Uriel Zander sat in front of the camera, the lights of the streaming studio dimly reflecting off his face. He was seated in Marcus Rye's flashy home studio, a far cry from the subdued courtrooms he had grown so accustomed to. Marcus himself stood beside him, the famous gaming streamer fluidly jumping from screen to screen as his huge population of viewers stormed the chat.

Uriel had accepted the $75,000 offer to appear on the show, not just for the money—though that was definitely a plus—but for the opportunity to enter a world other than law, if only for an evening. He was not used to being on the hot seat like this, but Marcus reassured him it would be a good time, and viewers were begging to hear from a real-life defense attorney who had been making headlines.

"So, Uriel," Marcus started, hunching over the microphone to speak, "you've taken on some crazy cases, man. You've defended people who everyone else thought were guilty, and you come out winning. How do you do it?"

Uriel leaned back in his chair, the easy confidence from the courtroom oozing into his tone. "It's not about tricking anyone. It's about looking at the facts and asking the right questions. More often than not, the prosecution builds a case on assumptions, and it's my job to take those apart bit by bit. I create doubt, and doubt is often all you need."

The chat blew up with questions, and Marcus scrolled through them, chuckling. "These guys just love it. All right, let's choose one… Why do you defend people you know are guilty? That's a popular one."

Uriel nodded contemplatively. "That's probably the hardest part of my job. Look, it's not a case of whether I think they're guilty or innocent; everyone deserves defense—everyone. It's my job to ensure the system works, and if the prosecution can't prove beyond a reasonable doubt, then my client walks. That's just how justice works."

Another question appeared on the screen: Do you ever feel bad about it?

A hazy smile played across Uriel's features. "Every case weighs on me differently, but in the end, it's not my job to decide guilt or innocence. That belongs to the jury; I just make sure everything is fair and competitive."

The interview went well for about two hours, with Marcus and the viewers asking Uriel about his most highly publicized cases, his strategy in each, and how he coped with the stress. Toward the end of the stream, however, Uriel's cell phone vibrated on the table beside him.

He glanced at the screen—Unknown Caller. Instinctively, Uriel answered, stepping back from the mic as Marcus wrapped up the stream.

"This is Uriel," he said in a low voice.

"Mr. Zander?" The voice on the other end shook. "It's... it's about Daniel Reiss. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but... Daniel's been shot. He was killed outside his apartment a few hours ago."

Uriel froze, blood draining from his face. "What? What happened?"

"I don't have all the details, but it looks like he was targeted," the voice explained. "We thought you should know."

Uriel barely heard the rest of what the streamer was saying before hanging up, the world around him diffusing into a vague, faraway distance. Daniel Reiss, the man whose life he'd fought so hard to save in court, was gone. Murdered.

The day following the events of that night, Uriel stood before the family home of Daniel. The Reiss family had always been upright and quiet, but that morning, the house seemed to bear the weight of bottomless sorrow. He was there to pay his respects, to show condolences to a family that had lost so much. He was met at the door by Daniel's mother, her eyes puffed up and red from a day of crying. She invited Uriel inside, her voice soft but strained.

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"Thanks for coming, Uriel," she said, her hand trembling slightly as she ushered him into a small living room where the family had gathered.

Uriel sat on the couch, the heavy atmosphere pressing down on him. Daniel's father sat in a chair across from him, saying nothing, just staring at the floor. They were a shattered family now, and Uriel felt a pang of guilt, wondering if he could have done more—something that could have kept Daniel safe after the trial.

"I am so very sorry for your loss," Uriel whispered softly, his voice measured. "Daniel was a good man. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to know him, to help him when I could."

Daniel's mother nodded, though her face remained a mask of pain. "You did all you could do. He always said you saved his life that day in court. He was grateful for you, Uriel."

He didn’t know what to say, so he just stayed with the family for a while, trying to be supportive in any way he could. Of course, it wasn’t enough—nothing ever would be—but it was all he could give.

After Daniel’s death, Uriel threw himself into his work. He took case after case, winning small and large battles alike. He became one of the most dangerous defense attorneys in the state.

His reputation grew, and with it came a list of victories that kept expanding. He gained a reputation not only for his intellect but also for his unyielding dedication to his clients. Hardly taking a break for two years, he worked non-stop, drowning the pain of losing Daniel in the avalanche of cases.

But after all the work, Uriel finally allowed himself some time off. Three weeks of vacation—no cases, no clients. He needed the break, knowing it wouldn’t last, but that was all right.

It was during this time, while sitting at a bar on holiday, that it happened. A woman approached him, strikingly beautiful, well-dressed, and carrying herself as if she could have anything she wanted. As she slid onto the stool beside him, he caught the glint of expensive jewelry and the tailored elegance of her attire.

"Mr. Zander?" she asked, her voice smooth as silk, dripping with confidence. Uriel turned, raising an eyebrow. "That's me. Who’s asking?"

"My name is Elena Spears. I’m the wife of Caden Spears, CEO of Nx Zen," she said, leaning in slightly closer. "I’ve heard so much about you."

Nx Zen—the name rang a bell. It was one of the biggest tech companies in the country, run by Caden Spears. But before Uriel could say a word, Elena continued.

"My husband has been accused of some very serious crimes. He’s accused of being part of this huge, multi-state drug trafficking ring. And," she paused for a moment, her eyes darkening, "human trafficking."

Uriel's face remained inscrutable, though a storm brewed inside his mind. "That's quite an accusation."

Elena nodded. "It is. And that's why we’re prepared to pay you $4 million to represent him."

Uriel blinked. Four million dollars. It was an astronomical sum—more than enough to fund the dream he’d had for years of starting his own law firm. But there was more to this case than the money. If Caden Spears was involved in something this large, it wasn’t just local law enforcement.

"You’re up against the FBI, aren’t you?" Uriel asked, his voice calm.

Elena's lips pressed into a thin line. "Yes, they’ve built a case, and they’ve assigned a team of lawyers with a 98 percent conviction rate. But I believe my husband is innocent, and I believe you’re the only one who can win this for him."

Uriel sat back, giving it some serious thought.

He had never taken on a case this big, certainly not against the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They were methodical, relentless, and well-resourced.

Still, four million dollars—everything he needed to build his firm—was staring him in the face.

But he could feel the pressure growing, and with it came the familiar thrill of the challenge. He lived for this: taking on the impossible.

"I'll have to go through the case files," Uriel said finally. "If I take this on, it’s going to be the biggest case I’ve ever worked on. I need to know exactly what I’m dealing with."

Elena smiled weakly. "Of course. The files will be sent to you by tomorrow. And should you win this, Mr. Zander, you’ll be known as the man who beat the FBI."

He watched her get up and walk away, leaving him contemplating the weight of her words.

As he finished his drink, he couldn’t help the familiar stir of excitement, his gut telling him this case could be his next defining moment—or it could destroy him.

He pulled out his phone, his fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before deciding on a course of action.

He texted Karen.

Uriel: I may need your help on something big.