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I didn’t, but that’s good to know. Golden showers aren’t my thing, but I’ve done some crazy things when I’m drunk so it’s nice to have a mental list of don’ts—just in case.
IT’S A LONG DAYof listening to other peoples’ cases. We hear one with a woman who purposely crashed her car into some woman’s house because her husband was having an affair. Another where a guy punched his girlfriend in the face because of a prank—he thought she threw his PlayStation into the pool when in reality, it was a broken one, so she could give him the new PS5. Needless to say, he didn’t get the new one, and she threw the actual old one into the pool, too.
And I have to agree with theyes, bitchMali muttered in solidarity under her breath.
When it’s finally time for Cam’s case, Laiken grabs both mine and Mali’s hand—mine for her own comfort, and Mali’s forhers.I could mention that to anyone around, we probably look like a throuple, but there’s a time and place for everything, and now is not it.
“The court calls the case of the State of North Carolina versus Cameron Blanchard.”
Brent stands from his place next to Cam. “Before we begin, your honor, all of the evidence was not turned over in this case. The disk that they gave to my office with the aforementioned video of the assault is blank. There’s nothing on it.”
“That’s impossible,” the prosecution argues.
Brent shrugs, handing them the disk. “See for yourself.”
The prosecutor slips it into his laptop and opens the file to see there is nothing there. “Your honor, there seems to be some kind of mistake.”
“That’s fine,” the judge answers. “These things happen. Why don’t you just pull up your copy and we’ll play it now?”
He nods, but when he goes to find his copy, that’s missing, too. “Unfortunately, I don’t seem to have it, your honor, but if I could just have five minutes, I’ll have it re-sent to me.”
The judge reluctantly agrees, and we take a short recess, but when court comes back into session, the prosecutor doesn’t appear any more at ease than he did when we left.
“Okay,” the judge says. “Let’s see this video.”
“I still don’t have it, your honor,” the prosecutor tells him. “I have checked with the police department and the original source of the video. It seems to be missing from all servers.”
The judge pinches the bridge of his nose while the prosecutor looks like he’s on the verge of a breakdown. Though I probably would be too if I was tanking my case in front of an entire courtroom.
“In light of this new information, I have no choice but to dismiss the case,” the judge announces.
Laiken gasps, squeezing my hand tighter, and I feel like my chest is about to burst. But the prosecution still tries to debate.
“With all due respect, your honor, we still have the testimony of the victim, and his brother who witnessed it.”
“Well, are either of them here today to testify?” he counters.
The prosecutor sighs, defeated. “I’m sure I could get his brother here, but the victim would have to be through a webcam, as he recently moved to another state.”
The judge’s eyes widen. “You mean to tell me that the man accusing Mr. Blanchard of assaulting him cared so little about this case that he moved out of state before it even went to trial?” The prosecutor goes to answer but the judge raises his hand to stop him. “That was rhetorical, prosecutor.”
He takes his attention off the state and moves it to Brent and Cam. “Mr. Blanchard, you are free to go, but the original terms of your probation still apply.”
“Thank you, your honor.” You can practically hear the relief in Cam’s voice.
The judge nods once. “And I mean this in the nicest way possible, but I do not want to see you in my courtroom again.”
“Yes, sir.”
We all file out quietly, but the moment we get outside, Laiken screams and jumps into Cam’s arms. He smiles an actual smile for the first time since he got arrested. And I think I speak for everyone when I say that this could not have gone any better.
“Congratulations,” Monty tells Cam.
Cam tilts his head at him. “I don’t know how you did it, man. But thanks.”
Monty looks back at the courthouse and then at Cam. “Hey, we just got lucky they misplaced that video.”
His silent message is clear—he made it go away. I wonder if anothervideohas gone away yet, but for some reason, I doubt it. But he just got Cam out of a situation that most likely would have sent him to prison, had Monty not intervened. So, whether I like it or not, he’s here to stay.
