Chapter 1 #2
“She didn’t testify?”
“She did, but according to her, no one would listen to her side of the story when she tried to tell them her mother hurt her, and Charlie saved her. She’s all but bankrupted herself fighting to get him free, with numerous attorneys taking her money and doing nothing to help.”
Dan hated to hear that. “Wow, man, looks like you’ve stumbled upon your next screenplay.”
“Maybe, but that’s not my primary concern. She needs help, Dan. This whole situation is obscene.”
“It certainly sounds that way. You say she testified, but it didn’t do any good?”
“She said it was like she was screaming at the top of her lungs, and no one was listening.”
“You believe her?”
“I do. She loves him. I think he’s the only person in her life who was ever kind to her or took an interest in her. She’s eaten up with guilt over the fact that his kindness toward her resulted in fourteen years in prison.”
Dan sighed. “I hate cases like this. They make me see red.”
“Can you help her?”
“You bet I can. Let me check the schedule and see how soon I can get there.”
“You’re going to come here? You yourself?”
Dan laughed. “I do actually work, you know. And miscarriage-of-justice cases like this one are my favorite kind.”
“She doesn’t have a lot of money, so let me know what you need to get started.”
“Don’t worry about that for now. We’ll see what’s what after I’ve had a chance to dig a little deeper.”
“I owe you big for this.”
“Yes, you do. At the very least, I want a consultant’s credit on the screenplay.”
“You got it,” Grant said with a chuckle.
“Send me the details, and I’ll be in touch.”
It took a few phone calls, an internet search and a review of the court documents Grant sent for Dan to conclude that Charlie Grandchamp had been railroaded.
Grant texted to say he’d spoken to his uncle Frank McCarthy, a retired Rhode Island Superior Court judge, about the Grandchamp case.
Grant had learned from his uncle that the presiding judge had been showing signs of the Alzheimer’s that would later force his retirement for some time when he heard Charlie’s case. The judge had died five years ago.
Dan used the information about the judge’s illness and the statement Stephanie Logan, Grandchamp’s stepdaughter, had sent to file a request for an emergency hearing. He also instructed his staff to get him licensed to work in Rhode Island. Then he booked a plane ticket to Providence.
His first stop after landing in Rhode Island was the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston, which was just south of the capital city of Providence. He gave his name at the check-in counter and asked to see Charlie Grandchamp.
“You’re not on Mr. Grandchamp’s visitor list.”
“His daughter recently retained me to represent him. I’m not sure he’s aware of that yet. I flew in from LA to see him ahead of an emergency hearing in his case this coming Wednesday.”
“Could I see some ID?”
“Of course.”
Dan respected that the guy asked, even though he’d clearly recognized him. He handed over his California driver’s license.
The guard gave the license back to him. “I’ll have to get authorization. Would you mind waiting?”
“Sure, no problem.”
After giving him another inquisitive look, the guard closed the window between the desk and reception area and picked up the phone.
Dan took a seat, expecting it to take a while since he’d shown up unannounced.
He used the time to check his phone, to weigh in on inquiries from colleagues on several pending cases and to let Grant know where he was.
Don’t say anything to Stephanie yet. Let me talk to Charlie and see where we are after.
I can’t thank you enough or believe you’ve already got them to agree to a hearing. You have no idea what this will mean to her.
I’m happy to help. No promises, though.
Got it. Keep me posted.
Going to hang in Providence until the hearing on Wed, and then I want to check out your island.
Steph and I will be there. Can’t wait to see you.
Same, friend.
The guard opened the window fifteen minutes after he’d closed it. “Come on through.”
Dan stood and went to the door, waiting for it to open after a buzzer sounded.
Another guard appeared to escort Dan to a room where he was told to wait.
Ten more minutes passed before the door opened to admit a muscular man with a buzz cut and piercing blue eyes.
Dan stood and waited for the guard to remove Grandchamp’s cuffs before he extended a hand to the other man. “Dan Torrington.”
The guard left the room, closing the door behind him.
Charlie ignored his outstretched hand and took a seat, all without seeming to blink. “What do you want?”
“Stephanie asked me to come.”
“Well, you wasted a trip.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’ve reviewed your case and requested an emergency hearing. Did you hear that Judge Dugan died of Alzheimer’s complications five years ago?”
“Yeah, I knew that. So what?”
“Did you also know he was showing signs of dementia as far back as ten years before he died?”
For the first time since he walked into the room, the other man blinked.
“I’ve read every word about your case, particularly the statement your daughter made about how you were never anything but kind to her.”
Grandchamp’s steely gaze shifted to a spot behind Dan.
“It’s a travesty that you’re in here, and I’m going to do everything I can to get you out, starting with an emergency hearing in Superior Court.”
His stare shifted back to Dan. “They agreed to that?”
“They did.”
“Why?”
“I don’t say this to be arrogant, but my name tends to get people’s attention. I have a reputation for only taking cases I feel I can win, because it can be tremendously expensive to fight these things. I have to focus the limited resources of my innocence project on cases I can win.”
“And you feel you can win mine?”
“I know I can.”
Charlie shook his head, his expression skeptical. “So many lawyers just as smooth as you have promised us the same thing. I can’t have my daughter disappointed again.”
“She won’t be. I give you my word as a man and an officer of the court. What was done to you is outrageous. I’d like the chance to fix it.”
Charlie crossed his arms as he trained that unblinking glare on Dan. “You really think you can?”
“I’m almost sure of it.”
He exhaled as his posture lost a bit of rigidity. “My daughter has devoted her entire adult life to this cause for fourteen long years.”
“I understand.”
“Do you? Do you understand that means she’s had no life of her own? She hasn’t dated or gone to college or done anything other than work her ass off to pay for lawyers who promise her the world and leave us back at square one when they move on to the next thing.”
“My services are free to you and Stephanie.”
He certainly hadn’t expected that. “Free. How is that possible?”
“Stephanie has become friends with my close friend Grant McCarthy.”
“The people who own the place where Stephanie works?”
“Their son. He asked me to help. Any friend of his is a friend of mine. And I don’t need the money. I made plenty in corporate law. I’m much more interested in justice than money these days. My innocence project in LA has freed dozens of wrongly convicted people.”
“So you’re kind of good at this sort of thing, then?”
“That’s what I’ve been told,” Dan said with a smile. “I know you have no reason to trust me or to think I’ll be any different than the other lawyers who’ve promised you the world, but I hope you’ll allow me to do whatever I can to help you.”
After a long moment of silence, Dan was certain Charlie was going to tell him to get lost. He wouldn’t have blamed him after what the less ethical members of his profession had done to Charlie and his daughter.
Instead, Charlie put his arms on the table and leaned in.
“All right, Mr. Torrington. I’ll accept your help and put my faith in you, but only because my daughter sent you.
She’s the only person in the whole world who matters to me, and if she wants me to do this, I’ll do it.
But so help me God, if you disappoint her, you’ll regret it. ”
“I won’t disappoint her.”
“Fine.”
“By the way, I got your hearing moved up to this Wednesday.”
“As in this week?”
“As in two days from now.”
“Son of a bitch. Are you for real?”
“As real as it gets.”
“Will you let my daughter know?”
“Since you’ve agreed to let me represent you, she’ll be my next call.”
“This… I… I don’t know what to say.”
“I’m very glad Grant called me. This is the stuff I live for. I’ll see you in court.” Dan got up to go to the door but turned back to address the other man. “Oh, and, Charlie? You might want to pack your stuff.”