Kade. Jeez, he didn’t have the balls to arrest me. Instead, he sent Smokey the Bear and his minions. Why then, turn around and risk his life to save me? I presume he didn’t want my death on his conscience, or worse, didn’t need more paperwork.
Footsteps echo down the corridor, breaking my concentration. It’s Mrs. Bitchface, one of the guards. Oddly enough, she stops in front of my cell door.
“Let’s go. Down the hall. You first.”
After my lock clicks and my bars squeak, I shuffle in front of her. My hiking boots scuff against the linoleum, heavy with dried mud from a life I no longer recognize. As I tug down on the wrinkled hem of my new shirt, I picture officers rifling through the rest of my stuff.
Hopeless faces, young and old, stare back. Some sleep while others shake from withdrawal. Most wear cheap clothing. There’ll be no expensive lawyers coming to their rescue anytime soon.When I reach the end of the hall, automatic gates swing open. Seconds later they clunk shut.
Now, under bright fluorescent lights, I’m led into a drab courtroom. My freshly showered lawyer nods by a table, dressed in creased, designer threads.
He shoots me a smile. “When asked, simply say innocent.”
I’m about to nod when the judge pounds his gavel. From his high perch, he glowers at me, his phone, then addresses the two suits across the aisle.
“Have you seen the video?” His booming bass voice makes the two red-faced prosecutors jump.
“We have, Your Honor.” Tweedle Dee tugs at his tie.
Above, judicial sleeves flutter as a small screen is shoved forth. “It says here I authorized twelve police officers to shoot one unarmed woman.”
Tweedle Dum opens his mouth. “But—”
“I said you could arrest her. Legally. Bail is approved.” After his gavel smacks the wood the magistrate glowers at Ito. “Arraignment will be on the twenty-first.”
My nonplused attorney stares back. “I would like to request a little more time, Your Honor. Based on extreme bias, we will need to hire a private firm to go over all the evidence.”
The man on the bench shakes his jowls before sighing. “Granted. But, counselor, I warn you. If this goes to trial, the jury will decide, not the number of TikTok hits.”
“Understood. Thank—”
“Next case.”
It happens so fast, I can hardly believe I’m free. Outside the Burlington courthouse, everything seems normal—from cars and people to the clear blue sky. It’s a surreal version of The Twilight Zone meets Judge Judy.
Shaking off the thought, I grab the handle of my lawyer’s BMW.
“Hold up.” Kade races across the lot. Although desperate to fall into his arms, his betrayal still stings.
“Don’t.” I pedal backward when he tries to place a gentle hand on my shoulder.
Undaunted, he twists me to face him, then cups my cheeks. “Listen, honey. The Troopers didn’t tell me or the FBI they had a warrant. I never would’ve dropped you off if I had known.”
“I want to believe you.” God help me, I do. But what if my feelings for him are messing up my judgement?
When my eyes lower to the pavement, he shoves a video in front of my nose. In the clip, my angry warrior steps in front of a dozen armed cops to stop them from shooting me.
His voice softens. “Do you think I faked this? I’m falling, babe. Not sure where it will lead, but I sure as hell would never betray you, especially after what we shared.”
“I thought…”Oh crap, how could I be so wrong?
Heart racing at what I’m about to do, I open the car door, and duck in. “Thanks for springing me, John, but I’m going with the sheriff.”
“If I call, you answer.” He throws me a burner phone which I catch mid-air.
“I will. Promise.” Walking away, I remember something important, and race back. “I almost forgot to tell you. Andrea called. Phone her. Push hard enough, she’ll put what really happened in writing.”
My attorney frowns. “On it. Keep your nose clean or you’ll end up behind bars again. Next time, the judge won’t grant bail.”
