I walk into the fancy office of Sherman Anders, the private attorney I’d hired to represent me. Tim had suggested him along with a few other possibilities when he politely told me I’m no longer welcome to use the services of the Veterans’ Legal Alliance.

This Sherman guy was the most expensive, so I figure he’s the best. Or at least that the kind of defense that I want will be able to be purchased.

“Mr. Bradford,” he says, staring across his wooden desk from his executive chair. “I’ve reviewed the file I received from your former attorney. Let me cut to the chase. You’ve switched lawyers twice and there is very little time before your trial. Also, the judge has ruled that if you are to use an expert in your case— which I would greatly advise you to do— you will need to use Dr. Roth from the motion that Ms. Morrell filed.”

“I know. I didn’t know where she was going with that motion, and I can’t believe the judge stuck me with the result of it.”

“Mr. Bradford.” Sherman glares at me as if I’m a disobedient child who is purposefully not understanding what he’s saying. “Ms. Morrell did everything right in your case, and even under the rather difficult circumstances of having to do it all the way you wanted her to do it. I believe she was on her way to winning your case, and I can’t understand why you continue to switch lawyers, even after you had the incredible luck to have an associate formerly of the esteemed Holt firm working on your case.”

I sigh, doing my best not to roll my eyes. Obviously, he’s under the fancy-firm-name spell and doesn’t understand why I had to fire Ms. Morrell.

“She’s still with the Holt firm,” I correct Sherman. “I was just a temporary gig. To impress them.”

And her boyfriend’s father, I think, without saying out loud.

“And to get her job back faster.”

And to get her ex-boyfriend back faster.

“Mr. Bradford, since you believe you know so much about Ms. Morrell’s professional status, I must correct your misconceptions. The way I hear it, Ms. Morrell is out on her own full time now, and is taking a more active role in the Veterans’ Legal Alliance. She tendered her resignation at Holt after outing some rather devious and unethical practices of theirs to one of their clients.”

I stare at him, flabbergasted. Riley did what?

“So, while I’d be happy to represent you,” Sherman continues, “I feel compelled to tell you that you made a mistake by firing Ms. Morrell. I charge a very hefty retainer, and in your case most of my work has been done for me by Ms. Morell. I can just take what she’s done and run with it at trial. I think you’ll likely win, but I also think you’d do just as well with Ms. Morrell, who I know to be an excellent trial attorney, and she is free to you, through the VLA.”

I’m confused by this lawyer’s honesty. Does he want my money or not? And he’s missing the entire point.

“Mr. Anders, I don’t want to use that defense. I am only going to hire you— or any lawyer— who clearly understands that.”

“You don’t want to use self-defense as your defense?” Now he’s looking at me as if I’m crazy. “What other possible defense could possibly be better?”

“No, not that,” I tell him, exasperated. “I don’t want to use the PTSD defense.”

He stares at me quizzically.

“Ms. Morrell wasn’t using a PTSD defense in your case.”

Now this is starting to get absurd.

“I’m sorry? She hired Dr. Levi Ross, a PTSD expert.”

“Mr. Bradford. She hired him to testify that you don’t have PTSD.”

“What? Why…?”

I can’t even think straight. Did I unjustly fire Riley? Was she really doing what I’d asked, all along?

“Because she anticipates that the prosecution is going to say that you have PTSD and you flipped out due to flashbacks and pummeled the victim for no good reason. She is prepared to have the expert testify that you do not have PTSD and that anyone in your situation would have reacted the way you did, with good reason.”

I feel like such an idiot. And all I can think of is Riley.

“Mr. Anders. I thank you very much for your time. My consultation fee was money well spent. Thank you for explaining to me what I missed. I’m going to take my file back now. There’s someone I need to personally deliver it to.”

“I think that’s a wise decision, Mr. Bradford. She’s the rightful owner of that file, much more than I am.”