The corner of Chloe’s lip slowly curls into a smile, “I don’t think she thought aboutthatat all. I’ll tell her you agree to her terms.” She then points to a gentleman with a briefcase sitting behind us on a park bench, waiting. “That’s your new lawyer, Mr. Barnard.”
And then she’s gone, rushing off into the parking lot and out of my line of sight.
“Ms. Radcliffe,” Mr. Barnard says in greeting, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, please come and follow me. Let’s see if we can expedite the start of this process for you.”
Then we’re standing in line with other defendants and their families and lawyers. One by one we walk through the X-ray machine and metal detector and proceed through the building.
Minutes pass.
Hours pass.
Days pass.
Weeks pass.
My case is finally dismissed and all the charges against me are dropped.
The whole mess is anticlimactic, I walk out of the courthouse free, without anyone to run to or celebrate with.
My landlady let me stay an extra month, well, really until she found a tenant to replace me. I wish I had some extra money to send her, but I’m strapped. I pack whatever clothes I can fit in a backpack and leave everything else. I stay with Maddie for a few days, but I feel uncomfortable and uneasy while I’m there.
On a cold sunny Tuesday Matteo’s trial begins, and I buy a bus ticket out of town. When it’s my turn to testify Mr. Bernard will contact me, but until then I want no part watching and reliving all of it. My bus ticket isn’t for any specific destination, just the cheapest ride out of here.
And I wait and wait.
And wait.
But there’s never anything on the news about what happened. I don’t know if Vaughn’s even okay, the hospital won’t tell me anything when I call. I just trust in the words that Chloe told me, Vaughn is okay. He’s going to fine.
I keep waiting and waiting, but Vaughn doesn’t come to look for me.
