I made it to the court building with ten minutes to spare. The traffic in town was a bit heavier than I had thought it would be at this time of day, so it took me a bit longer than I estimated to run my errand. I got inside and didn't make eye contact with anyone else in the lobby. I didn't need to be slowed down by polite conversation at the moment.

  I got to the right floor and courtroom and nodded at the bailiff stationed at the door. He nodded back with a quick up and down motion and opened the door for me as I passed him. I smiled at him and he straightened his posture a bit, like it could get any straighter. He must think that I was flirting with him. Ugh. It's just a smile.

  I ignore my gut instinct to tell him I wasn't flirting and I make my way into the courtroom. It was crowded with family members of the defendant, the press, and onlookers who just seem to like watching the proceedings. Unlike what you see on television, real courtroom officials don't make you sit in the audience through every other court case until their own case comes up on the docket. That's like cruel and unusual punishment. You show up when it's your turn and then leave when it's done. You either walk out to freedom, or walk into a waiting cell.

  I got to the defendant's table just as the judge stepped from his chamber through the door located off to the side of the bench. I remained standing as the court bailiff bid for everyone to stand and then I sat when the judge gave everyone permission to sit after he'd seated himself.

  My client, a Mr. Ben Stewart, was accused of committing a murder. I reviewed his file and came to the conclusion that he was innocent of the crime and took his case. I've worked hard to get to this point. Now, on the final day of the trial, it was time for the last witness to be called to the stand. Edward 'Eddie' Malone. Of course, he didn't know that he was the key witness for the defense... and he was about to find that out. After we got the preliminary questions out of the way, establishing his name and occupation for the record, I got down to business.

  “What exactly is your relationship with the defendant?” I inquired.

  “We don't have a relationship. I don't play on that team.” He said and smiled.

  “Let me rephrase the question then. How do you know the defendant?”

  “I don't know him.”

  “Your statement to the police says that you've met him before, and suspected him of something and couldn't put your finger on it.”

  “Sure. That doesn't mean I know him.”

  “So you've just seen him around?” I said.

  “Pretty much, yeah.”

  “How many times would you say?”

  “Once or twice, I can't be sure.”

  “In your statement you said that you saw him leaving the scene of the crime as you arrived yourself.”

  “I did.”

  “How could you tell it was him?”

  “I recognized him.”

  “Really? How? If you'd only seen him once or twice, how did you know that it was the defendant and not someone else?”

  Eddie smiled a bit broader.

  “I remembered seeing his bright blue sports jacket. It's kinda hard to miss something like that.”

  I nodded my head in agreement.

  “How did you know that it was him who was wearing the jacket at the time that you saw him the night of the crime?”

  “His dark hair and the way he walked.”

  “Do you think the defendant is capable of committing the crime that occurred that night?”

  Eddie nodded his head and smiled a bit broader. He reminded me of a car salesman who'd just landed a big sale.

  “Sure. Almost anyone is capable of killing someone in the right circumstances.”

  “I agree.” I said.

  I almost had him. Just one more bit of prodding. He was so full of himself that he couldn't see this coming at all. I walked back to my desk where the defendant sat and took the tape I got from the security company out of my briefcase, and held it up for everyone in the court to see when I turned back around and faced the judge.

  “What would you say if I said that I had some security camera footage of the incident?”

  Eddie laughed. In open court.

  “That's not possible.” He said.

  “Why is that? Don't they run all the time?” I sounded dumbfounded.

  “I disabled the video cameras that night.”

  Eddie had a shocked look on his face. He surprised himself by telling the truth. Of course, now that he'd opened the door, I was going to push him right through it.

  “Why did you do that? You knew something was going to happen that night, didn't you?”

  He just shook his head. I think he was afraid to open his mouth because he might dig himself into an even deeper hole. I glanced at my client and Ben had a surprised look on his face, too.

  “Your Honor, I'd like to enter into evidence this video recording, taken on the night in question.”

  “I object!” The prosecutor said as he stood.

  “We were unaware that such a video existed.” He blustered.

  “I was unaware of its existence until this morning as well.” I countered.

  The judge looked at the both of us and then at Eddie sitting very uncomfortably on the stand, then asked me where I had obtained it. I explained that the cameras were in fact disabled for the premises where the crime happened; but, the warehouse across the street had suffered a rash of break-ins and vandalism and had a security system installed. Including video surveillance of their parking lot and the surrounding street outside.

  “I'll allow it.” The judge said.

  I nearly shouted in triumph and barely managed to hold myself in check. Screaming with joy is not something a lawyer should do in the middle of a courtroom. I looked at the judge and held out the video.

  “With your permission, Your Honor?”

  He nodded and the court bailiff took the video and walked across the room to the mobile media center. That's just a fancy title for a cart with a video cassette recorder, a DVD player, and a television set. What can I say? The courts haven't quite caught up to the technological revolution yet. The bailiff turned everything on and put the tape in. It was a bit grainy but otherwise it was a very good quality video.

  The whole courtroom sat in complete silence as we watched it; which included me as well, since I hadn't had time to review it beforehand. All of us sat very still... and we saw Eddie get out of his car and cross the street to the scene of the crime. I heard a few muffled gasps. I think it was a bit of a shock for everyone, especially Eddie, because everyone in the courtroom had clearly seen that Eddie had been wearing what looked to be my client's jacket.

  Eddie must have made some sort of movement because I turned around to see him lunge out of the witness box and make a break for the door to the hallway. The judge immediately ordered the court bailiff to restrain him and place him in handcuffs. That order had been a bit unnecessary, since the bailiff in question had already crossed the room and tackled Eddie.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The prosecutor stood up and said that in light of the new evidence, he'd like to submit the motion that the charges against the accused should be withdrawn. The judge, in his infinite wisdom, declared that in light of the new evidence that all charges against the defendant were dismissed. He turned towards my client and spoke the magic words.

  “You are free to go.”

  The courtroom exploded into cheers and applause as the judge said those words. He banged his gavel a couple of times and asked for order, then gave up and left the bench instead. On his way out he nodded to the bailiff, who had handed Eddie off to the police moments before, and he motioned for the room to be cleared.

  The doors sprung open and several bailiffs and police came through and they ushered the rowdy gallery crowd out into the hallway. My client who was still a little shell shocked from the verdict just stared at me with his mouth hanging open surprise.

  I smiled at him. “Come on, Mr. Free Man. I'll buy you a coffee.”

  It turned out to be only a halfhearted gesture because just then the table was swarmed by his family and friends. They hugged him and shook his hand and were really happy that he had been acquitted. Some turned to me to shake my hand, too. They all thanked me and praised me. I just nodded my head and backed away. Ben looked at me and shrugged. I nodded to him, gave him a short wave, and left.

  I wasn't going to intrude on a happy family gathering, and by the looks of it, they'd be celebrating for a long time. They had a lot to celebrate about. That video could easily have shown that it was my client entering the building. I believed it wouldn't, though I hadn't really expected that Eddie himself would have been the one to have done it. I trusted that my client was innocent and that I'd get him off; but, nabbing the real perpetrator? That was a really great bonus.

  I got back to the office around one in the afternoon, and Alice was waiting for me. No new messages, she said; but, she said she wanted me to at least look at the other ones she'd given to me before. I nodded my head at her in defeat and went into my office. I looked at them, but nothing was there that was pressing... a deposition for another client, one of the senior partners was having a dinner party and everyone was invited, and an old client was celebrating a year out of jail this weekend because of me.

  That last one was the best of them... and it was on the blue paper. Leave it to Alice to make sure that I read that one last. She definitely has some insight into what makes me tick. I grabbed my stuff and was about to leave the office to head home when my phone intercom buzzed. I hit the button without thinking.

  “Yes, Alice?”

  “There's a Mr. Soulson here to see you. He doesn't have an appointment.”

  I knew that, since she was the one who had cleared it for me for the trial; but, she was also giving me a chance to not see this guy, whoever he is.

  “What does he want?” I said.

  “He says that he wants to hire you.”

  It was a bit strange that someone would come to me directly like this. I wonder if someone referred him to me? Well, only one way to find out, I guess.

  “It's fine, Alice. Send him in.”

  My door opened a moment later. Alice ushered Mr. Soulson and his personal assistant into my office. I assumed he was a personal assistant mainly because he was dressed the same as his boss, only cheaper. They almost looked like the same suit. One was thousands of dollars worth of cloth and the other one was only a few hundred dollars worth. I'm not a high fashion person but I can tell quality from quantity when I see it.

  Mr. Soulson's suit fit him perfectly and was tailor made to hang properly; his assistant's suit on the other hand, was a bit too box-like to have been fitted to him and clearly came straight off the rack. I have no problem buying things off the rack. In fact, most of the clothing that I've bought in my current wardrobe I obtained that way. I stood up from behind my desk and reached out my hand. Mr. Soulson just glanced down at it.

  “I'd like to hire you.” He said.

  I dropped my hand from my intended handshake and frowned a little at him. It was just common courtesy that dictated you should shake someone's hand when you first meet them. People don't have to shake my hand; but, it makes me distrust them almost immediately when they don't. I didn't tell Mr. Soulson that, though.

  “What is it that you think I can do for you, Mr. Soulson?”

  He looked at his personal assistant and nodded as he sat down across from my desk. Without an invitation. He sat there, almost regally, and contemplated something in his hands or on his shirt cuffs. My frown deepened as his personal assistant started in with his speech. I knew it would be a long speech and that I'd be stuck there listening to it if I didn't nip it in the bud before it began.

  “In the recent past Mr. Soulson has been...” The assistant began.

  I snapped my hand up in a stop gesture to forestall hearing the long winded, and no doubt legally correct, prepared presentation. The assistant stopped with a look on his face like I'd slapped him instead of just holding up my hand and I hid my smile. There was no need to show the help that I liked that he was so easy to rattle.

  “I asked you a question, sir.” I said to Mr. Soulson.

  He lifted his head from his silent contemplation and looked at me. He had the brightest blue eyes that I had ever seen and for an instant they were all that I could see, then a headache started to develop near my forehead right behind my eyes. It felt like a buzz saw was trying to cut its way through my head. I closed my eyes and immediately felt better. The pain didn't go away but it wasn't as intense. I could only assume that the florescent lighting wasn't going to help me keep the headache from spreading.

  I hadn't had a migraine appear like this in almost four years. I kept my eyes closed and sat down in my chair. I was relieved that I hadn't moved out from behind my desk to greet my visitors. I don't think flopping onto the floor in pain would endear me to my prospective clients. Alice noticed my closed eyes and rushed to my side.

  “Can I get you anything?” She said in a soft voice.

  I shook my head no but stayed seated where I was. Maybe the headache would just pass if all I did was sit there and didn't move. I could hear Alice moving away and I could hear the assistant moving around, but not Mr. Soulson. I thought that was a bit strange, then ignored it in the face of this headache. I sat there with my eyes closed for several minutes, and no one spoke the whole time.

  The pain eased away and I relaxed a bit by taking a deep breath of air and letting it out slowly. I opened my eyes and Mr. Soulson was looking away from me. The quick headache burned away all the good vibes I had gathered after the trial and my temper started to rear it's ugly head.

  “If you aren't going to answer a simple question, then I suggest you leave.” I said.

  “I own the CorpMeat company.” He said in a soft voice.

  I leaned back in my chair and studied his profile while I thought about what he had just said. The CorpMeat company was embroiled in the biggest scandal to hit the city in years. Not just one, but several plant workers came together and filed a huge class action lawsuit against the company for mistreatment of workers and misrepresentation of products and services. In strict legal terms it was a 'big deal'.

  I had never seen such infighting and mud-throwing outside of a political arena before. I had been keeping track of the proceedings as a hobby in my spare time and it was a complete mess. People have actually died because of it. The scandal alone has almost cut the legs off the company and the last three lawyers they had hired have either quit or disappeared. I started to shake my head when Mr. Soulson stood up.

  “Here's the file with all the information you need...” His assistant placed the file on my desk as he continued talking.

  “... you can look over it tonight and we will see you in the morning.” Mr. Soulson said, then he stepped around the chair he had just occupied and was halfway to the door before I could open my mouth.

  “Hold it!” I almost shouted as I stood. “I didn't agree to do this.”

  The two men turned at the same time, side by side like mirror images, with near identical looks of surprise on their faces.

  “Not only have you not told me anything, we haven't discussed anything, either. It took me a minute, but I recognize you now. Eccentric billionaire; recluse, bought up anything and everything on the outskirts of the city. I thought you didn't go out in public?”

  Mr. Soulson glared at me and I felt the headache return with such force that I nearly slumped back into my chair. I grabbed the edge of my desk and held on to stop from swaying. I didn't close my eyes this time but I did drop my gaze to my desk and let my head drop. I had hoped so much that I was rid of these stupid migraines for good. I noticed their shadows on the carpet start to move away.

  “I won't be taking your case. It is a headache...” quite literally, “ ...that I just can't deal with right now. It's a case so messed up and overexposed that no one in their right minds would take on, let alone fight it in front of a jury.”

  They stopped just inside the door, but I didn't look up to see their faces this time. If they were surprised again, I didn't want to know that badly.

  “Don't forget your file.” I said.

  I picked the file up with one hand and kept a death grip on my desk with the other. I can only assume that the assistant came and took the file because I didn't look as I felt it leave my hand. I heard the door shut and then I actually did slump down into my chair. My head was killing me, but it didn't seem as bad as it was a minute ago.

  Alice came over with some aspirin and a bottle of water and I took them gratefully. She had a worried expression on her face as she studied me and I told her that I was going to be fine. I was glad that I had the afternoon off because I was leaving the office and heading home to a nice quiet evening. I needed to relax.

Interlude

  When the door was closed behind them, Mr. Soulson had a grim look on his face. His assistant hurried to keep pace with his boss as they walked to the elevator.

  “No one says no to me. Ever. Take care of it.”

  “Yes, sir. Right away, sir.” The assistant said. “Do you want to call on some local talent or should someone be brought in for the task?”

  “It doesn't matter. Just get it done.”

  “Yes, sir.”

End Interlude

  By the time I got to my car in the parking garage in the basement my headache was gone. I was grateful for that, since the ride home in lunch hour traffic could be a real mess sometimes. I got through the city and onto the freeway relatively quickly, despite the massive amount of cars.

  I made it home just in time for Cerberus to tackle me when I opened the door. I laughed and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and we roughhoused for a few minutes on the floor. If I didn't know any better, I could swear that he knew I needed a bit of cheering up. We got to the end of our little tussle when he got me by the scruff of my neck.

  “Okay, enough. I give, I give!” I half laughed.

  He let me go, huffed at me, and then he licked my face.

  “Hey! Gross!” I said as I pushed him off of me. He padded away grumbling and as I listened to him go, it almost sounded like he was laughing at me.