Chapter 57 – Ripples
Washington D.C. – April 28, 2011 – 6:32 a.m.
The light had not yet fully broken the veil of night when the first headline of the day spread across the newscasts and digital versions of the main newspapers in the United States:
"Veteran DOD lawyer questions the limits of legal liability in post-9/11 operations"
– The Washington Post
"Who is Logan Moore? The lawyer who faced Congress and left to applause"
– The New York Times
"A bold and courageous speech: Dr. Moore exposes the risks of extreme secrecy in wartime"
– Politico
"The new face of law and national security in the United States"
– The Atlantic
Pearson Hardman – New York – 7:50 a.m.
Jessica Pearson walked into the office holding a copy of the Times under her arm. The cover featured a still photo of Logan looking directly at the Capitol, beneath the American flags.
Donna sat at her desk, her phone in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.
"I've had over forty calls asking for interviews with him. MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN, NPR, even Charlie Rose," she said, a little breathless but excited.
Jessica set the paper down on the reception desk. "He's still in D.C.," she said calmly. "I asked him to spend the day there. There's too much going on. I want him to catch his breath before he comes back."
Harvey appeared in the lobby, Mike and Louis close behind.
"Have you seen BuzzFeed?" Harvey said, holding up his phone. "Five Times Logan Moore Classily Destroyed the Committee's Narrative. What? They love lists."
Mike smiled. "The man is a machine. Speaking like that, with such precision... I wondered if I'd ever get close to that."
Louis adjusted his collar.
"What impressed me was his emotional control. He didn't react, he led."
Jessica interrupted them with her firm voice:
"And now let's be smart. This could turn into a storm, gentlemen. His name is everywhere. And, consequently, ours too."
Capitol – Hallways of Congress – 09:15
Backstage at the Oversight Committee, the repercussions were intense. The congressional aides were divided between praise and concern.
Congressman Edward Tolson was in his private office with senior legal counsel Jeremy Sands.
"He dropped a classy bomb, Jeremy," Tolson said, rubbing his forehead. "And the worst part is that he did it with class. It's impossible to discredit him in the press now."
"But do you think he went too far?" Jeremy asked.
— No. I think he went as far as he could. And if you pay attention, he didn't break any protocol. He told the truth, but he knew how to avoid names, specific details. He was smart. Very smart.
In another wing of the building, Congresswoman Lila James was on a tense call with a member of the Party:
— …Yes, he disarmed us. The media sees him as honest, experienced, and even charismatic. I'm not going to attack this man," she said. "It would be political suicide."
Department of Justice – D.C. Headquarters – 10:02 a.m.
The phone rang three times before Assistant Attorney General David Renner answered.
— Renner.
The voice on the other end was familiar, a contact at the Department of Defense.
— Did you see the hearing?
— I'm watching the replay now," Renner replied gravely. "Logan Moore is a problem."
— Or a solution. Depending on how you look at it.
Renner leaned back in his leather chair.
"If the DOJ wants to confront him, they'll have to do it perfectly. He knows all the loopholes. He helped build part of the wall."
"That's exactly why I called you. The DOD is divided. Some think he needs to be silenced. Others think he needs to be listened to more closely."
"What do you think?"
"I think if he decides to get into politics, it's going to give a lot of people a hard time."
Washington D.C. – Willard Hotel – Suite 1214 – 11:15 AM
Logan was sitting in front of the window, watching the city outside. A notepad on his lap, but the pen still hadn't touched the paper.
The phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Logan." It was Jessica. "How are you?"
He smiled briefly.
"Tired. Relieved. A little restless."
"Ready to go back?"
— Yes. But first, can I ask you something?
— Sure.
— Do you think I went too far?
On the other end of the line, Jessica hesitated for a second, but answered with conviction:
— No. You went as far as the truth required. And you did it as only the great do: with courage and responsibility. Now we have to watch out for the waves that this will generate.
Logan closed his eyes, took a deep breath.
— Then let's surf.
Pearson Hardman – Meeting Room – 3:40 p.m.
Jessica gathered Logan, who had just arrived back in New York, with Harvey, Louis and Donna. Rachel and Mike were sitting on the side.
Jessica began:
— The repercussion has already begun. The American Bar Association wants an interview. The New Yorker wants to do a profile. The National Review wants to publish a review. The Senate wants a private conversation with him. And the DOD… well, the DOD sent a discreet message saying that they consider your performance "worthy of note."
Logan raised his eyebrows.
"Does that mean…?"
"It means they won't attack you. But they will observe you."
Louis smiled.
"At least they didn't try to 'deactivate' you," he said, trying to lighten the mood.
Logan looked at everyone.
"I know this attracts attention. And that my name is now linked to you more intensely. If this hurts the firm…"
Jessica raised her hand.
"Logan. Stop. This only makes us stronger. It shows that we have integrity. Capacity. And, most of all, courage."
Harvey said:
"You did what few would do. And on top of that, with style. I'm even more comfortable sharing cases with you."
Mike agreed:
"And you inspired a new generation. I've never seen anyone stand so strong in front of Congress." Logan nodded.
"Well… then, let's see what happens next."
Night – Logan's Office – 7:12 PM
Alone in his office with its dark wood walls and shelves lined with bound volumes of Constitutional Law and DOD Operations Reports, Logan finally sat down and read some of the emails.
"Dr. Moore, your testimony has given us hope…"
"I was wondering if you would be available to speak at Georgetown…"
"My name is Anna, and I am the daughter of an agent who served in Afghanistan. Your words brought tears to my eyes. Thank you."
Logan paused for a moment.
He opened the drawer and took out a small framed photo. It was a picture of himself and Dr. Rowe, taken on their last day at the DOD.
He placed it next to the monitor.
He knew that his life would be different now. That perhaps he had just walked through a door that could never be closed.
But he was at peace.
Chapter 58 – Conscious Choices
New York – Pearson Hardman – 7:56 AM
The morning began like so many others on the 49th floor of the Pearson Hardman building: hot coffee circulating through the hallways, printers already working, lawyers exchanging silent nods, the city speeding by outside.
But inside Logan Moore's office, the day didn't begin with contracts or lawsuits—it began with envelopes.
On the desk lay three printed invitations, two dossiers from educational institutions, and a letter sealed with the seal of the Office of the Governor of the State of New York.
Rachel Zane, with a cup of coffee in her hand and a curious look on her face, watched as Logan opened the last envelope.
"Another invitation?"
"Yes," he replied, opening the seal with a pocketknife. "Office of the Governor."
Rachel raised her eyebrows.
"This is serious."
Logan read it silently. When he was done, he let out a long sigh and calmly set the letter down.
"They want me to consider a position on the state's government ethics committee."
Rachel leaned closer and skimmed it.
"This is… important. Direct consultation on constitutional matters. Could influence legislation."
"Exactly," Logan said, leaning back. "And yet, it's not what I want."
Rachel looked at him gently.
"You know that after that hearing, this will continue to happen. They saw what you stand for."
Logan nodded, looking out the window.
"I know. And that's why I need to be clear with everyone. Including myself."
10:14 a.m. – Jessica Pearson's Office
Jessica read the invitations carefully. The invitation from Georgetown to teach as a visiting professor. The one from Harvard to teach a special seminar. An email from the ABA asking him to lead a panel at the National Symposium on Ethics and the Law. And finally, the Governor's letter.
"Logan, do you realize what's happening?" she said, without looking up. "You're becoming something more than a top-notch lawyer. You're becoming an ethical beacon for a generation."
"And that scares me a little," he replied, sincerely.
Jessica looked up softly.
"Why?"
Logan took a deep breath.
"Because I like being here. Walking into a room, looking a client in the eye, and saying, 'I'll take care of this for you.' I like the precision. The technique. The silence that only direct advocacy allows. Politics is a different game."
Jessica smiled, a smile that mixed pride and respect.
"So you're saying no to everything?"
"Not exactly. I've agreed to be on a panel at the ABA. And I'm going to teach a class at Harvard, if the schedules work out." But… my place is here.
"And it's a privilege to have you here," Jessica said.
1:02 p.m. – Meeting Room – Communications Team
Donna was coordinating the firm's press office. She typed quickly, reviewing a draft of a public statement:
"Partner Logan Moore was recently invited to work in several academic and government spaces. Although honored by the recognition, Logan has decided to remain focused on his legal practice at Pearson Hardman, where he will continue to defend his clients with excellence. He will, however, occasionally participate in academic and institutional events, as a speaker or advisor."
Donna looked at Harvey, who was silently watching beside her.
"The guy could be a federal prosecutor, a judge, a senator. But he wants to continue being a lawyer."
Harvey replied with a half-smile.
"Maybe that says more about him than any other title."
4:20 p.m. – Logan's Office
Rachel returned with another envelope. It was thick, bound, and stamped with the Columbia University seal. She set it on the table.
"Graduate program in Applied Constitutional Law. They want you to be a mentor and dissertation advisor."
Logan opened it, read quickly. His eyes softened.
"I'll take that."
"Seriously?"
"Helping young jurists understand that the Constitution is not a wall, but a living field of interpretation… That's worth my time. But I still want to stay focused here."
Rachel smiled proudly.
"You're the mentor everyone wanted. Including me."
Logan looked at her, serious but kind.
"And you're the student everyone should be."
6:50 p.m. – Dinner at Jessica Pearson's apartment
Jessica had invited Logan to dinner. The table was set with simple elegance, red wine opened, candles lit—an evening of friends, not business associates.
— So you declined the Governor's invitation — Jessica commented, stirring her wine glass.
— I declined respectfully. I sent a letter saying that I remain committed to public service, but through private initiative.
— And they accepted?
— They accepted. But they made it clear that the door is open. Do you know what's most curious?
— What?
— I felt freer when I declined than when I accepted the hearing in Congress. For the first time, I chose not to be part of a system, without guilt.
Jessica raised her glass.
— For freedom of those who have conscience.
— For the conscience of those who want to remain human — Logan added.
8:40 p.m. – Later at home
Logan arrived at his apartment, hung up his jacket, took off his shoes and sat down in front of the piano. An old upright piano made of dark wood, a gift from his father years ago. He played a few notes, low, almost meditative.
On the shelf, among law books and biographies of military men and jurists, there was now a new frame: a photo with Rachel, Harvey, Jessica, Louis and Donna taken in the hallway of Congress after the hearing.
He looked at the image for a few seconds. Then he smiled.
There was everything he wanted: voice, purpose, and the certainty that he didn't need to be on every stage to change the world.
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