“Never.” She leans closer. “You and I both know this case is built on a house of cards, and as much as I despise your client… I don’t think he did this.”
“So, why the hell are we even here?”
“My bosses are pushing me to try this case.” She lowers her voice to a whisper. “Ask for a continuance and then promise me you’ll transform into your normal self so I can lose this one and gloat about being right to my bosses.”
I blink.
“Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Tate.” She returns to her table.
“Are we free to continue?” the judge asks. “Redirect?”
“No, Your Honor.” I smile. “I’d like to request a two-day continuance.”
“On what grounds, Mr. Tate?”
“Medical reasons,” I say. “My witness mentioned having a heart transplant.”
“He said the procedure was a year ago, Mr. Tate.”
“Well, the prosecutor and I have noticed some issues with his breathing pattern today and—” I pause. “I would hate for him to drop dead in your courtroom, sir.”
“Right.” He rolls his eyes and picks up his gavel. “The two-day continuance is granted, but there won’t be any other delays for this case. Clear?”
He bangs his gavel before I can respond, and my witness bolts from the court like a world-class athlete.
“Thank you, Jameson.” Julia smiles. “I’ll see the real version of you Monday.”
I wait for her to leave before calling Rachel.
“Do you still need me to fake a seizure in the middle of court tomorrow?” she answers on the first ring.
“Of course not,” I say. “I would never ask you to do something so despicable.”
“How many seconds do you need it to last?”
“Forty-eight, with some severe drooling if you can manage.”
“I’ve got you,” she says. “I’ve been practicing all day. What else do you need?”
“Can you check my personal cell phone?” I ask. “I left it on my desk.”
“No, Jameson.”
“I’m not making a request.”
“I’m not checking it again.”
“And I’m not repeating myself…”
She sighs. “The ‘Do Not Answer—Ever’ number has sent you three ‘Fuck you’ texts, two ‘Pick up the phone please’ messages, and a final ‘I hate that I ever met you’ since you’ve been away.”
“Thank you.”
“Want to tell me who this person is?”
“A ghost.”
“So, this isn’t something serious?”
