Angelo had nothing.
Then corridors, up and down, left and right, back and forth, to and through the door that said Probation Services, into its small lobby, and sitting to wait.
“Angelo Acevedo.”
They stood and passed through the open door into the cheap, plain little office, and closed the door behind them.
“Good morning, Angelo.”
“Good morning, Mr. Conway.”
Mr. Conway wasn’t old, but he was shiny bald with a fringe of black. “And, Mr. Beale.”
“Yes, good morning,” Charles said.
Mr. Conway had an open folder on his desk. He read with his finger, which moved across the paper in front of him, line by line, inching down to the bottom. “How is everything?”
“It is good,” Angelo said.
“Good. Mr. Beale?”
“Everything is going quite well, Mr. Conway.”
“Did anything happen this month?”
Charles answered. “Angelo has been conscientious at his job, as usual. This last week I’ve had him out on business calls by himself and I believe he’s been doing very well at that.”
“Have there been any problems? Contacts with previous associates?”
“I really don’t think so,” Charles said.
“Okay.” Mr. Conway closed the folder; his finger got out just in time. He looked up at them with a bureaucratic smile. “Then I think-”
And the door opened.
Everything plain and routine about the meeting collapsed. Mr. Conway’s mouth dropped open and Angelo hardened into pure rock.
Charles blinked, and partly smiled, and said, “Congresswoman Liu! What a surprise!”
Karen Liu took in the room in a deliberate glance and planted herself directly behind Angelo.
“Good morning, Mr. Beale,” she said.
“Mr. Conway,” Charles said, almost up to normal conversational speed. “Allow me to introduce Congresswoman Karen Liu. This is Mr. Conway, our probation officer.”
“Congresswoman…?” Mr. Conway said.
“Every bit,” Charles said.
“Good morning,” Karen Liu said. “I am very pleased to meet you, Mr. Conway, and please excuse my interruption. I am here on behalf of Mr. Acevedo.”
“I’m honored, ma’am,” Mr. Conway said, very calmly. “What can I do for you?”
“I have taken an interest in this case,” she said. “Please let me make it perfectly clear that I am not using my position in the Congress of the United States, and as the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Judicial Policy, to influence the due procedures of your office. I am here only as an advocate for Mr. Acevedo, to be sure that he is being treated fairly and according to the law.”
“I can assure you he is,” Charles said. “Mr. Conway has been extremely helpful and supportive.”
“Ms. Liu,” Mr. Conway said, “are you here as a character witness for Angelo?”
“I am here as a witness for Mr. Acevedo.” The intensity of her stare had reached searchlight proportions. “I am also here as witness of the system. I am here on behalf of every person in this country who is struggling with a judicial system and an economic system that is too often set against them. Mr. Conway, I had my office review the public records of this case. I have interviewed Mr. Beale.”
The spotlight beam dimmed dramatically to a quiet glow.
“I believe,” she said, passionately, pleadingly, patiently, “that the terms of this probation should be reviewed immediately. There has been no violation of any of his probationary conditions. Mr. Acevedo has been a model employee and citizen, and I believe that an additional two years of probation is unnecessary.” With a hint more firmness she added, “And excessive.”
“The judge set the terms,” Mr. Conway said, still very calm. “He would have to make any decision to change them. I only administer the court’s orders.”
“I am quite familiar with judicial procedures,” she said. “So I would like your office to request an immediate hearing to reconsider whether the original terms are still in the best interest of Mr. Acevedo and of this state.”
“Actually, Virginia is a Commonwealth,” Mr. Conway said.
She rewarded his comment with a tight smile. “And I will be taking a personal interest in this case.”
“I’ll have my secretary call the clerk of the court right away. Judge Woody usually has a few open spots in his schedule.”
“Thank you, and please inform my office of the time. It has been a sincere pleasure meeting you, Mr. Conway.”
The door closed and the room shrank back to its normal size.
Charles jumped to his feet. “Mr. Conway-I am so sorry-I had no idea she would do such a thing.”
“It’s fine.” Mr. Conway shrugged, still staring thoughtfully at the door.
“I’ll talk to her.” He had the door open again.
“I’m just going to toss this whole thing to the judge. I’m not going to tangle with someone like that.”
“I’ll be right back, Angelo,” Charles said, and hurried out after Karen Liu.
“Congresswoman!”
In the front lobby, he caught her.
“Mr. Beale? Yes?”
“Just a moment. I’m sorry,” he said, “I have to catch my breath.”
He caught it.
“I needed to say,” he said with his breath, “we’re doing fine with Angelo. You really don’t need to trouble yourself.”
“It isn’t any trouble.”
“Then I’ll be a little more direct. I think it’s best for him to keep things the way they are.”
“I understand. I’ll be very direct.” Her eyes, as always, were. “It might be best, or it might not.” Her tone was friendlier than her words, somewhat. “But I have reasons of my own to take the trouble.”
“Could you tell me what they are?”
“Not at this time, Mr. Beale. I have an important meeting I’m already late for. I’ll repeat, though, that I have a very good reason for doing this. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
Charles watched her push through the door and jump into a waiting car.
“I’d like to know the reason,” he said.
“ ‘I am not using my position in the Congress of the United States and as the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Judicial Policy to influence you.’ ” Charles shook his head wearily.
“Was she overbearing?” Dorothy asked.
“Only in the friendliest and most cooperative way.”
“What will the judge do?”
“We will have our hearing Wednesday morning.”
“So soon?”
“So soon. People don’t like to keep a congressperson waiting. Eight o’clock sharp.”
“Will Judge Woody be offended by Karen Liu trying to browbeat him?”
“I hope not. Or I hope he is, and tells her to mind her own business.”
“I hope he doesn’t throw Angelo into prison just to show that he’s not intimidated,” Dorothy said.
“I don’t know what he’ll do. He might just do what she wants and let Angelo off completely.”
“Charles, he wouldn’t! What would happen to Angelo?”
“He’d be free. We don’t want him to be our prisoner forever, do we?”
“He’s not our prisoner,” Dorothy said.
“You should be thinking about what we do want. The judge would like a written statement from us by tomorrow morning.”
