Hayes
“Iwatched you disarm a lunatic with a knife, you’d think this would be a walk in the park,” Liv blurts out, shaking her hands in the elevator as we head to the courtroom.
“I had that under control. This is all you.”
“I have it under control.”
“Yes, you do.” I hand her the briefcase I was holding, and she straightens her spine as the doors open to the ground floor.
The scene in front of me glitches, and I’m suddenly experiencing déjà vu. The standard oak woodwork and shitty carpet…
I haven’t been in a courtroom since my day in court 11.5 years ago, but if you’ve been in one, you’ve been in them all.
In front of the bench or behind the bench, the suffocation feels the same.
Liv walks confidently to her place and starts readying her paperwork, but I don’t have the same ease. My collar feels stiff, and I don’t want to sit down just yet.
“Hayes,” Liv whispers. “Jensen,” she whispers again, forcing me out of my claustrophobia. “You don’t have to stay in hereif you’re uncomfortable.”
“I’m fine.” I tug at my collar absently, and her eyes clock it.
“There’s a deputy in here. I’ll be okay.”
“Your stalker has been suspiciously quiet. I’d rather stay close.”As if that’s the only reason.“Besides, I’d like to watch the Porter brothers sweat.”
Their actions directly affected my friends and my home. Jeremiah nearly killed Curtis. I can’t wait to see them go down for what they put everyone through.
The judge enters, and I go through the motions on instinct, rising and sitting as if I’m on trial again. It’s a hard feeling to shake when it was your nightmare for a decade.
Liv talks through her evidence exactly as she had practiced with me the other day, delivering her spiel confidently. Judge Fulton looks pleased and doesn’t ask any clarifying questions, which makes Liv’s shoulders relax.
“Alright, Defense, let’s hear your side.”
“We’ll be providing alibis for Randall Porter’s whereabouts and proof that all of his business dealings were done by legal means. This counsel requests a separate trial from Mr. Porter’s brother, Jeremiah–”
“What?” Jeremiah yells, jumping up from his seat. “You said you’d take care of me?” He lunges at his brother, who barely reacts.
The deputy on duty quickly separates them as the judge pounds his gavel. “Order,” he demands. “This is only the pre-trial, Mr. Porter. You have time to obtain your own counsel. If you cannot afford it, counsel will be appointed for you.”
He waits until the room settles before continuing. “Miss Greenwood, is this going to be a problem moving forward?”
“No, your honor. The county is ready and willing toprosecute the defendants separately.”
“Great. Let’s set trial dates for both and move on with our day. Any time constraints or schedule issues coming up?”
“I’ll be out of the office for the next two weeks, but after that, I am available.”
Two weeks.
The rest of the conversation in front of me disappears as I contemplate those words. She’s going to be gone because she’s getting married…
She’s getting married this weekend…
She’s getting married…
I tug at my collar because I’m having trouble breathing again, but it has nothing to do with the stuffy courtroom.
“Hey, you okay?” Liv asks suddenly.
