by Rachel Dylan
She paused. “Thanks for calling. Everything is good.”
“See you in the morning,” he said.
She hung up and looked at her friends, who were both grinning. “It was just Cooper checking in.”
“Is that why your cheeks are bright red?” Mia asked.
Sophie touched her face. “My cheeks are not red.”
“Yes, they are,” Kate said. “Mia’s right.”
“C’mon. Cut it out, you two. I told you before that this is all business between Cooper and me.” Or at least that was what she continued to try to tell herself.
“Look.” Kate walked over to her. “Seriously, you’re in uncharted territory right now. You need a professional who can handle situations like this. I’m just glad you have him watching your back.”
“Me too,” Sophie answered honestly. “I’ve had plenty of threats before, being an ADA, but I’ve never been physically attacked.” Just saying those words out loud sent a wave of fear through her.
Kate put her hand on Sophie’s shoulder. “I’m praying for you.”
“Thank you,” Sophie said. “I need it.” She looked over at Mia, who didn’t say anything. Mia was a skeptic but usually stayed silent during the faith discussions that Kate and Sophie had.
“I think I’m going to call it a night.” Mia stood up.
“Me too,” Kate added. “Unless you need anything else?”
Sophie shook her head. “Thank you both for keeping me company. I feel like I’ll sleep better tonight.”
She hugged her friends good-bye and hoped that sleep would actually come.
Patrick pored over the files in front of him, including reading Sophie’s witness statement again. Everything added up to him, but he had to anticipate how Ashley would try to discredit Sophie at trial. The first hurdle he’d have to overcome was the basic idea that eyewitnesses were notoriously unreliable. This situation was completely out of the ordinary, since Sophie was a prosecutor, but he could see that cutting both ways.
Ricky Wade had been arraigned, and a trial date was set for next month. Ashley had pushed for a quick date, which made him think she had something sinister up her sleeve. He didn’t trust a single thing she did, so he was questioning everything at this point. Although he also knew that Juan Wade was probably pressuring Ashley because he wanted his brother out of jail ASAP.
As Patrick sat there and prepared for his meeting, one thing about Sophie nagged at him. Her background check and investigative research had come up clean as a whistle. It was almost too clean, and he was going to ask her about that when she arrived at his office in a few minutes. It was imperative for him to find out any trouble spots so they could develop a plan to guard against it. Everyone had some sort of skeleton in their closet—including him. Thankfully, he wouldn’t be the one on the witness stand. Sometimes lawyers had the darkest secrets, so he was nervous about what Sophie could be hiding. Yes, he might seem paranoid, but in his line of work, it was necessary.
Ashley had called him yesterday to hound him about turning over documents. The discovery process in criminal law was very one-sided. He had to give her everything, and she basically had to give him nothing.
Only a couple minutes later, Sophie walked into his office.
“Thanks for coming in. How’re you feeling?” he asked. It had been over a week since the attack.
“Much better. Pretty much back to normal.”
“Any other issues?”
“No, but Cooper has been sticking super close, so I’m not sure if that’s been a deterrent.”
He was relieved that Cooper was protecting her. “I read Ashley the riot act, but frankly, I’m not sure she could control Juan even if she wanted to. I’m curious. What’s your relationship like with Ashley?”
Sophie paused, probably considering his question. “I’d characterize it as neutral. I know she has some extremely combative relationships with other prosecutors, but she and I never got to that level. Maybe it’s just given the nature of the cases we were against each other on. They weren’t nearly as high profile as this case. If I recall, there were a few drug offenses and a simple assault.”
“You think it’s safe to say that she doesn’t have any particular beef with you then?”
“I think that’s right. There’s never been any obvious personal animosity or anything like that. I’ve always felt that she has much bigger fish to fry than me.”
He opened the manila folder on his desk. “Given the importance of your testimony, I had an extensive background investigation run on you.”
Her blue eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes. It’s something I would do for anyone in your position in a case like this, where the microscope will be on you and the media will be watching every step of the trial. But here’s the thing. We came up completely empty. On paper, you look like the absolute model citizen.”
She tilted her head to the side. “You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”
He needed to make her understand why he was pushing this issue. It wasn’t to be a jerk. It was because they had to be prepared for whatever Ashley was going to unleash on them. “No. It’s not bad. Please don’t take this personally, but from my experience, no one could be as squeaky clean as you. And if there’s something lurking out there, I don’t want to hear it first coming out of Ashley Murphy’s mouth in front of the jury.”
Sophie let out a loud sigh. “Since you did such a comprehensive background check, I’m sure you know about my financial situation. That’s been a source of conflict with other people all of my life. I’ve never wanted for material things, and I try not to take that for granted. You probably also learned that my mother died in childbirth. What I’m guessing didn’t come up in your background check is that I’ve been seeing a psychologist on and off over the years to help me deal with the lingering loss and grief. There was also a time when I was getting panic attacks regularly.”
As he looked into her eyes, he didn’t think she was hiding anything. “My goal is to protect you and to protect our case. I know the meetings you had with your psychologist are privileged, but I have to ask you this follow-up.”
“Okay.”
“Have you taken any drugs for anxiety or anything like that? I’m just making sure we cover all bases here.”
Sophie shook her head. “No. I don’t have anything against it, but I honestly didn’t think any medicine would cure my heartache. The battle in my head and heart isn’t cured by a prescription.”
“If Ashley figures out that you’ve been to counseling before, she is bound to bring it up and try to make a huge deal out of it. Anything she can do to put a shred of doubt in the mind of the jurors, she’ll do. You need to be prepared for that. And given the type of broad discovery she’s seeking, it’s possible that she’ll find out. That kind of thing is usually in the standard questions for witnesses because it can go toward their credibility.”
She ran her hand through her hair. “I get it. But would the jury really hold all of that against me?”
“No. Given what you’ve been through, I highly doubt it. But Ashley will try to turn it into something it’s not. That’s why I was asking about the drugs. She’ll use any angle she can. I know we covered this, but did you take any prescription drugs prescribed by your doctor for your panic attacks?”
“No. Not once. I made it clear that I wasn’t interested in that. I just wanted someone to talk to and hear me out.” She took a breath. “I don’t know why I’m getting so defensive. I’m not used to sitting on this side of the table.”
“My style isn’t always the best. I tend to be too direct.”
She smiled. “I actually like direct. Much better than playing games. But where does all of this leave us? What do you think Ashley’s strategy is going to be?”
He’d given this a lot of thought. “She’ll probably argue that you are letting your prosecutor brain take over. That you can’t be fair because you’re used to being on this side of the aisle, and you wa
nt to be able to point your finger at the culprit. And in doing so, you picked the wrong guy because you were overeager.”
“That’s a decent argument, I guess, but I’m completely confident in what I saw. I know that this wasn’t a misidentification. I can promise you that. When I get on the stand and swear to tell the truth, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. You don’t have to worry about me second-guessing myself on the identification of the suspect. I’m rock solid on that.”
“Do you realize how many witnesses have said the exact same thing and then gotten torn to shreds on the stand? I bet you’ve had it happen to you with your own witnesses. Ashley is not to be underestimated. She’s one of the most talented trial lawyers I’ve ever seen, and that’s what bothers me. It’s possible that she’ll come up with something that neither of us can predict, but there’s nothing we can do about that.”
Sophie leaned forward, placing both her hands on his desk. “She is good, but we have the truth on our side.”
If only it were that easy. “You and I both know that sometimes the truth isn’t enough. We have to worry about other factors beyond our control that we haven’t even talked about yet.”
“Like what?”
“Jury corruption, for one.”
“You think Juan would get to them?”
There was no doubt in his mind. “He’d certainly try. And all it takes is him turning one to get a not-guilty verdict.”
She frowned. “It’s so strange, thinking about it from this vantage point. I always thought I got too emotionally involved in my cases, but this is taking personal to a new level. What in the world do we do about jury tampering?”
“We don’t do anything.” The last thing he needed was for Sophie to start acting like second chair. “Remember, this is my problem. Your only job is to take that witness stand and tell the truth. The rest of it all lies on me. If I know Ashley, she’ll specifically ask if you did any legal work on this case. I want you to be able to answer no honestly.”
She nodded. “I understand. It’s frustrating, but I get it.”
“That’s really all I need. I just wanted to go through your file and give you an opportunity to tell me about anything I needed to know. If there’s something we haven’t covered that you think could even possibly come up, now’s the time to let me know.”
Sophie took a moment. “I don’t think there is.”
“Okay, I’ll be in touch to set up our preparation sessions. We don’t have that long before trial.”
He hoped Sophie would be as believable on the stand as she was sitting in his office.
Ashley rolled up her exercise mat and exited the Pilates studio. She’d found a couple of years ago that exercise was key to her mental health. It helped keep her centered and focused on reaching her goals. At thirty-five, she still had a long way to go in becoming a nationally known defense attorney.
She walked out to her pearl white BMW and stopped short when she saw she had a visitor. She cursed under her breath.
Juan was leaning up against her car, smoking a cigarette.
“This is an unexpected surprise. How did you know to find me here?” She opened the car door and threw her mat inside. Was he following her now?
“I know your schedule. You’re way too predictable.” He took a step toward her, but she held her ground.
She’d realized a long time ago that in her line of work, she could never let these men see her sweat. They were used to always having it their way. To being in complete control. But for her to effectively advocate for them, she had to be strong. There was no room for indecision or fear.
“What can I do for you?” she asked.
“The trial date is set, right?”
“Yes. I pushed for it as soon as possible, just like you requested.”
He threw his cigarette onto the ground and crushed it with his freshly shined black shoe. “I need Ricky out of jail. He won’t last there. I have too many enemies. They can find ways around the security. I can’t have his death on my conscience.”
He was hoping for some magical solution. He needed a serious reality check. “The only way we’ll get Ricky out is if we prevail at trial. I need you to be cooperative and help me in that effort.”
He crossed his arms. “And I’m going to work on backup plans.”
“Do I even need to ask?”
“You know I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“Preferably without loss of life, Juan. I don’t need to clean that up too. Don’t dig yourself another hole in trying to resolve this one problem.”
“This one problem, as you call it, is my baby brother.”
She had to make him understand that he was playing a very dangerous game. “Another reason for you to check yourself and keep your emotions under control.”
“Give me some credit, Ash. I know you think you’re some fancy educated lawyer and I’m just a kid from the streets who got lucky, but I know how to get things done.”
That was exactly what she was worried about. Yes, he had risen to the head of one of Atlanta’s most powerful criminal enterprises. But he didn’t get to where he was by being a Boy Scout.
“And anyway, if I get in any trouble, I have the best lawyer in town to defend me.” He took another step toward her, then reached out and pulled her close to him, wrapping his left arm tightly around her waist.
She had to fight the urge to shrug him off. Juan had often pushed the limits with her, but she thought he saw it all as a game. Another reason she couldn’t flinch. Couldn’t let him sense an ounce of fear.
He put his right hand under her chin and lifted her head up. She looked up into his dark eyes but kept her breathing even.
“You realize that even most men would be losing it right now if I had my hands on them.”
She’d had enough of his tactics. She stepped back, breaking his grip on her. “I have a job to do, Juan. And if you want to win, you need to back off and let me do it.”
He smiled, which surprised her. She worried that this man might not only be ruthless but also a little crazy. That only made him more dangerous. She could only hope she wouldn’t end up being his enemy one day.
Chapter
Ten
Sophie had made her decision, and she wasn’t going to back down. Keith had asked to meet with her at the end of the day. She’d been stewing about it since first thing that morning.
She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, preparing for her conversation with Keith. Her black eye had finally subsided with the passage of time. She practiced what she was going to say.
“Keith, I’ve reviewed all of the evidence and spoken to our investigators. I want to move forward with the trial instead of offering a plea deal.”
She let out a sigh when she realized that she didn’t sound as convincing as she wanted. Why couldn’t she deliver the lines with the command and presence they required?
When she had started this job, everyone assumed she was just a spoiled rich kid who wanted a hobby. There were jokes about why she didn’t just become a lady who lunched. It had taken time to build people’s trust and to establish her reputation as a top lawyer in the prosecutor’s office.
Her father had done a good job teaching her the value of hard work. But she knew she had a hard time hiding her emotions. In this instance, though, she just couldn’t let Keith sense her fear. She had absolutely zero political aspirations, but she did want to continue on her path and see what opportunities arose.
It was time, so she buttoned her navy suit jacket, combed her fingers through her hair, and headed to Keith’s office. He was expecting her, so she knocked and only waited a second before entering.
He smiled when he saw her. “You’re looking much better, Sophie. How’re you feeling?”
“Great. Thanks for asking.” She took a seat, ready to make her case.
Keith took a big gulp of coffee. He was known for drinking it nonstop. “You’ve had some time with the Shelton file. What’s your decision?”
Here it goes. “I’d like to take the case to trial. I don’t believe we should strike an easy plea deal. I want to push for the maximum penalties here. We need to send a strong signal from this office that we’re tough on crime—all types of crime, even white collar. Especially since innocent people and small businesses bore the brunt of Shelton’s illegal actions.”
Keith picked up his coffee mug again but didn’t immediately respond.
She had to decide whether to let him sit or keep talking. Now was an opportunity to show that she could be aggressive. “I know you have reservations about it, but I think it’s the right thing to do.”
He cleared his throat. “It’s complicated when you’re in my position, Sophie. I have to take all factors into consideration, not just the facts of the case at hand. I have to look at the bigger picture.”
“I know you’re worried about SIB’s reaction, but we don’t report to them.”
“They’re a powerful player in the community.”
On a hunch, she asked him something that had been bothering her. “Exactly how well do you know Whitney?”
“We’ve known each other for years. That’s one of the reasons I can guarantee that she’s clean as a whistle. You don’t find many CEOs with her level of integrity.” He paused. “And that’s also why I’m reluctant to put her company front and center. We need to go after the real bad guys around town, not a company that’s doing its best to do the right thing. You have to trust me on this one.”
She needed to close the deal. “But I’m not on a witch hunt here. I’m focused solely on Shelton and his wrongdoings. I can promise right now that he’s the target here, not SIB or anyone else who works there.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“All right. But I want to be kept fully in the loop here. I think the media is going to have a keen interest in this case, and I don’t want it to turn into a complete disaster. That also means all of your actions will be put under a microscope. Do you think you’re ready for that?”
Once again, she could feel him doubting her abilities. She had to prove him wrong. “Yes sir, I am.”
