Above The Law

CHAPTER 17

WHAT HAPPENED?" MARIA ASKED IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE the courtroom.

"We did the best we could," Casey said, watching Isodora as she trudged away down the hall behind the fat man while the three other prisoners she'd come in with sauntered alongside them.

"They didn't let her talk," Maria said.

"They didn't stop her," Casey said. "They offered her a deal and she took it. She wants to be with her baby, Maria. You can't blame her for that."

"Everyone I know," Maria said, "they say she will be let go until her hearing. Now she must leave? This is not right."

"Maybe," Casey said.

"I know this."

"I'm going to try and find out if it's not right," Casey said. "Excuse me."

Casey broke off from Maria and strode down a side hall, working her way through a small maze toward the ICE counsel offices. When Casey turned the corner past the judges' offices, she actually caught sight of the back of the ICE lawyer's tight hair bun up ahead.

Casey took off at a jog, catching the young lawyer just as she reached for the handle to the door of the ICE counsel offices.

"I wanted to thank you," Casey said with her broadest smile.

The lawyer gazed without commitment.

"For offering up the voluntary," Casey said.

"It's the best thing for the child," she said.

"Look, we don't want to embarrass the senator, either," Casey said. "I just wanted you to share that with everyone. That's never been my or my client's intent."

The lawyer stammered for a moment before she raised her eyebrows and said, "I'm sorry?"

"Having undocumented workers there, on his ranch," Casey said. "I'm sure he didn't know. Some people don't understand how hard it is to find good help."

The lawyer blinked and bit down on her lower lip.

"I know we can't really talk about it," Casey said, pressing the tips of her fingers into the young woman's shoulder. "But, unofficially, just pass the word, so they don't worry."

"The staff at his liaison office is great," the lawyer said. "I'm sure they'll be glad to hear it."