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There was a moment of silence. Maybe Carson was deliberating whether to reveal what he was asked.
Before Carson could respond, Arthur Keller blurted, “She’s in the Creole cemetery outside of town. There’s a pile of stones next to a grave markedCLAIBORNE.”
“Arthur! You son-of-a—” There was a shuffle and it sounded like a chair was knocked over.
Another chair went down, as if Arthur might have also leapt to his feet. “No! For too long you’ve called the shots, Carson. I’m not doing this anymore. My career is in jeopardy because of you. I kept silent about Justine all this time because you threatened me. I helped put Marie Trichel away in an institution because of you. I caused Karen Bertrand to give her baby up for adoption on your insistence because you saidwehad a plan, and her baby would ruin it. Well, Carson, that was my child too. And Justine—”
“That woman was a nuisance—”
Keller continued, “That womanis dead because of us. Not because we killed her, but because of the way you treated her.”
“That’s nonsense, and nobody can prove a thing.”
“But what about all the other things, Carson? You insisted we file a suit to keep Tanner from practicing law with no probable cause because your ego couldn’t handle the fact that he wants to go out on his own. I’m tired of you manipulating me because I’m a judge. I’ve got the power, Carson, notyou. I refuse to do your bidding any longer.”
“You’re a fool Arthur. Always have been. Nobody’s going to believe a word you say. You’ll go down for all of it and I’ll skate away like always. There isn’t anybody in this town who would dare go against me in court.”
*
“Have you seenthe front page of the newspaper?” Tanner held up theCypress Timesto show Carly and Imogene.
The look on Carson’s face was captured perfectly on the front page of the local newspaper by an excellent courtroom artist who was present at the hearing. The indignation, disbelief, and sheer outrage that he was well and truly caught doing the awful things he’d been getting away with for years in Cypress Bayou was a source of great satisfaction for so many folks in town when the judge read the indictments. There were so many: racketeering, jury tampering, witness intimidation, conspiracy (several counts), kidnapping, blackmail, fraud… The list went on.
The citizens gathered outside the courthouse waiting to hear Carson’s fate. Not his eventual fate, but that of his initial hearing. They came together in solidarity for all the wrongs he’d done to them and those they loved. They gathered to protest the threats and intimidations. The manipulation. The sheer audacity of one human to treat others and abuse them the way Carson Carmichael had with his perceived power in the community.
A cheer went up when it was announced that he wouldn’t be eligible for bail because he was determined to be a flight risk. When one has done so much wrong to so many, the sweet victory in watching him get his deserved justice, or even the beginnings of it, could, and did, bring an entire town together on that day.
And nobody was more satisfied with the beginnings of this justice than his own sons and daughter.
Judge Arthur Keller’s hearing was scheduled for next week. His would be more involved because a separate investigation was being done by the state’s Judiciary Committee, due to his being a judge. If Keller turned on Carson like they figured he would, it might take a few years off his sentence, but the man had enough crimes to answer for on his own.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Carly
One Week Later
Tanner and Iwere in the office and my appointment in New Orleans was looming. I’d not had the courage to bring it up. And I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go. “I’m headed down to New Orleans for a job interview with Jackson and Jackson.” There, I’d said it.
Tanner’s eyes widened. “Jackson and Jackson is the biggest firm in the state, Carly. That’s…awesome.” But I could see that he wasn’t excited.
“I…don’t know what to do. I feel like we’re building something here, Tanner. Together.” Professionally yes, but emotionally together too. We hadn’t really discussed our feelings for each other since that night on Nana’s sunporch. I’d been at Nana’s since Carson’s hearing, helping her out with Momma’s big event whenever I could, so Tanner and I hadn’t really had much chance to spend time together. And Tanner had been extremely busy working with the DA on all the filings.
“I can’t tell you not to follow your dreams, Carly. This is a huge opportunity.” He smiled but didn’t quite pull it off.
I wanted him to tell me not to go. To tell me he couldn’t run this place without me. And I’d hoped for something more…
But he didn’t say any of that, so I left at the end of the day. Tomorrow would be my interview. If I left around eight o’clock in the morning, I’d have plenty of time to make the drive and get there in time for my three-p.m. interview.
*
Tanner
Tanner left theoffice unsure of what to do. He was crazy about Carly, but just like with Kerry-Ann back in law school, he couldn’t get in the way of her future, if Jackson and Jackson was what she wanted.
Tanner hesitated going straight to his trailer after work, so he stopped by Jake and Leah’s place. “Hey there. Anything new with Carson’s trial?” Jake still wore a pair of blue scrubs from the hospital.
Tanner shook his head, not wanting to talk much about anything right now.
