This could change everything. It would be the difference in getting out and starting over or serving another twenty years in this hellhole.
Chapter 2
Killian Lake
It was bright and early on a Monday morning.
I’d woken up at five, gotten in my workout, ate breakfast, and got ready for work. I made it to the law offices of Brennan and Jones around eight, same as I did every morning. I stopped in the employee lounge to make myself a cup of coffee before making my way to my office, only to be stopped by my coworker, Casey.
“Lake! How was your weekend?”
“Same shit, different day. How was yours?”
“It was great. The wife and I took the kids down to the river for a little camping and fishing trip. There’s nothing like sunshine and fresh air to make you feel alive again.”
“True. I gotta get going, Casey. Have a good one.”
Before he could rope me into a long, drawn-out conversation about his family life, I hightailed it down the hall. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Casey. He just talked too damn much. Messing around with him, we’d be having a thirty-minute conversation with him doing all the talking. I didn’t have time for that.
I rounded the corner and passed a few offices only to have my name once again be called.
“Killian!”
I groaned inwardly as I backtracked to the source. Erica Sawyer. She was one of the top attorneys at the firm. Her record of wins was impeccable. I wasn’t sure what kind of pull she had, but she always managed to get the job done.
“Good morning, Erica.”
“Good morning. Quick question: Do you have court this week?”
“Friday. Why?”
“I have a very sensitive case, and I could use an extra set of eyes. I know how diligent you are.”
“Sure thing. What’s the case?”
“It’s a parole hearing. My client has been in G.S. Glen Penitentiary since she was seventeen years old for a murder that in my eyes was justified as self-defense. I’m trying my hardest to bring her home. Her aunt and uncle have spent a lot of money over the years fighting for justice for her, and I don’t want that to be in vain.”
I nodded. “I’ll take a look at it.”
She smiled. “Awesome. A copy of the files is on your desk.”
I chuckled. “So you just knew I’d be down to help you?”
“I know you, Killian. You take on a lot of sensitive cases, and I knew once you read this one, you would help if you could.”
She was right about that. My workload was always filled with sensitive cases. It had sort of become my thing.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I said.
“Thank you again.”
“No problem.”
I left her office and finally was able to make it to mine. Stepping inside, I closed the door and placed my briefcase on top of my desk as I took a seat behind it. As I sipped my coffee, I logged into my computer and pulled up everything I’d need for the day. I then checked and responded to a few urgent emails before finally getting started on my workload.
Grabbing my briefcase, I placed it on the floor next to the desk. My eyes landed on the file folder. Picking it up, I opened it, and my brows immediately furrowed at the sight of the name.
Alayah Chambers.
