Chapter 33
Chapter thirty-three
Everly
My stomach rolled as I took a seat at the conference table across from the firm’s newest client. I hadn’t made the connection Friday when the partners announced that Bryant’s alleged supplier wanted to retain our firm as well.
It wasn’t until after I went through the case file over the weekend that I realized Keith Carver was Bishop. The same Bishop who Cammie filed a restraining order against after years of abuse.
As soon as I realized it, I’d started thinking of reasons to remove myself from his case.
The best, that I’d planned to attempt a plea deal for Bryant in exchange for his testimony against Bishop, was outright rejected by Bryant.
It was odd and suggested that the relationship between Bryant and his supplier had been more complex than he’d let on.
I wanted nothing to do with Bishop, but I also wanted the decision to be his to limit any further damage my personal life had on my career.
“Before we get started,” I said. “I need to make Mr. Carver aware of something.”
“I thought you and Stafford ended things?” George said, glaring at me.
“We did.” My voice sounded steady, but saying the words out loud made my chest constrict painfully. “Cammie Gibson has a restraining order against Mr. Carver. She and I are acquaintances.”
“Small town,” Taylor said with a smile to Bishop. “Everyone knows everyone.”
Bishop narrowed his eyes at me, and a cold feeling slid through my body.
“It won’t be a problem as long as you don’t believe everything that bitch says about me,” he said.
“Whether I believe her won’t affect my ability to defend you,” I said. The words felt like ash in my mouth. I believed Cammie. Bishop had assaulted her numerous times, a few of which ended with documented trips to the hospital. I still had the ability to defend Bishop, whether I wanted to or not.
“OK, then,” Bishop said, drumming his fingers on the conference room table.
Those same fingers had gripped Cammie’s hand hard enough to snap the delicate bones.
Sweet Cam, who had become a ray of sunshine not only in my friend group but in the entire community.
She was a good person, and the thought of this asshole hurting her made my stomach pitch. Defending him would be difficult.
Preston glanced at me, the concern clear on his face. “You sure, Evie?”
He’d read the case file too, including all the testimony Cammie gave to warrant Judge Lenbock signing off on a protective order.
The worry etched on his face felt real. He wasn’t asking because he wanted me to bail, so he looked better to the partners.
He understood, like I was starting to, that taking this case was a line I might not want to cross.
I believed in second chances; however, as I stared into Bishop’s cold eyes, I was starting to think not everyone deserved one.
“Of course she’s sure, Preston,” George said with a huff. “Hendricks is a shark and exactly what this case needs.”
High praise that cut deep through to the softer places I hid at work.
I was a shark when I needed to be, and most of the time, it was justified.
None of my prior clients had ever made me wonder if I’d have trouble looking at myself in the mirror.
I definitely couldn’t face Cammie if I helped this asshole avoid punishment for the drug network he’d clearly brought to Peace Falls.
The one Levi had worked tirelessly to uncover. The case that had cost me him.
“I’m not sure,” I said quietly.
“Not sure about what?” Taylor asked.
The men around the table stared at me and waited. I sat straighter in my chair and lifted my chin. “I don’t think I can be impartial.”
Bishop narrowed his eyes at me again. “I don’t give a fuck if you like me or not. If you can help me get out of this shit, I want you on my team.”
I shook my head. “It’s best if I step back.”
“Hendricks, my office,” George said, pushing away from the conference table so hard his chair smacked the wall.
“We’ll just be a minute,” Taylor said, standing as well.
George’s shoulders bunched to his ears as I followed him from the room. When I filed into his office, I was surprised to see that Preston had followed Taylor as well.
“What the fuck, Hendricks?” George shouted. Taylor huffed and pulled the door closed.
“I can’t be impartial,” I repeated.
“Is this because of Stafford?” George asked.
“Yes,” I said. “That’s part of it. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t. But also, Mr. Carver assaulted someone I care about. That’s not something I can look past.”
“Told you,” Taylor said to George.
“She’s still a better litigator than Preston,” George snapped. “Bleeding heart aside.”
“Preston is rational,” Taylor said. “Measured. He’d have sat through the meeting and removed himself later. Everly told the guy to his face that she thinks he’s a piece of garbage. We could have just said she had a scheduling conflict if she’d been more dispassionate.”
“Passion is what makes her a great lawyer,” George said.
Preston and I locked eyes. They were talking about the partner position. Right here, in front of both of us. “Maybe we should just start our own firm,” I said.
The room fell silent.
“Everly,” Preston said, his voice full of caution.
“See, balls,” George said, pointing at me.
Taylor closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “Preston, Everly, I apologize. This conversation has gotten out of hand.”
“No,” Preston said. “I think it’s been a long time coming. It sounds like you two will never agree on who to make partner. The only way to keep us both would be to promote us both.”
“You think we should promote someone who just bailed on the case that has the potential to be the firm’s most profitable this year?” George asked.
In other words, George wasn’t really on my side either.
Preston glanced at me. “I think you should allow that defending someone who broke her friend’s bones might cross an ethical line.”
Taylor smirked. It was an odd reaction, and I was still trying to unravel it when George jumped back into the conversation.
“You’re a defense attorney, Hendricks,” George said to me. “Not everyone you defend is a good person, but they all deserve a fair defense.”
“Exactly,” I said. “And I couldn’t be fair with Mr. Carver. If that costs me the partnership, so be it. I’m not defending him.”
“Does this apply to every women-beating client that comes to the firm or just the ones where you know the alleged victim personally?” Taylor asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “Because having a female defense attorney in those cases is good optics with a jury. What about child abusers? Rapists? Where is the line, Everly? Just so we’re all on the same page. ”
It was a good question, and one that, until now, I hadn’t had to face while knowing the victim personally.
“Every case is different,” I said. “I won’t know which will prick my conscience until they do.
Should I feel strongly enough that my personal feelings might affect my ability to defend someone, I’d have an ethical obligation to take myself from the case.
Which is why I’m dropping Bryant Wythers too.
I’m happy to work with Preston to support his other cases, so he has the bandwidth he needs.
Since Bryant and Bishop’s cases are connected, it shouldn’t be an issue. ”
“Are you OK with that?” Taylor asked Preston.
“Yes,” he answered. “I have several cases that could benefit from Everly’s expertise with sentence reduction.”
Taylor looked at George and dipped his chin ever so slightly.
“Both of you it is,” George said, shaking his head. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, Hendricks, we need to get back to the conference room before this guy decides none of us should represent him.”
Preston’s eyes widened as Taylor and George left the room. “Did we both just make partner?”
“I think we did,” I said. “Guess you showed George your balls, and I showed Taylor my—finesse?”
Preston laughed. “Guess so.”
“Thanks for having my back there,” I said. “For the record, I really would have started a firm with you.”
“Who says we can’t?” Preston said with a smirk before strolling out of the office.
Just because they’d offered us junior partnerships didn’t mean we had to stay. The option alone made me feel a little giddy. I headed straight for reception.
“Bathroom,” I said, hurrying down the hallway.
Hattie hit DND on the phone system and ran after me.
“What the hell is going on?” she asked as we pushed into the ladies’ room. “Y’all just left that guy in the conference room and started yelling in George’s office.”
“Did you hear what they said?”
“No,” she huffed. “I’m not a bat, but whatever they were saying sounded angry.”
“They were arguing about who to make partner.”
“In front of you and Preston?” she asked, her eyes wide.
I nodded. “They ended up promoting us both.”
Hattie let out a squeal and slapped her hand over her mouth. “Oh my gosh,” she said, grabbing my hands and hopping up and down. “I knew you’d get it. Even if you have to share the moment with Preston, I’m so happy for you.”
“I think he’s the reason they promoted both of us,” I said. “He told them it was the only way they’d keep us both after I suggested we leave and open our own firm.”
Hattie dropped my hands and stepped back until she bumped against the stall. “I know I give Preston crap, but wow. That’s ballsy.”
“I’m the one who threatened to quit.”
“But they expected a move like that from you.” She tilted her head and studied me. “Why do you look so sad? You’ve been focused on making partner since you started here.”
“Because,” I said, my eyes filling with tears, “the person I want to tell most isn’t mine anymore.”
“Ah, sweetie,” Hattie said, pulling me into a hug.
“I always said whoever I was with had to support my career,” I said into her shoulder. “Is that too much to ask?”
“No,” Hattie said, stepping back from me. “It isn’t.”
“Then why does it feel like I made the biggest mistake of my life?”
“Because you love him,” she said gently. “But sometimes, love isn’t enough.”