been twelve or more years ago – I was working at the EBC, and I had a source,” Harriet said, trying to keep her voice as light as possible.  “She was a trustworthy, reliable woman.  She was probably not too much older than you are now.  Anyway, she was mixed up in the rebellion.  Unfortunate for her, but it made her valuable for the EBC.  She was brave, really, for providing us with information.  She was arrested on some sort of conspiracy charges, and it seems she ended up at Drake Hall.”

Naomi seemed uncertain of what to say, but finally replied, “You mean Parker.”  Harriet had been counting on Naomi knowing each of her 300-odd prisoners, or at least those with more serious charges.

“Yes, Charlotte Parker – that was her name.”  Harriet took a sip of wine, and added, “Small world, I suppose.”  She decided to be quiet while Naomi considered her words.

“Did you know her well?” Naomi asked.

Harriet looked at her face and saw only sincerity and mild curiosity.  She carefully gauged her response, saying, “That’s a difficult question.  She worked with me for a long while and I trusted her character.  I think… she was involved in things above her head.  She was American born, which I think made her sympathetic to the wrong side of a political situation that she didn’t fully understand.”

Naomi’s brow furrowed and she glanced downward before she replied, “But she’s a scientist, isn’t she?  Doesn’t sound like the naïve kind.”

“There’s book-smart and then there’s street-smart.  Wouldn’t you agree?” Harriet asked.

“Well, that’s for sure,” she said, pouring a refill of her wine.

Harriet let another moment pass before she said, “It just seems a pity that someone like her is taking up a space in our prisons when there are far more dangerous elements out there – violent sorts, especially the sexually violent kind.  Even some drugs offenses, perhaps.”

“But my understanding is that Parker was a terrorist.  I can’t think of anything more violent than that.”

“You might be right, of course.  And you would know better than I,” Harriet said.  “But Parker never seemed violent.  And they didn’t find her guilty of any actual violent offenses.  Besides, if she were that kind of… terrorist… then why would she have been helping me and our government?”

“Well, that’s not up to me.  I’m not the courts,” Naomi replied.

“No, no of course not.  Anyway, it’s just something that has been nagging at my mind.”  Harriet pushed her risotto around on her plate with her fork.

After a moment, Naomi said, “I will say, though, that the prison service has been urging us to recommend as many licenses as possible.” “Licenses?” Harriet asked, as though she were unfamiliar with the concept.

“Well, most people serve half their sentence or so in prison and the remaining half out on license.  But it’s not a guarantee.  And in Parker’s case, it’s a bit different since she doesn’t have a fixed sentence, but rather a minimum sentence to serve before being eligible for getting out on license.  Anyway, prison governors have some discretion.  We can recommend that a prisoner go up to the parole board early, under certain circumstances.  And for prisoners like Parker, our recommendation carries significant weight for whether they get out at all.”

“I had no idea,” Harriet replied.

“It’s not an easy decision to take.  After all, if we recommend that a prisoner goes out on license, and then he or she reoffends… Well, then that was my mistake and it’s my own failure.  It’s not so great for my career, is it?”

“I imagine not,” Harriet said, setting her fork down and reaching again for her wine.

Naomi looked at her, apparently having some kind of internal debate, before she said, “If you wanted, I would be willing to review Parker’s file.  See what I think about her situation.”

“I wouldn’t want to ask you to do anything that would put you in a compromising position,” Harriet replied, knowing full well what her response would be.

Naomi gave a small shrug and said, “It’s my job.  Really, I ought to review her file again anyway.”

Harriet reached across the table and squeezed Naomi’s hand.  “I would really appreciate it.”

Chapter Forty-Three

Erin took a seat in her office as Anna closed the door behind her.

“Would you like anything to drink?  Coffee, water?” Harriet asked her.

She shook her head no and replied, “I’m fine, thanks.  I… had been wondering when I’d hear from you again.”

Harriet regarded her evenly as she said, “These things take time.”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that.  I’ve just been a bit overly anxious since we last met.  I guess it’s just that I had, well, given up on Charlie getting out – I hope you don’t think that’s horrible of me to admit to thinking.  But it’s been so long…” she said, her voice trailing off.

“I understand,” Harriet said, trying hard not to let her emotions show.

Erin looked chagrinned and replied, “Sorry.  Of course you understand… I know you and Charlie were, well, close.”  Harriet didn’t reply, and Erin added, “I’m sorry.  Everything I try to say to you seems to come out all wrong.”

Harriet gave Erin a small smile.  “I sometimes have that effect on people.”

Erin laughed – more of an exhalation of air than a full laugh, but Harriet was relieved that her guest appeared to be at least slightly more relaxed.

“I’ve been making some headway on Charlie’s case,” Harriet told her.  Erin’s expression instantly sharpened to attention.  “As you know, she’s being held in Drake Hall.”

“Yes, I read that in the files you gave me,” Erin replied, nodding.

“Drake Hall has a young governor who hasn’t been in her post for very long.  She seems eager to do well and impress her superiors in the prison service.”  Harriet paused before adding, “His Majesty’s government has been pressing for more prisoners to go out on licenses, so naturally Naomi James – she’s the governor of Drake Hall – would want to comply with this pressure.”

Erin seemed to be processing this new information.  She then said, “I’ve read about these prison reforms and how this license program is meant to address some of the issues from overcrowding.  But this governor… you think she would be open to a request to consider Charlie for license?  I don’t mean to sound skeptical, Harriet, but… surely there would be other prisoners who would be… safer… less controversial… convicted of lesser offenses… who she would be more likely to recommend for release.”

“She has already agreed to review Charlie’s file,” Harriet replied.

Erin’s eyebrows rose as she asked, repeating, “She has?”

“Yes,” Harriet said.

“How on earth did you manage that?” Erin asked, looking a split-second later like she regretted having asked.

Harriet let a moment pass before she said, “What’s important is what happens next.  You’ve been listed as Charlie’s new solicitor, so you’re entitled to visits.”

“I can see Charlie?” Erin asked, her voice nearly cracking.

“Yes, and you need to do so right away.  You need to prepare her for meeting with Naomi James.  If things go well, Ms. James will probably seek a meeting within the next week or two, and Charlie needs to be ready for it.  She needs to be in the right frame of mind, to appear calm and penitent and ready to rejoin society as a peaceful citizen.”

“I understand,” Erin replied.

“You need to submit a request to meet with Charlie.  You should submit it today,” Harriet told her.  “If they’re following the letter of the law, you should be able to meet with Charlie tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow…” Erin repeated.  “Harriet, I don’t know how to express my gratitude for what you’re doing.”

“Don’t.  Please,” Harriet said, swallowing hard.

Her voice taking on a softer tone, Erin asked, “Shall I give her a message from you?”

Harriet had already considered that Erin might ask such a thing, and had already decided on a response.  Harriet told her, “No.  For now, let’s not get Charlie’s hopes up about… anything.  She’ll be glad to see you, and you need to get her to understand that the governor of Drake Hall is reviewing her file for whether to make a recommendation – nothing more – of letting her out.  That’s all that matters at this moment.”

“So you don’t want me to mention you,” Erin said.

“As you said yourself, Erin, it’s been a very long time.”

“You think her feelings will have changed,” Erin said.  She cringed and added, “Sorry.  There I go sticking my foot in my mouth again.”

Harriet broke eye contact for a moment then told her, “It’s all right.”

“So after I meet with Charlie, then what happens?”

“Then I’d ask you to come back and tell me how it went.  Based on that meeting, we’ll decide our next actions with Naomi James.”

Erin nodded then said, “I do get the feeling that there’s more going on than what you’re telling me.” She paused, during which time Harriet neither confirmed nor denied what she said.  “But maybe that’s just another effect you have on people.”

“I can see what Charlie liked about you,” Harriet told her sincerely.  She stood and held out her hand, saying, “I’ll look forward to hearing about your visit.”

“With any luck, I’ll be seeing you soon,” Erin replied, shaking her hand.

#

“You’ve been acting a bit dodgy lately,” Thomas said, spreading butter onto his toast as he stood at the kitchen counter.  Harriet had never been able to look at that counter the same way, not since she had seen Charlie pressed up against it, handcuffed, and covered in Daniel’s blood.

“Have I?” Harriet asked flatly.

“Don’t take me for a fool, Harriet,” he said, setting down the knife.  He frowned.  He was handsome even when he frowned.  Harriet had enjoyed watching him age into a more mature version of himself, watching as the grey had crept into his hair just above his ears.  She knew that he felt more for her than she could ever feel for him, but he had been there when she needed someone and for that she would feel eternally indebted.

“I really don’t know what you mean, Thomas,” she said, setting down her cup of tea.

“Please.  I come home after the weekend and your clothes smell of perfume.”  He swallowed hard and said, “And not yours – I know what you wear.  But some other woman’s perfume.”

Harriet tried to keep her tone light as she asked, “So we’re monogamous now?”

He looked hurt.  He chose not to answer her question, instead replying, “Does it mean anything?  Are you in love with this woman, whoever she is?”

Harriet didn’t want to lie to him, but she couldn’t reveal her plan.  She felt as though if she spoke it aloud, it would disintegrate into the air, that her chances at freeing Charlie would disappear like a wisp of smoke.  She said, “She means a great deal to me.” 
Just not in the way you think
, she added to herself.  “But no, I’m not in love with her.”

He seemed to lose interest in his toast.  He asked, “So who is she, anyway?  How did you meet her?  Is she a member?”

Harriet averted her eyes, not wanting to answer.  Finally she looked at him again and asked, “Why does it matter?”

“It doesn’t,” he said.  He looked like he wanted to say more.

“What is it?” she asked.

He hesitated before saying, “You’ve just seemed different with this one.  I thought it might be something serious.”

“It’s not,” she replied, starting to grow annoyed.

“I understand that, but… you haven’t seemed like this in a long while.  Not since…” he said, his voice trailing off.

“Well?” Harriet asked, unable to hide the impatience in her voice.

“Not since Charlie,” he finally said.

She held his gaze for a long moment but she could see in his eyes that he knew nothing about her current situation.  It had been an innocent yet oddly perceptive comment.  She replied, “I need to get going.”

“Yes, of course,” he replied.  “Have a good day at work, Harriet.”

“Thank you,” she said curtly, picking up her keys and heading for the door.

Chapter Forty-Four

Harriet sipped her scotch and savored the way it felt when she swallowed.  Perhaps more than any friend or ally, scotch had been her constant companion.  She found herself studying her glass as it rested on the wooden bar of The Fox.

“Harriet,” a surprised voice to her side said.

Harriet turned and smiled.  “Hello, Naomi.”

“What are you doing here?” Naomi asked.  “I mean, you didn’t tell me you’d be in town.”

Harriet wished she could blush on demand.  Instead, she settled for what she hoped would pass for an embarrassed expression.  “I didn’t want to bother you.  I wasn’t sure how you were feeling after we last met.”  She lowered her voice and said, “I couldn’t help but feel like maybe I overstepped her bounds with asking about that informant of mine.”

“Oh,” Naomi said. “No, of course not.”

Harriet tilted her head ever so slightly and replied, “But I was hoping that I’d see you here.”  Harriet followed the comment by giving Naomi a small smile.

“You were?” Naomi asked.

She reached for and held Naomi’s hand.  “Yes.”  She looked away and then met Naomi’s eyes again.  “I’m sorry I didn’t send you a diginote.  I just wasn’t sure if you wanted to see me again.”

“But I had such a lovely time at your place,” Naomi said.  “It’s not like I dine in London on every Saturday.”

“Ah, so it was just the charms of London?” Harriet asked, smiling.

“No,” she said.  “It was your charms.”  She looked so sincere that Harriet could feel her heart telling her she ought to stop – not to lead her on.

“You’re very sweet,” Harriet told her.  She was honest about that, at least.

“Do you want to get out of here?” Naomi asked.  She added, “So long as you’re in town, well, maybe we could talk about Parker.”

“Oh,” Harriet said. It was her turn to be surprised – or at least to act like she was.  “Yes, of course.”  She lifted her glass to sip the last bit of scotch that remained after the ice cubes melted, then set it down carefully, making sure her hand didn’t reveal her nerves.