Twisted Justice, page 25
“Everyone hated that son-of-a-bitch. Everyone wanted him dead. I made it happen.” CJ’s voice rose. “But you all wanted it!”
CJ pushed away and started to run. He saw the bailiffs posted at the back door, then whirled around and started for the door behind the judge’s bench.
He didn’t get far. Garfield tackled him like a linebacker.
CJ tumbled to the floor. A second later, the bailiffs had him surrounded. One of them snapped cuffs around his wrists.
Garfield pushed herself to her feet, smoothing out her dress and brushing her hands. “Mr. Pike,” she said slowly, “it appears...I may have been mistaken about your guilt.”
He smiled. “No hard feelings. You came around in the end.”
“In a manner of speaking.” Garfield looked at Maria. “Ms. Morales, the prosecution will withdraw the charges against your client. With our...sincere apologies for all he has been put through.”
“You were doing your job,” Dan said. “I hope next time we meet in the courtroom, I’m the lawyer. Not the client.”
Garfield almost smiled. “Keep talking like that and I’ll find something else to charge you with.”
Chapter 45
Dan pulled his panko-crusted tempeh out of the oven. He knew this was one of Maria’s favorites. He thought she’d earned it.
For that matter—so had he. He’d barely been able to cook lately. Too distressed to focus. Okay, he had managed the brownies, but that wasn’t hard and, after all, brownies are comfort food.
Camila hugged him around the waist, avoiding the hot pan. “I’m going to have to come by more often. Do you always cook like this?”
“Not often enough,” Jimmy shouted from the kitchen table.
“We’re celebrating Maria’s courtroom victory,” Dan explained.
Maria made a scoffing noise. “You had way more to do with getting the charges dismissed than I did. Garrett and Jimmy’s investigating had more to do with it. I was just along for the ride.”
“Hardly.” Dan scooped the entrée onto individual plates, then added some grilled asparagus as an accent, plus homemade bread. “Needless to say, I also made dessert. Homemade ice cream. Recipe I stole from Salt & Straw. So save room.”
“This looks spectacular,” Maria gushed.
“Least I can do for my fearless vegan defense attorney.”
“Oh, stop already.”
Camila took her plate. “Any word on what’s going to happen to the kid? CJ?”
“I called an old prosecutor friend,” Garrett answered. “CJ Belasco is in custody and not likely to get out any time soon. Once they’ve got their ducks in a row, they’ll charge him. Given his virtual confession in front of about a hundred people, I doubt it will take long.”
“And Evelyn had no idea what her son did?” Camila asked.
Dan looked at her but said nothing.
“If Evelyn had a hint, she didn’t share it,” Garrett answered. “She says she didn’t know, and I tend to believe her.”
“She’d have tried to stop him,” Maria said. “If only for her son’s sake. She may have had a hate-on for her hubby, but she wouldn’t kill him, and she wouldn’t let her son arrange his murder.”
“The whole thing is sad,” Jimmy said. He took his first bite. “But on the brighter side, dinner is delightful.”
Dan smiled. “Does it compensate for the damage to your action figures?”
“Don’t be—” Jimmy stopped short. “You’re the one.”
Dan looked wide-eyed and innocent. “The one who what?”
“The one who found identical action figures—still wrapped in plastic—and had them delivered to me anonymously.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah. But thanks just the same. I didn’t think they could be replaced. Count on a superhero to prove me wrong about superheroes.” Jimmy took another bite. “What is tempeh, again?”
“No one knows,” Maria answered. “But it isn’t meat.”
“That’s all that matters.” Jimmy took another bite. “Now that this is over, Dan, any idea what you’re going to do next?”
He thought a moment before answering. “I’m going to ask Mr. K for some time off. I’ve been haunted by my father’s conviction for so long—but I really haven’t done that much about it. It’s time for me to get serious. Find out what happened. Expose the true murderer.”
“I’m sure Mr. K will agree. You deserve it,” Garrett said.
“You know, you were right, Garrett. I’ve been obsessed with my father’s case, and Sweeney, and it’s clouded my judgment. I thought Sweeney was behind Belasco’s murder. But I was wrong. I think he may have had plans regarding Belasco, but CJ beat him to the punch. And I think he may have been involved in my father’s case, but—” He shook his head. “Anyway, I need to figure it out. Resolve this once and for all.” He glanced at Garrett. “So I can stop ranting like a lunatic and causing scenes at the office.”
Garrett smiled.
“That makes good sense,” Maria said. “And you know that, as always...your team supports you. One hundred percent.”
“Thank you. Jimmy, I’ll still drop by periodically to cook dinner.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Jimmy said. “But all that really matters is that our Aquaman has been restored to us.”
* * *
After dinner, Dan invited Camila to join him on the back porch. They sat in matched lawn chairs, gazing at the setting sun.
“Must be a relief to have those charges dropped,” Camila said.
“Indeed.”
“I remember how I felt after I was charged. I thought my life was over. As it turns out, it was just beginning. Thanks to you.”
He did not reply. Instead, he picked up his backpack and pulled out a file.
“I still can’t believe it was the kid,” Camila said. “I mean, I disliked Belasco too. But I never would’ve guessed that kid would resort to murder.”
“He didn’t really,” Dan said. “He hired someone. Like the petulant brat he is.”
“Even that took courage. And knowhow. Finding Anatole on the dark web. Arranging for payment in Bitcoin. Seems beyond his resources.”
Dan drew in his breath, then said quietly, “It was.”
Camila turned toward him slowly. “What do you mean?”
“The kid had help.”
“I know. Marvin committed the actual murder.”
“More than that. Someone helped CJ make all the arrangements. Encouraged him. Helped him bring it off.”
Camila waited a long time before replying. “How do you figure that?”
“I read the report Maria made after she interviewed Evelyn and CJ. One thing Evelyn mentioned was that her son was computer illiterate. Couldn’t even handle email competently. So how would that kid find a killer on the dark web? Answer: He couldn’t. Not without help.”
“What are you saying? Dan?”
“When you said this crime seemed beyond CJ’s resources—you were fishing. Trying to find out how much I knew.” He closed his eyes. “Camila...I know it was you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Of course you do. I’ve been suspicious for some time, but I kept telling myself it couldn’t be true. Because you...cared about me.” His head fell. “But eventually I had to face facts. You used me. Then you threw me to the wolves.”
Camila pressed her hand against her chest. “Dan...sweetheart...”
“Oh, stop. You’re making it worse.” He stood, then took a few tentative steps toward the sun. “You used CJ as a pawn. You knew he hated his father. You knew he blamed his dad for his sister’s death. You knew Belasco had blown a fortune but had a life-insurance policy. I doubt the kid was too hard to persuade. You, my resourceful mayor, have proven time and again that you can accomplish anything.”
She looked stricken but didn’t speak.
He continued. “You told CJ how to find Anatole. You told him how to create a Bitcoin account.”
“I don’t have that kind of money.”
“CJ found the money. You provided the means.”
Her head shook. “You don’t know this. You’re guessing.”
“It was your idea to create the crucifixion. Not only to make it clear this wasn’t a suicide. That was already apparent. And not simply to frame me, though you clearly intended that. You wanted a big dramatic tableau that would attract media attention. You wanted the world to believe your enemies had once again tried to lay you low, so you could triumph later. You knew when Marvin was going to strike, so you made sure you had plenty of alibi witnesses. You became a heroic figure and your approval ratings soared, just as you knew they would. You went from being a long shot to the frontrunner overnight. Just as you planned.”
She stared at him, lips tight.
“I tried to pretend Sweeney taped our conversation, but it was you. You were on the boat, so planting a recording device was easy. You probably used a phone app. You initiated that conversation about taking Belasco out, knowing full well his days were numbered. You sent it to the cops, knowing your alibi would free you. It was easy for you to snag pieces of scalp from my pillow or comb to be planted at the crime scene. You knew I’d be accused.” His voice took on an edge. “That was what you wanted.”
“You...don’t know what I wanted,” she said quietly. “I needed...”
“A patsy? The whole time we were making love, you were planning to set me up to take the fall for your murder.”
All at once, words flew from her lips. “I had no choice!”
“Everyone has a choice. And you chose. Poorly.”
“I had to eliminate Belasco. He...knew things about me. Threatened to expose me. I had come so far. I couldn’t let him destroy everything.”
“What did he know?”
She looked down at her hands. “I’d...prefer not to say.”
He whirled. “And that may be what makes me maddest of all. Did you think I was so damn fickle I’d care that you turned a few tricks when you were young?”
She stared at him, mouth gaping. “How—” She stopped. “Of course. Your gift.”
“More like a curse.” He hovered over her. “I know you grew up poor. On the Southside. No family to speak of. No money. But somehow went to college. Made connections. Got into politics.” He reached into his backpack. “You know, all holding-cell conversations are recorded, except for attorney conversations. Jazlyn liberated this for me.” He handed her the document. “It’s a transcript of a conversation you had during your brief stay behind bars. With some prostitutes. They were from a different world. But you didn’t distance yourself. In fact, you offered them advise. At one point, you said, ‘I know exactly how you feel.’”
Her eyes were watery. “I didn’t do it often. Only...when I needed money. More money than I could make flipping burgers. It was a mistake, but I knew so little about the world. Some pimp offered me a chance to make some quick cash, more than I could make in a year at a legit job. So I did it. And I’ve regretted it ever since.”
“Evelyn Belasco told Maria that George had known you a long time. Knew secrets about you.”
“And like the loser he was, he threatened to expose me. I think Sweeney was leaning on him. They both wanted me out of the picture. I had to defend myself.”
“You didn’t have to hire a hitman.”
“I thought I did.”
His voice dropped. “And you didn’t have to throw me into the fire.”
She did not reply. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. A few moments later, she said, “I suppose you’re going to...tell someone?”
He just looked at her.
“Could I persuade you to remain quiet?”
“About murder?”
She gave him a broken smile. “We make a great team.”
“Yeah, we did. Till you stabbed me in the heart.”
She turned away. “That’s fine. I deserved that. Could I...Could I have an hour? To get my things together. Before you call Jake? Or Jazlyn?”
“You won’t try to run?”
“I promise.”
“At the moment, your promises aren’t worth much.”
“Where would I go? I would be recognized everywhere.”
She had a point. “One hour.”
“Thank you.” She hesitated, then turned quickly and kissed him on the cheek. “I wasn’t faking...everything.”
“Just go.”
She left through the patio door. A few minutes later, he heard her car drive away.
He threw himself down in a lawn chair. And cried.
And cried and then cried some more, until finally he had no more tears left.
I’ve survived the worst threat I’ve ever encountered, he thought.
And now I have nothing left.
Epilogue
More than an hour passed before Maria came through the back patio door. “Mind if I join you?”
Dan barely looked up. “Suit yourself. I doubt I’ll be good company.”
“That’s okay. I’m largely self-sufficient.”
He smiled a little. But not nearly enough.
They remained silent for a few minutes. At last, Maria spoke. “I saw Camila leave. Alone. I waited awhile before I came out here.”
He nodded.
“She did not look happy. And neither do you. Did...something happen?”
He almost wanted to cry all over again. He supposed there was no reason to keep secrets. It would all come out soon enough. “Yes. Something definitely happened.”
“You won’t be seeing Camila anymore?”
“I will not.”
She raised her chin. “Well, I know this must make you sad, and I’m not pleased about that. But I think you’re better off without her.”
“Do you now.”
“Yes. I never trusted her. Not for one minute.”
He chuckled softly, sadly. “It’s true. You never did. I assumed that was...” He trailed off.
“Yes?”
“Never mind. Turns out you were wise to have reservations.”
“I hope you weren’t about to say what I think you were about to say. Because that would be incredibly sexist.”
“No. I...forget it.”
“I just think you deserve better. Let me be more specific. I think you deserve the best. I know I was a little skeptical about you when we first met, but you’ve proved what you’re made of. Time and time again.”
“Thanks.”
“There’s absolutely no reason for you to be wasting your life away on some woman who only cares about herself. Camila was using you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“You’re like the smartest guy on earth, except where it matters. In the courtroom, you’re king. In real life, you need a keeper.”
“Do I now?”
“You do.” She fidgeted, obviously uncomfortable. “You really really do.”
“And...have you got any nominations for this position?”
“In fact, I do.” Before he even understood what was happening, she slid into his lap and pressed her lips against his.
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged tight. “You’ll always have me.”
Afterword
Thank you for reading Twisted Justice. If you enjoyed it, please post a review where you bought the book. And check out William Bernhardt’s other spellbinding legal thrillers.
Register to receive the free William Bernhardt e-newsletter and you will receive a free Ben Kincaid short story. To learn more about the author and his books, click here to visit his website. Or you can email him at: wb@williambernhardt.com.
Preview of Judge and Jury
Judge and Jury will be released on August 25, 2020. Check williambernhardt.com for a sneak preview!
Dan’s Recipes
Thank goodness Dan got off the hook so he could get back to the kitchen. Want to try his recipe for panko-crusted tempeh? Only takes about 30 minutes to make. Fabulous.
Ingredients (for two servings):
tempeh (4 oz)
soba noodles (4 oz)
panko breadcrumbs (1/3 cup)
yeast flakes (2 tbsp)
cornstarch (1/4 cup)
1 chile pepper
1 avocado
1 zucchini or yellow squash
1 lemon
tahini (2 tbsp)
tamari (1 tbsp)
sesame oil (2 tsp)
olive oil (1 tbsp)
vegagtable oil (3 tbsp)
Instructions:
1) PREP: Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Halve the lemon. In a bowl, mix half the lemon juice, tamari, agave, tahini, and sesame oil, then add olive oil and 1 tbsp warm water to make a sauce. Whisk until smooth. Add salt to taste.
2) MORE PREP: Peel the zucchini (or squash) into ribbons. Split the avocado and thinly slice the flesh. Thinly slice the pepper. Cut the tempeh into thin triangles. In a bowl or on your cutting board, toss the ribbons with the remaining lemon juice and a dash of salt.
23) COOK: Add the noddles to the boiling water. Cook al dente (4-6 minutes). Drain and run under cool water. Stir in the tahini sauce.
4) COAT: In a bowl, add the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of cold water. Whisk until smooth. Combine the breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp of yeast, and a pinch of salt on a large platter. Dip the tempeh triangles into the cornstarch, then press them into the breadcrumbs to coat both sides.
5) CRISP: Put a nonstick skillet on medium-high heat with 3 tbsp vegetable oil. Add the coated tempeh and cook until golden and crispy, 2-3 minutes on each side. Add salt to taste.
6) SERVE: Put the noodles in bowls. Add the zucchini, avacado, and chile (to taste—it’s spicy) and the tempeh. Drizzle with the tamari sauce. Sprinkle with yeast. Enjoy.
About the Author
William Bernhardt is the author of over fifty books, including The Last Chance Lawyer (#1 Amazon Bestseller), the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and Nemesis, two books of poetry, and the Red Sneaker books on fiction writing. In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring authors. The Center hosts an annual conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.
CJ pushed away and started to run. He saw the bailiffs posted at the back door, then whirled around and started for the door behind the judge’s bench.
He didn’t get far. Garfield tackled him like a linebacker.
CJ tumbled to the floor. A second later, the bailiffs had him surrounded. One of them snapped cuffs around his wrists.
Garfield pushed herself to her feet, smoothing out her dress and brushing her hands. “Mr. Pike,” she said slowly, “it appears...I may have been mistaken about your guilt.”
He smiled. “No hard feelings. You came around in the end.”
“In a manner of speaking.” Garfield looked at Maria. “Ms. Morales, the prosecution will withdraw the charges against your client. With our...sincere apologies for all he has been put through.”
“You were doing your job,” Dan said. “I hope next time we meet in the courtroom, I’m the lawyer. Not the client.”
Garfield almost smiled. “Keep talking like that and I’ll find something else to charge you with.”
Chapter 45
Dan pulled his panko-crusted tempeh out of the oven. He knew this was one of Maria’s favorites. He thought she’d earned it.
For that matter—so had he. He’d barely been able to cook lately. Too distressed to focus. Okay, he had managed the brownies, but that wasn’t hard and, after all, brownies are comfort food.
Camila hugged him around the waist, avoiding the hot pan. “I’m going to have to come by more often. Do you always cook like this?”
“Not often enough,” Jimmy shouted from the kitchen table.
“We’re celebrating Maria’s courtroom victory,” Dan explained.
Maria made a scoffing noise. “You had way more to do with getting the charges dismissed than I did. Garrett and Jimmy’s investigating had more to do with it. I was just along for the ride.”
“Hardly.” Dan scooped the entrée onto individual plates, then added some grilled asparagus as an accent, plus homemade bread. “Needless to say, I also made dessert. Homemade ice cream. Recipe I stole from Salt & Straw. So save room.”
“This looks spectacular,” Maria gushed.
“Least I can do for my fearless vegan defense attorney.”
“Oh, stop already.”
Camila took her plate. “Any word on what’s going to happen to the kid? CJ?”
“I called an old prosecutor friend,” Garrett answered. “CJ Belasco is in custody and not likely to get out any time soon. Once they’ve got their ducks in a row, they’ll charge him. Given his virtual confession in front of about a hundred people, I doubt it will take long.”
“And Evelyn had no idea what her son did?” Camila asked.
Dan looked at her but said nothing.
“If Evelyn had a hint, she didn’t share it,” Garrett answered. “She says she didn’t know, and I tend to believe her.”
“She’d have tried to stop him,” Maria said. “If only for her son’s sake. She may have had a hate-on for her hubby, but she wouldn’t kill him, and she wouldn’t let her son arrange his murder.”
“The whole thing is sad,” Jimmy said. He took his first bite. “But on the brighter side, dinner is delightful.”
Dan smiled. “Does it compensate for the damage to your action figures?”
“Don’t be—” Jimmy stopped short. “You’re the one.”
Dan looked wide-eyed and innocent. “The one who what?”
“The one who found identical action figures—still wrapped in plastic—and had them delivered to me anonymously.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah. But thanks just the same. I didn’t think they could be replaced. Count on a superhero to prove me wrong about superheroes.” Jimmy took another bite. “What is tempeh, again?”
“No one knows,” Maria answered. “But it isn’t meat.”
“That’s all that matters.” Jimmy took another bite. “Now that this is over, Dan, any idea what you’re going to do next?”
He thought a moment before answering. “I’m going to ask Mr. K for some time off. I’ve been haunted by my father’s conviction for so long—but I really haven’t done that much about it. It’s time for me to get serious. Find out what happened. Expose the true murderer.”
“I’m sure Mr. K will agree. You deserve it,” Garrett said.
“You know, you were right, Garrett. I’ve been obsessed with my father’s case, and Sweeney, and it’s clouded my judgment. I thought Sweeney was behind Belasco’s murder. But I was wrong. I think he may have had plans regarding Belasco, but CJ beat him to the punch. And I think he may have been involved in my father’s case, but—” He shook his head. “Anyway, I need to figure it out. Resolve this once and for all.” He glanced at Garrett. “So I can stop ranting like a lunatic and causing scenes at the office.”
Garrett smiled.
“That makes good sense,” Maria said. “And you know that, as always...your team supports you. One hundred percent.”
“Thank you. Jimmy, I’ll still drop by periodically to cook dinner.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Jimmy said. “But all that really matters is that our Aquaman has been restored to us.”
* * *
After dinner, Dan invited Camila to join him on the back porch. They sat in matched lawn chairs, gazing at the setting sun.
“Must be a relief to have those charges dropped,” Camila said.
“Indeed.”
“I remember how I felt after I was charged. I thought my life was over. As it turns out, it was just beginning. Thanks to you.”
He did not reply. Instead, he picked up his backpack and pulled out a file.
“I still can’t believe it was the kid,” Camila said. “I mean, I disliked Belasco too. But I never would’ve guessed that kid would resort to murder.”
“He didn’t really,” Dan said. “He hired someone. Like the petulant brat he is.”
“Even that took courage. And knowhow. Finding Anatole on the dark web. Arranging for payment in Bitcoin. Seems beyond his resources.”
Dan drew in his breath, then said quietly, “It was.”
Camila turned toward him slowly. “What do you mean?”
“The kid had help.”
“I know. Marvin committed the actual murder.”
“More than that. Someone helped CJ make all the arrangements. Encouraged him. Helped him bring it off.”
Camila waited a long time before replying. “How do you figure that?”
“I read the report Maria made after she interviewed Evelyn and CJ. One thing Evelyn mentioned was that her son was computer illiterate. Couldn’t even handle email competently. So how would that kid find a killer on the dark web? Answer: He couldn’t. Not without help.”
“What are you saying? Dan?”
“When you said this crime seemed beyond CJ’s resources—you were fishing. Trying to find out how much I knew.” He closed his eyes. “Camila...I know it was you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Of course you do. I’ve been suspicious for some time, but I kept telling myself it couldn’t be true. Because you...cared about me.” His head fell. “But eventually I had to face facts. You used me. Then you threw me to the wolves.”
Camila pressed her hand against her chest. “Dan...sweetheart...”
“Oh, stop. You’re making it worse.” He stood, then took a few tentative steps toward the sun. “You used CJ as a pawn. You knew he hated his father. You knew he blamed his dad for his sister’s death. You knew Belasco had blown a fortune but had a life-insurance policy. I doubt the kid was too hard to persuade. You, my resourceful mayor, have proven time and again that you can accomplish anything.”
She looked stricken but didn’t speak.
He continued. “You told CJ how to find Anatole. You told him how to create a Bitcoin account.”
“I don’t have that kind of money.”
“CJ found the money. You provided the means.”
Her head shook. “You don’t know this. You’re guessing.”
“It was your idea to create the crucifixion. Not only to make it clear this wasn’t a suicide. That was already apparent. And not simply to frame me, though you clearly intended that. You wanted a big dramatic tableau that would attract media attention. You wanted the world to believe your enemies had once again tried to lay you low, so you could triumph later. You knew when Marvin was going to strike, so you made sure you had plenty of alibi witnesses. You became a heroic figure and your approval ratings soared, just as you knew they would. You went from being a long shot to the frontrunner overnight. Just as you planned.”
She stared at him, lips tight.
“I tried to pretend Sweeney taped our conversation, but it was you. You were on the boat, so planting a recording device was easy. You probably used a phone app. You initiated that conversation about taking Belasco out, knowing full well his days were numbered. You sent it to the cops, knowing your alibi would free you. It was easy for you to snag pieces of scalp from my pillow or comb to be planted at the crime scene. You knew I’d be accused.” His voice took on an edge. “That was what you wanted.”
“You...don’t know what I wanted,” she said quietly. “I needed...”
“A patsy? The whole time we were making love, you were planning to set me up to take the fall for your murder.”
All at once, words flew from her lips. “I had no choice!”
“Everyone has a choice. And you chose. Poorly.”
“I had to eliminate Belasco. He...knew things about me. Threatened to expose me. I had come so far. I couldn’t let him destroy everything.”
“What did he know?”
She looked down at her hands. “I’d...prefer not to say.”
He whirled. “And that may be what makes me maddest of all. Did you think I was so damn fickle I’d care that you turned a few tricks when you were young?”
She stared at him, mouth gaping. “How—” She stopped. “Of course. Your gift.”
“More like a curse.” He hovered over her. “I know you grew up poor. On the Southside. No family to speak of. No money. But somehow went to college. Made connections. Got into politics.” He reached into his backpack. “You know, all holding-cell conversations are recorded, except for attorney conversations. Jazlyn liberated this for me.” He handed her the document. “It’s a transcript of a conversation you had during your brief stay behind bars. With some prostitutes. They were from a different world. But you didn’t distance yourself. In fact, you offered them advise. At one point, you said, ‘I know exactly how you feel.’”
Her eyes were watery. “I didn’t do it often. Only...when I needed money. More money than I could make flipping burgers. It was a mistake, but I knew so little about the world. Some pimp offered me a chance to make some quick cash, more than I could make in a year at a legit job. So I did it. And I’ve regretted it ever since.”
“Evelyn Belasco told Maria that George had known you a long time. Knew secrets about you.”
“And like the loser he was, he threatened to expose me. I think Sweeney was leaning on him. They both wanted me out of the picture. I had to defend myself.”
“You didn’t have to hire a hitman.”
“I thought I did.”
His voice dropped. “And you didn’t have to throw me into the fire.”
She did not reply. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. A few moments later, she said, “I suppose you’re going to...tell someone?”
He just looked at her.
“Could I persuade you to remain quiet?”
“About murder?”
She gave him a broken smile. “We make a great team.”
“Yeah, we did. Till you stabbed me in the heart.”
She turned away. “That’s fine. I deserved that. Could I...Could I have an hour? To get my things together. Before you call Jake? Or Jazlyn?”
“You won’t try to run?”
“I promise.”
“At the moment, your promises aren’t worth much.”
“Where would I go? I would be recognized everywhere.”
She had a point. “One hour.”
“Thank you.” She hesitated, then turned quickly and kissed him on the cheek. “I wasn’t faking...everything.”
“Just go.”
She left through the patio door. A few minutes later, he heard her car drive away.
He threw himself down in a lawn chair. And cried.
And cried and then cried some more, until finally he had no more tears left.
I’ve survived the worst threat I’ve ever encountered, he thought.
And now I have nothing left.
Epilogue
More than an hour passed before Maria came through the back patio door. “Mind if I join you?”
Dan barely looked up. “Suit yourself. I doubt I’ll be good company.”
“That’s okay. I’m largely self-sufficient.”
He smiled a little. But not nearly enough.
They remained silent for a few minutes. At last, Maria spoke. “I saw Camila leave. Alone. I waited awhile before I came out here.”
He nodded.
“She did not look happy. And neither do you. Did...something happen?”
He almost wanted to cry all over again. He supposed there was no reason to keep secrets. It would all come out soon enough. “Yes. Something definitely happened.”
“You won’t be seeing Camila anymore?”
“I will not.”
She raised her chin. “Well, I know this must make you sad, and I’m not pleased about that. But I think you’re better off without her.”
“Do you now.”
“Yes. I never trusted her. Not for one minute.”
He chuckled softly, sadly. “It’s true. You never did. I assumed that was...” He trailed off.
“Yes?”
“Never mind. Turns out you were wise to have reservations.”
“I hope you weren’t about to say what I think you were about to say. Because that would be incredibly sexist.”
“No. I...forget it.”
“I just think you deserve better. Let me be more specific. I think you deserve the best. I know I was a little skeptical about you when we first met, but you’ve proved what you’re made of. Time and time again.”
“Thanks.”
“There’s absolutely no reason for you to be wasting your life away on some woman who only cares about herself. Camila was using you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“You’re like the smartest guy on earth, except where it matters. In the courtroom, you’re king. In real life, you need a keeper.”
“Do I now?”
“You do.” She fidgeted, obviously uncomfortable. “You really really do.”
“And...have you got any nominations for this position?”
“In fact, I do.” Before he even understood what was happening, she slid into his lap and pressed her lips against his.
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged tight. “You’ll always have me.”
Afterword
Thank you for reading Twisted Justice. If you enjoyed it, please post a review where you bought the book. And check out William Bernhardt’s other spellbinding legal thrillers.
Register to receive the free William Bernhardt e-newsletter and you will receive a free Ben Kincaid short story. To learn more about the author and his books, click here to visit his website. Or you can email him at: wb@williambernhardt.com.
Preview of Judge and Jury
Judge and Jury will be released on August 25, 2020. Check williambernhardt.com for a sneak preview!
Dan’s Recipes
Thank goodness Dan got off the hook so he could get back to the kitchen. Want to try his recipe for panko-crusted tempeh? Only takes about 30 minutes to make. Fabulous.
Ingredients (for two servings):
tempeh (4 oz)
soba noodles (4 oz)
panko breadcrumbs (1/3 cup)
yeast flakes (2 tbsp)
cornstarch (1/4 cup)
1 chile pepper
1 avocado
1 zucchini or yellow squash
1 lemon
tahini (2 tbsp)
tamari (1 tbsp)
sesame oil (2 tsp)
olive oil (1 tbsp)
vegagtable oil (3 tbsp)
Instructions:
1) PREP: Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Halve the lemon. In a bowl, mix half the lemon juice, tamari, agave, tahini, and sesame oil, then add olive oil and 1 tbsp warm water to make a sauce. Whisk until smooth. Add salt to taste.
2) MORE PREP: Peel the zucchini (or squash) into ribbons. Split the avocado and thinly slice the flesh. Thinly slice the pepper. Cut the tempeh into thin triangles. In a bowl or on your cutting board, toss the ribbons with the remaining lemon juice and a dash of salt.
23) COOK: Add the noddles to the boiling water. Cook al dente (4-6 minutes). Drain and run under cool water. Stir in the tahini sauce.
4) COAT: In a bowl, add the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of cold water. Whisk until smooth. Combine the breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp of yeast, and a pinch of salt on a large platter. Dip the tempeh triangles into the cornstarch, then press them into the breadcrumbs to coat both sides.
5) CRISP: Put a nonstick skillet on medium-high heat with 3 tbsp vegetable oil. Add the coated tempeh and cook until golden and crispy, 2-3 minutes on each side. Add salt to taste.
6) SERVE: Put the noodles in bowls. Add the zucchini, avacado, and chile (to taste—it’s spicy) and the tempeh. Drizzle with the tamari sauce. Sprinkle with yeast. Enjoy.
About the Author
William Bernhardt is the author of over fifty books, including The Last Chance Lawyer (#1 Amazon Bestseller), the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and Nemesis, two books of poetry, and the Red Sneaker books on fiction writing. In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring authors. The Center hosts an annual conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.
