“Let me know when you feel like actually talking about this, or whenever you want help drafting an apology.”
“I’m not apologizing for shit.”
“We’ll see.”
“I’m not, Rachel.”
“Okay, Jameson.” She walks toward the door.
“I’m serious, Rachel,” I say. “She wanted me to dump Lucas Hunter—her own fucking father—because she thinks he’s guilty.”
“Guilty of what?”
“Murder and a bunch of other felony charges.”
“Do you think he is?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think.” I’m so tired of explaining this shit. “It’s about what the jury thinks.”
“If you weren’t hell-bent on winning every case by defending the undefendable, can you somewhat see why someone would be upset about a murderer getting off?”
“It happens every day.” I shrug. “It’s not my fault I’m good at what I do, and it’s her fault for being silly enough to believe the law is fair. It’s not, and it never has been.”
“I pray one day you’ll stop telling yourself that…”
“Use your prayers on something else.” I glare at her. “I won’t.”
She looks at me the same way Scarlett did, slamming the door as she leaves, but I couldn’t care less.
If only people knew what the hell I’d been through, they’d never question a fucking thing I did, and they’d be standing in every court case trying to even the scales with me…
VERDICT
THE DECISION OF A JURY AFTER A TRIAL, WHICH MUST BE ACCEPTED BY THE TRIAL JUDGE TO BE FINAL.
JAMES (BACK BEFORE I CHANGED IT TO MY FATHER’S NAME IN COLLEGE…)
Twenty-Eight Years Ago
Bright blue and white lights shone through my blinds on a Saturday morning.
“Jameson Tate!” someone shouted from outside. “This is the Pittsburgh Police Department. Step outside the house with your hands up!”
What the…
I rolled over in bed and looked out the window.
Confused, I wiped my eyes, certain I was still dreaming.
“Dad?” I called out. “Dad, what are they doing?”
He didn’t answer me. Instead, he stepped outside with his hands raised above his head.
Within seconds, the police were tackling him to the ground.
“Jameson Tate, you’re under arrest for the first-degree murder of Tom Raider.”
My jaw dropped as they dragged him into the back of a town car.
