Read Online Twisted Innocence (Moonlighters Series Book 3) by Terri Blackstock - Free Book Online

it.”
    “Do you remember Michael Hogan?”
    “The cop?” Jeremy asked.
    She nodded. “Michael is serving time in prison right now.” She quickly updated him on the felony conviction that should never have been, and the case a few months ago when he had violated probation by using a weapon to rescue her sister. “Heeven got shot himself. It was a matter of life and death. He shouldn’t be in prison because of it.”
    “I remember all that. No question, the guy’s a real hero,” Jeremy said. “But what do you want the governor to do? He doesn’t give pardons. That was one of his campaign promises. He’s not going to go back on that.”
    “But if he made this one exception, I think it would spread goodwill. There are a lot of people who know that Michael shouldn’t be behind bars. He’s already served two months. That’s more than enough. We need people like him out there fighting crime in our community, not being lumped in with the bad guys himself. If Michael got a pardon, his felony record would be wiped clean, and he could go back to carrying a weapon and being a cop. He could get back to hunting down bad guys, rather than being considered one of them.”
    Jeremy considered that as he cut into his chicken. “I can’t argue with that, but the governor is a stickler about keeping campaign promises. His opponents would jump on it if he went back on his word.”
    “So you believe the governor cares more about political expediency than about doing the right thing?” When Jeremy rolled his eyes, Cathy wondered if she’d gone too far. “Can’t he just explain that he got a dose of common sense and decided that this wrong needs to be righted?”
    “Then he’d be barraged with pardon requests.”
    “Isn’t he already? And anyway, what difference does that make? He doesn’t have to process those himself. This is one case where he could break that pledge and people would applaud him. A good man’s life is at stake.”
    Jeremy shook his head. “No, it’s not. He got a year. He’ll serve six months.”
    “But he’ll be a felon for the rest of his life! He lost his police career over this, and he was good at what he did. Even after leaving the police force—even without a weapon—he got scumbags off the street.”
    Jeremy took a bite of his dessert, chewed for a moment. Was he considering her request or had she lost him already? Tears rimmed her eyes. “Jeremy, he’s a good man. He needs consideration. And if he got pardoned, I would make you and the governor absolute heroes. I would talk it up on my blog, and people would be touting the governor as compassionate and clear minded.”
    Jeremy took another bite, chewed for a long moment. “Let me think about it,” he said. Then he turned and started a conversation with the person on the other side of him.
    Cathy let out a hard sigh. That had gone nowhere. As those around her chatted and worked on their cheesecake, she noticed that several people had crossed the room for photo ops with the governor.
    Sliding her chair back, she excused herself and went out as if going to the restroom, then went back in through the door closer to where the governor stood. She made her way along the wall, up toward the group around him.
    She waited as two or three more people had pictures taken with him, praying that he wouldn’t be called to the next activity before her turn. Finally, she made her way to his side.
    “Governor Larimore, hi,” she said in her most charming voice. “Cathy Cramer.”
    He smiled and lifted his chin. “Of the blog, Cat’s Curious ?”
    She smiled. “Yes, you read my blog?”
    “I don’t have the time I once did, but I used to. I like your work.”
    “I’m honored,” she said.
    “Did you want a picture?” one of his aides asked her.
    “Sure.” She smiled and leaned in as the photographer came closer. “Governor,” she said quickly before someone else could intrude, “I just wanted to call your attention to a letter-writing