Page 29 of Trial Run

Go to the police

Sway the jury

She stared at the list for several minutes. She didn’t like the order and she didn’t like the options, but they were all she had. With the first two, she might be able to shut this whole thing down sooner, but the risk was high. The risk was high with the last option too since she wasn’t convinced she could sway anyone on the jury, but all she really had to do was hold out. A hung jury wasn’t going to please the voice on the phone because Mitchell could be tried again, but it was better than a conviction.

“Mom, the food’s here,” Ben bellowed from the living room. “They’re almost at the door and I’m finishing my homework.”

“Be right there.” Brooke decided to let him have a pass on getting the door after what he’d been through. Another reason option number three was looking better and better. She crumpled the Post-it and tossed it in the trash. She knew what she had to do if she wanted to keep her little family safe and get back to her life as soon as possible. The only problem remaining was the fact she’d told Reggie about the threats. Reggie didn’t strike her as the kind of person who would just let things go, but she wasn’t sure what she was going to do about it.

When she swung open the door to collect the food, Reggie was standing there holding the Shake Shack bag. “What are you doing here?” Brooke stammered the words feeling like she’d conjured Reggie’s presence and wishing she’d had time to prepare before seeing her again.

Reggie shifted in place and looked sheepish. “Well, I could lie and say I work food delivery at night, but the truth is I tipped the delivery guy to get him to give me the food so I’d have an excuse to see you. May I come in?”

Brooke’s heart quickened at the idea Reggie wanted to see her again, but she took a few deep breaths to put things inperspective. This was not a social call. “Whatever you have to say, you can say it out here. Ben is home and I don’t want him upset after what he’s been through.”

“Is he okay? Sore, I bet.”

Brooke wanted to ignore the question and hurry this encounter along, but Reggie’s concern sounded genuine, and she had been there for her during an incredibly stressful time. She held the door open. “Come in, but not for long. Ben has homework and I have things to do.”

Reggie grinned and walked inside. She paused in the small foyer and handed over the bag of food. “Good choice,” she said, pointing at the bag. “They’re definitely in my top ten list of burgers.”

“Only you and my son have a top ten list.” Brooke peered out the door viewer. “Are you sure you weren’t followed?”

“I wasn’t.” Reggie was emphatic. “I wouldn’t put you in danger.”

“I don’t think you’d do it on purpose, but I don’t think you understand the level of risk here.” She glanced toward the living room, but Ben was deeply engrossed in whatever was on TV and didn’t look remotely interested in their conversation. “He’s all I have. This trial is going to wind up costing me work and the ability to pay the bills, and that’s without having my and my son’s life threatened. I have to do whatever will keep my family safe.”

“I know.”

Brooke took in a gulp of air. “You do?” She’d been fully prepared to do battle to defend her pronouncement, but it was hard to fight with someone who wasn’t fighting back.

“Absolutely. That’s why I’m here. I have a plan.”

Brooke wanted to believe her. She wanted to believe there was a way out that didn’t involve her helping a criminal go free because even if Shirley hadn’t committed the crimes she wasaccused of, she had done worse by not only threatening her son, but making good on that threat with little provocation. But the same reasons that motivated her to believe in Reggie also held her back from trusting anyone to help her out of this mess. She looked into Reggie’s eyes, fully prepared to tell her she wanted no part of any plan, but Reggie’s earnest smile and encouraging eyes coaxed her into hearing more. She shook the bag in her hand. “Food first and then the plan.”

A few minutes later, the three of them sat around the kitchen table, munching on burgers and fries. Reggie had resisted taking half of Brooke’s food, but she’d insisted because she wasn’t that hungry, which was true. She hadn’t had much of an appetite since this whole mess had started. Ben and Reggie, on the other hand, devoured their food, taking bites between a lively discussion about the latest Comic Con that had been in Dallas.

“Walking Dead’s not my favorite show, but I love Eugene,” Ben said.

“Eugene’s great, but I’m more of a Maggie fan.”

“The women in the show are badass,” Ben said, immediately covering his mouth.

Brooke gave him a side-eye punctuated by a grin. “The women in that show are indeed badass, but that’s the only context in which you’re allowed to use that word until you’re much older. Got it?”

“Got it.”

Ben stuffed the last of his fries in his mouth, unfazed by the admonition. Brooke wasn’t worried. He was a good kid who might occasionally violate the rules in an attempt to seem cool, but she was confident he’d make good choices when it really mattered. “Hey, kid, go finish your homework. I need to talk to Reggie alone for a bit.”

“’Kay,” he said, sliding out of his chair and taking his plate to the sink. “Nice to see you again, Reggie.”

“Nice to see you too, Ben.”

Brooke watched the exchange and shook her head.

“What is it?” Reggie asked.

“You’re good with him.”

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