ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟜𝟟
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After months of hard work, dedication, blood sweat and tears, Judge Johnson and I finally had answers.
It was safe to say Justin Deyes was framed. An innocent man thrown in jail. For a crime he never committed.
Apparently, according to what we had gathered, Justin Deyes was close to the origin of the fire when he had gotten back from the gas station, but he had never started it. He had gotten back home around 10 PM, while the fire started at 9 PM.
It was his landlord, Mr. Weller who had started it. My theory was that he had been high on some substance, gotten angry because Mr. Deyes couldn't pay his rent, and deliberately started the fire before finding a way to make it look like Justin was responsible.
"So what do we do now?" I say, standing up from my seat.
Judge Johnson pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and stood as well.
"We go visit Mr. Deyes in prison, and inform him about our gatherings."
My eyebrows lifted. "Oh, today?"
"If we can. I'll try to schedule a hearing later."
It felt weird being happy about something connected to a fire that had ruined someone's life, but I couldn't help it. Justin had spent all this time sitting in prison for something he hadn't done. Now we finally had a way to change that.
A smile slowly spread across my face.
A fighting chance.
After everything Justin had gone through, those words felt almost unreal.
For months, we'd been chasing one dead end after another. Every time I thought we were getting somewhere, another piece of evidence seemed to pull us right back to where we'd started.
And now we knew Justin hadn't done it.
My mind immediately started racing. What was he going to say when we told him? Would he cry?
I couldn't blame him if he did.
"Dixie?"
I blinked and looked up. Judge Johnson was staring at me.
"Sorry." I cleared my throat, trying to pull myself together. "I was thinking."
I smiled sheepishly. "Do you think he'll be happy?"
Judge Johnson sighed quietly. "Happy might not be the first word I'd use."
"I'd be pretty darn happy if someone told me I had a high chance of getting out of jail." I murmur.
"He's been sitting in prison for something he didn't do."
The smile faded from my face. "Yeah."
"But once he realizes we're serious, I think he'll feel relieved."
"I hope so," I looked at the thick stack of documents on his desk. "So this is really it?"
"What do you mean?" He looked at me.
"The investigation..this whole thing-we're done?"
He smiled. "With this part, yes."
I exhaled softly.
That was strange.
I had spent so long wanting answers that I hadn't stopped to think about what it would feel like once we actually had them.
"It's been a pleasure working with you, Judge. Even if I don't make it seem like that." I laugh quietly.
"Same with you, Dixie. You are one of the brightest minds I've worked with.
Now that we'd finally gotten somewhere, it felt like we were closing the door on a chapter of our own.
Judge Johnson picked up his briefcase.
"Come on, unless you'd rather spend another hour in my office."
I smiled.
~
The prison was still as creepy as ever. I don't think I could survive months just staring at dull gray walls.
The same guard that I met with a couple weeks ago was still standing behind the desk. We met eyes once Judge Johnson and I came in.
His expression changed almost immediately, and he straightened in his chair.
I almost smiled.
Oh.
I guess he remembered me.
Judge Johnson approached the desk first. "Good afternoon."
"Judge Johnson." The guard stood quickly.
His voice had suddenly become much more formal. Much more professional than how I met him.
I looked between them.
Judge Johnson nodded politely. "We're here to see Justin Deyes."
The guard reached for the clipboard in front of him. "Of course."
"Do you have an appointment scheduled?" His eyes moved down the page.
"Yes," Judge Johnson said.
The guard nodded, then his eyes moved toward me. He said nothing.
I smiled politely. "Don't worry. I won't cause any trouble today."
"I didn't say you would, ma'am." His eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Of course you didn't."
Judge Johnson glanced at me. I gave him an innocent smile.
The guard cleared his throat. "I'll need both of your identification."
Judge Johnson handed his over quickly. I reached into my bag. As I pulled out my identification, I glanced at the guard.
"You know, it's nice seeing a familiar face."
He looked confused.
I continued to smile. "Although I was hoping you'd have been promoted by now."
He stared at me.
"Still working the front desk?" I tilted my head.
Judge Johnson coughed.
I looked at him. "What?"
"Nothing."
The guard looked down at his clipboard again.
"I like my job."
"I'm sure you do." I handed him my identification.
He took it carefully. I watched him scan it. He looked like he wanted to say something, but unfortunately, he didn't.
Probably because Judge Johnson was standing beside me.
I leaned slightly toward the guard. "See? You don't have to be nervous around me."
"I'm not nervous."
"Right."
He handed our IDs back. Judge Johnson took his, and I took mine.
The guard stepped away from the desk. "Mr. Deyes is expecting you."
"Wonderful."
He gestured toward the hallway. "This way."
I followed Judge Johnson.
The heavy door opened with a loud metallic click. I immediately felt the same heaviness settle over me. My footsteps echoed behind Judge Johnson's.
Neither of us spoke for a while but truthfully, there wasn't much to say. We knew why we were here, and I couldn't stop thinking about Justin.
He had spent months in this place.
Months. For something he hadn't done.
We reached the visitation area. A guard unlocked another door. By the time we reached the room where Justin was waiting, I felt my nerves beginning to creep in.
The door opened.
Justin was sitting at the table. His hands were resting in front of him.
He looked exactly as I remembered.
His eyes immediately moved toward Judge Johnson, then toward me.
His expression didn't change and that was probably for the best. At least this time he didn't call me a bitch.
"Mr. Deyes," Judge Johnson greeted him.
Justin nodded. "Judge."
Judge Johnson took the chair across from him. I sat beside him.
Justin's eyes remained on me for a second longer, then he looked back at Judge Johnson.
"You said you had something to tell me."
"Yes, we do."
Justin leaned back slightly. "Good news?"
"There has been a significant development in your case."
Justin's eyebrows pulled together. "Oh? What kind of development?"
"We've completed our review of the evidence." Judge Johnson placed the folder on the table.
Justin looked at the folder.
I swallowed. This was the moment.
"We believe you were framed." He finished.
Justin's eyes stayed fixed on Judge Johnson, then slowly shifted toward me.
"What?"
His voice was quieter than I expected.
Judge Johnson repeated it. "We have substantial evidence indicating that you did not start the fire."
He looked down at the table. "I told you that."
"Yes you did," Judge Johnson said.
"I told everybody that."
"I know."
Justin laughed once. "They didn't believe me."
Judge Johnson leaned forward slightly. "We have evidence now that supports your account."
"What evidence?" Justin looked at him again.
I opened the folder.
"We reconstructed the timeline." I slid one of the documents across the table. "You returned home around ten."
Justin nodded slowly. "Yeah."
"The fire began around nine. We also found inconsistencies in the original witness statements."
Justin stared at the paperwork. "What kind?"
"One of the witnesses changed the estimated time of their sighting multiple times."
"Do you know who?" His eyes narrowed.
"We'll go through everything with you soon."
I didn't want to overwhelm him.
He swallowed. "What happens now?"
"We prepare for the next stage." Judge Johnson adjusted his glasses.
He looked at me. "And you?"
I tilted my head. "What about me?"
"Are you still representing me?"
There was still something guarded in his eyes. Maybe even resentment. I couldn't blame him.
"I am."
"You really believe I'm innocent?"
I didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Justin nodded slowly. He picked up the first page we'd given him.
His fingers trembled slightly. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to feel."
"You don't have to know right now," I said.
Justin looked at me.
"You've been here a long time."
He nodded. "Too long."
"We're going to do everything we can." Judge Johnson's expression softened.
Justin stared at the paperwork again. Then he whispered, "I just want to go home."
My throat tightened.
He looked up. "And you really think I can?"
I glanced at Judge Johnson, then back at Justin. "I think you finally have a real chance."
Justin nodded. I watched as he looked down again. This time, tears gathered in his eyes.
He quickly wiped one away, and I looked away. I had to give him the privacy he deserved.
This wasn't a victory yet. He was still sitting in a prison, the second trial hadn't happened, and nothing had been decided.
But that couldn't stop the excitement in my chest.
We finally had something.
Judge Johnson gathered the documents together. "We'll be back in contact once we have the hearing scheduled."
"Thank you." Justin nodded.
Judge Johnson stood, I stood too.
Justin looked at me. "Ms. West?"
I stopped. "Yes?"
He hesitated. "Thank you. I know things were rough at the start but...thank you."
That was sweet to hear.
"You're welcome." I smiled faintly.
I followed Judge Johnson toward the door.
"That was good, Dixie."
Judge Johnson told me. I smiled up at him.
"Thank you.. And thank you, for all this- really. I'm glad Mr. Deyes finally has something."
Judge Johnson patted my shoulder gently.
"It was all in you, Dixie. You got that lawyer in you that can never fade away."
Maybe Ted would finally see it too.
~