On Every Side (18 page)

“In other words, we don't want the story to be the sale of the park land. Not for a single day Obviously it'll be an aspect of the story but the main point of interest must be whatever move we choose to make.”

Hawkins stepped forward and waved his hand at the others. “That's where you all come in. No one, and I mean not one of you, will leave this room until an action based on case precedent
has been decided on. At that point, T. J. will write up the plan as a single brief and give it to Jordan tomorrow”

T J. blinked. He could just imagine Jordan's reaction when he learned he had not been one of the first to hear Bethany had sold the land to Faith Evans. Or when he found out that T. J., one of his best friends, had been part of the plan to leave him out. But then, business had to come first. And if Hawkins was being level with him, his work on the Bethany case could mean he'd make partner that much sooner.

Hawkins sat down and leaned back in his chair. “Jordan Riley must never know about this meeting, is that understood?”

The men around the room nodded, and three of them agreed out loud. As they began tossing out ideas and jotting down notes, T. J. tried to convince himself that such meetings were a necessary part of being a lawyer. That blackmailing reporters, getting an orphan's photo pulled from a Web site, and holding clandestine meetings behind the back of a coworker and friend were an understandable price to pay in the fight for human rights.

He tried to believe it was all in Jordan's best interest. Just a way of ensuring his friend's heart didn't get too involved—which would only render him ineffective.

But for the first time since T. J. took the job at HOUR he could only convince himself of one thing: This time he and his coworkers were going too far.

Hawkins waited until the others had filed out of his office before returning the call. The message had come in just before the meeting. An advisor to one of the top politicians in the state of Pennsylvania wanted to talk to him.

Hawkins felt his heart beat hard against his chest. Whatever
this was, it ought to be interesting. He dialed the number and waited for the man to take the call.

“Hello, sir. Peter Hawkins here. With the HOUR organization.”

There was a pause as the man switched off his speakerphone. “Thank you for calling me back.” He hesitated and lowered his voice some. “I have some people interested in funding your Jesus statue case.”

Hawkins sat up straighter in his chair. “Funding it?”

“Yes.” The man chuckled quietly. “We've gotten wind that the statue's been purchased by a private citizen. Some of our… friends thought this might mean complications to the case.” He paused. “I'm talking about an awful lot of money Mr. Hawkins. But there's one catch…”

Hawkins's throat felt suddenly dry Funding? From a political office? “What?” He grabbed a notepad and a pencil and poised himself, ready to write.

“You have to win the case. We want that statue down, regard-less of the cost. Am I making myself clear?”

Hawkins doodled the word
clear
on his notepad. “Yes, sir, you are. You mind if I ask why your office is interested?”

“That should be obvious.” The man's voice was so soft Hawkins had to strain to hear him. “Election year is coming up. Who wouldn't want to claim such a victory before hitting the campaign trail? The special interest campaign trail, that is.” The man's voice grew serious. “As I said, we're talking about a lot of money”

Hawkins could no longer help himself.” How much?” He drew a dollar sign on the notepad and waited.

The man rattled off a figure, and Hawkins dropped his pencil, his breath trapped somewhere deep inside his throat.” I'm listening.”

“Very well—” the caller chuckled again— “here's what we want to do…”

Jordan Riley paced his office like a caged jaguar trying to warm himself on a December morning in New York City “Explain it to me again, T. J., because it doesn't make sense. I'm out of the office for one day researching some innocuous Bible club, and Hawkins asks you to write a brief on
my
case? A case that's been over for weeks?”

It was just after noon on Friday the week before the Jesus statue would be down for good and suddenly everything certain about the case had dissolved in the time it took T. J. to sit him down and close the door. And why did his friend look so ner-vous? Something about this newest twist in the situation didn't ring true to Jordan and he was operating under a barely con-trolled rage.

“I told you. Hawkins got word that a private citizen bought the Jesus statue and the land where it sits. Joshua Nunn requested a hearing for next week, and Hawkins thought you could use some help. He asked me to write a brief and meet with you this afternoon.” T. J. uttered an empty laugh. “What, no thanks? A guy spends a day writing a brief for his friend, and this is the appreciation I get?”

Jordan stalked from his desk to the large picture window behind it and stared outside, his back to T. J. “Who bought the land?”

“I told you, we're not sure.”

Jordan whipped around. “You expect me to believe that? Hawkins doesn't know? He used to be an investigator before he turned lawyer, remember?” Jordan huffed and returned his gaze to the window. He wanted to ask his friend to leave so he could
take a minute and collect his thoughts. Why wouldn't this case go away? He'd have to go back to Bethany now, which meant he might well run into Faith again. He hated the thought of facing those innocent, warm eyes of hers…of standing up under her questioning, accusing gaze.

Her words filled his mind, as they had often in the past weeks.
“The Jesus statue belongs to the people of Bethany and any battle you wage there is one you'll ultimately lose…one you'll ulti-mately lose… one you'll ultimately lose…
“

How many times since the lawsuit had he wished he could call off the whole thing, run back to Faith, and tell her he hadn't changed after all? That he really was the same boy she'd been in love with all those years ago.

But he couldn't. He wasn't. It was that simple.

The person he was now could not be undone because of a jumble of teenage memories. He had taken his stand—armed himself for war—and there would be no going back, no convincing himself that Jesus was real or that the court battle he'd waged was not worth giving his life for.

No matter what Faith had done to his heart that night in the parking lot.

Jordan turned back to his desk and sat down, holding his conflicting emotions at bay He had no idea why T J. had been brought into this, but it was time to make sure Faith's words didn't turn out prophetic. And whether T. J. would be sent to Bethany with him or not, he needed a game plan. Even if it wasn't one of his own making.

“Okay” Jordan gritted his teeth as he leaned forward and met his friend's gaze straight on. “Tell me about your brief.”

I
t was Monday morning, twenty-four hours before the Jesus statue was legally required to be removed from Jericho Park. The morning of the hearing that would end the case once and for all. Rain beat a steady pattern against the courthouse roof and a blustery wind howled through the trees on the lawn.

As always, the wet weather made Joshua's knees ache. A reminder of his cross-country days. Still, as he walked the hall-ways toward Judge Webster's courtroom, there was a definite spring in his step.

In fact, he hadn't felt so good since before Bob Moses died.

God had promised to go before him, promised His faithful-ness, and indeed, it was coming to pass. The goodness and stead-fastness of the Lord. To think that Faith would purchase the piece of Jericho Park where the statue stood. It was a move her father would have made, but not Joshua. Not in a dozen years of studying law briefs.

He rounded a corner and headed through the double doors of the courtroom to an inconspicuous spot in the back. He was glad he was the first to arrive.
How could
I ever
have doubted You, Lord?
He thought again of Faith, of her brilliant move and the change in her over the past few days. As though she'd somehow found the drive and determination of her father. Of course, if the station management discovered that
she
was the one who'd bought the land with the statue, the fallout would be devastating to her career.

Joshua glanced at his watch—he had forty minutes before the hearing began. Good. He'd need at least that long to pray for Faith, for the case, for a dozen other needs…

Finally he prayed for Jordan Riley—something he'd felt com-pelled to do every day since the last hearing, since he realized Jordan's was the face he'd seen in his dream. Joshua still had no idea what it all meant, but he was sure of one thing. The young man needed prayer.

Suddenly, Joshua's silent pleadings were interrupted by the sound of several people and a clanking of equipment making its way toward him. As the entourage rounded the bend and headed his way Joshua felt the blood leave his face. What was this? Reporters? For a simple hearing? How had they gotten wind of the story?

And what would their presence mean for Faith?

The minutes passed slowly while the camera crews took up their positions. Jordan Riley appeared, followed by another dapper-looking attorney wearing a dark suit as expensive and tailored as Jordan's. Immediately the reporters were on Jordan, pumping him with questions, cameras running.

“Is it true you have a response for whatever happens today in court, Mr. Riley?”

“Can you tell us the details?”

“Who purchased the land, Mr. Riley can you tell us?”

Joshua gritted his teeth. So they knew about the land…
Help Faith, Lord… please.

Joshua's opponent exuded cool assurance as he answered their questions. Yes, he had a response; no, he couldn't discuss the details until the hearing was over; no, he had no idea who purchased the land.

“I'm assuming the city will reveal that information today.” Jordan nodded politely and excused himself as he and the other HOUR attorney made their way to the plaintiff's table.

Joshua listened to them and chill bumps rose on his arms. As he stood to take his place at the defense table, the reporters turned their questions on him.

“Mr. Nunn…Mr. Nunn… Tell us, who purchased the land from the city?”

“Did the town have a vote in the sale of the statue?”

“Was this a ploy by the town of Bethany to circumvent Judge Webster's mandate?”

They acted like a pack of rabid dogs. Joshua held his hand up and repeatedly told them he was unable to comment until after the hearing. He took his seat near the front of the courtroom, his mind racing in silent prayer.

There was no time to think about the outcome. Judge Webster appeared from behind closed doors and took his place at the bench. He surveyed the reporters and cameramen and raised an eyebrow at Jordan. “Well, Mr. Riley it seems whenever you come to town the local press is intent on capturing every detail.”

Jordan nodded politely and allowed the slightest grin. “Yes, Your Honor.”

Judge Webster banged his gavel once. “Court is now in session.” He stared strangely at Joshua. “Will the counsel for both sides please rise?” He waited until they were standing, then he addressed Joshua. “I understand you come with new information regarding the case of the HOUR organization against the city of Bethany Pennsylvania. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“And you—” the judge looked at Jordan— “will be filing another suit in response, is that right?”

Joshua steadied himself against the news. What other suit was the judge talking about? There was no way Jordan Riley could have come prepared to file a countersuit unless…

He closed his eyes briefly Unless he'd been tipped off about the details of the hearing.

Be strong and courageous, Joshua…I will go before you always.

The holy whisperings still infused him with peace, but Joshua definitely could not see God's plan unfolding.

“Mr. Riley you may be seated.” Judge Webster leaned back in his chair and waved toward Joshua.” Present your brief, Counselor.”

Joshua straightened his tie.
Give me the words, Lord… I can't do this alone…
He walked up to the bench and raised the document in his hand. “Your Honor, in the weeks since our last hearing, the situation at Jerichp Park has changed considerably It is my intention to inform you of those changes and then—once you understand them—I will request that you throw out your earlier decision.”

Judge Webster raised a single eyebrow and shifted his lower jaw to one side. “Continue.”

Joshua studied his notes for a moment and then looked at the judge. “Last week, a private citizen came forward and offered to purchase the piece of park property where the Jesus statue cur-rently stands.” Joshua moved to the second page.
Make him open to the idea, Lord…
“That citizen paid a substantial amount, the price of which is detailed in the brief I'll provide you. The price included not only the land, but the statue as well.”

The judge leaned forward. “And so…”

Joshua nodded politely and continued.” Now that the land and statue in question no longer belong to the city there is no conflict with the separation of church and state law. Therefore, we request that you throw out your earlier decision, since such a decision cannot be enacted on a private citizen.”

There was a pause while Judge Webster stroked his chin and studied Joshua. He seemed less antagonistic than he'd been back when they'd had the first hearing, but something about the man's eyes—a knowing look, or perhaps a smugness—left Joshua anx-ious and uncertain.

He had the feeling the judge had known all along what this
second hearing was about and was merely going through the motions.

“Mr. Nunn, I'd like the name of the private citizen, please.”

Joshua's heart skipped a beat.
No, not with the press here…
“The private citizen?”

Webster raised both eyebrows this time. “Yes, Mr. Nunn. The private citizen who purchased the park property. I need a name, please.”

Out of the corner of his eye Joshua saw reporters whispering to one another, their pencils poised, faces awash with anticipation. If the judge pushed, Joshua knew he'd have no choice but to present the documents that showed Faith as the buyer. Real estate dealings were public record. “Well, Your Honor. The citi-zen desires to remain anonymous. The city has chosen to honor that desire.”