CHAPTER TEN
Linc
T he last month has been both trying and life-affirming. All these years I thought I was living but really, I was walking through the motions of life. Everly has brought color to my black and white world with her bright smile and loving being. Just knowing her has increased my life expectancy.
These past few weeks have shown me that Everly is the one I want in my life. I know at what capacity, but I’ll give her some time to warm up to the idea of forever before I spring that on her.
Right now, I’m sitting in the courtroom with my client Dustin Barker, waiting for the jury to return with their verdict.
The case was a clusterfuck from the beginning with our ex-employee trying to sabotage the case to get me disbarred.
I’m just thankful we were able to catch it in time, before things got out of hand.
The case has been a nightmare of epic proportions.
I have no doubt that my client should get off on the charges, as proper protocol and the chain of evidence wasn’t followed correctly, which makes DA Burt Button’s case look like a slice of Swiss cheese.
There are too many holes in the case and not being able to use all their evidence, it looks as though the case isn’t linked to Mr. Barker.
When I first became an attorney, I was drawn in by the money and flashy lifestyle it brought.
With each big win came more notoriety across the nation, which then, in turn, brought more clients with more money and the cycle continued after that.
Being young and having the world thrown at your feet is a lot.
The zeros in my account were never enough, so I worked and worked until another zero was added and my face was splashed on every news media outlet from here to the east coast. I thrived on it.
It was a high; better than any drug I could inhale.
Until her.
Until Everly.
It was like she woke a sleeping giant. The cars and money and having my picture taken seems so petty now. She doesn’t give two shits about any of that. The only thing that she cares about is my time. To spend time together, connecting on such an intimate level that has nothing to do with sex.
Sex.
Now that is something that I’d never thought would be an afterthought. I’ve never been a saint and lord knows I am a man with needs, but it never seemed right, as most of our time is spent talking and learning something new about the other.
Two days ago, Everly pushed to move things further along.
We’ve fooled around, but never crossed the line where I took that little ripe cherry between her legs.
This case that I’ve been working on has consumed just about every minute of my day, and I didn’t want to rush through her first time, it should be savored, and she should be worshiped.
That’s why I’ve been planning this for a week.
“Last chance to make a plea deal before your client rots in an eight-by-eight cell.” DA Buttons leans over the side of the table and into my personal space, interrupting my thoughts of how I plan the weekend to play out.
I can’t stand it when someone thinks they’re intimidating you. Imposing their authority, trying to beat on their chest to see who has the bigger balls.
Newsflash, I do.
“The only deal we’re prepared to make is how many zeros the city is going to give my client for his rights being violated during this circus you’d like to call a trial. I’m even betting that us trying our case in civil court is going to cost the city a shit-ton of money,” I counter.
The DA is sweating it and from the perspiration forming on his forehead and the sweat rings that are bleeding through his suit jacket, he’s not so sure that he’s got it in the bag.
I on the other hand, know we’re getting a win.
That’s what I do. I win. End of story. That’s why I get paid the big money, to manipulate the law to fit the way I want it to bend.
Some might think I’m a low life for getting criminals off, but I don’t see it that way.
If the prosecution was good at his job and did things the correct way, then my client would be spending life in prison without the possibility of parole because the actual evidence would show he killed his girlfriend and her lover.
The DA doesn’t have a pot to piss in after I blew up every bit of evidence his detectives scoured.
They botched up the entire case, hoping Mr. Barker was only going to stay with his court appointed attorney, who couldn’t find his head from his asshole.
Yeah, I’m the guy you call now if you need to get out of a bad situation.
Buttons narrows his eyes, once again going for the intimidation route, when a voice booms over the room.
“Court will resume in five minutes!”
Buttons straightens, turning towards the front of the courtroom.
“I guess we’ll just have to take our chances,” I jovially say, while shoving my phone in my jacket pocket and papers in my briefcase.
“One of these days you’re not going to win, Thorne.
One day you or that brother is going to lose, and it will be the most devastating thing you ever experience; not only to your ego but to your soul.
A person can’t win every time; sometimes a hard fall is just around the corner when we least expect it. ”
“But not today.”
The DA shakes his head, then moves to the other side of the room to his table, as the judge comes in.
“All rise,” the bailiff announces, and we all stand as the judge takes his seat in his black leather chair.
“The jury has reached a verdict so if the bailiff will please escort them in.”
One by one the jurors come in and take their assigned seats in the jury box.
None of them are attempting to look over in our direction, and for the first time I’m frozen.
This could go two different ways. First, they could be avoiding looking over here because they’re ashamed to be letting a guilty man go free.
Or they’re avoiding us because they decided he was guilty, and went against the judge’s rules as to follow the letter of the law, and they decided to sweep it under the rug and send his ass to prison.
I’m almost certain it’s the first one but you never know, with some people, how they feel about getting their own justice instead of following the rules.
“Can the foreman please stand and recite the verdict that was written by the jury.”
A man in his forties stands and begins the long dialogue of the required reading.
He states the long list of charges that my client is facing, and my lungs automatically squeeze tight.
They do this with every verdict on every case I’ve ever done.
My record is impeccable, but there will come a day when I do lose, so I silently hold my breath waiting in case today is that day.
Not guilty.
Not guilty.
Not guilty.
All three charges that Dustin Barker was facing, he has been found not guilty, and I release the breath I was holding. The courtroom bursts out in a commotion but there are several officers here to deal with that.
“After the results from the jury, Dustin Barker, you are free to go.”
The gavel slams down and court is adjourned.
“You did it!” My client celebrates next to me and throws his arms around me.
Of course I did, that’s what you paid for.
“Try to stay out of trouble from now on,” I chide as I shake his hand, then do the same to my associates who worked overtime on this case.
“Sure will.”
With that, he takes off to a group of people who were seated behind us in the courtroom, to celebrate.
Chances are we’ll be seeing him again as a client within the next two years, now that he’s free.
All idiots who think they’re invincible usually do, which means charging even more the next time I have to bail his ass out.
Job security is what my dad always said when I worked for his company the first year after law school.
“How can you live with yourself? You just got a man off on two counts of murder.”
Once again DA Buttons is up my ass before I even make it to the door of the courtroom. He knows that when I step outside the media is going to be circling, because I’ve once again gotten another client off.
“Me? If you’d done your job then we wouldn’t be sitting here in the first place. Had your people followed the law then it would’ve been an open and shut case. Don’t blame me for your shortcomings. I did my job, what did you do?”
I push past him and out in the crowd of media yelling to get their questions answered. My client is beside me as I go through all the ways Burt Buttons is nothing but a fuck up and the people suffer under his leadership.
Two hours later, I’m dropped off at the office as everyone congratulates me on another notch to add to the wall of wins. Yeah, yeah, I’m good.
“Mr. Thorne, I’ve had several calls from news outlets, wanting an interview with you or Mr. Barker,” Ruby, my secretary tells me as I pass her desk.
“Send them to PR and have them set something up after looking over my schedule for next week. I’ve told our client to lay low over the next few days, due to the backlash.
I’ve sent over security to his hotel to monitor the situation.
” I pause just as I’m about to cross over into my office.
“Can you set up for Dale to have the car ready half past five?”
“Of course, Mr. Thorne.”
My phone dings and as I glance over at it, I can’t help the smile. Why does hearing from her have me happier than my win today in court?
Everly: Just saw the news, congratulations on a big win!
Me: Thanks, had it in the bag the entire time. Can you be here by 5:30? I’ve got plans for us tonight.
Everly: If I rush. I’m covering for an employee in the morning, who has a sick kid. Hope that doesn’t throw a wrench in things.
Shit, I was hoping to have her all to myself this weekend.
Me: No worries, we’ll work around it.
Everly: Great! See you soon.