by Juniper Hart
18
Ara stared at the wall blankly, her breath caught in her chest as she waited.
Did he do everything I asked? She had absolutely no way of knowing, and that terrified her.
“What do you mean you don’t know where he is?” she had asked her lawyer the previous day. “I need to speak with him. It’s urgent!”
Anders had shrugged and sighed. “I’m sorry,” he’d replied. “I don’t know what to tell you except that I dropped him off at the airport yesterday.”
“The airport?” she had gasped. “Where did he go?”
“I really don’t know, Arabella.”
Ara had groaned and sat back, her heart racing. Everything depended on Titus leaving the car and money for Inga. If he had failed to do that somehow…
She shuddered at the thought of what could happen.
“Is there something you want to tell me, Arabella?”
“No.”
Ara sighed and rose from her spot, walking toward the stained plastic mirror over the filthy sink in the corner. Her cellmates were on work detail, as were the other women in the block, and the silence was almost unnerving as she studied her reflection.
In less than half an hour, everything would happen. If all went according to plan, if the car was where it was supposed to be, and Inga got free…
Ara stopped herself from thinking about the future.
I can’t get my hopes up. Titus didn’t tell me he was leaving. What if he changed his mind and decided I wasn’t worth the hassle anymore? So many things could go wrong. Inga could get caught and—
“Pinot, come on.”
She spun to face the guard who unlocked the door and summoned her forward. Handcuffs were clamped onto her wrists, and she was brought through the corridors, ready to face the demons waiting for her beyond.
Sunlight flooded her eyes as the warder led her toward the prison van waiting to take her to the courthouse, her heart thudding as the anticipation in her blood mounted. She hurried to slip inside the van, the doors closing with finality. Ara inhaled sharply.
Here we go, she thought, closing her green eyes as the vehicle left the gated prison walls. Glancing back at the building that had housed her nightmares, she silently prayed it would be one of the last times she saw it.
But the fact that Titus had disappeared without a word did not make her feel encouraged, and suddenly, she wished she had gone with Inga.
I had the chance to escape, she remembered. Titus offered to hide me. Why didn’t I take the opportunities when I had them?
Yet Ara knew she was done with running. Whatever happened today, she was going to face her destiny—no matter how painful it might be.
Ara scanned the crowded courtroom, her head light with worry.
“He’s not here,” she whispered, more to herself than to Anders, but the frown on his face told her that he was just as unimpressed as she.
“He said he would be,” Anders said, but there was little confidence in his tone.
Prosecutor Botha glanced at them, a small smirk on her face, and Ara had a bad feeling of what was to come.
Why is she smiling? That can only mean that Inga didn’t make her escape and that—
Her thoughts were interrupted as an aide hurried toward the opposing counsel, leaning down to whisper in her ear. A slow murmur began to grow in the courtroom, and Ara turned to look around as reporters gazed at their simultaneously chiming phones.
Botha’s face turned ashen, her head whipping up to glare at them, and Ara exhaled slowly.
“Please rise!” the bailiff called. “His Worship Thato Govender approaching the bench.”
The courtroom shuffled to their feet, but the air of excitement was tangible as the justice entered. He gestured for everyone to be seated.
“Prosecutor Botha, you may proceed,” the judge offered. Botha ambled to her feet, her eyes darting about nervously as she chose her words.
“Your Worship,” she began. “I have just received some disturbing news from St. Albans that there has been an escape of two inmates.”
The justice seemed unimpressed by her announcement. “What does that have to do with your case?” he asked, and the prosecutor sighed deeply.
“Our prime witness was one of the escapees,” she replied.
A din erupted in the courtroom as the bailiffs struggled to silence the crowd.
“Quiet!” Govender roared before turning his attention to the attorneys.
“I need to call for a continuance until she can be located,” Botha went on, but Anders had already recovered from the shocking news, and he leaped to his feet in protest.
“The prosecutor has kept my client locked away based on the word of a prison inmate this entire time?” he demanded, his face flushed with anger.
“Your Worship, I only need a few hours for her to be recaptured and—”
“And then what? She’ll continue to be your star witness? A convict? An escapee? Your case was already weak, Ms. Botha, but now it is non-existent.”
The judge studied them impassively. “Prosecutor Botha, is your entire case based on the testimony of this woman?” he asked.
“Of course not,” she replied quickly, but Ara knew she was lying.
No one else has said anything, she thought. Not yet.
“Then you should have no problem proceeding with the trial,” the judge responded. “Present your opening statements.”
“Your Worship—”
“Well, do you have a case or don’t you?” he demanded. “Please don’t waste my time!”
“I would just like a continuance—”
“If the prosecutor is going to stall for time,” Anders interjected, “then my client should be released on bail again. After all, her witness is the only reason that Ms. Pinot has been locked up, and given this new development in the case…” He trailed off and waited for the justice to decide.
“Unless you are ready to present your opening statements, Ms. Botha,” said Govender, “I am afraid I will have no choice but to honor Mr. Williams’ request. I see no good reason to keep Ms. Pinot in custody when the only piece of evidence against her is in the wind.”
The opposing counsel’s mouth gaped open, and Ara felt a surge of hope course through her body as she looked at Anders. He gave Ara a cautious smile and patted her hand as if to tell her to wait.
“No,” Botha announced. “I am ready to present my opening statements.”
Disappointment swept through Ara, but she held her spine in place. Looks like I’m going back to prison tonight, she thought mournfully.
“She’s just buying time. This is just a tactic,” Anders whispered as he settled back beside her.
But the words did little to comfort Ara, who wondered if the car was waiting for the escaped convicts where she had told Titus to leave it.
Once more, the courtroom doors flew open, and Ara turned to look. She nudged Anders, watching as Titus stalked into the courtroom, his eyes locking on hers.
“He’s here,” she murmured, a sense of relief flowing through her.
Titus squeezed into the bench behind her and gave her a reassuring smile, pressing his index finger to his lips.
Ara wanted so badly to reach back and grab his hand, but she knew she would be reprimanded for it.
Where were you? she wanted to scream at him. Of course, she said nothing and watched as Botha began to lay out her circumstantial case.
In the galley, Ara caught the eye of Captain Jansen, who did not seem as confident as she once had. The policewoman seemed to purposely avert her eyes, and as Ara watched, a uniformed officer approached her, leaning down to tell her something. Captain Jansen’s mouth opened in shock, and she whispered something back urgently, jumping to her feet.
Anders seemed captivated by Botha’s monotonous soliloquy about her guilt, but Ara saw Titus’ smile widen.
What is going on?
Their eyes met, and a flood of comfort enveloped her.
Anders poked at
her to keep her focus forward, but time seemed to slow as Captain Jansen drew toward the front of the court, clearly trying to capture the prosecutor’s attention.
“Excuse me!” the judge snapped, interrupting Botha’s statement mid-sentence. “Please be seated. There is a trial in progress.”
Captain Jansen cleared her throat and hung her head, shamed. “Forgive me, Your Worship, but I have news pertaining to this case, and it’s important I speak to the prosecutor at once.”
“She already knows about the escape from the prison!” Judge Govender growled.
“No, Your Worship. It’s about something else.”
The judge glowered. “This is highly unusual. Wait until recess.”
“It can’t,” Captain Jansen choked. “The defendant is being wrongly tried.”
It took two full minutes to quiet the courtroom.
“Did she just say I was being tried unfairly?” Ara gasped, looking around in disbelief. Oh, no… I’m dreaming again. This is all going to fade away, and I am going to wake up in my cell at St. Albans.
“I think so,” Anders replied, finally turning his head to look at his brother, who seemed unsurprised by the sudden turn of events.
“SILENCE!” The courtroom had no choice but to calm itself if they wanted to hear more of what was about to transpire. No one wanted to risk being tossed out in the wake of all the developments. “Explain yourself,” the judge ordered of the captain. “And there better be a good reason for this.”
Captain Jansen turned and looked at Ara with tired but suspicious eyes, as if Ara was somehow responsible for the declaration about to leave her lips.
“It appears,” the captain began, “that we have the mastermind of the cyber heist in custody.”
“And I am assuming you don’t mean Miss Pinot,” Judge Govender snapped.
“No, sir. His name is Skylar Vernon.”
“And how can you be sure that you have the right person this time?”
Captain Jansen swallowed visibly, color staining her cheeks in shame. “He has given a full confession, having turned himself in. He has named himself and two others in the crime, one of which was the witness who was supposed to testify against Arabella Pinot.”
Ara fell back against the chair, the wind knocked from her lungs. She whipped her head back toward Titus, knowing that he had somehow managed to find Skylar and force him into confessing.
How did he do it? she wondered, but she was too grateful to ask any questions. A sob escaped her lips as she waited for the judge to speak. Don’t get excited. He can still send me back to prison until this is all sorted out.
As if reading her thoughts, the judge spoke.
“And how can you be sure that he’s telling the truth when you were certain this woman was singlehandedly responsible for the crime?”
Captain Jansen glanced at the prosecutor, who seemed ready to faint dead away, her dark face somber with disbelief.
“He has supplied us with hard evidence, including the money stolen from the reserve,” Jansen answered. “It is being confirmed as we speak, Your Worship, but his hard drive also shows evidence that he was targeting Ms. Pinot’s benefactor to further frame her for his crimes. It was set up, designed for Miss Pinot to take the fall. She should be released immediately.”
A heavy silence filled the space as everyone seemed to hold their collective breaths.
Oh, my God, Ara thought. Can this really be happening? Am I going to be set free? Scot free for everything?
“Ms. Botha, what do you have to say about this?” Grovender demanded, almost as if he did not want to be the one to admit there had been a grave mistake in their trusted justice system.
“I-I—” Botha sputtered, looking from the captain to Ara and back to the judge. “I have to look into this!”
“Your Worship, while the prosecutor does that,” Anders said, “perhaps my client can wait for her apology from the comfort of Titus Williams’ compound?”
“I think your client has endured enough prison food for one lifetime,” Grovender agreed. “Ms. Pinot is released pending a full investigation of this newfound information.”
He banged a gavel and dismissed the case.
Mayhem erupted in the courtroom, reporters leaping from their seats to make calls. Ara sat, frozen in shock.
“What just happened?” she muttered, her face a mask of disbelief.
“I think your legal troubles are over,” Anders chuckled, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet. “Go. Tito is waiting for you.”
Everything felt like a dream, and Ara was so sure that she was about to rudely awakened, trapped in the same hell she had always known.
But when she looked at Titus, grinning happily at her, she knew it was real.
There’s no headdress on my head, no dragons setting me on fire, she thought, her body drifting toward him. He held his arms out and pulled her close, the warmth of his muscular frame melting into hers as if they had never been apart.
“How did you do it?” she whispered. “What did you do to him?”
Titus shook his head, burying her face deeply into his chest.
“It doesn’t matter,” he replied. “All that matters is that you’re safe now, and this is the end of this.”
The questions flooding her mind suddenly seemed secondary as she inhaled the smell of his aftershave, a heady, familiar sensation flooding her frame.
“Let’s get out of here,” Titus muttered, and Ara realized that they were surrounded by reporters, snapping pictures and asking questions.
Somehow, in the security of Titus’ arms, she had managed to block them out.
“Can—can I just go?” she asked Anders.
“Yes,” Anders told her. “I’ll take care of the paperwork. I’m sure the prosecutor will drop the charges against you.”
Ara looked at him worriedly. “Even the hijacking charge?” she whispered.
Anders smirked. “They have such egg on their faces right now, I highly doubt they are going to be looking for more trouble.”
“They won’t come after you,” Titus confirmed. “They may ask you to testify on the case against Skylar for hacking Williams Tech. He was planning to steal the patents on the newest AI program we had developed. According to Jasper, he was days away from making his move.”
“Did you find out who your leak is inside the company?”
Titus sighed heavily and hung his head. “It was Kamil. I had a feeling it was him all along, but…” He trailed off, and she could see how betrayed he was feeling.
I know exactly how he feels, she thought bitterly.
Ara stared at him sadly. “Jasper and Emma. They were in on it all along, huh? I was the only one stupid enough not to see what was going on.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself for being trusting,” Titus told her firmly. “That is a quality that few people possess anymore. I didn’t see it happening with Kamil, either. If I hadn’t brought you in, he would have continued to hide Skylar’s involvement. If Trina hadn’t called me directly after the second hack, Kamil would have deleted Skylar’s signature before you had a chance to see it, like he did before.”
Ara smiled at him through her tears, still vaguely aware of the clamoring reporters, vying for her attention and comment.
“I’m sorry I dragged you into all this,” she murmured. “You didn’t deserve to have your life turned upside down.”
Titus’ eyes narrowed as he clasped his hands around her shoulders. “You didn’t drag me into anything. Skylar hacked me before I got you out of jail.”
“You know what I mean, Tito. You got way more involved than you ever needed to be. You put your company and your reputation at risk…”
“I am the one who chose to become a part of this, and I’m glad I did. Nothing was at risk except your safety, and that trumps everything.”
He did this all because of her, Ara thought to herself. If I didn’t look so much like her, I would be rotting in St. Albans right now. I probably wou
ldn’t have even had a trial at all.
“You really loved her, huh?” she sighed. “Isabella?”
Titus studied her face, and he nodded slowly. “I really did,” he agreed. “More than I had ever loved anyone before.”
Ara tried to shift her eyes away. When he looks at me, he will always see Isabella, she thought, a slight melancholy plucking at her heart. Has anyone ever cared about me? Arabella Pinot?
Titus grasped her chin between his finger and thumb, tilting her head upward to stare at him.
“But I was wrong about you,” he continued.
The words sparked nervousness in her gut. “About what?”
“You may look exactly like her,” Titus said, “and in some ways, you remind me of her, but you are very different.”
“How?”
His face softened. “Isabella was good and kind, just like you. But she had no backbone and no fight. Perhaps it was a trait of the times…”
He trailed off, as if he had said too much, and Ara’s brow knit in confusion.
“What times?” she asked, but Titus shook his head.
“It doesn’t matter. My point is, what happened to Isabella happened because she was afraid and she ran.”
Instantly, Arabella’s mind fluttered to her reoccurring dream, the medieval girl clawing through the forest, scared and alone.
And she remembered.
Blinking, her eyes clashed with Titus, his smoky eyes searching her face.
“But you’re not afraid,” he told her quietly. “And you would not leave me. You have proven your integrity by doing the right thing.”
“She was scared,” Ara murmured, Isabella’s emotions and thoughts filling her mind. “She thought she could go back for you.”
Titus nodded, his irises brightening as he realized she had remembered.
“We didn’t know she was out there,” he whispered. “If we had known…”
“Shh.” Ara slipped his arms around his neck and gently kissed his parted lips. “She was afraid, but she wasn’t angry.”
He nodded miserably, tears misting his eyes. “She would never have accepted me if she learned what I became.”
