by Simply BWWM
“Now you decide that he died on impact? I have a copy of the medical examiner’s report. There’s nothing in here about him being alive after impact. Perhaps you would like to see that document?”
“No, I’ve seen it.”
“So, you know you’re a liar, and now you’re insisting that they should have reported a dead man after that man tried to kill them?”
“The man has a name,” the ADA sneered. “George Wittman. He was my son.”
“He was an abuser who tried to kill Charity in a remote location to hide his crime.”
“Someone should have called. Maybe he would have had a chance. Once he went over the edge, he became a victim. A fellow human being in need. As soon as he was over the edge, some attempt should have been made to rescue him. Sending a rope over the edge, or at least calling the authorities.”
Virgil scoffed.
“So, now we expect victims to help their attackers? What’s next? Are you going to throw someone in jail if her kidnapper gets into a car wreck after she escapes? Should she stop running to help him because he’s now in need? No. She should run like crazy and never look back. Her only priority is to save herself. George was a monster that fully intended to kill Charity and leave her to rot in the ravine. Her friends and family would never know what happened to her because he drove her there.”
“You can’t prove that was his intention.”
“Have we been looking at different evidence this whole time?” Virgil asked, arching an eyebrow at the baffled Mr. Wittman. “He disabled his car’s GPS the night before he picked her up to go hiking. He knew exactly what he was doing. The only person who is responsible for George ending up in the bottom of the very same ravine that he meant to leave Charity in is George. He got what he deserved.”
“He was pushed,” Wittman challenged.
“He fell,” Virgil countered. “You know that as well as I do. He was trying to kill Lincoln, too.” Virgil slid a smart phone across the table, waiting for Wittman to watch the short video before he continued. “When Lincoln hit him in the face in self-defense, George grabbed his nose and was so blinded by his rage that he rolled away from Lincoln without looking first. He rolled right off the edge without anyone pushing him. It was an accident, and I know in my heart that accident is the only reason that Charity is still alive today. You can see all that very clearly in the video, and Lincoln’s perilous rescue. I’m sure you don’t want a jury to see this video.”
“What do you want?” he asked again.
“All charges dropped so you and your family can mourn George without his legacy and yours getting tarnished.”
“I want all the copies of that video.”
“I have a copy for assurance,” Virgil said. “If anything happens to myself or Lincoln and Charity, it will be forwarded to the media immediately. I also want you to announce that Lincoln and Charity are no longer and never were persons of interest in this accidental death.”
Wittman balked.
“No way!” he shouted, but Virgil didn’t even flinch.
“I will not have my clients’ reputations tarnished to save George’s. You’re a grieving parent who misread a report. They were potential witnesses and it didn’t pan out. Thank them for cooperating and leave it at that.”
“I can’t.”
“This has the potential to be career ending, or have you forgotten this?”
Virgil slid one last picture across the table, and Wittman inhaled quickly.
“Where did you get this?” he demanded.
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that your wife can’t find out that your son was involved in a fatal hit and run while he was drunk. And if it gets out that you covered it up, your career is ruined. No pension. No benefits, and your wife has to learn to live like the rest of us. Don’t you think she’s been through enough?”
Wittman glared at the man, but after a few moments of enraged silence, he simply pointed at the door.
“Get out,” he said. “I don’t want to see your face again.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Virgil said, and he walked away, leaving the photographs on the desk along with the prepaid smart phone he’d picked up at the store on the way.
Wittman was muttering as Virgil walked through the door, but when the door closed, there was nothing but blissful silence. He’d won, and it was a win that he was never going to let ADA Wittman forget.
Chapter19
It was later that evening when the doorbell rang, and Will considered hiring a butler, then laughed it off and jumped up to answer the door.
When he saw Lincoln and Charity standing on his large front porch, he stepped back, silently inviting them in.
“I see your life has changed a bit,” Lincoln said appreciatively.
“How did you find me?”
Lincoln shrugged.
“I have people. It took all day, if that makes you feel better.”
“Not really.”
Lincoln nodded and Charity shifted uncomfortably at the tension that hung in the air.
“Would you like to sit down?” Will asked.
“That would be great. I was hoping I could talk to you.”
“Look, I didn’t know that George had tried to kill Charity until I’d already taken the job. It was good money, and I thought it would be pretty straightforward.”
“Things like that rarely are,” Lincoln said. “But you don’t need me to tell you that.”
“That’s right,” Will said. “He’s already issued a retraction, even though it was a total cop-out and nowhere near an apology for the witch hunt.”
“I saw that. I wasn’t expecting an apology from him or anyone else.”
“So, why are you here?”
“To thank you. I know we parted on bad terms, and I know it took a lot for you to stick your neck out like that for me. You didn’t have to.”
“I wasn’t going to, if I’m being honest,” Will said. “I thought the evidence would speak for itself. But then I saw that snake Wittman on TV, claiming that George was alive and suffering, and all but priming the jury pool to have sympathy for a guy like him, and I couldn’t just let that happen. I reached out to my followers, and not only got some excellent stills, but an entire video.”
“You didn’t take the video?” Lincoln said, looking nervous for the first time.
“No. And I don’t know who did. Every time they send me something, they delete their account immediately after. I don’t think we’ll ever know, but I have a feeling that whoever it was, they were just at the right place at the right time and nothing more.”
“If I had that kind of dirt on the Wittman’s, I would want to remain anonymous, too,” Charity said.
Will looked at her then, taking in the exhaustion that did little to dampen her beauty and shook his head.
“I’m an ass. Can I get you something to drink? Water, juice? Vodka?”
“I’ll stick with water,” Charity said with a laugh.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Lincoln said. “I’ll take one, too.”
“I didn’t ask you,” Will teased, grabbing a water out of the fridge for each of them.
“I see you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”
“I had to do something,” Will said. “I spent days wondering if I did the right thing, then he showed up on TV, and I could have kicked myself. I knew he was dangerous, but I never thought he would outright lie like that.”
“People do crazy things when they’re grieving. Add power to that, and you have a dangerous combination.”
“You’re so right, Lincoln.” There was silence as Will and Lincoln regarded each other, then Will finally spoke again. “Why do I think you’re not here just to thank me?”
Lincoln sighed, then looked at Charity and back at Will.
“Maybe this isn’t the right time, but I thought maybe we could bury that hatchet so to speak.”
“I don’t need to work with you anymore,” Will said quickly. “I have enough
money to really grow my brand, and my followers are taking off now that everyone has realized that I was the one who found the missing man.”
“I wasn’t suggesting we work together,” Lincoln said. “I was thinking more that we could be friends again.”
Will was shocked, and he didn’t hide it.
“Really? After all that?”
Lincoln shrugged.
“I was a total hard ass, and I tried to force you to do things my way. I was wrong, and I want to apologize for that. You were always a good friend, and you proved that when you stepped up and did the right thing despite how I treated you before.”
“Wow, man, that means a lot.”
“I was hoping that you would do something for me that would mean more than I can explain.”
“Sure, what?”
“Be my best man?”
Will blinked.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. You’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a brother, and I promised Charity that I would give her a real wedding when this is all over.”
“Okay,” Will said, pacing in his excitement. “Wow. Okay, when?”
“Tomorrow night,” Lincoln said.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes, at the Space Needle.”
“How did you manage to…” Will stopped himself and laughed. “I know, you know people.”
“Exactly.”
“I’ll do it,” Will said again. “But just know, I’m going to roast the shit out of you for my speech.”
“It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t,” Lincoln said with a laugh.
They spent some time catching up, and nearly an hour later, Will was seeing them out the door for the evening. The door closed behind them and Will sighed, shocked at how everything had changed so quickly. He was happy to have his friend back, and up until that point, he’d had no idea how much he missed his adventures with Lincoln.
***
“I think you just made Will’s day,” Charity said when they were back at the hotel, taking Lincoln’s hand and kissing his palm. “I’m glad you guys made up.”
“Me too,” Lincoln said. “I’m an arrogant ass sometimes, but I know when I’m wrong. Will could’ve left things alone, and it would have destroyed me. He would’ve profited from his competition going to jail, and he would have millions in ad revenue by the end of the year. But he turned away from the temptation and did the right thing. He saved my ass, and yours. Apologizing to him was the least I could do.”
“There’s nothing sexier than a man that knows when he’s wrong,” Charity laughed. “It’s a good quality in a husband.”
“Are you sure you’re up to the ceremony tomorrow? You’ve been through a lot and I worry about the baby and—”
“Don’t worry. I’m fine, the baby is fine. Besides, Shanice already bought her dress. You don’t want to see her disappointed when she’s already gone shopping. It’s not a pretty sight.”
“I’m afraid to ask after she showed up at court in the dayglo yellow slip dress.”
“She said she went conservative this time,” Charity giggled. “So, think Vegas wedding appropriate.”
“Oh, dear Lord.”
“Sounds about right. You should just get used to it. It’s less painful that way.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“That’s all I ask.”
Charity was standing in front of the large window, staring out at the Seattle skyline lit up against the night, the Space Needle visible even from this far away. She saw Lincoln’s reflection in the glass as he came up behind her, wrapping his strong arms around her and pulling her close so she was leaning against his chest.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked.
“It is,” Charity said. “And it will always be home.”
“Are you happy at the cabin?”
“I am.”
“I feel like you’re not saying something,” he said, kissing the top of her head and giving her a little squeeze.
“It’s not that. I love the cabin, but I also love this. The skyline, the concerts, just the whole Seattle vibe. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until we were here again.”
“But you also miss the cabin,” he finished for her.
“I do. And it’s your dream house.”
“Dreams can change.”
She smiled.
“I hear that. But I don’t want to give up the cabin, either. I love the solitude and being surrounded by wilderness. I’m just not sure that I want to spend the winter out there every year.”
Lincoln chuckled.
“That seems fair. You know, we could just live here every winter, then go back to the cabin once the weather is nice.”
“I love this suite, don’t get me wrong. But this isn’t our home.”
“I can buy the suite if that makes it better.”
She laughed.
“Must be nice to be filthy rich,” she said.
“You should know. How does it feel?”
She froze.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re my wife, right?”
“I am,” she said, his meaning slowly sinking in. “But that’s your money, not mine.”
“It’s our money,” he said. “You can’t bring everything good to the marriage and leave me contributing nothing.”
“Are you serious?”
“Did I have you sign a prenup?”
His words shocked her.
“I hadn’t even thought about it until now.”
“I know,” he said, kissing her neck from behind. “It’s pretty sexy.”
“Stop,” she laughed when he nuzzled behind her ear, sending shivers through her body. “This is serious.”
“It’s just money,” he said. “If you want, I can buy the entire hotel. Then we’ll be the only ones that ever live in this suite again.”
“I was thinking maybe we could buy our own place in town for the winter. I mean, I like this hotel, but I’ve lived in an apartment my entire life. I want a yard and no one else living above or below me.”
“I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
“It used to be,” she said, turning in his arms and wrapping her arms around his neck. “My life has changed so much in the past few weeks I can’t even keep up.”
He kissed her, slowly, tenderly.
“Do we need to slow down?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “I’m just so grateful for everything. You saved my life, and that was enough. But you didn’t stop there, and I never thought I’d say this, but I don’t think I could be any happier.”
“What about tomorrow?”
“That’s the thing. I know that tomorrow, at our wedding, I’m going to be happier than I’ve ever been. Same with the next day and the next. My entire world has changed, and I don’t know how I got so lucky.” She kissed him again.
“That’s funny,” he said. “I was going to say the same thing.”
Chapter20
Lincoln stood at the altar set up in the front of the room, the view from the top of the Space Needle through the windows that surrounded the room breathtaking. Behind him, the Puget Sound was visible in the distance, the colorful sunset sky stunning against its tranquil waters.
A veritable who’s who of Seattle society filled the guest list, along with several people Charity and Lincoln had known since childhood. It had taken some doing to get people there on such short notice, but as he looked at the overflowing seats on the bride’s side of the room, he knew he wasn’t the only one who thought Charity was worth all the fuss.
He’d chosen the venue for just that reason. The staff at the Space Needle had turned the spacious conference room on the viewing deck into an elegant little chapel, complete with gorgeous seating, flowers in every corner of the room, and a string quartet. The adjoining room was already set up for the reception and would offer amazing night views once the ceremony was over and the sun went down.
But the elegance of t
he venue and the stunning view was lost on him as he waited for his bride to appear. The same judge from the courthouse wedding stood beside him at the altar, but this time, she was dressed in a long, flowing dress instead of judge’s robes. She’d been elated when he’d called and asked her to do the ceremony, but he couldn’t imagine it without her. She was as much a part of their story as anyone else had been in the short, whirlwind romance, and he couldn’t wait to see Charity’s face when she recognized her.
“This is perfect,” she said quietly. “Has she seen any of this yet?”
“Nope,” he said with a wry smile. “She was too busy picking out the perfect dress with Shanice while I worked on other things. She told the planner the colors over the phone and it was a surprise for both of us.”
“Shanice is going to be here?” she laughed softly. “That should shake things up a little.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it, Judge.”
“Please, call me Marilyn. There’s enough stuffiness in this room to go around.”
Lincoln snickered, but then the music changed, a curtain rustled in the back of the room, and all eyes were on the entrance waiting for the bride.
The curtain moved some more, and a hand poked out, waving wildly as Shanice searched for the opening.
“We’re off to a good start,” Marilyn said.
Lincoln watched, half in amazement and half in horror as the dance between the curtain and the maid of honor continued. Then all at once, Shanice stumbled out onto the red carpet made entirely of rose petals in an electric blue dress that was tight in all the right places—for a Vegas wedding.
She looked around at the crowd, then scowled, spinning and reaching through the curtain, and pulling hard.
Will appeared out of nowhere, looking a little bewildered when Shanice put her arm through his and moved so that they were joined at the hip as they walked.
“Is that lipstick by his ear?” Marilyn asked in a hushed whisper.
“I wouldn’t doubt it. Will and Shanice really hit it off this morning, then they left to get some things done.”
“What things did they have to do?” Marilyn asked, still whispering.
“No idea. I paid for everything to be taken care of.”
