Page 26 of Motion to Dismiss

“Nothing of value was lost when Tom Raider was murdered.” I finally look at him. “He deserved far more bullets in his head.”

“Spoken like a son who can’t see any wrong in his father.”

My jaw tightens.

“Do you know what it’s like to lose someone you love, Jameson?” he asks.

“You and I are not on a first-name basis.”

“It’s the type of pain that never heals,” he says. “The type of pain that your father inflicted when he killed Tom Raider and made his wife a widow.”

“My father didn’t kill that man.”

“You can keep believing that if you want to.” He holds out a manila envelope. “Out of fairness—and because I still care about what this has done to your family—here are the victim impact statements the state is presenting at his parole hearing.”

“I don’t need to read any of those.” I leave his hand hanging in the air. “My father is getting a new trial.”

“He’s almost out of appeals, so I doubt it.” He smirks. “But if you do somehow get one, I suggest you brace yourself for your very first loss.”

“From who?”

“You’ll see.”

I roll my eyes.

“You were a subpar lawyer when I was a child and you’re even worse now,” I say. “I hope your fiction books read better than the terrible arguments you used to make in court.”

“Jameson, I need you to listen to me.”

“I left the drawer wide open for you,” I say. “I know you saw it…I just don’t understand why you’re still lying about it.”

“Drawer?” He furrows his brow as the elevator doors glide open. “What drawer are you talking about?”

“At the crime scene.” I can tell he’s playing stupid, but he’s a terrible actor.

“That drawer was sitting in plain sight, and I thought even a half-assed lawyer would’ve been smart enough to see it.”

“Okay, look.” He starts to get on the elevator with me, but I narrow my eyes at him.

“The camera on here is currently broken,” I say. “If you want to risk getting on here with me—of all people—be my guest, but you won’t come out walking.”

“You wouldn’t dare assault me, Jameson.”

I step back, gesturing for him to try me.

“I’ll uh—” He stumbles backward. “I’ll catch the next one.”

“Good choice.”

DELIBERATE (V.):

TO CONSIDER THE FACTS, THE LAWS AND/OR OTHER MATTERS, PARTICULARLY BY MEMBERS OF A JURY, A PANEL OF JUDGES OR BY ANY GROUP INCLUDING A LEGISLATURE.

SCARLETT

It’s been two months since I last saw Jameson, and somehow, he still finds his way into my dreams and nearly every thought in between.

Despite every cute lunch date I take with Cole, or every new character’s skin I slip into, I can’t seem to shed the memory of him.