Page 63 of Fifty-Fifty

‘Where’s your evidence of bias? Especially given that he granted all your other motions. That kind of proves he’s not biased. I’m sure that was in the back of his mind when he gave us everything we’d asked for in disclosure. If there’s clear and substantial prejudice that emerges during trial, then our client has a good appeal. That’s it.’

‘But that prejudice would result in her conviction. We can’t let that happen.

Sofia wouldn’t last inside. You know how long an appeal would take, and if we

won we’d only get a retrial. She’d have to go through all of this again,’ I said.

Harry shook his head, muttered, ‘He’s a son-of-a-bitch.’

‘What was that you said, Mr. Ford? Did you say something about the Honorable trial judge?’ said Dreyer with a serious tone. He wanted to embarrass Harry, mark his cards. It was a threat. You speak ill of Dreyer’s white nationalist buddy, who just happens to be a judge, and he’ll make sure that judge knows about it.

Harry said nothing, he just stared at Dreyer, his teeth clenched.

‘I thought I caught you saying he’s a son-of-a-bitch? Did you say that?’ asked Dreyer. He was pushing it now, making his power play.

‘I didn’t call him a son-of-a-bitch,’ said Harry.

‘Good. That’s a good boy,’ said Dreyer.

Harry stood up, the word boy had set him off.

‘I said, “he’s a neo-Nazi asshole and you’re his bitch.” That’s what I said, Wesley. Make sure you tell him I said that. You can both put on your white robes and have a good laugh about it.’

Dreyer wrinkled his nose, stood back. Harry was no longer a lawyer, nor a judge. He couldn’t be reported to any professional bodies for that comment, because he didn’t belong to any of them. Not anymore.

‘In case you haven’t worked it out yet, a joint trial gives me a guaranteed win.

One of those women killed Avellino. The jury will convict one of them – at least. I don’t care if it’s your client, or Kate’s. I’ll try and have them both convicted, but even if one is acquitted I still get one conviction. I can’t lose.

Between you and Miss Brooks – one or both of you will lose. I’ll see you gentlemen in court,’ said Dreyer, and with that he left.

‘Harry, that wasn’t smart. We don’t need the judge any more biased against us than he already is,’ I said.

‘Not possible,’ said Harry.

Kate packed her files away, and as she was leaving she passed by my table and whispered, ‘My client is taking the polygraph,’ and then walked away.

Shit.

Now there was an even bigger problem.

NINETEEN

KATE

Kate watched Dreyer get into the old judge’s face. She’d heard all about Harry

Ford. Most young lawyers knew the stories. He was a legend. Smart, fair and fearless. What every judge should be.

She heard Dreyer call Harry boy.

At that moment, she wanted Harry to punch Dreyer in the face. Kate sniggered when Harry rose to the bait, called out Judge Stone, who was the exact opposite of Harry. She knew then that if her strategy paid off, Eddie’s client was going to jail, and she was helping Dreyer to do that. A knot formed in her stomach. Bloch grabbed the box of prosecution discovery, Kate packed away her

files and as she passed Eddie, she gave something away.

It was a little thing. Just to let him know Alexandra had decided to take the lie-detector test. This made Eddie’s decision with his client a little less speculative. If both sisters had declined the test, the prosecution would have a better chance of convicting both of them. If Alexandra passed, Kate knew it would be a big point in her client’s favor. Especially if Sofia failed the test, or didn’t take it.

Sofia passing the lie-detector test didn’t enter Kate’s mind. Alexandra was convincing – even Bloch had been impressed. Kate had absolute faith in her client’s innocence, which automatically made Sofia the murderer. And it was right that murderers were convicted and sent to jail. That’s what she told herself.