Swift Justice
Ridgemont University Book 5
Meredith Taylor
Copyright © 2017 by Meredith Taylor
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at the address below.
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The characters, locations and events in this book are entirely fictional. Any similarities to actual persons, locations or events is coincidental and unintentional.
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Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
About Ridgemont University
Join the M/M romantic adventures of the students at Ridgemont University in this exciting new series of standalone novels.
Ridgemont University is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in South Africa, with a reputation for academic excellence. It is set in a picturesque, sleepy college town, next to the famous Ridgemont Valley and a fifteen-minute drive from Sandy Shore, where students often laze in the sun and swim in the crystal-clear waters of the many world-class beaches.
The University has highly respected sports teams and cultural groups, and a range of student societies. Many of the academic buildings are more than 100-years-old, and are inspired by both Greek and French architecture. The University Gardens and the local nature reserves also offer magnificent sights for those who love the outdoors.
Once the academic day ends, the town of Ridgemont has a thriving nightlife, and even a healthy gay scene. Most students can find something to keep them stimulated in Ridgemont.
For the latest on Ridgemont University, and to learn more about the guys who are featured in the books, visit meredithtaylorbooks.com.
Swift Justice
Chapter 1
The tall, slender young woman had her nose in the air as she looked down to where Tumi Moketla was standing. Tumi felt a wave of frustration rising in him. He was losing the case, the witness was being uncooperative, and he was running out of options. The strategy he had prepared simply wasn’t working. He took a deep breath, his full lips quivering as they took in air, and he breathed out to release the stress that had been building up inside of him. The final-year mock court sessions were very important for law students. Tumi could feel the eyes of the rest of his classmates as they sat in the gallery. He knew that each of the seventy students watching him were equally as ambitious as Tumi was, and that they would all be picking up on every mistake. Tumi had to pull it together.
He looked at the young woman in the witness stand, right next to the bench where his professor, Prof. Nkuna, was acting as judge on the case. The high-nosed woman next to Prof. Nkuna in the witness stand was a graduate from the Ridgemont University law school who was doing Prof. Nkuna a favor by playing the role of a witness in the mock court. Even so, she was inspiring real frustration in Tumi. The way she evaded questions and rolled her eyes when Tumi tried to become too forceful made Tumi clench his fists. He paced the room, not looking at the face of Prof. Nkuna. His professor had maintained a blank expression throughout the mock court, not giving any indication of whether or not Tumi was doing well. Prof. Nkuna had a regal quality to her, and in the judge’s robes, she looked even more intimidating. Her heavyset frame and her hair pulled tightly into a bun on her head gave her the look of a strict schoolteacher. Even though Prof. Nkuna had always been encouraging to Tumi – he knew that he was one of her favorite students – today, she was unreadable.
Tumi cleared his throat, rolling back his broad shoulders and adjusting the green and black tie which he was wearing. He had to look as professional as possible. His freshly-shaven head and very slight trimmed stubble accentuated his chocolate-brown skin. His sharp jawline and honey-brown eyes were trained on the woman in the witness stand. He would break her defenses and get her to admit that she knew something about the allegations brought before the mock court.
Tumi’s voice boomed through the room as he spoke, and he even frightened himself with how forceful it was: “Ms. Niemann, are you telling me that even though you worked with the accused for over a decade, you had no knowledge about the millions of rands he was receiving from the Zimbabwean officials? You had no idea that your company was involved in the illegal trade of classified information.”
Tumi’s heart almost stopped when he heard a voice call out behind him: “Objection!”
He spun on his heels to see who had interrupted his questioning. The student playing the defendant was sitting next to a team of four of Tumi’s classmates who made up the defense team, and one of them was standing with a finger raised in front of him. Tumi almost cursed out loud when he saw who it was.
The objecting figure walked out from behind the desk where the defendant and the other mock-lawyers sat watching attentively. There was a sickening smile across the pink lips, and the blaze of thick red hair matched the bright orange tie that he was wearing. It was the one person Tumi was hoping would just sit down and shut up during his questioning: Edgar Boatwright, the exchange student from the University of Cambridge, who thought that he knew more about South African law than any of the Ridgemont University students. Edgar walked up next to Tumi, still giving his taunting smile, and folded his arms in front of his chest as his eyes swept between Tumi and the stand. Prof. Nkuna looked annoyed at the unconventional approach, and said: “Mr. Boatwright, on what grounds do you object?”
Edgar spoke slowly, clearly savoring every moment of embarrassing Tumi. Tumi could feel beads of sweat forming in his tight collar, and he swallowed hard as he waited to hear what Edgar had to say.
“My Lady, I object to this line of questioning. Advocate Moketla is forgetting the precedence set in the Van Greunen v Botha case of 2003 where no foreign government spending can be used as reason for prejudice against a witness. The tone of Mr. Moketla’s questioning and the fact that he brought up the links of the defendant and the Zimbabwean government would qualify as prejudice in this court.” Edgar continued to explain a very complicated legal argument for why Tumi wasn’t allowed to ask the witness about her knowledge of the dealings. The entire time, Tumi’s mouth hung slightly open. What he was witnessing was nothing short of magic. Out of nothing, Edga
r was constructing a watertight argument which had even Tumi convinced. Everyone knew it was a low blow, even Prof. Nkuna, whose eyebrow was so creased at trying to follow the various arguments that Edgar was presenting that Tumi thought she would hurt herself. Edgar’s arms gestured wildly as he paced in front of the stand, the mocking smile never far from his lips whenever he turned to look at Tumi with his sea-green eyes. But in the end, Edgar was completely convincing. Tumi bit on his full lips as he shook his head slowly. What a snake! Edgar clearly knew everything there was to know about South African case law, and the way he put his razor-sharp mind to use was impressive. Tumi would have been spellbound if he wasn’t fighting back anger. Even though Edgar was presenting a brilliant argument, he was being deliberately broad with his interpretation of the law and, at least in Tumi’s mind, he was obstructing the pursuit of the truth.
Edgar finally finished talking, and before Prof. Nkuna could even respond, he was walking back to his seat looking triumphant. The way he moved across the room was like a lion who had just made a kill, his lips still fresh with the taste of blood. And Tumi was the prey.
Prof. Nkuna finally spoke, and shook her head slightly, the bun not moving from the top of her head, her full cheeks making dimples as she pursed her lips. “Mr. Boatwright, your argument is sound. The witness will be excused, and no further questioning will be allowed. Mr. Moketla, you will have to call another witness from the list for our next session. Court is now adjourned.”
As Prof. Nkuna got up from her seat and removed the judge’s robe that she was wearing, the rest of the room erupted in a flurry of murmurs. What they had just witnessed was exhilarating to everyone. A group of the other final-year students rushed over to Edgar to talk through the argument he had just presented. The only person who was deflated after the session was Tumi. He walked over to the desk where the other students representing the prosecution were seated. They all shook his hand and said that there was nothing to be done. One of Tumi’s best friends, Judy, who was also on the side of the prosecution, looked shell-shocked as she said: “I don’t even know what just happened. You were doing so well. In fact, you were brilliant up there. And then he just ripped you to shreds. Absolute shreds!” Judy’s eyes were animated, and she seemed almost like she admired Edgar for a few moments until she composed herself and shot daggers at their red-headed opponent. “What an ass!” she said, lamely.
“It’s okay, Judy. Hopefully, next time we’ll be able to prepare for his sneaky arguments. That’s not the kind of law I practice. I hate it when people try and obscure the truth by playing silly legal games. But that’s what we’re up against, so we need to be ready next time.” Tumi rubbed his hand over his shaven head, feeling defeated. He grabbed his notes and waved to Judy and the rest of the team, needing a break after the tough mock court battle. Even Prof. Nkuna gave him a look of sympathy as she walked out of the room, like he was a child who had just been pushed down on the playground. It was all too much.
As Tumi made his way to the entrance of the Ridgemont University Law Building, he heard a familiar voice call out to him, and his blood ran cold. As he turned to look over his shoulder, Edgar was rushing up behind him.
“Tumi!” Edgar called out as came closer. “I hope there’s no hard feelings. I saw an opening and I went for it. You, of all people, should respect that, with who your mother is.” A smile was plastered all over Edgar’s face, and his features were alight with the afterglow of a great court performance. The gentle, handsome features and pale skin were striking from up close, but Tumi shook away the thought. He didn’t have time for any of this.
Tumi let out under his breath: “I’m not my mother. And I’d appreciate it if we can remain respectful in the courtroom. I didn’t appreciate you mocking me with that smile.”
Edgar looked like he had the wind knocked out of him. “I wasn’t mocking you Tumi. I just get excited when I’m doing what I love. I didn’t mean to offend you.” Edgar reached out his hand to shake Tumi’s, and the sounds of other students approaching them were ringing through the halls.
Tumi looked at the outstretched hand, and then looked back at Edgar’s sea-green eyes. Was this another attempt to humiliate Tumi? What was Edgar’s end-game? Clearly, he had everything going for him at Cambridge, so why would he come all the way to Ridgemont just to look down on the rest of the students? Tumi just turned away without shaking Edgar’s hand. “Sorry, I have to go. I’ll see you in court.”
Tumi rushed off, feeling Edgar’s stare searing into the back of his head. He had too much to think about to waste any time on an annoyance like Edgar Boatwright. Tumi reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a newspaper clipping. In the picture next to the headline of the clipping, Shack Fire Ravages Cape Township, there was a silhouette of a woman and a very young boy standing near to blazing flames. This was the woman Tumi was longing to meet. This was the past that he could never let go of. And he had finally figured out who this woman was. Now, he had to make sure that he met her when he had the chance. In only a few days, Tumi would be able to finally see her again and ask her all of the questions he had been holding inside of himself for sixteen years. Nothing was going to distract him from that goal.
Chapter 2
The black Mercedes was zipping through the traffic on the highway into Cape Town City. The lights on the harbor were just visible in the distance, and the large cargo ships sailing out from the dock looked peaceful under the evening sky. Edgar Boatwright had become transfixed by the sights of Cape Town as he sat in the back seat of the car. His three friends were chatting feverishly as they drove, laughing at a joke that Edgar hadn’t heard. His mind was on his mother, and what she had clearly seen in this country. She had always told Edgar stories about the country of her birth, the country she longed to return to. When Edgar was old enough, he had begun reading up about the country that he felt a strange connection to. At that moment, looking out over the vast ocean right next to the metropolis that was Cape Town City, Edgar had a vague sense of what made her fall in love with South Africa.
“What do you think, Edgar?” he heard his friend Hein’s voice calling out from the driver’s seat. Edgar was shaken back to reality. He smiled and called out in his London accent, a smile drawn on his face: “I haven’t heard a word you’ve said, Hein. I’ve been too bored by the nonsense you’ve been spewing about how you’ll do better than me in mock court!”
All of the guys in the car broke out in laughter, and Edgar rubbed his friend’s shoulder over the car seat in front of him to assure him that he was just teasing. Hein bit back with a catty remark, and said, “But seriously, what do you think of the guys at Ridgemont? Have you found the love of your life yet?”
Edgar smiled, and a sudden image of Tumi Moketla flashed in his mind. “I wouldn’t say that,” he replied to Hein. “But there are lots of enticing options.”
The car pulled into the city as another one of the guys in the car, Leo, spoke about how he knew that he would fail Prof. Nkuna’s course. Leo was a worry-wart, and not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was drop-dead gorgeous and very wealthy so Hein always dragged him along to the exclusive parties in town. Leo’s blond hair was gelled in spikes on top of his head, and his sharp, protruding chin gave him a look of sophistication that was immediately betrayed when he opened his mouth. The fourth friend in the car, Sylas, was trying to comfort Leo and assure him that he would pass Prof. Nkuna’s Constitutional Law class. Sylas had shaggy brown hair and freckled cheeks, and he was the smartest in the group of friends. Sylas often came off as a bit snobbish, never afraid to let the other guys know that he could run circles around them intellectually. He was one of those people who would order the most expensive wine just so that other people could see him drinking it.
Leo rested his head on Edgar’s shoulder flirtatiously as they sat on the back seat together. “I just want to be out of Ridgemont already and leave this country. There’s so much more out there in the world. Maybe I can come and join you in London
, Edgar?” Leo adjusted his spiky blond hair, and Edgar worried that the gel would stain his t-shirt. Edgar knew that he was a hot commodity at Ridgemont, the alluring foreigner that had been adopted by the group of popular gay guys right away. Sylas and Leo had both been competing for his attention, but neither of them was Edgar’s type.
Edgar laughed and responded: “Oh, Leo, you’re welcome to visit any time. But I can’t promise that you won’t find me in the arms of a handsome man when you arrive.” Sylas let out a piercing cackle, but Leo sat up looking slightly hurt.
Sylas turned to Edgar from the front passenger seat and said, “I can’t wait to show you this place on the top of the Imperion Tower. It’s so exclusive that I had to call in a favor just to get us in the door. When we get there, I have to introduce you to my friend who works for Penner West, the actor. You’ll love him!”
Edgar tried to resist rolling his eyes at Sylas’s bragging, and instead feigned enthusiasm. While he loved partying with his new friends, he was starting to get bored of the routine he had fallen into over his past few months at Ridgemont. He felt like he was just living the same life as he had back at Cambridge, partying a lot and going to exclusive clubs and restaurants. And studying at Ridgemont wasn’t satisfying him either. It wasn’t at all like he had imagined it would be. There was something missing that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. A part of his experience of South Africa just wasn’t making sense to him.
Finally, as the boys drove down the bustling Long Street in Cape Town City, Hein announced that they had arrived. Edgar saw an impossibly tall building with a stylish entryway. There were pillars at either side of the entrance, large windows on the façade, and low yellow lights in the magnificent foyer. The boys found parking and walked into the Imperion Building. The lobby was almost empty, with only a few people seated near the hotel restaurant’s entrance or waiting for the lift. The four friends stepped into the lift when it arrived and pressed the button for the top floor. “There’s a staircase up to the roof that you can only reach from the top floor,” Sylas said, trying to sound clever as he pushed his brown hair back from his face.
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