Chapter 10: The Lawyer Who Sold My Freedom
I stared at the photograph on my phone.
My former defense attorney, Richard Hayes, was standing behind Vanessa in my father's office.
He was the same man who had represented me three years earlier.
The same man who had promised my father he would fight until the truth came out.
The same man who had looked me in the eyes after the verdict and whispered, "I'm sorry, Ethan. We did everything we could.""
Apparently, he hadn't.
I showed the photograph to Agent Morgan.
She studied it carefully.
"Do you recognize the date?""
I enlarged the image.
A newspaper on my father's desk displayed the previous day's date.
"Yesterday.""
Agent Morgan handed the phone back.
"Then Mr. Hayes is either cooperating with Vanessa or helping her conceal evidence.""
I clenched my jaw.
"He's going to answer for what he did.""
"Not without evidence," she replied.
"And I want you to understand something. Don't contact him without our authorization.""
Lily picked up the forged statement.
"Why would a defense attorney help put his own client in prison?""
I looked at her.
"Money.""
Agent Morgan nodded.
"Possibly. But there may be something more complicated here.""
She placed the original court documents on the desk.
"Your attorney had access to the prosecution's evidence before trial. He also had access to your father's financial records.""
I frowned.
"Are you saying he knew about the forged transfers?""
"We're investigating that possibility.""
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A familiar voice responded.
"Ethan. It's Richard.""
My entire body stiffened.
"How did you get this number?""
"That isn't important. We need to talk.""
"About the photograph?""
He went silent.
Then he sighed.
"Listen, son. There are things you don't understand.""
"Don't call me son.""
"Ethan, I can explain.""
"You had three years to explain.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
I almost laughed.
"Protect me? You let me go to prison.""
His voice dropped.
"Not everything that happened in court was under my control.""
"Did Vanessa pay you?""
Silence.
Then he said, "Meet me tomorrow morning. The old courthouse parking garage. Come alone.""
Agent Morgan shook her head violently.
I covered the phone.
"He's asking to meet.""
She mouthed, "No.""
I returned to the call.
"Why should I trust you?""
"Because I have something your father wanted you to see.""
"What?""
"Your original defense file.""
He paused.
"And the name of the person who paid me to lose your case.""
The line went dead.
I lowered the phone.
Lily stared at me.
"You're not going.""
Agent Morgan crossed her arms.
"You're absolutely not going alone.""
I looked at her.
"Can you arrange surveillance?""
She nodded.
"Yes. But we do this properly.""
The following morning, the courthouse parking garage smelled of gasoline and damp concrete.
I arrived wearing a small recording device beneath my jacket.
Two federal agents watched from an unmarked vehicle.
Lily stayed at a nearby coffee shop.
At 9:15, Richard Hayes appeared.
He carried a brown leather briefcase.
He looked older than I remembered. His hair had thinned, and his expensive suit hung loosely around his shoulders.
"Ethan.""
"Richard.""
He looked around nervously.
"Are you alone?""
"Why? Afraid someone might hear you?""
He ignored the question.
"Your father came to see me two weeks before he died.""
I froze.
"What did he want?""
"He wanted me to reopen your case.""
"Why didn't you?""
Richard opened his briefcase.
"Because I had already been paid to keep it closed.""
My hands curled into fists.
"By Vanessa?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
He removed a bank transfer receipt.
The sender's name was partially visible.
Walker Construction Holdings.
The recipient was Hayes Legal Associates.
The amount was $85,000.
I stared.
"Who authorized it?""
Richard looked directly at me.
"Robert Bennett.""
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
"Robert?""
"He was the one who contacted me before your trial. He said the company needed to protect its reputation. He told me your father wanted the matter handled quietly.""
I shook my head.
"You're lying.""
"I wish I were.""
Richard pulled another document from his briefcase.
"This is the original forensic report. It showed the transfers were made using a computer located in Vanessa's office.""
I grabbed it.
"Why wasn't this presented in court?""
"Because I was instructed not to submit it.""
"By Robert?""
Richard nodded.
I felt sick.
"Why would he pay you to lose my case?""
Richard looked toward the garage entrance.
"Because your father had discovered something about him.""
"What?""
Before he could answer, a black SUV entered the garage.
Richard's face went pale.
"Oh, God.""
A man stepped out.
It was Judge Whitmore.
He walked toward us carrying a newspaper.
"Richard," he said calmly.
"You should have listened to me.""
Richard backed away.
"Stay away from me.""
Whitmore smiled.
"After everything I've done for you?""
I reached for my phone.
But Whitmore looked directly at me.
"Ethan, your father made the same mistake you're making now. He believed the truth was enough to save him.""
Two federal agents emerged from behind a concrete pillar.
"Judge Whitmore! Hands where we can see them!""
Whitmore didn't move.
Instead, he reached into his jacket and removed a small photograph.
He held it up.
It showed Robert Bennett standing beside Vanessa.
And between them was a third person.
Someone I never expected to see.
My father.
Whitmore smiled.
"Before you arrest me, Ethan, perhaps you should ask Robert what really happened to the forty thousand dollars.""
Then he dropped the photograph.
And Richard whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"Robert wasn't protecting your father.""
May you like
He looked at me.
"He was protecting himself.""
