Page 37 of A Trial of the Heart

Chapter

Thirty-Six

Shiloh:

Two slow, long excruciating weeks had passed since Rashad’s case was dismissed and I walked away from the office.

The first two days I was on a high from the choices I’d made, but with each passing day, that happiness faded into worry.

I was thirty, pregnant, jobless, and because of my choices, without a support system from my baby’s father.

This feeling was one of the many reasons I put up with so much from Arthur. My job allowed me to live comfortably.

Though I hadn’t said it out loud, I missed Rashad.

Since he appeared in my life, I had finally had the time to live, and it was snatched away so quickly.

The fact I was breathing life into his child, and we had no communication bothered me daily.

Having a father growing up was a staple in my home since a lot of my peers didn’t have the luxury.

Each time I thought about how I was ready to dismiss Rashad as a father and him and the baby not having the relationship I did with mine made me sick.

I sabotaged Rashad and I even before the dismissal of his charges, and I couldn’t do a thing about it except accept our fate.

Pulling into the only available parking spot, I pulled the sun visor down, staring back at my reflection.

The beauty I possessed was there, but it was slightly masked by bags under my eyes, the redness from crying often, and the puffiness in my cheeks from not resting well.

So much yet so little had changed and altered me almost instantly.

With a heavy sigh, I pushed open the door, swinging my legs out of the car, my designer heels hitting the asphalt.

The cool morning breeze kissed my waxed legs with ease.

So much consumed me. However, I refused to allow it to overwhelm me even if for a second.

Summer was fading and fall was approaching, yet the courthouse hadn’t adjusted the thermostat, so the cool air blew in my face the second I stepped inside.

The breeze was so intense I found myself shivering to attempt to warm my body.

Finally getting myself together, I stepped through security, getting the all clear, and once I did, I headed to the elevator, catching it just before the doors closed.

There were only a few floors to go, yet it felt like we’d traveled many floors before it finally stopped.

“Have a good day,” the guy in the elevator that hadn’t even given so much as a hello when I stepped in said.

“You do the same.” I offered a forced smile, stepping away from the elevator to head to my destination.

Once I stood in front of the door, I lowly exhaled before saying a silent prayer. I needed today to be a good day. Not wanting to waste any more time, I raised my balled fist knocking.

“Yeah. Come in.” The thick wooden door almost made the response inaudible.

Doing as I was instructed; I twisted the knob while pushing the door open to step inside.

The instant smell of cinnamon paired with a simple cologne filled my nose, and a calmness took over my spirit.

Standing in the middle of the office, my eyes bounced around to the many degrees, certificates, and acknowledgments. I was impressed to say the least.

“Good morning.” I finally spoke.

“Have a seat.”

Taking small, concise steps, I pulled one of the available seats back, giving me enough room to sit.

I was early on in the pregnancy, but it was no denying my hips had already spread, and I still had a ways to go.

Once I sat, silence filled the room. The only sound came from the small ticks from the clock on the wall.

Nervously, my eyes dropped to the name plaque on the desk Judge Marshall Fairbanks is what it read.

“Thank you for meeting me, Your Honor.” I finally spoke.

Judge Fairbanks gave a weak smile. For a man well in his sixties, he had aged well, and I could tell he was probably very much active in the gym.

He stood over six feet tall with toasted brown skin, an athletic build, salt and pepper mane with a perfectly lined beard, and mustache that matched.

Just by looking, I could tell he broke a lot of hearts and feelings back in the day.

“What can I help you with?” He came off as a mean person, but I knew that wasn’t his character. He just didn’t beat around the bush and didn’t waste time.

“It’s about the Carter case.”

His eyes narrowed and confusion took over his features.

“The one that was dismissed?” he questioned but didn’t wait for a response before he spoke again. “You were on that case as the prosecutor. What would be the need for you to discuss it further?”

I no longer worked at the office, but even if I had, what I was about to do would have still happened.

“The woman on the tape is Lauryn.”

“Lauryn is?”

“Arthur’s daughter.”

Judge Fairbanks sat up further in his seat, glaring at me with an expression I couldn’t read. He made me nervous.

“I initially didn’t know the connection.” I quickly spoke up. I only realized after that day when I showed Rashad Lauryn’s picture. It wasn’t right, and I knew I should have spoken up then, but I had been torn.

“Are you telling me that the firm you work for is responsible for the trumped up charges that Mr. Carter had against him?”

“Yes, sir. Also, I no longer work there. I was fired.”

His expression was pure shock. His mouth fell agape and moved slightly, but no words came.

“When… When did you know the connection?” he stuttered without acknowledging the fact that I’d said I had been fired.

“A few weeks before the dismissal.”

“Are you telling me this now because of your termination as a way to retaliate against the Commonwealth Office?”

“No,” I quickly responded.

“Why now? Why not come forward when you found out the connection?” he asked.

“Honestly… The defendant is a truly stand-up guy. I wanted to speak up, but I knew the moment I did, I’d be the one suffering.

” I scoffed. I knew it was selfish. I can’t take back not doing the right thing, but not doing so is eating me up more than anything else can.

I didn’t want to go into detail about Rashad and me.

“Not only that, knowing the connection makes me wonder how many innocent men and women are behind bars or lives have been ruined that I don’t know about.” I’d had many sleepless nights lately thinking about the many cases I was in charge of or sat in on that may have been bogus.

“You do realize what you’re saying could cost you your bar license?”

I battled with coming forward because I knew it was a possibility that I’d also have repercussions, but repercussions or not, I wanted to do the right thing. I hadn’t realized I had been a pawn in their chess game for many years.

“I understand, and as much I love to practice law and don’t want to give it up, I’m fully willing to accept whatever may come my way.

” There was no way I wanted my career ruined, but I wanted to do the right thing no matter what.

“I wasn’t a part of the plan and only found out by preparing for the case as I have many times in the past. It’s just personal for me this time. ”

“Your father was a very admirable man, one of the most honest people I have ever encountered. When it came to law, he was the man for any job. He was a hell of a lawyer that played fair… truly an honest man…” His words trailed off.

Whenever I was in the presence of someone that knew my father, they always spoke highly of him, and many stated I was just like him.

I’d been referred to as a pit bull in a skirt more times than I cared to admit.

I didn’t disagree with anything Judge Fairbanks had said. I just didn’t understand the connection in the conversation.

“Yeah, he was an exceptional man.” I beamed at the thought of him, while instantly missing him. I had been a true daddy’s girl even in my adult life, so when he departed earth, a piece of me left with him.

“Very noble man,” he added. “Never understood how a man as honest as him ever got connected with someone like Arthur.”

“I’ve always wondered the same,” I agreed quietly.

Had he still been alive, this conversation wouldn’t even be taking place.

Funny how Arthur was a racist but put my father on a pedestal every chance he was given.

Though the office was Arthur’s, I knew when my father was alive no backdoor shit was going on because he wouldn’t have stood for it.

Judge Fairbanks leaned back in his seat with his eyes still fixated on me. “Is there anything else you’d like to mention?”

I had a lot I wanted to mention, but it was all personal, I would deal with that on my own time.

“No, sir.”

“Ok, with the information you have given me along with what was presented in court, a full investigation is going to take place. While I do appreciate your honesty and do believe that you had no prior knowledge of the corruption, the fact that once you realized what had taken place and neglected to bring it to light can very well cause you to be at fault as well.”

I nodded in understanding. I knew the consequences before I finally decided to ask Judge Fairbanks for the sit down. I didn’t want my career to end, but it was either be the whistleblower or allow Arthur and William to continue being thugs in the corporate world and ruining innocent lives.

“I am aware, and I am prepared for anything that may come my way.

“In that case…” He stood, and I did the same as he was now telling me the time he’d allotted me had expired. “Thank you for the information, and I hope all things align in the manner they’re supposed to.”

“Thank you.” I smiled, reaching the door.

We bid each other a farewell before I stepped over the threshold, walking away with my head held high. I knew this would be a setback, and I would have to find another career path, but I was a queen, and though my crown may have tipped, there was no way I was allowing it to fall.