Page 100 of The Proving Ground

“You’re dreaming,” he said.

“Well, if so, it’s not my dream,” I said. “It’s my client’s, and she wants to expose Tidalwaiv for what they did to her child and continue to do to others.”

“By putting liars on the stand?” he shot back.

“Gentlemen, that’s enough,” Ruhlin said. “Mr. Haller, do you wish to talk to your client one more time before we proceed?”

“I don’t think so, Your Honor,” I said. “She is resolute. As am I.”

“I am prepared to go to ten million,” Mason said. “Just to end this charade.”

The judge raised her eyebrows.

“That is quite a number,” she said.

“For my client, yes,” I said. “For Tidalwaiv, it’s nothing. I will bring her the offer, but I don’t think it will make a difference. Does that number come with an acknowledgment of Tidalwaiv’s reckless behavior and an apology?”

“No, it does not,” Mason said.

“Then I think we will be continuing the trial,” I said.

“Perfect,” Mason said. “It’s my client’s offer, not mine. If it were up to me, I’d keep going until a verdict, and I told them that.”

“But there is an offer on the table,” Ruhlin said. “Mr. Haller, go to your client, and if I were you, I’d use your powers of persuasion. Let us know, please.”

I paused as I digested the judge’s words.

“I think this will be quick,” I finally said.

The judge said nothing else. Before standing up to leave, I opened my briefcase and pulled out the subpoenas I had prepared the night before. I handed them across the desk to the judge.

“Just in case we don’t settle,” I said, “I’d like to subpoena my former clients to testify.”

“Wait, what is this?” Marcus Mason said.

I turned to look at him.

“Subpoenas for the Coltons,” I said. “They’re already on the witness list the judge approved. I just want to make sure they show up.”

“But they’re not your clients anymore,” Marcus insisted. “You can’t make them testify.”

“If I subpoena them, they will testify,” Ruhlin said.

“Of course,” Mason said. “I just meant… never mind. Fine, subpoena them.”

I turned back to the judge, and she was already signing the papers.

After returning to the courtroom, I huddled with Brenda Randolph at the plaintiff’s table and told her that the offer from Tidalwaiv was now up to ten million. She didn’t even take a moment to consider what she could do with what Bruce Colton might have called change-your-life money. Her response was one word: “No.”

I got up from the table and went to the clerk’s corral.

“Andy, you can tell the judge that we are ready to proceed with the trial,” I said. “My client has declined the settlement offer.”

“Will do,” he said. “She’s not going to like it.”

He got up from his workstation and headed to the door that led back to chambers. I watched him go, wondering what the judge had said to him. My number one priority was to make sure I didn’t lose the jury and they would listen to the whole presentation of my case before making any decisions. But if I had already lost the judge, I had to wonder where the jury was.

The Mason boys didn’t look at me as I returned to the plaintiff’s table. They knew my client had said no. Marcus had his arms folded across his chest and stared straight ahead, ignoring me as I passed by.