Xavier
The office is crowded and loud as usual. I bob and weave my way to my office. I shut the door and bustle of the main room is muted as I sit down at my desk. I need to go over the security footage again. Everything about the case we put on has to be precise to the last detail, or Jackie and company are going to murder us. I'm not about to get killed in the courtroom. I love Jackie but I have to put Crane away.
I can’t lie to myself though. I'm having a hard time keeping my mind on the case seeing Jackie in the courtroom her perfectly tailored suits hugging every luscious curve of her body. Sometimes it's a struggle just to keep my dick from getting hard. Thoughts of last night of Jackie spread out naked on the island in the kitchen while I fucked the hell out of her, visions of her taking both of us on are clouding my mind even now. I take a deep breath and force myself to focus on work.
I need to make sure I know every angle of this case inside and out. Crane is an arrogant jerk and he could probably do a better job of convicting himself than I could once he opens his mouth, but I still need to bring my A game. I don't want to leave Damian Crane any room to appeal his inevitable conviction. I ask one of the interns, Kara I think, to bring me the security footage from Emily's building. I want to take another look at it.
The apartment building is downtown, upscale. In fact it’s a little too upscale for a girl of Emily's means. She was working her way through college, single parent home, middle income. I know that building no way her job was paying the rent. I'm guessing Crane was footing the bill. I make note to find out for sure. I pop the flash drive into my computer and start to watch. Emily and Crane walk into the lobby arms wrapped around each other. If you didn’t know how the story ended they look like just another couple in love.
As they wait for the elevator I see Emily looking at Crane. I can see the adoration in her eyes. Emily didn’t have a clue she was playing with fire. She was just a naive girl who fell for the wrong guy. Crane was a mistake, but she sure as hell didn't deserve to die for falling in love. I keep watching, fast forwarding the footage until I find what I’m looking for, Crane storming out the building looking pissed off and dishevelled. I'm about to stop the footage when Kara knocks on my door.
"Did you need anything else Xavier?"
"Coffee, black.” I say reaching for my wallet. I hand Kara a couple of twenties. "Go to the cafe down the street, and get coffee for yourself and for the rest of the interns.
"Thanks." Kara smiles taking the money from my hand.
"The coffee in this office is shit. Nobody deserves to drink that not even interns." She laughs shutting the door behind her.
I turn back to my computer just in time to see a glitch in the recording. Almost like a jump cut what the fuck? I rewind to be sure I’m seeing what I think I'm seeing and sure enough there it is again. There's a distinct jump in the footage as though it's been altered or something has been removed. This could be a problem for us . . . a big problem. Adam Wolff has more convictions than any other DA in the state. He’s not going to be happy about anything that threatens the case. I’m not happy either. How could we have missed this? I take the flash drive out of my computer and slip it into my pocket before going into Wolff's office.
"Hello Xavier," he says looking up from his computer screen.
"I take a seat in the brown leather chair in front of his desk.
"What's wrong Xavier? You look worried. Surely you aren’t concerned about taking on this law firm. I've dealt with them before, they’re tough but not invincible. Besides juries love to convict assholes like Crane; it's in the bag."
"I'm worried it might not be," I say, my fingers slipping over the flash drive in my pocket.
"Why?" Wolff asks as he’s looking at the computer screen unconcerned.
"I might have found something on the security footage," I say.
Wolff looks at me and though he’s trying to play it cool. I can see the concern in his eyes. "What did you find?" he asks.
"There's a glitch and it’s possible someone deleted part of the footage," I say.
He’s silent for moment. "Their cameras are probably just old. “Old cameras in that building. Who does he think he’s kidding. "When does this happen?" he asks.
"After Crane leaves."
"Well then it's after the murder so fuck it, it's not relevant to the case."
"Not relevant," I start to argue, “any questions about our evidence are relevant."
"Xavier I don't think I need to remind you how big this case is. This could make your career as a prosecutor or break it. Don't get caught up in details that don't matter."
He stands up and I know that's my cue that the discussion is over for Wolff. But I know it's not over for me, not by a longshot. I stand and walk to the door.
"Xavier, do you have the footage on you?"
"No," I say without missing a beat." It's on my desk."
"Make sure you return it to evidence."
"Of course."
I go back to my office and slip the flash drive into my computer. I copy the footage before returning it to evidence. I don't care what Wolff says I'm going to dig a little deeper. This could be nothing, but my gut tells me it isn't. Wolff's nervous and a man like Wolff only gets nervous when he has something to lose.
I wonder if I should text Jackie. If this is something that could help Crane she needs to know. I also know my relationship with Jackie could get the whole damned case tossed out. If anybody finds out I'm involved with her it could ruin both of us. I take out my phone and look up Jackie's number. That's my trouble with Jackie there's always something about her that makes me want to do the right thing even if it's probably stupid as hell.