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THREE

SARAH MORGAN

My heels click across the tile floor, sending echoes throughout the old building, continuing even after I’ve left. I pull a pair of sunglasses from my purse and slide them on, shielding my eyes from the climbing sun. My office is just a short walk away in Old Town Manassas. A lot of things in my life have changed, not just me. I’m no longer a named partner at Williamson & Morgan in DC. My choice, not anyone else’s. I was tired of having a man’s name in front of mine and equally tired of defending depraved individuals with far too much wealth. You can truly get away with anything if you have the means. I’m proof of that, and so are my former clients.

I didn’t give up practicing law though. I just gave up who I was practicing it for. My work now is all pro bono—which I prefer because it’s more of a challenge. I’m the founder and executive director of a charity called the Morgan Foundation. The words charity and Morgan in the same sentence must sound odd, an oxymoron of sorts, but they shouldn’t. There are a lot of perks in charity work—tax benefits, a polished public image, political influence, and so much more. All of it wrapped up in a sweet bow disguised as goodwill. And the name Morgan? I’m sure you have questions about that. Why keep it? Why name my charity after it? Well, funny enough, Morgan is my maiden name. I never took Adam’s, and he never cared. His mother did, but not him. When Adam got his first book deal, he decided to use Morgan as his pseudonym— Rumple just didn’t have the same air of sophistication. His mother was livid, but what she hated even more was when Adam made it official by legally changing his last name. So, that’s why it’s called the Morgan Foundation: because Morgan is mine, and it always has been.

Bob still works at Williamson & Morgan, except now it’s Williamson, Miller & Associates, as he made named partner earlier this year. It took me leaving the firm for him to achieve my position, and even then, it was Williamson & Associates for a long time. It appears that we were never a match to begin with because I outmatched him.

Arriving at a brick building a few blocks away, I take the elevator to the top floor. It opens to a waiting area and a large desk shaped like a crescent moon, where Natalie, the foundation’s receptionist, sits. A glass partition wall is positioned behind the desk, separating the atrium from the rest of the office. The foundation’s name is etched into the frosted glass, the letters capitalized and bolded.

“Good morning, Sarah,” Natalie says, standing from her chair with a smile. She’s young and driven, with a can-do attitude and an eagerness to please—ideal traits for someone in her position. Her auburn hair is pulled back in a low bun, and she wears a sleek all-black outfit.

“I set up your nine o’clock in the conference room,” she quickly adds.

I furrow my brow and eye my Cartier watch, noting the time. It’s twenty past nine. Natalie won’t point out that I’m late, but I am late—and that’s not like me at all. I respect time more than anything as it’s our most valuable resource. Money comes and goes, but time only goes. Not a lot of people realize that. When you give someone your time, what you’re really giving them is a piece of you, and that’s why you have to be careful with it.

“Alejandro Perez, our fiftieth reformer,” Natalie says, thumbing through a stack of papers wedged in a folder before handing it to me.

I scan the pages, familiarizing myself with the content.

“Sarah, I know you have a lot going on.” She pauses and gives me a sympathetic look. “So, if you want, I can...”

“No, I got it,” I say, cutting her off.

“Okay... Oh, and your coffee.” She plucks a large to-go cup from her desk and extends it to me.

I thank her and round the corner of the glass partition, walking farther into the Morgan Foundation. It’s airy with high ceilings, exposed beams, and large arched windows. It’s modern meets rustic with a touch of minimalism. There aren’t any cubicles because I’ve never liked them. Who wants to work in a box? That’s something we get buried in, not something we should spend our life in.

The floor plan is open concept—save for two corner offices and a large conference room set in between them. The bigger office is mine, and the other one belongs to Anne. Yes, I kept Anne around. She’s a great asset because she does what she’s told and doesn’t ask questions. Plus, it’s hard to find someone you can trust these days. Everyone has an angle, something they want and something they’re willing to give up to get it. But Anne’s not like that. Her role here is much larger than it was at Williamson & Morgan. She’s no longer my assistant. She’s the office manager and serves on the board of trustees.

Several employees take notice of my presence and pause their work, greeting me with smiles and hellos. I exchange brief pleasantries with each of them. They’re proud to work here because we make a difference. I have a staff of twenty, half of which are lawyers and paralegals. The other half supports the reform side of the Morgan Foundation, which is what really put us on the map, and it’s why we have so many patrons. Our donors are not just investing in the futures of those selected for the reform program, they’re investing in their own futures—because every criminal we reform is one less criminal that’s a drain on our system and a detriment to our society. So far, we have a perfect track record, and I hope Alejandro will continue that streak. Through the opaque glass, I can only see the back of his head as he’s seated in a conference chair facing the window.

I again flip open the folder to a mug shot of “Case Fifty.” He wears no expression, despite sporting a strong jaw and sharp, angled features. His eyes are the color of fresh sage plucked from a garden, a stark contrast to his jet-black hair. A canvas of tattoos adorns his neck, continuing underneath the opening of his shirt. I can’t help but wonder how far down they go. In another life, Alejandro could have been a model. Maybe he still can be with the help of my foundation. I skim through the rest of his file, reviewing his criminal record, work history, and application to the program, complete with a written essay.

“Hey, how’d the meeting go?” a voice calls out.

I look up from the folder to find Anne walking toward me. Her shiny bob bounces, and her A-line navy-blue dress sways with each step.

“It went as well as the last one,” I say in a hushed voice.

My personal life isn’t something I like to talk about with my employees, but Anne’s more than an employee. She’s a friend, so she knows what’s going on with me. I think Natalie does too, but that info was learned from her snooping since I certainly didn’t confide in her.

Anne shakes her head in dismay and follows me into my office, which is basically a carbon copy of what I had at my old firm. There’s a treadmill in the corner, a plush sitting area off to the side, and an oversized, overfilled bookshelf lining an entire wall. I set my stuff down and pull open a set of blinds. The view is of Baldwin Park and the Manassas Museum, half blocked by a large parking garage. It would have bothered me years ago, but it doesn’t anymore. A view is only a view until you stop appreciating it, and eventually, we all do.

“So, what happened?” Anne asks. “Is Bob still groveling?”

I swiftly pull the cord on the last set of blinds, making them snap against the window frame.

“Yeah, and he still thinks we can reconcile,” I say, turning to face Anne. “We’re making no progress because he’s treating these divorce proceedings like they’re counseling sessions.”

She rolls her eyes. “What is wrong with him?”

“Well, for starters, he’s a man.”

“True.” Anne tilts her head, giving me an amused look. “Why are men?”

I squint, waiting for her to finish.

“That’s it. That’s the whole question. Why are men?” She chuckles.

I crack a smile and shake my head. My gaze catches Alejandro’s folder lying on my desk — a reminder of where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing.

“I’ve got to go onboard Case Fifty.”

“I can take care of that.”

“No,” I say, retrieving the folder. “You know I like being hands-on. As the founder, it’s important that I show how invested we are in each and every case.”

“Have you seen him?” Anne takes a step back, leaning her head out my door, pretending to peer in his direction. She pulls her head back in and says, “I’m invested.”

“Anne,” I warn, half joking, half serious.

“What? I’m kidding... mostly. But don’t tell Jamie I said that,” she says with a laugh, referring to her partner.

“Your secret is safe with me,” I say as I exit my office and make for the conference room.

“Let me know if you need any assistance.” Anne winks as she splits from me, heading toward her own office.

I pause outside the room where Case Fifty is waiting. My hand rests on the handle for a moment, and I let out a heavy sigh before I enter. Alejandro is on his feet in an instant with his hands clasped together in front of him.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” I say, closing the door behind me.

“Not a problem. I’m used to waiting.” He softly smiles.

I don’t return it. Instead, I extend my hand out for a shake. I expect his to be firm and hard, but it matches mine. Clearly, he’s trying to show me respect.

“I’m Sarah Morgan, founder and executive director of the Morgan Foundation.”

“Alejandro Perez, inmate number...” He stops himself midsentence, and his cheeks flush. “Sorry, force of habit... Umm, it’s nice to meet you.”

I politely smile to put him at ease. “Well, we’re here to kick that habit and ensure you never have to refer to yourself as a number again,” I say as I round the table and pull out a chair.

He nods, and I notice he doesn’t sit until I’m seated. I lay out his case file as well as a stack of brochures and a large manila envelope before meeting his gaze. The light reflecting through the window catches his eyes, making them appear even brighter than they were in his mug shot.

“First, I want to congratulate you, Alejandro, on being selected for our reform program.”

“Thank you. I’m really grateful for this opportunity, and please call me Alex. The only ones that call me Alejandro are the police and my mother.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Alejandro.”

He tilts his head, squinting for a moment, before relaxing his face into a neutral position. Boundaries are important, especially in cases like this when you’re working with people who don’t respect boundaries. The law is a boundary, and Alejandro has pushed a lot of them in his life.

“Now, let’s review how the program works. Everything you need is in here,” I say, sliding the thick manila envelope across the table. “Go ahead and open it.”

Alejandro undoes the clasp and slips his hand inside, pulling out a set of keys.

“That goes to your mailbox, apartment, and vehicle, which will be covered by the foundation for the next six months. The apartment comes fully furnished with a washer and dryer in unit, plus a stocked fridge and all your basic necessities to get you started.”

His hand disappears into the envelope again, and he pulls out a debit card.

“There’s one thousand dollars loaded on there to assist with any additional expenses. It should cover you until you’re able to secure employment.”

Alejandro nods and flips through the stack of brochures.

“Those are all the resources available to you, as well as information on what’s required of you to stay in the program. You must actively look for work. In your file it says you’re not a drug user, but you will submit to a drug test every three weeks. If you fail even one test, you’re kicked out of the program. If you get into any legal trouble above a simple traffic violation, you’re kicked out of the program. You’re also required to attend a therapy session every week. Your first one has already been scheduled for you, and it’s noted in your agenda.”

He retrieves the planner from inside the manila envelope and lays it on the table, examining it.

“Do you have any questions so far?” I ask.

His eyes skim over the keys, agenda, brochures, and debit card, but his expression remains unchanged, like he’s not sure what to make of this.

“This is too much,” Alejandro says, gesturing to everything on the table. “How can you afford this? And I’m your fiftieth case?” He pulls his head back like he can’t believe the good fortune he’s just fallen into.

“It’s not too much. There are a lot of people in this world that want to help.”

“Whose apartment am I staying in, and whose car am I driving?”

“The Morgan Foundation owns a fleet of used vehicles and a large number of properties, so it doesn’t belong to a single person. Since our program is six months, we cycle our reformers in and out,” I explain.

“Reformers...” He smiles. “Makes me think of Transformers .”

“Yeah, well, that was already trademarked.” My mouth starts to curve into a grin, but I quickly extinguish it. As I clear my throat, my gaze falls to his chest and biceps. The tight white T-shirt he’s wearing leaves very little to the imagination, and it’s obvious he spent his time in prison working out.

“What happens after the six months is up?” he asks.

“You’ll be financially responsible for yourself, but the Morgan Foundation’s resources will continue to be available to you for as long as you need.”

Alejandro tilts his head to the side. “And this is how you fix a bad person?”

His question catches me off guard, and I find myself locking eyes with him again, just for a moment—but in that moment, it feels like we can see into each other’s souls. I wonder what he sees in mine.

“No. This is how we give a person who did bad things a second chance to do some good ones.”

My cell phone vibrates against the table. Unknown is displayed across the caller ID, which is not uncommon in my line of work. A fair number of incoming calls come from prisons, jails, police officers, and burner phones—all of which share the same inviting caller ID.

“I have to take this,” I say, picking up my phone and turning my chair slightly away from him. I hit Accept on the screen and press it against my ear. “Sarah Morgan speaking.”

A heavy breath vibrates through the receiver, and I can almost feel the exhale, as though the person on the other end were in the room with me. Looking over my shoulder at Case Fifty, I notice he hasn’t taken his eyes off me.

Turning away, I say, “Hello,” into the phone.

“Sarah.” A husky voice comes through, one I immediately recognize. It’s lost the authority it once held. Life can do that to you. For most, we break down slowly over years and decades—but for some, it happens all at once. He falls into the latter group.

“I need your help,” he says.

“With what?”

He exhales noisily. “I don’t know exactly, but I’ve got a gut feeling I’m going to need your legal services.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m at the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office... in their custody.”

“I’m on my way,” I say, ending the call.

I let out a small sigh as I start to collect my things, pausing only to address Alejandro.

“I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have to go. One of my associates will finish up,” I explain as I get to my feet.

“Is everything all right?” he asks.

“No, but it will be.”