Paralegal Alexandra Cayhill is questioning her career choice. She works at a Baltimore law firm where she puts in grueling sixty-hour work weeks, isn't appreciated, and needs a raise. But her life is about to take a turn she never expected. When Alexandra's firm is retained to defend suspected war criminal General Joseph Kimbala at the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, it's just the type of challenge Alexandra wants. She joins the defense dream team and moves to The Hague for what is supposed to be a routine, if high profile, case. Unfortunately, she's about to learn that nothing is routine in the world of law. The case is going well until witnesses for the defense team begin receiving threats-and then one of them is killed. Despite finding the guy of her dreams, Alexandra feels surrounded by danger at every turn; worse, it turns out her new boyfriend is a close friend of General Kimbala. This straightforward international war crimes case has suddenly spiraled out of control. With her career, her relationship, and possibly even her life in jeopardy, Alexandra must find the truth before it's too late.

The Parallel World

By D. M. Henry

Abbott Press

Copyright © 2012 D. M. Henry
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4582-0213-0

Chapter One

Rain was pouring down unrelentingly in waves across the half empty parking lot diminishing any light reflecting from the grey light poles. A cold and heavy wind was forcing the rain to fall diagonally hitting Alex in the face as she ran to her car. Alex inserted the key in the car door, and quickly threw her gym bag in the passenger seat before collapsing in the driver's seat. She rested her head on the headrest and slowly wiped her face with the back of her wet hands. A sarcastic smile appeared on Alex's face. She had to admit that the weather fit her mood perfectly.

Alex turned left out of her gym's parking garage and headed home. She turned the radio on to her favorite evening talk show and decided to turn the volume up high. She only lived fifteen minutes away, but wanted to listen to the program especially tonight seeing how the topic centered on single career women. Alex was a practicing paralegal at one of the nation's top law firms, but found herself, after four years, of not only thinking about the next phase in her career, but also her life. She didn't want to give the wrong impression to anyone. She loved her profession and working at the law firm, but she also wanted to learn and grow professionally as a paralegal and in her personal life.

Alex had to admit that it would be better if she broadened her knowledge and skills by expanding into other fields of the law. She just didn't know how to go about it. Should she go back to school for a masters in law? Alex had a pile of admission's brochures for the law schools in and around the Baltimore area, but wasn't sure if law school was the answer. She also kept toying with the idea of talking to her paralegal manager about the possibilities of progressing in the firm. Who knows, maybe she should even look at becoming a paralegal manager. The only problem was that this solution would take her away from her current law firm. Alex stopped at a red light and turned the blinker on.

If there was one thing for sure Alex knew that her real present obstacle in life was figuring out what she, a twenty-five year old single career woman, wanted to do for at least the next five years. She had always admired people that knew what they wanted to do early in life and wondered why she hadn't joined the club. How could it be so easy for them? Alex turned right at the corner and stopped in front of the Chinese food take out restaurant. She stepped out, happy that the rain had stopped, and walked inside. Alex had known that the food was ready seeing how she had called the order in just before beginning her exercise class at the gym.

The worker behind the counter knew Alex, which showed how often she ordered from them. This gave Alex the advantage of calling in orders and being able to set a pick-up time; something that she did often. Alex paid for the appetizers and two meals before walking out and climbing back into her car. Her best friend was coming over in an hour for dinner and Alex wanted to be there beforehand to freshen up and change into lounge clothes. Alex was beginning to become impatient about her current lifestyle, but was careful not to show it on the outside, not even to her friends. She knew that they wouldn't understand her and view her words as empty complaints.

Alex walked into her apartment after a short drive from the Chinese food restaurant, turned the stereo on and moved to the bedroom to freshen up before putting her grey sweats on. The doorbell rang cutting into a caller's question on the radio. Alex swept her hair up and pulled it back into a ponytail. She looked in the mirror and immediately felt more relaxed and comfortable. She sauntered towards the front door and found a smiling Melanie looking back at her.

Mel walked through the door and gave Alex a bear hug. "Hey sweetie, look what I have for dessert." She opened the bag she was carrying and Alex peered in to find Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia and Triple Caramel Chunk ice cream snuggled neatly in the bag.

Alex smiled. "You know just how to make a girl happy. Come on in. The food is getting cold. I ordered your favorite and no I didn't forget the chop sticks this time."

The two friends sat down on the couch with Mel immediately turning the television on. They fixed their plates each taking an egg roll along with the main course and then settled in to watch Grey's Anatomy. They had both moved onto the ice cream half way into the program with Alex picking up the Cherry Garcia and Mel going for the Triple Caramel Chunk. They waited for the end of Grey's Anatomy before daring to say anything. Neither wanted to miss a second of Mr. McDreamy. Alex walked into the kitchen to pick out a bottle of wine. She didn't dare drink alone, but used every opportunity to rob her wine rack when company was over.

She picked out a French red wine and returned to the living room with the bottle and two wine glasses. Alex filled the glasses and the girls made a quick toast before enjoying the first sips from a new bottle. Alex looked at Mel watching television. If she could talk with anyone, then it should be Mel. They had become friends back in middle school and had been inseparable ever since. There was only one thing between them and that was money. Mel came from a middle class family. Alex knew that Mel had a good family upbringing and knew Mel's family quite well. They were her second family. Mel was fortunate and given many things to help her grow into a well rounded person, but her parents weren't rich and therefore had to make sacrifices of their own to give Mel and Mel's brother and sister opportunities.

Mel was compassionate and sympathetic about many things that Alex thought were important, but she was doubtful that Mel would feel the same when it came to Alex's chances and money situation. Mel felt that she was being stared at and turned towards Alex only to find Alex staring back at her over a half empty wine glass.

"Are you okay?"

Alex contemplated her answer. If she answered yes, then she would have to be prepared for Mel's response and maybe she wasn't ready for whatever Mel was going to say in reply. She could only hope that it was compassionate and understanding. She also wouldn't mind an answer.

Alex took a sip of her wine before responding. "I'm tired, Mel."

"What?" said Mel as she flipped through the television channels. It seemed as if the networks were playing a joke on her by showing programs only others could be interested in. "Why is it that there's never anything on TV?" Mel said.

"Because you're too much of a snob to like anything that comes on anyway. Did you hear me? I told you that I'm tired!"

"Tired? What do you mean?" Mel asked.

"I mean that I'm tired of my life. I'm tired of a monotonous sixty hour work week. I'm tired of being underpaid and overworked. I'm tired of not being appreciated for the work that I do. I'm tired of not being able to use my brains. And I'm tired of being single and childless!"

"Humph, sounds like you have a problem there," Mel joked. "Meanwhile, is it weird that I'm finding National Geographic more exciting than CBS?" Mel asked.

"Come on, Mel," Alex said. "I'm serious here."

"Okay, then ..." Mel said. "What do you want?"

"That's the problem," Alex confessed. "I want everything ..." Alex stood up and walked over to the window looking out onto a Baltimore City street. It was night time, but the stars were impossible to see through the haze of city lights and tall dingy buildings. "For starters, I...