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last update2025-04-21 16:00:36

I wake up the next morning and I can't get out of bed. I just stare at the ceiling, my hands behind my head, thinking of my next move, and that's when I decide I'm going to look for Jill Baker and convince her to be my lawyer.

I get out of bed and make my way to the bathroom. I see my reflection in the mirror. I look like I've aged 5 years in the past few days.

I take a nice long hot shower to calm my nerves, brush my teeth, and comb my hair.

I get ready, putting on jeans, a black sweatshirt, a black cap, and dark sunglasses so no one recognizes me. My picture is all over the news. I don't want to draw attention to myself.

I type Jill Baker into the search bar on my phone, and I see she works at a firm called Ross & Baker. I copy the address, and I'm on my way.

I take the train, and on the train ride to upper Manhattan, I go through articles about Cassidy's death saying all sorts of things about me.

~Manwhore kills client after she refuses to pay.~

~Sex went wrong as woman dies in hand of male prostitute ~

I get off the train and head into the building; her office is on the fifth floor. I walk to the elevator, keeping my head down and focusing on the ground.

“Good afternoon, sir. How can I help?” the receptionist asks

“I'm looking for Jill Baker; is she in? it's urgent." I insisted

She inclines her head, trying to see my face, and gives me a lackluster smile and replies

“Miss Baker isn't around right now, but if you drop your contact information, she'll get back to you, she added.

“Do you know when she'll be in? I asked.

"No, I can't tell, but you can give me your name and phone number; she'll get back to you,” she insisted.

Taking a few deep breaths, I check the time on my phone, thank the receptionist, and make my way to the elevator.

I need to see Jill today. I don't know how much time I have before the police come knocking on my door again.

I search for Jill on I*******m, and after going through what seems to be a thousand pictures, I come across a picture of her on a porch, which I assume is her house. I hope so.

I recognized the neighborhood I'd been there before when a client invited me over.

I take a cab this time. I'm running out of time. I hope she's there. This is a long shot, but I'm willing to try.

I alight the cab a few streets over and make my way down. I don't know what I'm looking for, but I keep looking at the picture and at the houses as I walk by.

My hands start to sweat as I walk down the last street, and my face is red and hot. I would have blamed it on the weather, but it's 15° today.

And that's when I saw the house in the picture and the same red car.

I walk up the driveway, and that's when I see a woman unloading groceries from her car. I assume it's her.

I make my way behind her and reach out to touch her shoulder, and at speed, she elbows me in the stomach.

I wince at the pain. She then twists my hand behind my back. It happened so fast, I didn't expect it.

She's holding my wrist in her hand when I use my other hand to tap her car.

“Tap out; please don't hurt me." I groaned, tapping her car twice.

She lets go of my hand, and I try to stand straight. I remove my glasses and my cap.

Realization dawned on her. She knows who I am. She had this unreadable expression on her face. I couldn't tell what she was thinking.

She was wearing trainers, leggings, and a baggy shirt. She looks like she's just coming from the gym.

“I've been expecting you,” she confesses.

“But I didn't know you would show up at my house,” she admitted.

“I'm sorry about that,” she gestured to her car.

She was apologizing for almost breaking my hand.

And almost dislocating my shoulder.

“I went to your office, but you weren't there. I'm sorry to show up like this, but I need your help.”

“I know. Meet me at my office tomorrow,” she replied.

“So you'll take my case !” the corner of her mouth quirked up.

“We’ll hash out the details tomorrow at my office, “she stated.

Taking her grocery bags from her car and shutting the door, I took that as my queue to leave, but then she says

"Manuel, if you ever show up to my house uninvited, I won't only break your hand; I will call the police.” My eyes popped out.

She turned and went into her house, closing the door. I stood there for a few seconds before I decided to leave, I fist-bumped the air.

I felt warmth in my chest, my face beaming as I walked down the street towards the main road.

That was the type of lawyer I wanted to fight for me—the one who wouldn't let anyone push her around—that was the type of lawyer Jill was.

And for the first time since this whole thing started, I felt relieved. I had hope.

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  • 47

    Manuel’s POV I was too stunned to speak, as Jill made the announcement, I just sat there, in the midst of all the commotion, I couldn’t even move. All I could think of were those five words. “Cassidy’s body has been found” So she was really dead, she was gone, gone forever and her now lifeless body was proof. The commotion in the courtroom had died down, Jill had left. It wasn’t until a tear dropped on my hand that I realized I was crying. I didn’t know when exactly the tears started, but I couldn’t stop, it just kept falling and falling. For the first time since this whole trial started today was the first time I cried. Sarah cleared her throat, my attention turned to her. I wiped the tears in my eyes and dragged myself to my feet. I realized the courtroom was now empty. It was just Sarah and I standing. I didn’t even notice everyone leaving. “Where is Jill?” I asked, voice shaky. “She’s gone,” she replied. “There is a swarm of reporters outside, so we are going to h

  • 46

    Jills POVI rushed to the bathroom, after the opening statements and emptied my stomach into the toilet.My opening statement had be longer than I expected, I wanted it to connect emotions to the juror, to the judge, to everyone in the court room.Yes I am a lawyer, but this case, is about storytelling, about who tells the best story.In reality and truth, the case had more holes than a sieve, it didn’t matter anymore thou Cassidy's body had been found. After all these months.Why on the first day of the trial?How could they even tell it was her so fastSomeone was orchestrating this whole thing, this had gone from being a murder case to a drama filled series on television. And In this drama I'm the character being taken for a fool, the one who never sees anything coming, until it does.I rinsed my mouth and tried to calm myself, but my hands wouldn't stop shaking, my heart was slamming into my ribs, it hurt. Sarah came rushing in a few minutes later, with my bag and a bottle of w

  • 45

    Jill stood up from her seat, adjusted her blazer with practiced precision, and walked up to the jury box. There’s something almost ritualistic about lawyers and their blazers; perhaps it’s part of law school, a signal that every gesture counts. She strode forward, silent and measured, and the courtroom fell into a hush so complete you could hear a pin drop.After a beat, she finally spoke. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my name is Jill Baker.”“And I am the lawyer for the accused.”Her eyes swept the room before settling on me. She pointed directly at me, and I met her gaze with a pleading look, a silent appeal begging her to see that I wasn’t the monster the prosecution would soon paint me to be. Without a word, she simply nodded and continued.“The case before us is an unsettling and disturbing one, a tragic reminder that a night of intimacy can sometimes turn into something frightening. My client has been accused of murdering Cassidy Jones, a woman whose future was so bright

  • 44

    Manuel’s POVAfter what happened at the police station, I had called Jill over a thousand times. Texted her too. No answer.I wanted to go to her house, to explain everything, to tell her the truth, the whole truth.But I decided against it. It was better to leave her alone.She was hurt. I understood.Later that night, Sarah texted me. She said she’d be handling my case from now on; relaying information to me from Jill. Told me to be at court at 7:45 a.m. sharp.That’s when I knew. Jill was done with me.She was irate.She wanted nothing to do with me.Now it was the day of my trial.I was standing outside the courthouse, waiting. Waiting for Sarah. Waiting for Jill.To say I was nervous would be an understatement.I was terrified.Fearful.My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. My knees felt like rubber.A few minutes later, I saw them.Jill and Sarah walked in Jill didn’t even glance at me. She moved past like I was part of the bench. Like I didn’t exist.I don’t blame her.She walks ahea

  • 43

    Manuel's POV I waited for Jill to get showered, dressed and I waited for her downstairs.She came downstairs in her normal attire; a pantsuit and her louboutin heels. She was dressed in black, ready to kill. The red lip made her look more sexy.She walked past me without a glance, I strutted behind her like a lost puppy. She drove us to the police station in silence.I didn't think it'd be weird if we showed up together. My trial was supposed to have started anyways.We met her assistant, Sarah at the police parking lot. “Tell me everything.” Jill ordered “After I called you to tell you about the judge, one of my contacts at the police station called me to tell me one of the door men at the hotel came forward, the man allegedly saw Cassidy alive after Manuel left. His name is George Wilson” Sarah explained. Jill listened to her attentively, absorbing all the information she could.I just stood there in the side lines, watching.“Why is he just coming forward now, where has been al

  • 42

    I’m jolted awake by the sound of my phone ringing. I opened my eyes and the morning light shone through the curtains Stifling a yawn, I grab my phone from my bedside table. And looked at the screen, it was Sarah. I answered and brought it up to my ear“I'm listening,” I say, and she began to talk After a minute or two she hangs up the phone, I don't know how to feel about what she just told me, will it help us or, it give me more time to prepare though, one can never be too prepared for a murder trial.I stretched out on the bed and that's when I realized I was naked. The memories from yesterday come flooding back to me.“Oh my god” I cover my face, blushing. I felt my stomach twistGod. What the hell have I done?I sat up carefully, pressing a hand to my forehead, trying to ground myself. I had been reckless last night, explosive—everything I had sworn I'd never let happen. He is my client. A man accused of murder. A man I was supposed to defend in court, not fall into bed with.

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