Chapter 15 #4
"Ms. Potter." He removed his glasses, cleaning them with deliberate slowness. "You're asking me to dismiss all charges against your client and refer this matter to federal authorities for investigation."
"Actually, Your Honor, federal authorities have already reviewed this matter.
" I reached into my briefcase and pulled out the document I'd secured earlier this morning, thanks to Agent Morrison.
"The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District has examined both the case file and the medical examiner's report. They have declined to prosecute."
I walked forward and handed the affidavit to Judge Farinholt. My heart was pounding, but my hands remained steady.
"This affidavit, signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Eaton, confirms that the federal prosecutor's office found no evidence of criminal conduct by my client. They concur with the medical examiner's finding of accidental death and see no basis for federal charges."
Judge Farinholt took the document. His reading glasses slid back down his nose as he scanned it. The courtroom was so quiet I heard my own heartbeat, heard Kael's controlled breathing, heard the rustle of fabric as Dawson shifted in his seat.
The sheriff half-rose again. "Your Honor, that's—"
"Sit down, Sheriff." Judge Farinholt didn't even look up from the affidavit. His voice was flat, final.
I continued, my voice steady and clear. "So to clarify, Your Honor, I'm asking you to dismiss all charges against my client and myself based on lack of evidence, the medical examiner's findings, and the federal prosecutor's declination. As for Sheriff Dawson's conduct, that speaks for itself."
Farinholt was quiet for a long moment. His fingers drummed once against the bench—a single, deliberate tap that seemed to mark a decision being made.
Then he looked at Dawson.
"Sheriff." The word carried weight. "Do you have any evidence—any evidence at all—that contradicts the medical examiner's finding of accidental death?"
Dawson's jaw worked. His hands gripped the edge of the table so hard his knuckles had gone white. "Not yet, but—"
"Do you have any evidence placing Mr. Ironforge at the scene where Mr. Bentley's body was found?"
"We're still investigating—"
"That's a no." Judge Farinholt's voice was flat. "Do you have any witnesses who saw Mr. Ironforge harm Mr. Bentley in any way?"
Silence.
"I'll take that as another no." Judge Farinholt gathered the documents and tapped them into a neat stack.
"Here's what's going to happen. All charges against Mr. Ironforge and Ms. Potter are dismissed, effective immediately.
Sheriff Dawson, you are to cease all investigation into this matter.
Furthermore, I'm ordering an independent review of your department's conduct.
If Ms. Potter's allegations are substantiated, there will be consequences. Do I make myself clear?"
Dawson looked like he'd been punched in the gut. "Your Honor—"
"Do I make myself clear?" Judge Farinholt repeated, his voice hard.
"Yes," Dawson bit out. "Your Honor."
"Good." The judge turned to me. "Ms. Potter, you and your client are free to go."
"Thank you, Your Honor." I could barely keep the triumph from my voice.
He banged his gavel once. "We're adjourned."
The sound echoed through the courtroom like a gunshot.
I turned to Kael, who was staring at me with an expression I couldn't quite read—shock and relief and something deeper, something that made my chest tight.
"You did it," he said quietly.
"We did it," I corrected.
Behind us, Dawson was already storming out of the courtroom, his face twisted with rage. I knew this wasn't over—men like him didn't give up easily. But for now, for this moment, we'd won.
Kelsey was grinning, gathering up the documents. "That was beautiful," she said. "Absolutely beautiful. Did you see Dawson's face when the judge dismissed the charges?"
"Hard to miss," I said, allowing myself a small smile.
But even as I said it, something hollow opened up in my chest. This should have felt better. This was a huge win—the kind of case that could make a career. I'd just taken down a corrupt sheriff in front of a judge, gotten all charges dismissed, and proven Kael innocent.
I should have been elated.
Instead, all I could think was: He doesn't need me anymore.
The attorney-client relationship was over. No professional obligation tying us together. He was free to go back to his life, and I was free to go back to mine.
Except I didn't want to go back to mine. Not if it meant never seeing him again.
"Sarah?" Kelsey's voice broke through my thoughts. "You okay?"
"Fine," I said automatically. "Just... processing."
She gave me a knowing look but didn't push. "I'll start packing up. Take your time."
Kael was still standing there, watching me with those golden eyes that saw too much. "You don't look like someone who just won," he said quietly.
"I'm happy," I lied. "This is exactly what we wanted."
"Is it?"
The question hung between us, weighted with everything we weren't saying. I wanted to tell him no, that what I wanted was more time. That I wanted him to need me for something other than legal representation.
But I couldn't say any of that. Not here, not now, not when the professional boundaries that had kept me safe were dissolving around us.
"We should go," I said instead, gathering my briefcase. "Before Dawson decides to cause more trouble."
Kael didn't move. "Sarah—"
"Don't." The word came out sharp and a little desperate. "Please. Let's just... let's get out of here."
I walked past him, my heels clicking against the courthouse floor with a finality that made my stomach twist. Behind me, I heard him exhale—a sound caught somewhere between frustration and resignation.
I pushed through the courthouse doors and didn't look back.