Donna was just beginning to fill out papers and answer general questions when
Sam and Josh walked into the station. Sam stopped her from answering any more
questions, by announcing he was her lawyer.
“We need to book Miss Moss and get things going.” Officer Beth Lee said,
coming up to the small group.
“What does that mean?” Sam and Josh both asked, knowing full well what it
meant. They were doing it for Donna’s benefit, so she would know what to
expect.
“She will have her fingerprints taken, mugshots, strip search, and processed
into the prison system.” Officer Lee explained.
Donna looked up at the mention of a strip search. Sam and Josh both caught the
startled look on Donna’s face.
“Donna, go ahead and get processed. Don’t answer any questions about the
charges, just give them name, address, and info like that. I will answer the
legal questions that pertain to the charges, I’m your attorney, let me handle
that stuff. We will talk with the detectives and get things straightened out.
I promise that things are going to be a whole lot better when we figure out
what is really going on.” Sam said, giving Donna a squeeze on her arm and
praying that he could back up his words.
Donna was lead through a door and gave the guys a last look. She was booked
into the system and was taken to an interrogation room, where Sam was waiting
for her.
“Where’s Josh?” Donna asked.
“He is cooling his heels... Actually he went to call everyone and let them
know what was happening. He couldn’t be in this room anyway because of
attorney client privilege.” Sam said.
“Sam?” Donna said quietly.
“Yeah?” Sam asked her back.
“How much did you charge a client before you came to work for the president?”
Donna asked him.
“I billed out at $500.00 an hour.” Sam said without missing a beat, but he
knew what Donna meant.
“I can’t afford you. I will have to settle for a public defender.” Donna
said sadly.
“You aren’t getting a public defender. You have me and the cost isn’t
important, besides the White House is technically supplying you with a lawyer.
It’s part of your benefits package.” Sam said.
“What is going on with the charges?” Donna asked.
“Do you remember a man by Steven Gabriel?” Sam asked.
“I dated him for a few weeks and then we broke up when I was at the
University of Wisconsin. What does he have to do with this?” Donna asked,
confused about the whole thing.
“After he dumped you, he used your personal information to get credit cards
and the like. He most likely went through your mail and stole the
pre-approved, pre-filled out applications and simply changed Donna Moss to D.
Moss and went shopping on your credit. He never paid the bills and since
everything was technically in your name and with your information, the
companies are coming after you and holding you responsible.” Sam explained.
“So how do we take care of this?” Donna asked.
“The detectives are talking to people and trying to get you off of the hook.”
Sam said.
“I won’t have to stay here then?” Donna asked, suddenly sounding very worried
about her situation.
“We don’t know that yet. It depends on whether or not they can get to Steven
Gabriel and get a confession out of him. If he confesses, you could go home
tonight. If he doesn’t, we will probably have to go in front of a judge for a
bail hearing and a trial date.” Sam said, trying to comfort and reassure Donna
at the same time.
The door to the room opened and in stepped Detectives Amy Kennel and Mary Parks.
“Mr. Seaborn and Miss Moss. We have been in contact with the credit
companies, FBI, and Secret Service. At this time, Mr. Gabriel has been
arrested and he is being extradited to DC because Miss Moss is here and one of
the crimes was actually committed within the city limits.” Detective Kennel
stated.
Donna and Sam both couldn’t believe that this guy had the nerve to commit
credit card fraud where she lived and worked. She was amazed that he had this
kind of nerve.
“Why would you need to speak with the Secret Service?” Sam asked in lawyer
mode.
“Miss Moss is a government employee that works in the White House. It stands
to reason that we would be interested in their file on her.” one of the
detectives responded.
“What did you find in those files?” Sam asked, in a superior knowing tone.
“Nothing, because as you already know, the Secret Service would not release
that information to us.” Detective Parks said.
“Where do things stand for Miss Moss?” Sam asked, getting back on track.
“Miss Moss is staying in DC police custody until there is a bail hearing and
that is going to be scheduled for next week sometime. She will be transferred
to the federal maximum security prison in Virginia tonight with everyone else.”
Detective Parks stated.
“Why maximum security?” Sam asked, wondering what in the world was going on.
“Several reasons, Mr. Seaborn. First, she is a government employee that most
likely has high level contacts and I’m sure that any one of those contacts can
provide her with money, passports, and a way out of the country. We aren’t
taking any chances with Miss Moss not having to deal with the repercussions of
her crime. Secondly, a Virginia prison is much nicer than a DC one, even if it
is still maximum security.” Detective Campbell didn’t come right out and
mention the dealings in a federal maximum security prison, but Sam and Donna
both got the point clearly.
“I need some time with my client alone.” Sam said.
“We understand.” both detectives left the room.
“Sam, explain this to me. I don’t understand what is going on here. I know
that I should know this stuff because I work around lawyers all day, but I
don’t and I don’t want to be ignorant when it comes to something this serious.”
Donna said, already panicking.
“Yeah, you work around licensed lawyers, but that doesn’t mean you would
understand the legal process. It is very complicated and confusing, even for
those of us who have studied the law. Donna, don’t beat yourself up because
you don’t understand what’s going on. They are saying that Steven Gabriel is
on his way here to Washington and the trial will be here, if there is an actual
trial. They are keeping you in custody until a bail hearing. You are going to
be in a federal maximum security prison, unless we can get things fixed today
and we will be trying. At the bail hearing, we will ask for you to be released
from custody.” Sam explained things to an upset Donna.
“Does that mean I have to stay here?” Donna asked, sounding very concerned.
“For right now. We will be calling a few people and seeing if we can move
things up. You aren’t going to have to stay here that long and there is no way
in hell that I’m letting you go to a federal maximum security prison, no matter
what I have to do.” Sam said and let Donna digest what he said and what he
didn’t come right out and say.
Donna knew that the last part of Sam’s sentence could mean any number of
things, but she didn’t want to know what he meant until and if things got that
bad and that serious.
“Ok, but what is going to happen when those detectives come back in the
room?” Donna asked.
“They are going to take you to a cell.” Sam said, without pausing.
Donna got very quiet as she pondered the possibilities of having to stay in
jail. She was pretty, thin, blond, and a White House employee that had a high
security clearance and knew things that the average American, let alone
prisoner didn’t have a clue about. She let her mind wander into areas that she
didn’t want it to go.
“Donna, we have already gotten you an isolation cell here and don’t worry
about the other. You would be a target in the general population because of
your looks and who you work for and what you know. We aren’t going to put you
in jeopardy for anything.” Sam said, reading what was going on in her mind.
She was very grateful to Sam for arranging things. He always seemed to know
what she needed at the right times. It was a comfort to be with a friend at
this time and she needed all of the support that she could garner now.
The detectives re-entered the room and informed them that Donna had to go to
her isolated cell for the first time.
Sam gave her a hug and reassured her that things would get cleared up very soon.
Sam watched as they escorted Donna out of the room. He was going to do his
damnedest to help her out. Donna was a friend, actually more than just a
friend. The hug she gave him after dealing with Stephanie Gault had said a lot
more to him than she would ever know. He had had feelings for her from the
first day that he met her in Josh’s office. Sam had waited for Josh to make a
move, but that hadn’t happened. He wanted Donna to be with him in every sense
of the word. He was going to fight for her, no matter what and this was a
battle that he wasn’t going to lose.
Donna was taken to her cell. She couldn’t believe that this was happening to
her. She was a nice mid-western girl whose only trouble was with guys. Josh
had always said that she had horrible taste in men and it turned out that he
had been very right.
What she didn’t know, was that Sam had already contacted the senior staff and
recruited them to help out. No one had complained especially when he mentioned
that they were planning on transferring her to a federal maximum security
prison. Leo was phoning a judge he knew, CJ was dealing with the press, and
Josh was gathering info on Steven Gabriel. They were going to bring this guy
down for messing with one of their own.