Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Parker
I walked into the house, slammed the front door, entered the kitchen, and dropped my briefcase on the table.
“Did you just slam the front door?” Paige asked, standing over the sink.
I loosened my tie. “Yeah. I did. I’m losing the case because of that prick ADA.”
“What happened? You don’t lose. Ever,” she said.
“He cheated.” I stormed out of the kitchen and poured myself a scotch.
“Explain,” Paige said, following behind.
I ran my hand through my hair while I tipped the glass to my lips.
“A key witness changed her testimony today. She completely flipped and mentioned details she had never mentioned before. Details that just happened to line up perfectly with the prosecution’s theory since the beginning of this case. ”
“She lied?” Paige asked.
“You bet she did. She was shaky on the stand before and inconsistent. I was tearing her apart. In fact, I tore her apart. Then today, when the prosecution recalled her, she was calm, precise with her words, and confident. It was like a totally different woman up there.” I threw back my drink.
“It sounds like she was coached,” Paige said.
“Not just coached. She was either conditioned or bribed. Something was really off.”
“And you think the prosecution got to her?”
“I know they fucking did.” I poured another scotch.
“How?” she asked.
“That’s your job to find out.” I pointed at her. “I need to know what happened to her between yesterday and today. I want to know where she went, who she talked to, and who the fuck is pulling the strings.”
“So you want me to investigate the ADA?” Her lips formed a sinister smile.
“I want you to find the truth and use any means necessary.”
“You’re crossing legal lines, Hamilton.” She grinned.
“The ADA crossed them first. Do what you do best, Paige.”
“I need her name and her file. Did you bring it home?” she asked.
“In my briefcase. You can start after dinner. We’re not back in court until next week.”
“Great. That’ll give me time to really dig deep.” She smiled.
Paige
I couldn’t tell Parker I was pregnant. Not yet. And not in the mood he was in because of this case. I would have to wait until the time was right and he was in a better mood. Perhaps once I found something on ADA Benton, and proved he was crooked.
I stepped into my office the following morning. My staff was already gathered around the table.
“Good morning.” I set my purse down. “Angela Ruiz.” I put her picture up.
“A witness in a murder case, whom we believe ADA Benton got to and made her change her testimony. Two days ago, her testimony was inconsistent. She was nervous, unreliable, and Parker was tearing her apart on the stand. And yesterday, she appeared confident, and every answer was aligned perfectly with the prosecution. She was made to remember differently, and we’re going to find out why.
Hack into ADA Benton’s computer and files for this case.
I want all the cam footage you can find from two nights ago.
I want it to start at the Hall of Justice and go all the way to Angela Ruiz’s home.
I also want anything you can find surrounding ADA Benton’s house.
Let’s go, people. Parker is running out of time. ”
I grabbed my purse and walked as fast as I could to the bathroom, vomiting in the toilet that had become a daily occurrence. But it was only one time a day, out of nowhere, and it hit whenever. There was no set time, which I was thankful for. Otherwise, Parker would worry and ask questions.
“Boss, we got something,” Logan said.
All of the information my staff gave me was enough to end ADA Benton’s career. My phone pinged with a text message from Parker.
Hi, sweetheart. How about Four Kinds for dinner tonight?
Sorry, babe. I’m buried with work and don’t know when I’ll be home. I’ll grab something here at the office.
You sure know how to break my heart.
Do you want to win your case or not?
Fair point. I love you. See you later.
I love you too.
I looked at the information my staff collected and smiled.
Grabbing my purse, I left my office and climbed into my car.
Parking along the curb across from ADA Benton’s home, I went around the back and picked the lock to the back door.
The house was dark, quiet, and exceptionally clean for a man.
But then again, he was all about appearances because he was on track for District Attorney.
I felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket. Pulling it out, Christine was calling.
“Hello.”
“Benton is on the move. He’s heading home now.”
“Thanks, Christine.”
I pulled my gun from my purse, took a seat in his comfortable lounge chair, and waited.
Thirty minutes later, I heard the metal key insert into the lock.
The door opened, his footsteps echoing in the hallway.
He flipped the light switch in the living room and jumped when he saw the barrel of my gun pointed at him.
“What the—Who are you? What do you want?”
“Welcome home, ADA Benton. Long day?”
“This is my house! You need to leave before I call—”
“Shut the fuck up and sit down.” I gestured with my gun.
He ignored me, so I stood up.
“Do I need to force you to sit? Because you will get hurt if I have to.”
He raised his hands. “No. I’m sitting.” He walked over to the couch. “What do you want?”
“I thought we could have a little chat about Angela Ruiz,” I said, my gun pointed at him.
“Parker Hamilton. He sent you. Didn’t he? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Who? And don’t lie to me. I hate liars. I do bad things to liars. And I know you wouldn’t want me to do something bad to you.” I shot him a cold smile.
“What about Angela Ruiz?” he asked.
“You visited her home two nights ago at 10:15 p.m. Which I find odd and so late at night.”
“There is nothing illegal about that.”
“No,” I said. “But what you did during your little visit is.”
He stared at me while silence filled the room.
“You made her understand what’s at stake now, and you made sure she remembers the consequences if she doesn’t cooperate.”
The color drained from his face. He was caught, and he knew it.
“You just don’t coach witnesses. You threaten them,” I said.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, lady. I never threatened her.”
“Single mother to one child. You made sure she understood exactly what would happen if she didn’t cooperate.”
“You don’t have proof of that,” he said.
“Oh, but I do.” I smiled, pulling a flash drive from my pocket and holding it up. “Messages. Access Logs. Financials. Phone calls. Videos. And the offshore accounts tied to the mafia you’re working for.”
“Again, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
I stepped closer so my gun was mere inches from his head.
“Don’t do that,” I said. “Don’t lie when we both know the truth.
You’re not just dirty. You’re owned. What did they do?
Promise to make you the next district attorney?
You took their money. You manipulated witnesses, and you obstructed justice.
You are a very bad man, ADA Benton.” I lightly tapped the tip of the gun on his head. “And guess what? I don’t like bad men.”
“What do you want?” his shaky voice asked.
“I can destroy you with what I have. When court resumes, Angela Ruiz tells the truth.”
“No.” He shook his head. “That’s not how this works. You don’t understand. They will kill me if I don’t do what they ask. I don’t think you have a clue what you’re interfering with. This isn’t just—”
“I understand exactly what this is, and I don’t care. You have two choices. You fix what you did, or I make sure everything you’ve built burns to the ground.”
He swallowed hard. “They’ll kill me.”
“I’ll kill you.” I cocked my head. “But, because I’m in a generous mood, I’ll make sure the mafia you’re working with is dealt with. They will no longer be a threat to you.”
“You can do that?” His eyes widened.
“I can do anything I want.”