Page 23 of Cause and Effect

“I just received an email from her doctor stating that due to the severe damage and improper healing of Mrs. Bennett’s ankle, she would never be able to wear heels again. Which printer is yours? I’ll send the report, and we’ll enter it as evidence.”

I sent the email to the court’s printer, and the bailiff retrieved it and handed it to Judge McCray.

“This proves nothing, Your Honor,” Liza said. “She could have worn the heels only to the hotel and taken them off when they got to the room.”

I walked back to the table as Julian’s eyes burned into mine. He was pissed, but yet I could tell he was relieved.

Judge McCray studied the report and looked up. “Mrs. Bennett, I’m granting bail in the sum of one million dollars, along with you surrendering your passport to ensure you don’t leave the country.”

“But, Your Honor,” Liza said.

“Miss Gold, my decision is made. This case is set to go to trial one month from today.” He picked up his gavel. “Next case.”

“Oh my God, Laurel. Thank you so much,” Georgina hugged me. “Thank you, Julian.”

“We’ll be waiting for you outside and give you a ride home,” he told her.

Just as we were headed out of the courthouse, Liza walked over.

“Nice stunt in there.” She stared at me. “But it won’t get you anywhere. Your client is guilty, and I’ll prove it without a shadow of a doubt. Your client will spend the rest of her life in prison.”

“Gosh, you’re just a big old bully,” I said.

“Excuse me?” She cocked her head.

“You heard me. I just moved here to Los Angeles. May I ask who does your hair?”

“Her name is Victoria. Why?” Her eyes narrowed.

“I just want to make sure I don’t go to her, " I said, smiling as I walked away.

When we climbed into the Escalade, Julian looked at me. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Do what?”

“Keep shit from me regarding a case. That was very unprofessional.”

“I had just gotten it, Julian.”

“Doesn’t matter. You declined to tell me what you were up to when you walked back into that courtroom. And by the way. What is up with you and Judge McCray?”

“He was a judge back in San Francisco when I was a public defender. He once threw me in jail for contempt because I accused him of being biased.”

“About what?”

“He was having an affair with the ADA for one of the cases I was handling, and I may or may not have subtly mentioned that he was being biased due to the nature of their relationship.”

“Ouch.” He laughed. “So he held you in contempt?”

“Yep. For an entire night. The following morning, he came to my cell before they released me and told me that if I ever disrespected him in his courtroom again, he’d have my license. Imagine my shock when I saw him walk into the courtroom.”

“What did you say to him after he threatened your law license?”

“I told him to go ahead and try, and I’d leak about his affair and get him thrown off the bench and make sure I represented his wife in the divorce.”

“Jesus, Laurel.”

“I don’t take kindly to threats—judge or not. But I could tell he was frightened if anyone found out, so I told him to be more careful.”

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