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I broke a chip in half and dunked it in the salsa. “I wanted to help the helpless.”
She snorted. “I’d hardly call your clients helpless.”
“Do you want to hear something stupid?”
“About you? Definitely.” A mischievous smirk graced her lips.
“The first client I ever took on . . . I found him.”
She didn’t appear surprised like I thought she would. “You were fresh out of law school. I’m sure you didn’t have clients beating down your door.”
I made a face at her. “I’d seen him on the news. He insisted someone else had murdered his mother. I believed him. I believed that the cops had taken the easy route and pegged it on him.”
“What’s so stupid about that?”
“I believed in his innocence through the end. Was so sure that I was able to convince the jury of it too. Not guilty verdict. Gavel pounds. He looks at me and says ‘Bitch got exactly what she deserved.’”
That moment was cemented in my brain. It should’ve completely jaded me. Instead, I’d become more determined.
“Whoa.”
“More like holy shit. I’d gotten a murderer off. I’ll never forget what that felt like.”Rotten. Like a damn fool.
“Why keep going?”
“You know what it’s like when you’re young. It’s easier to let things roll off. He put the first chip in my faith in people, but he didn’t destroy it by himself.”
“Is it now?”
I shrugged. “After I won that case, I was in high demand. I didn’t turn down the work because I was sure that one of them was innocent and I could help free them. I’ve never backed down from a challenge either.”
“Were any of them innocent?”
“Not a damn one. What happened with Trish . . . she could’ve been killed because I got that asshole out on bond. That was it for me. All I keep thinking is how many other people have been hurt because of what I’ve done.” The guilt was almost too much to bear. I couldn’t ever make up for what I’d done but was determined to give it a shot by helping the women at Paths.
“Have you ever lost a case?”
“Nope.” I arranged my knife and fork. “I used to be proud of that. What a fool, huh?”
“You did what you thought was right.”
“No, I followed the money trail. Got high off the power I had from winning.”
She reached across the table for my hand. “I’m sorry for what I said before. About your career.”
An apology? And one she meant?I wasn’t sure what to do with that. She constantly shocked the hell out of me.
“I lost my way. Forgot why I got in this to begin with.”
“Sounds to me like you’ve remembered.”
I threaded my fingers with hers.
A voice I didn’t recognize came from behind me. “I didn’t know my daughter had moved on. I’m sure Jack would be so happy for you.”
Marlow yanked her hand out of mine.
“So you are speaking to me.” She glared at the woman who moved to the end of our table.
