Page 118 of Blind Justice

His promotion had come swiftly and decisively in the wake of Fairchild’s takedown. With the previous U.S. attorney disgraced and half the state’s judicial system gutted, the Justice Department had wasted no time putting someone they trusted in charge. Evan had earned it.

Ruth leaned back in her chair. “Didn’t expect a visit from you, Mr. U.S. Attorney.”

Evan smiled. “Well, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah Kandor and Alex Marcel were starting to get on my nerves. Figured I’d come talk to someone sane.”

Ruth laughed. “Sane? You do remember who you’re talking to, right?”

Evan chuckled, stepping inside. “Fair point.” He studied her for a moment, his smile fading slightly. “You’re really doing it, huh? You think you can handle this side of the fight?”

She glanced down at the open case file on her desk, her fingers trailing over the edges.

Instead of chasing cases in the shadows, she was building them in court. Instead of just exposing corruption, she was taking it apart piece by piece—legally.

She met Evan’s gaze. “Yeah,” she said softly. “I think I can.”

Evan nodded, satisfied. “Good. Because you are needed here.”

Ruth smiled, a small but certain thing. She belonged here now. She could see clearly—past what she’d lost, past what had broken, and into what came next. And for the first time in a long time, that future didn’t scare her.

* * *

Noah loosenedhis tie as he leaned back in his chair, exhaling sharply. Across from him, Alex Marcel laughed, dropping a stack of files onto Noah’s desk. “Welcome to government work, brother.”

Noah groaned, rubbing his temples. “Jesus. I already miss beating the hell out of bad guys.”

Alex chuckled. “Yeah, well, now you just get to bury them in indictments instead of body bags.”

Noah rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. “Definitely not as satisfying.”

Alex leaned against the desk, arms crossed. “You really think we can do this? That we’re gonna make a difference from inside the machine?”

Noah exhaled, glancing out the window at Pierre’s skyline. “For the first time,” he murmured, “I actually think we have a shot.”

Alex studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Then let’s get to work.”

Noah grabbed the case file, flipping it open, that familiar fire burning in his chest.

The fight wasn’t over. It had just begun.

* * *

Noah steppedout for lunch with Paul. His legal world had come together; he was hoping his family world would follow. “So, you’re really staying?” Noah asked.

Paul smiled and nodded. “Looks that way. Waverly County needed another ER doc, and Tristan made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

“And the Blackwell Institute?” Noah sipped his coffee.

“Splitting my time there too. Keeps things interesting. Besides, I figure I need to be around when you blow a ventricle with all the coffee you drink, or Ruth brings a Kandor into the world. At your age, you better get going.”

“Asshat.” Noah laughed. “Guess that means you took the lease over for Ruth’s place—I hope.”

“Yeah. Took over her lease. Great place. And she has a cute neighbor one townhouse over. Signed on the dotted line this morning. I guess she can move back home if things don’t work out,” he teased.

“You know, I was just thinking how good it will be to have you nearby,” he joked back.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get all smug about it. I have a couple of boxes she forgot to bring to the house. Noah, she’s a great woman. I really am happy for you.” Paul smiled.

Noah turned serious. “Have I thanked you for what you did for both of us?”

---