Page 39 of Cause and Effect

“Sorry, sweetheart. Legally speaking, your client committed carjacking against two individuals—the woman and her unborn child. This means I could request the judge to impose a double sentence since two people were in the vehicle.”

“Where did you go to law school?” Laurel cocked her head at him, and I chuckled.

“Excuse me?” ADA Westin asked.

“Where did you go to law school?”

“Santa Clara University Law.” His brows furrowed. “Why?”

“Ah, that explains it,” she said. “The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 only recognizes a fetus as a legal crime victim if fetal injury or death occurs during the time of a federal violent crime. Therefore, you cannot ask the judge for two separate counts of carjacking. But I think it would be fun to see you try.” She smiled.

I could see the burning rage in his eyes as he stared at her.

“Do you think I’m new to the law or something?” she asked him.

“Thirty days and two hundred fifty hours of community service. Take it or leave it. That’s all I’m offering.”

“Three hundred days of community service, no jail. It’s his first offense, and his mother is very ill. He’s the only one who takes care of her. Hence, the reason he stole the car was so he could go to Jersey and pick up some medication for her. He wrongfully acted in a time of desperation. I think everyone deserves a second chance, counselor. Now, if he screws his second chance up, then I say throw the book at him.”

“Fine. Three hundred days of community service and two-year probation,” he said.

“You have yourself a deal, ADA Westin.” Laurel smiled and extended her hand.

“Don’t. Just don’t.” He shook his head and walked away.

“Wow. He’s a jerk.” She glanced at me.

“Well, you did tell him the law school he went to was shit.” I chuckled.

We stepped back into the room where Joseph was.

“Good news, Mr. Jones,” Laurel said. “Three hundred days of community service and two-year probation.”

“So, I’m not going to prison?” he asked, letting out a breath.

“No. Not this time. This is your second chance to turn your life around. It’s all you get. You break the law again, and you’re going to prison. Your mom needs you, Joseph. Wasn’t she always there for you growing up?”

“Yeah. She was.” He looked down.

“Now, you need to be there for her—not as a criminal,but as a well-rounded member of society who will be on his best behavior and not be tempted by the criminal life. Can you do that?”

“Yeah. Thank you, Ms. Evans. I’m sorry for earlier. I was scared.”

She glanced at her watch. “Your hearing is in fifteen minutes. You’ll plead guilty, and the ADA will tell the judge about our deal. You’ll be out of here soon.”

Chapter Sixteen

Julian

After getting home from work and changing into my swim trunks, I grabbed a beer from the refrigerator, set it on the patio table, and dove into the pool—the refreshing water enveloping my body and relieving the day's stress.

“Hey,” I heard Parker’s voice.

Turning around, he stood at the pool's edge with his hands tucked tightly into his pants pockets.

“You have a date?” I asked.

“Yeah. I’m heading out now.”

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