Reasonable Doubts (10 page)
Authors: Evie Adams
I wait in her office. The seventeen people I saw that morning, already laughed at me, but I didn't care. I was already heckled as 'sweeter than cotton candy' and 'candy ass' but it didn't matter. I had been called worse.
She walks in and laughs, she couldn't restrain it today, it was a high, lilting laugh, the best sound in the world. Then she remembers she hates me, or is trying to hate me. I swear it moved when she smiled.
It
moved.
"Good morning Dr. Miller, just wanted to go over the animal case with you, I was thinking of wearing this to voir dire, I had some good advice earlier from a smart and beautiful consultant to soften my image, what do you think?"
"Real men don't wear pink. And they especially don't wear a pink seersucker suit."
“The salesman swore it was salmon.”
“They say that but we all know its pink,”
“If you want me to make a fool of myself every day I will. I have no pride left. You took it.”
“Don't put that on me. And make a fool all you want it doesn't change anything.”
“You're wrong about that. You're smiling at me, which is the most wonderful thing in the world, I missed it. But I guess it’s not enough. But that's okay. I have more. I'm not giving up Laura. Not until you agree to dinner. The dinner we missed on Saturday. You broke it off, remember, not me.”
Now, most people would never bring up the source of pain, the one thing that screwed everything up. Most people hide it, sweep it under the rug, pretend it's not there, hope the elephant in the room doesn't crush you. But you can't do that in the law. You have to show the worst part of your case, you have to light it up with neon signs if it's that bad because if you don't, everyone will know you're full of shit, and you can't be trusted.
And they'll hold it against you, resent you. But if you bring it up, you can argue that it’s not that bad. You take responsibility and move on to the points that are good for you, and even if the jury still doesn't believe you, at least they know you can be trusted. That you won't lie about the bad, and they'll be more willing to listen to the good. Presenting the worst part of your case as early as possible clears the air.
“It's your fault we never got to dinner.” She shoots back, with that injured scowl again.
“I know that. I know how it looked. I know how your face twisted. And the hurt that showed up on it. And I'd kill myself before I ever saw that look on your face again.”
The stone cracked again. But not completely.
"I will wear this to court unless you agree to have dinner with me Friday."
“You’re trying to force me to have dinner with you or else you’ll make a fool out of yourself? That’s not a very good negotiating tactic. Which one of those do I want?”
“Dinner. This.” I point to myself.
She breaks a smile, and turns before she laughs at me again, "Your funeral, you'll certainly make a first impression. Maybe not a good one, but you’ll make one. I'm not your mom, I'm your co-worker, though I guess you could get confused on that one. If you want to talk about the case, schedule a meeting."
"How about Friday at 7, my place?"
"I don't think I'm authorized for overtime, and that's not something I'd do off the clock, ever."
"I want to start over, tell you all the things I wanted to, how wonderful you are in every way.”
“I have work to do.”
“I know, and I won't get in your way, but I won't stop until you agree to dinner, one dinner.” I would let her think about me. Let her smile at how ridiculous I looked when she's working, thinking about something else.
Pam walks in the office and belly laughs at me, ruining any chance at Laura capitulating. “Hey peppermint, come sit on old Pam’s lap."
Laura laughs again, “I think you should listen to her Attorney Hughes.”
CHAPTER 23 - LAURA
One pink suit was hard enough to find, and I had to pay an arm and a leg for it, but pink shirts and blue ties were my uniform for the week, and I sort of got to like it. A menacing grin and a pink shirt seemed to match nicely. Pink could be a power color, if used right.
I had them all laid out for the week, but my bed was empty. I put in 'My cousin Vinny', laid in bed, and dialed her number.
"Hello Laura,"
"Jake? What is it?" her voice was sleepy, vulnerable. She called me Jake, not Attorney Hughes, not asshole, this was progress.
"Just in bed thinking of you."
"Good to know. Is there something you need?”
“You, in bed with me.”
“Goodnight Attorney Hughes."
Click.
I dial again.
"So what are you wearing?"
"Did you call just to annoy me?”
"Yes, I want to annoy you for the rest of your life, and only you, but that's not all I want to do."
She paused, "God I hope not."
"Did you like my suit? I have a dozen shirts, the suit I can only rotate in once a week I think."
"It's very nice. Your new nickname 'Peppermint' might stick, Pam's really lobbying for it to be permanent."
“You can call me whatever you want.”
No answer.
“I’m watching My Cousin Vinny again in bed and thinking of you.”
“That's nice. Enjoy the movie.”
“I was thinking about the point of the movie. How the team is so much stronger than the individual.”
“That's good maybe you can use that in the future.”
“I was also thinking about your miracle lawyer from when you were a kid. I was thinking how the firm should get more involved in that. Legal Aid type of stuff, and I want you to head that. I'll discuss with Diane, but I think she'll be supportive.”
“That's amazing. But if you're trying to bribe me, it won't work.”
“I know. No bribe. I want to see you enjoy your work, you're better when you enjoy it. And I'm better when you enjoy it. This way you'll be happy and I'll get to annoy you. I think if you take the lead on those things you're passionate about and I help from time to time, and I do the big cases and you annoy me into being better, we'll be better than ever.”
“Can the firm afford that?”
“I don't now. But Artie will help.”
“Don't you hate him?”
“No, he's alright. And if he makes Diane feel a tenth of what I feel for you then I'll put his name on the firm personally.”
“That's big of you Jake.”
She called me Jake again, it felt wonderful.
“The Grinch’s heart grew three sizes over night, why can't mine? And that's not all that's growing. Say something sexy.”
“Ugh, you can ruin a nice moment can't you?”
“I do, only because it annoys you.”
“Good night Attorney Hughes.”
“Wait. I have a deposition tomorrow I want you to sit in on okay?”
"Okay."
“Good night, I love you.”
There was a pause before she hung up, but not long enough for her to say anything back.
But she would be thinking about me, maybe dream about me. Maybe a good one.
A thousand cuts.
If last night softened her up, she didn't show it. She was still wrapped up tight, and held her face of stone out to me and the world.
I popped in her office, and her eyes found my pink shirt, with the blue tie, and laughed slightly to herself, that she couldn't hide. “So we're on for the depo at 10? It's in the conference room, so no travel.”
She raised an eyebrow, generally depositions are taken on neutral territory. So she was suspicious.
“Sleep well?”
“Except for a few annoying phone calls.”
She tried to sell it, but she didn't mean it.
“What a bother, someone annoying you. Anyhow, we have an appointment with Diane later this week to try and sell her on the pro bono Legal Aid idea too. I put it on your schedule for Friday, is that enough time?”
“Yeah, I think I can manage that.” She said, guardedly, but her eyes lit up like she was opening a present, clearly happy about the prospects.
“You already thought about it didn't you?”
“A little.” She smiled, it was wonderful.
“So 10 am. Meet me there.”
“What case, do I have a copy of the file?”
“You're familiar with it already,” I said and left before she could throw out any more questions.
The conference room was set up for the deposition. The stenographer was the most expensive part, these things could run thousands of dollars, but if the case was a good one, it was well worth it.
Laura walked in and sat in the chair next to me, with her legal pad in front of her. She smiled slightly, progress, but I hoped she would still be smiling after.
I buzzed Pam to bring in the first witness. Laura, looked at her but didn't put it all together for minute. I wasted no time and started the questions.
"You've been a bartender at Barristers for how long?"
"Four years."
"And you personally know Mr. Hughes?"
"Yes."
"Can you describe the events of last Saturday?”
"Well you, I mean Mr. Hughes came in, he looked all dressed up and excited, even nervous, like I had never seen him before."
"How do you mean?"
"He was excited for something, giddy almost.”
Laura stirred in her seat.
"And what did he say to you?”
"Objection, that's hearsay.”
"She can testify to what she observed."
"But not what you said."
"OK, you do the questioning."
"Are you being paid or coerced to be here today?" Kate looked at me, but I couldn't help her.
"I'm being paid what I'd get at work.”
"Then you're a poor character witness aren't you, you are being paid to say these things?"
"Objection, badgering. Would you have come no matter if you were paid?"
"Yes."
"This is absurd, I don't care what happened that night. That's not the point. Even if I did take your word for it, it doesn't matter, you're a baby, you're childish, and this doesn't change anything. You lie."
Kate interrupted, "Nothing happened, I've seen him with a million women in there, but never seen him like that, heart broken, and the women were very disappointed when they came out of the bathroom, they told me nothing happened."
"Thank you Kate, that'll be all."
"You waste thousands of dollars in a court reporter for this?"
"And your salary too. There's one more witness, that's all. I just want the chance, and on the record that nothing happened, and that I love you. Under oath, before the world, you need to know."
"It still doesn't change anything."
“Dr. Hughes, you swear to tell the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Here's a medical waiver, please tell us about the patient."
“He came into my office with a complaint, not an unusual complaint for a man of his age, but unusually concerning to him."
"And what was that?"
"Impotence, probably depression too, and he smelled."
“Please, just answer the questions asked of you. And the cause in your medical opinion?"
"Mental block, broken heart maybe."
"And your recommendation?"
"Stop being an idiot."
"Thank you Dr. Spud."
"No problem Jake,” he stood and spoke to Laura, “If any of this works, please come to dinner with me and Sara. She'd love to meet you. So would I, in better circumstances."
"Can I get a copy of that transcript?" Laura asked the stenographer.
"Why?"
"To file as an appendix in my sexual harassment suit. There's one more witness who hasn't testified under oath, you.” She told me.
“Fire away. Remember the game in the bar? I swear to tell the truth here too.”
“You say that you love me, Laura Miller. Correct?”
“I do.”
“Have you ever loved anyone?”
“My dog, my family.”
“Have you ever had your heart broken?”
“No, not until I saw your face on Saturday night.”
“Then I'll be your lesson. Don't forget it. Don't make the same mistake again.”
It was happening again, her voice broke, and her chin trembled just a bit. “No more questions.” She said and left.
The damn clicking of the keys still rang in the air after she left.
I followed her out and watched her walk straight into Diane's office and close the door behind her.
I followed, and the door was locked. I heard voices but couldn't make them out, and the damn noise canceling fans at the bottom of the doors blurred out whatever they said.
I was losing this. How could I lose it?
I waited, confident Dianne would speak for me. But they were in there for way too long. Nearly an hour. I was going insane waiting.