Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“Until someone paid them all seventy-five thousand apparently.”
“I thought only two were paid off.”
“I’m sure there were more…”
“If I knew how much judges got paid…” Max was still smiling. “I would’ve suffered through law school a lot longer.”
“Do you have the receipts of these mortgage payments?” I could barely hear my voice.
“Yeah, I printed those for your folder.” He shrugged. “He paid them off via an offshore account, but that’s typical when you’re dropping that much money.”
“Yes…very typical.”
“You alright?” He tilted his head to the side. “You look sick all of a sudden.”
“I’m fine.” I forced a smile. “Thank you so much for looking into everything for me.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiled back. “Glad I could prove he’s not a dirty judge.”
He totally is…
OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT (N.):
IMPROPER AND/OR ILLEGAL ACTS BY A PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHICH VIOLATE HIS/HER DUTY TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND ACT ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC GOOD.
OLIVIA
Liam
Is there a reason you requested to work from home today? (Mara said you sounded ill.)
Yes, I am feeling VERY ill.
I’m caught up on all my work, though.
I’ll give you a raincheck on tonight’s dinner then.
You can take tomorrow off, too.
Pick up when I call you later.
Okay.
I will…
Iset down my phone and tried to ignore the constant pain in my chest, but it was useless. The ice pack I was holding against it did nothing to cool the raging heat.
Every time I looked at the evidence in front of me, my skin felt aflame all over again.
Somehow, for a reason that would never make any fucking sense, this man—this “judge”—had paid for a verdict.
And I had a feeling that he’d long planned for two of the jurors to get caught down the line, but I couldn’t figure out why.
I didn’t understand why he would risk everything on a case where none of the strings were tied to his fate at all.
Or why he lied to my face multiple times about it…
INVOLUNTARY DISMISSAL (N.):
THE TERMINATION OF A COURT CASE BY A JUDGE WITHOUT THE PLAINTIFF'S CONSENT, TYPICALLY USED AS A DISCIPLINARY PENALTY WHEN THE PLAINTIFF FAILS TO FOLLOW RULES, OBEY ORDERS, OR MOVE THE LAWSUIT FORWARD.
LIAM
One Week Later
“My son’s name has been dragged through the mud for years.” Grant Jenkins’s father was on my television, speaking to the press outside the courthouse. “And with this upcoming trial, we are looking forward to putting this tragic chapter behind us.”
Looking as hideous and overdressed as I remembered, he pulled a Kleenex from his pocket and pressed it against his eyes for nonexistent tears.
“Is your son mentally okay?” someone off-camera asked. “How is he holding up about all this?”
“Grant is as hopeful and well-balanced as ever.” He faked a sniffle. “As always, he’s remorseful about the five lives that were lost during this accident, but it was just an accident.”
I hit mute, watching him pretend to cry through a few more questions.
Why can’t anyone see through this man’s bullshit?
All these years that had passed by, and I was shocked that he hadn’t paid for any acting classes.
Unable to take the sight of his face anymore, I turned off the television.
I had better things to do tonight.
I walked to my dining room to make sure the table was set for tonight’s raincheck dinner with Olivia.
As I was uncorking the wine, my phone sounded with a call from my condo’s office.
“Yes?” I answered.
“Sir, Miss Spencer is here,” my bellman said. “She’s on the elevator.”
“Thank you.”
I moved her favorite pasta off the stove and to the table.
My doorbell sounded seconds later.
When I opened the door, she didn’t blush or smile at me like usual.
Instead, she looked as if she’d just seen a ghost.
“Are you still feeling ill?” I placed my hands on her shoulders.
“I’m fine,” she said. “At least, I will be.”
So, you’re still sick…
I held back a sigh and escorted her inside, showing her to her seat at the table.
“Do you want orange juice instead of wine?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Wine would be amazing right now, actually.”
I tilted the bottle over her glass, noticing that her eyes were red and puffy.
“Have you ever lied to me, Liam?” she asked. “Like, ever?”
“Not about anything important.”
“So, that’s a yes?”
“It would be no.” I topped off her wine. “If I have, it wasn’t about something that affects you.”
“What if I told you that I’d lied to you?”
“I already knew the things you’d lied about when we met.” I smiled, sitting across from her. “I wouldn’t care.”
She nodded and lifted her glass, downing it in one gulp.
“Would you like me to make your plate for you?” I asked. “You seem off tonight.”
She didn’t say a word.
“Olivia?” I noticed her chest heaving up and down. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes, Liam.” Her voice was hoarse. “Something is very, very wrong.”
“Want to tell me what it is?”
“Grant Jenkins.”
“What about him?”
“I thought it was weird from day one that you cared so much about a pretty open and shut case,” she said. “I don’t know any judge who would be unhappy about an innocent man getting a new trial.”