Chapter 10: The Final Betrayal

I could still walk away.

If I quit now, Mark’s secret would die with him. Tom wouldn’t bother me. I almost convinced myself to do it.

I drove to the courthouse, rehearsing my resignation. The rain drummed on the windshield, my fingers tapping the steering wheel.

Out of curiosity, I asked a clerk:

“If I quit, will Caleb get a public defender?”

Her answer made my skin crawl.

“Since Caleb refused public defense once, it’s up to him now.”

That was different from what Caleb told me.

“Are you sure Caleb refused public defense himself?”

“That’s what the record says.”

I asked, “Who was the lawyer?”

“Attorney Lillian Harper, Harper & Associates.”

I drove over and found Lillian Harper. She shook my hand and gestured to a chair.

I cut to the chase:

“In Caleb’s case, did you two agree to terminate, or did he refuse you?”

She didn’t hesitate:

“Caleb refused me himself.”

But he’d told me the public defender ditched him. I pressed:

“He said you had a conflict and couldn’t take the case.”

She shook her head:

“No. I went once. He told me to get lost, said he didn’t need a public defender.”

I apologized for pushing. She waved it off:

“I stand by every word.”

I thanked her and left.

Driving home, my mind spun:

Tom Reynolds ordered the killing. Caleb agreed to kill for money. Mark agreed to die for his family. The logic fit.

But why did Caleb refuse a public defender and insist on hiring me?

I needed answers.

I went back to the jail, still officially his lawyer.

Caleb saw me, his voice hopeful:

“Man, did you give the video to the police?”

I shook my head.

He looked disappointed:

“Why not?”

I said, “I met Attorney Harper.”

Caleb’s eyes darted. Sweat beaded on his brow.

“Stop lying. The public defender didn’t ditch you. You turned her down.”

He slumped, defeated:

“Yeah, I lied.”

“What else are you hiding?”

He straightened up, face hardening:

“I want to end our agreement.”

I stared at him. The silence was thick. We sat across from each other, the clock ticking loud in the empty room. He wouldn’t meet my eyes. I realized then, I’d never really known him at all.