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“I'll repeat the question, Mr. Brown. Are you sure you've been hacked, or is that just an assumption?”
“I... I don't know.”
“I need to remind you that you are under oath, and lying is perjury, which could land you in prison.”
He swallowed, turning even paler. That was going to be an easy case. I couldn't wait to get it over with so I could pick up my daughters.
“I'm going to ask you a question in a different way, and I hope you can answer me the truth according to your oath. Mr. Brown, did you send the code to your personal email?”
“Yes... yes.” He was forced to admit it.
“Witness dismissed.” I straightened my suit and returned to my chair next to my client.
That trial might not have had its final decree yet, but like all my other cases, I wouldn't lose.
After we were dismissed, I walked down the court corridor to the nearest exit where I had left my car.
“Look who's here.” I was surprised by a voice behind me and spun around to face him.
“Tyler.” I smiled at my brother, dressed in his judge's outfit, who was probably leaving a court hearing.
“I thought I'd forgotten the way to this place.”
“My memory is good.”
He laughed and came closer to give me a hug.
“It seems like forever since I've seen him.”
“It's not as if I've disappeared.”
“You haven't been to our parents' house for a long time.”
“I was there yesterday. I went to take the twins so mom could keep an eye on them because I didn't have a babysitter. Besides, it's not like you're there all the time.”
“Life has gotten busy.”
“I can imagine.”
“And how are my favorite nieces?”
“Growing up.”
“I bet they miss me.”
“They don't even remember who their uncle is.”
He laughed debauchedly.
“I have to go.”
“We'll meet again sometime.”
I nodded and continued down the corridor. It wasn't as if we weren't close or didn't like each other, but life and routine meant that my brothers and I saw each other less and less, especially after I became a widower and had to take care of two little girls.
The traffic was hellish at the end of the day, and it took me much longer than usual to get to their school. It was more than half an hour after the school start time when I parked the car at the entrance, which was empty. The other parents had probably already picked up their children.
I rushed to the closed door and knocked.