Page 70 of Tempted

Chelsea and Tyler chose that moment to come bursting back in the kitchen. “Dad, come on!” Chelsea demanded.

Victor chuckled. “Okay, the natives are getting restless. Would you like us to bring you something back, Adam?”

Adam shook his head. “No. I’d like to come with you.”

Victor’s heart soared. His family was finally coming together again. Now there was only one more piece of the puzzle he needed for it to be complete.

* * *

Later that night,Victor looked through the package that had been left on his doorstep while he and the kids were out for ice cream. With each document he went through his blood pressure rose.

He picked up his phone punched in the number to Danny, one of junior associates in his law firm who answered on the third ring. “Hello?”

“I just looked through the package you left for me. Is this all there is?”

“It’s all I could get for now, Mr. Meade, but I’m working on obtaining more information from the court appointed attorney who worked onJasmine’s case.”

“See Bill Bradshaw on this. He owes me a few favors.”

“Will do, boss. Uh, you know I could get in a lot of trouble for getting those medical records.”

“It never happened, Danny. Do you understand?”

“Okay. Mr. Meade?”

“Yes, Danny?”

“I hope you don’t mind but I took the liberty of looking through the paperwork and I’m assuming you’re collecting it because maybe you’re trying to reopen the case.”

“Perhaps.”

“Well, I was just wondering if I could assist. I’d like to be the lead.”

Danny was young and ambitious who wasn’t afraid of putting in a hard day’s work which was one of the reasonsVictor had sent him on this fact finding venture for him. He’d gotten more information than Victor had requested. “I’ll have to study this a bit more but I will keep you in mind if I decide to turn it over. I may take it myself.”

“I thought you were done with criminal law.”

It was true for the most part. He no longer had the stomach for it. Most of the people who could afford his prices were usually guilty as hell and he was tired of championing entitled pricks.

This case however would be a whole different story altogether. “I may make an exception for this.”

“Would you consider taking me on as co-counsel? I’ll do all the leg work.”

“Okay, Danny. If that’s what I decide to do, you’ll be the first person I consider. Before you go, tell me what you thought about your findings.”

Danny paused for a moment before speaking. “Well, it seems like Miss Brooks got railroaded. There’s seems to be plenty of evidence that could have gotten her an acquittal, but it seems like….”

“Her lawyer gave up on her.”

“Yes. I found it odd her medical records and the police reports were never introduced into evidence. I’d go as far as to say her representation was grossly negligent. Just from that information alone we have a good chance of getting that conviction overturned.”

Victor nodded. Those were the magic words. “Danny, how would you like to take on this case?”

“Really? Yes! Thank you, Mr. Meade. I won’t disappoint you.”

“You’d better not. This could make or break your career.”

“Thank you.”