25 Mr. Mystery

Andrea looked down the list of names she had in her notes. It was short and had more broad categories than specific names, but there was a common theme.

"Everyone we've talked about so far are people who might be out for revenge. What if it's not about revenge? What else would someone get out of framing you for murder?"

Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose. "I really can't think of anything else. I mean, what does it get them? I'm locked up, so… I'm not home, but they were able to get into my apartment anyway, so it's not like they were trying to steal anything. I'm not working, so maybe it's about a pending case…"

"You think someone might have done this in order to prevent you from prosecuting them?"

Kyle gave a wry grin. "Like I said, I'm a good lawyer, but I'm not THAT good. I don't think anyone would go to this trouble to avoid being subjected to my professional skills, not when I'll just be replaced with someone else… unless they thought my replacement was going to be the kind of person who'd accept a bribe."

"Anyone you know who you'd suspect of that sort of thing? We could follow up on your pending cases and see who they get reassigned to…?"

Kyle sighed. "That's the trouble with the cover-up we have going… none of my cases are going to get reassigned until it's public knowledge that I'm in jail, and by then it's too late. If that's what's behind all this, I don't know that there's any way we could figure it out in time."

Andrea made a note to follow up anyway. Even if they couldn't identify a potential corrupt prosecutor, one of Kyle's cases might be more obviously subject to that kind of influence.

"What else might this be about?" she asked. "What about your family? Could someone be trying to get to them through you? You mentioned you had a wealthy father, could someone be trying to put pressure on him?"

Kyle gave a mirthless laugh and a deep sigh. He rubbed his temple as though the mention of his father was giving him a headache.

"I very much doubt it. Things between my father and I are, let's just say, 'estranged'... Put it this way, if he knew I was in jail right now, he would expect me to figure things out myself. Not that there's anything he could do, but it'd be nice if he'd at least want to."

Andrea was confused. "What about the cover-up, suppressing the story, all of that?"

Kyle gave a devious smile. "Just because I know doing me favors won't win them any points with him, doesn't mean THEY know that. I figured if there was ever a time to play the 'don't you know who my father is' card, it was now."

"And who is your father?" Andrea didn't know any Wynns who would be notable enough to have this kind of influence.

Kyle's smile faded. "I guess I probably should tell you… I promised I'd be open and all that… first of all, you should know that my name wasn't originally Wynn."

'I KNEW it!' thought Andrea. 'A lawyer called Wynn! Too perfect, I knew he had to have picked it himself!'

However, she only let the smallest of smiles leak out as she said carefully, "That makes sense. So is your name really Kyle or…?"

"No, I've always gone by Kyle, but my birth name was… Zachery Kyle Hawke the Third."

"Wait… Zachery Hawke… as in Hawke Construction Corp?"

Kyle seemed to almost be gritting his teeth. "Yeah, that'd be the one."

"As in the Hawke Museum of Fine Art?"

"Actually that one was after Grandpa Zach, but yeah. Hawke Stadium, there's a Hawke Library somewhere, I think Barns College has a couple of facilities dedicated to my father… definitely a lot of buildings in this town with the Hawke name on them."

Kyle wasn't kidding. Hawke Corp was a major force in the city and beyond. The company was worth billions, and Zachery Hawke II was the majority shareholder. They were regularly involved in government construction contracts, which probably meant there were some strong political ties there, too.

Kyle's ability to call in powerful favors made a lot more sense now. So did the massive luxury apartment.

"Hawke International Exports, Hawke Golf Resorts, Hawke…" Kyle made an 'and-so-on-and-so-on' gesture. "My grandfather started Hawke Corp, made it into a big success. My dad made it into an even bigger success, and everyone assumed that I was going to follow in his footsteps like an obedient little soldier. Especially him. He had it all figured out, how to turn me into a younger version of himself.

"I had different plans. Didn't exactly want to grow up under the old man's thumb. But you don't get out from under a shadow like that walking around with the same name, so… After I graduated law school, but before I sat the bar exam," Kyle waved his hand as though performing a magic trick, "I had my name legally changed."

Andrea hadn't asked him to explain, but now he had revealed the truth, Kyle seemed to want to get everything off his chest.

"And I know it's a bit on the nose, but I thought I should make the most of the opportunity, might be good branding some day, y'know? Wynn. It was only after a few years doing corporate law that I realized that I was still taking the path he would have wanted. That's when I knew I needed to change, to find a new direction that would actually do some good in the world.

"Anyway, now you know," he concluded.

Andrea had often suspected Kyle had changed his name, but thought it had just been out of arrogance or vanity. It seemed like he really was following through with his promise to be open and honest.

In her own way, Andrea could relate.

"I used to write my name as 'Andy,' with a 'Y.' On paperwork, I mean." She was already regretting her impulsive confession, but she knew she would have to explain the whole thing now she had started.

"What, like a guy?" Kyle's expression was a picture of confusion.

"As you said, this is a competitive business." Andrea could see understanding dawning on Kyle's face. "It's not like female lawyers are rare, but there are a lot of places where it still feels like a boy's club. So I thought people who hadn't met me would take 'Andy' more seriously as a lawyer who belongs in court instead of…" She made a gesture along her body length, "someone who belongs on the cheer squad."

Kyle cocked his head, a wide smile starting to form. "Were you on–"

"—The point is," Andrea rolled her eyes at his limited attention span, "I can relate to wanting to change people's perception of you. I can relate to not wanting to be put in a box."

Kyle smiled and nodded in agreement. "Thanks, but I thought you said you weren't going to share your secrets?"

Andrea shrugged as though it wasn't a big deal. "Just wanted you to know that I understand where you're coming from."

Andrea checked her watch. There were other oddities with the case to discuss, and she had more questions for Kyle—one glaring question in particular—but it would have to wait until their next interview. They were out of time for now, there was more she needed to do today. "I have a hearing before the judge this afternoon about your bail. I figured I should try to chase down some more leads before then."

"What do you think," Kyle asked, "anything look promising?"

Andrea looked down at the list she had been making and suddenly felt overwhelmed. There was a lot of busywork and some leads that might hold potential. But to believe that she was capable of cracking the case in the time they had…

Kyle could tell something was bothering her. He leaned down to catch her eye. "Hey, Blondie, you doing okay?"

"Yes, of course," she said, injecting more confidence than she felt. "It's just like I told you the other day, I've never done a murder case before."

Kyle smiled encouragingly. "Then you're in luck, I've done lots of murders!" Realizing how wrong that sounded, he clarified, "—Cases! Murder Cases. Lots of cases, I have done—prosecuted, I mean." He stopped himself stammering with a cough and started again.

"I have a lot of experience prosecuting murder cases. You'll be fine. It's just like other cases you've handled, except higher stakes. And you know I'll support you any way I can." He gave another of his crooked grins. "I've got a vested interest in you succeeding, y'know?"

It wasn't exactly a rousing pep talk, but Andrea appreciated the sentiment.

"Aright." Andrea gathered up all the papers and got ready to leave. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"You be sure to take care of my happiness while you're gone, Cheer-Squad. I need you to bring it back with you," Kyle called after her.

It was a corny line, but it put a smile on Andrea's face.