Breaking Steele Part 3

Next, they took pictures of the cut and bruise on my face. The only part of the story I'd left out was the last thing I'd seen. I wouldn't tell them, I couldn't even believe it myself. It was ridiculous. After all, I'd just seen Hank Williams in handcuffs that morning.

The detectives left, giving me their cards and promising they'd find results. It was a kind thing to say, but I knew they didn't have much to go on. The men were still out there, and unless they attacked again there wasn't much the police could do about it. The creepiest part was that if their promise was correct, I'd be in the most danger once I won the case.

I looked in the bathroom mirror and winced as I dabbed the small cut above my eye. After I cleaned it I saw that it wasn't much of a cut, but I could feel a bruise forming underneath. Nothing some foundation couldn't fix. I had to be in court in the morning.

Someone pounded on the door. I jumped, my heart in my throat. And then I realized it must be Mandy. Creeping down the hall, I looked through the peephole and saw my best friend's shock of red hair and signature black leather jacket.

"What happened?" Mandy asked when I opened the door. "If that creep Dan did anything to you, so help me-" She stopped when she saw my face.

At the sight of her, my bottom lip trembled. Taking a shaky breath I tried to get a hold of myself. She followed me inside, her face pale. Even paler than it usually was.

"Who did that to you?"

"I was kidnapped," I said. Mandy gasped. "My driver tranquilized me, and I woke up in a bas.e.m.e.nt ..." I told her the rest of the story as I made us some tea. Thoughts and emotions were so strong inside me I couldn't sit still.

"And then I charged him. Rammed him with my head," I said as I poured honey into my cup of green tea.

Mandy grabbed me by the shoulders, speechless. Which was rare for her. She just looked me in the eye. I looked back, taking in all the love and concern and sympathy she sent through her expression. There were no words, I knew that. I didn't need words. I just needed her there.

My phone buzzed.

"Could that be them?" she asked quickly.

"What? No," I said automatically, and then realized that it actually could be. But it turned out to be Dan, calling for the ninth time. "I better get this," I said.

The moment I answered he began yelling. "Where are you, Sarah? Do you know what kind of hole you've dug yourself into? You're so far behind, you know everyone is working late and you're a no show. I'm taking you off this case and putting-"

I interrupted him. "I was kidnapped, Dan."

Silence.

"You were not."

"I was," I said gravely, and then took a sip of tea.

"I'll be right over," he said.

"No!" I almost shouted. "Don't come. The police just left and I have my best friend with me now."

"It was Williams, wasn't it?" he said.

"It was Williams," I said. "Some guys took me to a bas.e.m.e.nt and threatened me. And then knocked me out and I woke up in my apartment."

"Tell me everything," Dan said. I'd rarely heard him sound so serious.

I recounted the story again, this time with less nervous energy. The facts had settled and I could talk about them with objectivity.

After I finished, Dan heaved a deep sigh. "I'm so sorry," he said. "That shouldn't have happened to you." I was surprised at how genuine he sounded. And sad. He usually didn't get affected, no matter what. "If you want off the case I completely understand."

"No, Dan," I said. "I'm more devoted to it than ever."

Without missing a beat he said, "Then will you give a statement to a reporter friend of mine about your experience, and about how far Williams is willing to go to win?"

I should have known he'd have an angle. "Of course," I said.

"Good. I'll send him to your place tomorrow morning."

"No," I objected. The thought of more people knowing where I lived was uncomfortable. "I'll meet him at the office. I need to go in early anyway. Like you said, I'm in a hole."

Dan paused. "We'll get him," he said.

I couldn't speak, just nodded.

Mandy had set out my pajamas and turned down my covers, as if I were at a hotel or something. This was a side of her people rarely saw. She was a brilliant architect and computer engineer who owned her own business, she even got contract work with the police department. She rode a huge Chopper, and frequented drag races on the weekends. Her past was rough; she'd even been in prison once for hacking a bank's security system while in college. She'd calmed down a lot since she met Rick, her boyfriend of eight years. But this is the Mandy I knew-a growling fox to the rest of the world and a mother hen to those she loved.

After a cold shower and pulling back my hair in a pony, I felt like a new person. I had a few sensitive spots on one rib and my mid back. Nothing showed, but I felt it nonetheless.

Mandy and I finished the rest of our tea. I asked her about her day and listened as she recounted a computer account she'd saved for a panicked employee. It was good to get my mind off of what had happened. She talked about a fight she'd had with Rick, and then I blushed when she told me about how they made up.

Pulling me in close, she gave me a quick hug. "It's going to be okay," she said.

I nodded, starting to believe her words.

"You need something more in your life than just work," she said. "Did you hear about the new club that opened up?" she said.

I shook my head at her, bemused. "A club is not what's missing in my life. A loud, writhing ma.s.s of people is the exact opposite of what I need." Her face fell and I said quickly, "What's it called?"

"The Ru."

"That is a lame name for a club."

"Maybe, but it is a fifty dollar cover and they have a dress code."

I whistled. Most of the clubs in Boise didn't even have a cover, or if they did it was like five bucks and only for the guys. "So what is so special about this one?"

"Well, you have to be on a list and you have to sign up online and consent to a background check, that way you know that not just anyone can get in. And they have three floors; one with a private room where you can sit on beds and talk or hang out and the other for a restaurant and lounge. It sounds so cool."

"You should sign up; see if you and Rick can get in."

"Already did, and-" she hesitated, then spit it out. "I signed you up too ... we're approved."

"Mandy!"

"Hey, you need to get out, stop working so much. This really has me worried. Not only are you always busy, but now your job is getting dangerous. It isn't worth your life. I don't like it. I want something more for you." I could tell she meant it. Mostly because she was a really bad liar. "Sat.u.r.day night we are going there and I won't take no for an answer. You need to get away."

"No," I said bluntly. This case was my life, I didn't need another. Especially not one with dancing and drunk men.

She tilted her head at me, full of concern.

Okay, so I did miss being with her. I did miss having days off where all I got done was read and sleep. I did miss going on dates and meeting new people. There was still a part of me that wanted that.

"Okay," I said. She broke into a grin. "But not until this case is over." She groaned. "I have dozens of things-big things-to get done and I can't spare any time off."

"Even on Sat.u.r.day night?" She asked with eyebrows raised, as if she was seriously doubting the direction I was taking my life.

"Even on Sat.u.r.day night," I confirmed.

"Then let's get this freak behind bars for the rest of his life so that you can have yours back."

I smiled, and nodded. There was nothing more I'd like.

She slept on the couch. I kept the hallway light on because I kept seeing shadows outside my door that weren't there.

My gun was only a few feet away from me. But did I have what it took to point it at a man's face and shoot?

Yes ... no ...maybe. I didn't know. When I thought about what was in my heart, the dark side of my heart, I knew I had something deep inside that would pull that trigger without even thinking. But then what? I couldn't live that life. I was an attorney, for goodness sake; I was supposed to be against violence of any kind.

I'd never been afraid of being alone, or the dark. Not ever. And here I was, needing my best friend to tuck me in and a bright night-light. Pathetic.

They'd done this to me. I was going from scared to angry.

Chapter 10.

MY ALARM WENT OFF at 5 a.m. My blankets were warm and it felt like I had melted into the mattress. I could hear Mandy's deep breathing from the living room.

I soaked it in. It was like I'd woken with a new strength. Part of the fear I'd felt yesterday was hidden deep inside. The other half I turned into a righteous anger. Today, I was going to nail Williams.

After a shower, breakfast, getting ready, and a promise to Mandy that I'd call her when I left the courthouse, I was on my way to the office.

I'd driven there so many times I was on autopilot. The streets weren't very busy. I mentally went through my notes, taking out this, putting in that, and rearranged them the way I wanted.

The reporter was waiting on the steps of the large concrete-and-steel building. The thing I loved most about the office was its landscaped yard. There was a pond with a fountain, trees and ferns that lined the back, and there were even benches and picnic tables. I told the reporter we should go out by the pond, which was my favorite spot.

After I told him the story and he asked the usual mundane reporter questions like "What did it feel like to be kidnapped?" and "Is there any doubt in your mind it was Williams?" I took over.

"This threat has made me more confident than ever that Williams is guilty, and he's capable of anything. Tell that to the public."

The reporter wanted more, but I had to go. There was a to-do list as long as my forearm that I had to finish before court started at ten o'clock.

I texted Joshua as I walked to my office. He was already on his way. Good man. That'd earn him some extra credit points.

Once I sat on my chair I noticed a bundle of notes. Joshua had gotten an appointment with Hannah Williams for tomorrow at three o'clock. It would've been better if it had been today, but I knew it was the best we could get. He also wrote that he'd searched in every database he knew for the employee who'd charged Hank Williams so long ago, but hadn't found anything.

For the next hour I went through my notes and retyped what I had, taking out the DNA evidence and the witnesses' testimony, I filed them away and put them out of my mind. I'd moved on. There was no time to dwell on the past. It was still a strong case, as the police's testimony was coming up today, as well as a presentation of Williams' past offenses, like the drug possession and a few DUIs.

By the time I'd wrapped my mind around the new and evolved case, I was once again confident I had what it took to prove him guilty.

That was, until I got the phone call.

It was Dan, saying the same thing he did yesterday. "Judge called an emergency meeting. Meet me at the courthouse. Now." He didn't have to say how bad this was. I got a sick feeling in my gut. Pressing my hand to my case notes, I just sat for a moment, as if saying goodbye to the work I'd just done.

And then I ran to my car, Joshua in toe, after gulping down a cup of coffee he brought me. He got extra points for that, too.

Chapter 11.

THE COURTHOUSE WAS SWARMING with TV vans and media all trying to get a good shot. I felt like a movie star, but without all the money. I brushed past them and got inside where cameras weren't allowed. The judge made a smart move there.

The judge's room was already full when I followed Dan in. I sat stiffly and crossed my legs. No doubt everyone had already heard of my kidnapping. News like that travelled fast. Especially when you had a boss like Dan, who wanted to milk it for all it was worth.

I could see it in their eyes, too. The other attorneys looked at me with pity and a small amount of disdain, as if I were a baby that needed tended to. I made my face as peaceful as I could, and did not spare an extra glance their way.

We all stood when the judge came in, but he waved us back into our seats. His eyes were red and baggy, as if he hadn't slept well.

"More bad news," he said as he flopped into his chair. He looked at a paper as if he were reading off of it. "We found another jury member who has been bribed. The woman will be charged, but I won't order another replacement."

It was hard to keep my face peaceful. All of this work, all of this hardship, and all that I went through last night was about to be flushed down the toilet. I knew what was coming. And it made me want to run from the room.

"I have no choice but to declare a mistrial," the judge said.

Dan groaned. I clenched my jaw. It was still hard to hear, even though I was expecting it.

He went on to say how we could appeal and begin again, but I didn't want to listen. It felt like ants were crawling under my skin. I just wanted to bolt out of there.

Sawyer spoke up. "We'd like to request that the defendant be released on bond. After all, there's hardly any proof he's guilty."

I opened my mouth to argue, then shut it again. If I got started I wouldn't be able to stop.

Let them wait. Within a few weeks I'd have enough evidence to bury them in it. Then I would argue and they wouldn't have a word to say against me.

So I was silent, even when the judge set a 900k bond for Williams, which I knew would be easy for Williams to post. Even when he said Williams would need an ankle tracker and couldn't leave the state. Even when Dan protested and said that Williams was a dangerous criminal who was the last person that should get off on bond.

I kept quiet; there was nothing to say. Things had been set in motion that would take more than words to stop. Williams was free. Blind Lady Justice had been tricked.