The Defendants, page 25
In July he left the apartment without his cane. He started to go back inside and then thought better of it. He would try this day without the cane. If he needed it, he could return. But today, just for today, he was going to balance and walk all on his own. He never needed it again. Sometimes the leg would tire late at night, and he would remember. That’s just how it was, he was discovering. Life left you with memories, some good, some not so good. But so far he had managed to face up to them one by one, and overcome them. He had hope for tomorrow. For the first time in a long time, he had hope.
He didn’t know if he would continue the practice of law. He had risen to the heights he had thought he wanted before—almost, anyway. At least he had gotten close enough to the mountain top to breathe the clean air, smell the wildflowers, and see the blazing sun. Did he need to be there all the way and forever? Not anymore. Not really. At least not today.
39
The door opened without a sound. But he knew. He could hear the doorknob’s inner workings unwind as it slowly released.
The Blade came at him while he was lying in bed. He watched the entry and watched him approach. It was 3:34 a.m. “Open wide,” the Blade whispered. “I’m putting the first one straight down your shyster throat!”
Thaddeus had known it would come in his sleep. His hand, under the pillow, came up coiled around the .40-caliber Glock. His first shot caught the Blade just off to the right of his nose. The second caught him through the right eye. Then he got centered and put one dead center through his forehead. A perfect three-tap in under two seconds. His hand was steady as he dialed 911. He kicked the dead invader off the end of his bed. He would change the sheets after the cops finished up. There was a plastic cover on the mattress; he had wanted as little mess as possible when it finally happened.
He went to the Keurig and made a cup. He sat in the oversize recliner, clad in his boxers and a T-shirt that said Cardinals! He waited for the siren. Closer and closer it came. Then a hammering at the door.
“It’s open,” he shouted. “It’s open.”
It was always open. Finally he could lock it and start over.
* * *
- THE END -
Also by John Ellsworth
THADDEUS MURFEE SERIES
a young lawyers story (prequel)
The Defendants
Beyond a Reasonable Death
Attorney at Large
Chase, the Bad Baby
Defending Turquoise
The Mental Case
Unspeakable Prayers
The Girl Who Wrote The New York Times Bestseller
The Trial Lawyer (A Small Death)
The Near Death Experience
RICO Rocky
Full Metal Jury
Historical Thrillers
Unspeakable Prayers
The Point of Light
Np Trivial Pursuit
God Save The Spy
SISTERS IN LAW SERIES
Lettie Portman: The District Attorney (Sisters in Law Book 1)
Lettie Portman: Justice in Time (Sisters in Law Book 2)
Christine Sussman: Court Order (Sisters in Law Book 3)
Christine Sussman: Hellfire (Sisters in Law Book 4)
* * *
MICHAEL GRESHAM SERIES
Lies She Never Told Me
The Lawyer
Secrets Girls Keep
The Law Partners
Carlos the Ant
Sakharov the Bear
Annie’s Verdict
Dead Lawyer on Aisle 11
30 Days of Justis
The Fifth Justice
Lawyers in Gray
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS
The Empty Place at the Table
About the Author
John Ellsworth was born in Arizona, and moved to Illinois thirty years ago.
For thirty years he defended criminal clients across the United States. He has defended cases ranging from shoplifting to first-degree murder to RICO to tax evasion, and has gone to jury trial on hundreds. His first book, The Defendants, was published January 2014 and has sold over 3 million copies. John Ellsworth lives in Arizona and is married with three grown children (musicians and teachers). He rescues guinea pigs and plays classical guitar.
Please sign up for my mailing list, or drop me a line:
thelegalfiction.blogspot.com/
johnellsworthfiction@icloud.com
Afterword
I make my living writing books and I’m very happy about that. The practice of law is difficult and will wear you out in a hurry. But because I make my living writing books, I would really like to ask your help. Book reviews are the lifeblood of what I do, and your review of my book would mean a lot to me. If you would take a moment or two and just tell me your feelings and thoughts about the book that would be wonderful. I honestly thank you.
* * *
--John Ellsworth
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John Ellsworth, The Defendants
