Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
I always knew there was a chance I’d end up here. Behind bars. I just thought it’d be for gambling, money laundering. That kind of thing. Not murder. I don’t really have a choice, though. I’m not handing Mabilia over to them on a silver platter like they want.
I’ve been questioned all fucking night. Of course I didn’t say shit. The fact that they were still questioning me without my lawyer present was a big fuckup on their part. I might only be second-year law, but I know that they’re not supposed to do that. Especially after I requested my lawyer before they started in on me again.
I didn’t open my mouth. Even when they pointed out what I was facing: life. Never getting out of a cell again. My future for hers. It’s not a hard choice.
If it were Denny in this situation, I’d tell him he was a fucking fool, throwing away his life for a girl he just met. I know I’m being reckless, stupid probably. No matter what angle I look at the situation from though, I can’t do it. I can’t put Mabilia in this chair. Cuffed, scared, helpless .
It’s not fucking happening.
Matteo came by and handed me a suit. Told me we had a bail hearing. Now, I’m sitting in a cell waiting to be taken to the courthouse. I don’t know what to expect. I don’t see any reason I wouldn’t make bail, but I’m facing murder charges here. Maybe the reality of that hasn’t fully sunk in yet. But every time I think about the future, I see her face.
I wanted to ask Matteo about her, to see how she was doing. It’s killing me not being able to talk to her. Again, it’s probably for the better. She needs to let go. I won’t have her trying to stick around if I’m locked away. I’m not giving up my life, for hers to be wasted waiting for something that’s never going to happen.
When I’m escorted into the courtroom, I stop, only to be shoved forward by the cops behind me. She’s here. Mabilia. She’s sitting with her mom and dad, right behind the defendant table, where Matteo is waiting for me. She’s been crying. She’s wearing a bunch of makeup, probably in an attempt to cover the puffiness under her eyes, but I can tell. And I don’t like it.
As soon as I sit down, I turn around. I lean back slightly and Mabilia leans forward to meet me halfway. “I don’t want you to cry over me,” I whisper in her ear.
“Then don’t give me a reason to,” she says, with a hint of anger in her tone.
I turn back around and straighten my shoulders. I try to block out the fact that she’s so close that I could touch her. Kiss her. And then there are her parents. Why are they here? To support her obviously, but I know her father would love to see me hang. Even if I didn’t commit the crime.
“All rise. Court is now in session,” the bailiff calls out, and I stand and wait for the judge’s directive.
“You may be seated.” He waves a hand without so much as looking over at me. Then I watch as he picks up a piece of paper, reads it, and glares at the prosecutor. “Care to explain this nonsense?”
“Your Honor, there have been some holdups on locating the evidence that was collected last night,” the prosecutor says.
“What kind of holdup, exactly?” the judge asks.
Matteo chuckles beside me, but his face doesn’t give any indication of that as he stands and buttons his jacket. “The evidence presented—or lack thereof—is demonstrably insufficient to meet the burden of proof required for a conviction, let alone a charge against my client. This case is devoid of any credible basis to proceed further. We urge the court to uphold the principle of due process and dismiss this case outright, as the prosecution has simply not provided the necessary foundation to justify wasting the court’s time,” he says.
I look up at him with wide eyes. How is there no evidence?
“Your Honor, the defendant confessed just last night,” the prosecutor argues.
“Do you have the tapes? Recordings? Anything to suggest that my client confessed to a murder?” Matteo counters.
“We have them… We just have to… locate them, Your Honor,” the prosecutor replies.
“Your Honor, my client was arrested, taken in, and questioned for hours about a murder that never even occurred. Without counsel present, mind you. After he requested a lawyer. They were simply trying to get him to admit to something, using an innocent man as a pawn in their own twisted games,” Matteo argues.
“Case dismissed. Until you have evidence…” the judge says, “… any evidence , the defendant is free to go.”
“What just happened?” I ask Matteo.
“You just got lucky, kid. Don’t make me have to get your ass out of jail again. Or bury it. I really hate digging graves these days,” he tells me.
“They’re not going to be able to go after her, are they?”
“There are no bodies. No bodies, no murders, kid,” Matteo says.
“I don’t know what you did, but thank you,” I tell him, and he shrugs.
“It wasn’t me.”
I push up from my chair, turn to face Mabilia’s father, and hold out a hand to him. “Thank you. I don’t know what you did, but thank you.”
Mr. Petrov returns the gesture, squeezing hard. “Don’t make me regret it. I can put you right back in that cell as easy as I got you out of it.”
I nod my head and look to Mabilia. She jumps over the small wooden barrier and dives straight into me. My arms wrap around her waist, and I bury my face in the crook of her neck. Mabilia tightens her grip on me.
“Don’t ever do anything stupid like that again,” she says.
“If it’s you or me, I will always make sure it’s me,” I tell her.
“We need to get out of here.” Mrs. Petrov tugs on Mabilia’s arm.
“Okay.” She loosens her grip, and I reluctantly let her pull away. Then she entwines her fingers with mine as we follow her parents out of the courthouse. “You know you’re going to have to come for that family dinner now, right?” Mabilia whispers.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I reply.