Just like everyone else in town.
She let go of the desk. Her hands dropped into her lap and lay there, inert.
Meyers scooted his chair closer to hers. “Bria? You all right?” He leaned in closer. “Look, I know it’s a shock. It’s okay to cry. People feel better after they cry, sometimes.”
Bria lifted her chin and sat up straight in her seat. “No, thanks. I’m all cried out. Didn’t make me feel any better.”
CHAPTER
35
Twenty minutes later, Bria and Ben walked into a barbecue joint in Union Springs. Honestly, she didn’t know why she’d agreed to go. She certainly wasn’t hungry. After Ben dropped the bomb about Cocheta turning State’s witness, Bria’s stomach turned so sour, she didn’t think she’d ever eat again.
But Ben said they needed to get out of the office, to have a change of scene. Get some air. He said it would give Bria a lift. Make her feel better.
He escorted her to a two-top table in the far corner, away from other customers. Ordered her a beer and a pulled pork sandwich.
Service was fast. The waitress delivered the food and drink in record time.
Bria ignored the sandwich. She drank the beer while they sat in silence.
When Bria drained the final swallow of beer, she spoke. “We can’t win. I don’t have a prayer.”
Ben’s shoulders relaxed. He breathed out, sliding down in his seat. “Thank God. You’ve regained the power of speech. I thought I’d lost you.”
She glared at him. “Seriously? You were worried about my health. So you brought me to a bar?”
He chuckled. “I had a friend, he practiced law in Atlanta. Met him right after I got out of law school. When the chips were down, he’d say, ‘It’s a beautiful day! Let’s go someplace dark.’”
Bria waited, assuming there’d be an uplifting sentiment in the story. But that was it.
She looked around. It was dark inside the bar. And the gloomy atmosphere was intentional. It was the kind of establishment that covered the windows, to prevent the light from shining in.
“We can sit here in privacy.” Ben bit into his sandwich.
She scoffed. “There’s no privacy in this town. Not for me.”
After he swallowed, he said, “Okay, then—relative privacy.” He nudged the plate that held her untouched sandwich. Pushed it an inch closer to her. “You should try it. It’s delicious. Spicy. It’ll put some fire in you.”
“Not happening. The fire’s out. Extinguished.” She studied her empty beer glass. “I’d take another drink. That might make me feel better.”
He looked doubtful. “Is that a medical opinion? Because in my experience, more alcohol isn’t always better—”
“Oh, shut up.” Bria raised her glass to signal the waitress. When a fresh beer appeared in front of her, she took a sip. Just to show him she was in control.
“I’ve made up my mind, Ben,” she said. Her voice sounded thoroughly professional. One glass of beer couldn’t shake that. “You’ve been extremely noble, coming in from Atlanta and taking this case on. But it’s hopeless. We can’t win, so what’s the point of going to trial? There’s no benefit, none that I can see. I may as well plead, I’m ready to go there. What’s the best plea bargain offer youthink you can get? I don’t expect the DA to recommend probation, there’s no chance he’d do that. The case is too political.”
“Bria…”
She kept talking, couldn’t stop. “But if he’d offer a reasonably low sentence, and take no position on probation? I think I’d have a shot. My record is clean, I’ve done a lot for the community. And Judge Stone, she’ll be fair. I sincerely admire that woman. The judge seems genuinely compassionate.”
“Bria, stop.”
He didn’t raise his voice. But when he spoke the words, her breath caught. He wore the expression she’d often seen in the medical profession. When a doctor had to break the terrible news.
He didn’t sugarcoat it. Evenly, he said, “It’s not an option for you. Reeves doesn’t intend to offer us a deal. I already inquired, just raised it as a standard question, like I always do. He made it very clear. No plea bargain in this case.”
The revelation shocked her into silence. Bria wasn’t naïve. She knew that she faced an uphill battle in the case, and that the DA would never offer her a sweetheart deal. But the stark refusal to consider a plea bargain at all?
