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Derek elbowed him, his friend’s way of saying ‘good luck’ as the judge started talking to the jury. Lukus tried to pay attention, this was important, but his brain kept racing, replaying the scene that landed them here over and over. No matter how many times he relived it, he could never find anything he’d done wrong.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached your verdict in this case?” The judge seemed as ready to get her Friday docket finished as Lukus was.
What looked to be the oldest man sitting on the end stood to address the court. “We have, your honor.”
“Bailiff… please.” She nodded from the bench.
The uniformed court bailiff walked to the jury box and took the piece of paper held out by the jury foreman before carrying it to the judge.
The hard-as-nails judge took a minute to review the piece of paper before raising her gaze in their direction. When Markus pushed to his feet, Lukus and Derek followed his example.
The pregnant pause seemed to go on forever before Judge McKinney finally spoke. “In the case of Tarkin and Kristoff versus Mitchell and Parker, the jury has found in the favor of the defendants. The note from the jury indicates that they believe the contract in place and the defendants’ actions on the night in question prevent them from finding in favor of the plaintiffs.”
Judge McKinney looked up at the jury, verbally polling them. “Jury members, please demonstrate by a show of hands if this is your unanimous decision.”
Twelve hands raised almost immediately.
Looks like they want to get the hell out of here too.
“Very well. We will enter a verdict in favor of the defendants in this case. The jury has also indicated that the plaintiffs are to be responsible for the legal costs for the defendants.”
For the first time, the two women who had sat stoically at the table opposite them grumbled to their lawyer loud enough that Lukus wanted to cheer.
“Thank you for your service, members of this jury. Court is dismissed.”
Lukus felt like whooping out a cheer, and Derek slapped him on his back so hard he lurched forward. Both men turned to their friend, who was now grinning.
“See, I told you not to worry.”
“You never said that. You said don’t borrow trouble.”
“Whatever. All I know is I wish I could be at the club tonight to see you two unleashed for the first time in almost a year.”
He let a low groan loose, looking forward to his evening already.
Grabbing their briefcases, Lukus took a deep breath and made an invitation he hoped his friend would take him up on. “Now that the case is over, let me take you, Derek, and Rachel out for a steak dinner tonight. You can invite that wife of yours.” Lukus paused, feeling unusually vulnerable by adding, “Don’t you think it’s time I finally meet her?”
A cloud of something Lukus didn’t want to examine too closely crossed his friend’s expression. For the hundredth time over the last four years, he tried not to feel hurt that there was a whole part of his best friend’s life he’d been cut out of. It was total bullshit, to be honest.
Markus waffled. “I don’t think we can make it. We already had dinner plans for tonight.” His friend must have picked up on Lukus’s disappointment because he added, “Let me see what I can do about getting us together in a few weeks.”
But he’d said that before and a few weeks turned to months and then years. As much as he wanted to get to the bottom of the problem, standing in the courtroom just a few feet away from the bitches who’d sued them chewing their lawyer’s ass out wasn’t the place or the time.
As soon as they stepped out of the courtroom, all three men turned on their cell phones as they walked to the elevators. Just before the doors opened, a long string of text messages started pelting Lukus’s phone from one of his senior security technicians.
One after another the messages got more urgent.
“There a problem?” Derek asked.
“I’m not really sure. Maybe,” Lukus answered truthfully.
The ding of a voicemail arrived just as they exited the elevator in the marble lobby of the courthouse. Lukus listened to the message with dread, keeping an eye on Derek and Markus as they said their goodbyes.
Well fuck. What the hell do I do with this?
Indecision hit hard. He needed to make a split-second judgement that could have lasting implications for his best friend. The very man who’d just pulled his own ass out of the fire.
Markus turned, putting his hand out for a shake just as Lukus put his cell back into his pocket. The men shook hands, but when Markus started to pull back, Lukus held on tight.
