“Holy shit. Jason’s gay?” he jumped up and asked Carter.
“It would seem so. Or bi at the very least.”
“Fuck,” he swore and wiped his hands down his face, waiting for his brain to fully catch up with the news. “Well fucking turn it off. We shouldn’t be listening to this.”
“No. This is the time when we absolutely should listen. This is when dirty secrets get spilled. It doesn’t matter who he’s fucking. What matters is that he is. He has someone on the side. Someone who seemed pretty pissed about being hidden for four years.”
Carter was right. Keith reluctantly sat back down, unable to relax while listening to the whole ordeal. He could hear it all now. All the noises he wasn’t able to make out before were suddenly crystal clear. It felt wrong. As his lawyer he shouldn’t be listening to this. Should have just let Carter do the job he was paid to do. Why the fuck had he insisted on being there?
It went on for no more than ten minutes, but felt like an eternity. When it was all said and done the guys were relatively quiet, despite the sobs they could hear coming from Jason. This was so obviously an intimate, private moment they were having and when his phone rang he jumped at the opportunity to answer. Didn’t even look at the caller ID, just lifted the phone to his ear and breathed out a hello.
“Keith. Why does Judge Sanders want me down at the courthouse? What the fuck is going on?”
“Slow down Annabel, what are you talking about?”
Carter’s eyes flicked up toward him and he mouthed an apology before escaping to the kitchen.
“I have a voicemail from Judge Sanders telling me to make an appearance in her chambers by the end of the day or she’ll hold me in contempt. Did she call you? Do you know what this is about?”
Judge Sanders was presiding over Jason’s case. For her to call someone direct was never a good thing, but why would she have reason to call Annabel? It didn’t make any sense. “No, she hasn’t called me.” As if on cue an incoming call sounded and Keith checked the screen to find the number for the courthouse. “Fuck. I think she’s calling me now. I’ll meet you there in twenty minutes.” He didn’t wait for Annabel to respond before switching lines. “This is Keith.”
“Mr. Nichols. It’s currently four twenty two and I’m leaving my office at five. If you don’t want to be kicked off the Polls case I suggest you get here before then.”
“Yes, Your Honor. I’m on my way. May I ask what this is regarding?”
“You’ll find out when you get here Mr. Nichols.”
The line went dead and he was speechless. What in the hell was going on? Keith jogged back to the living room, swiped his laptop from the couch and ran out the front door with barely a goodbye.
Annie paced back and forth in the waiting area for Judge Sanders. Her secretary kept looking up at her in annoyance and even asked her to sit down, but she was too full of nerves to sit still. She knew how this worked. Her father was the Chief Justice. Growing up she’d seen plenty of people get called into his office and while she was never allowed inside to hear the conversation, it didn’t seem to turn out well for the defending party. To make matters worse, her phone was blowing up with texts from Brax, but she didn’t have time to deal with him right that moment.
She was over their stupid fight, well at least as much as one can be after their significant other calls them all sorts of derogatory names and then fucks their face against their will, but what he was lacking in finesse he made up for in passion and determination. He texted her daily, apologized in a Brax sort of way, which was something along the lines of I fucked up, and when she didn’t text him back he continued sending messages, one every hour of every day. It had been four days now and Annie wondered if he just didn’t sleep, or if he set an alarm to go off every hour, on the hour so he could send her a message. Maybe he had someone sending the messages on his behalf, but that didn’t seem like him. Besides, he already said when it came to her he wasn’t letting anyone do his work, and Annie whole-heartedly believed him, but she still wasn’t letting him off the hook that easy. If he’d allow her she’d continue to ignore him until the true apology left his lips, but if his four new texts messages meant anything, he was done with her silence.
Braxton Cage:
“I miss you baby.” 4:25pm
“I feel like I’ve been patient. I gave you time to cool down.”
“I want to see you. Come over tonight. We can do normal, not normal, whatever you want.”
“I’m not waiting any longer.” 4:41pm
Annie unlocked the phone, prepared to finally text him back, but Keith walked in and she quickly dropped it into her purse.
“Hey,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. He still reserved his usual coldness, not letting their current predicament change the ill will he’d held toward her all week.
“Hi. Was that the Judge who called? Did she say what this is about?”
“No,” he shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “She didn’t say, but it’s not that hard to guess. She found out about your session with Jason. It’s the only reason why we’d both be here.”
Annie assumed as much as well. She had other court cases she was working on, but none of them were with this Judge.
“I’m going to lose this case. My one fucking break. She’s going to pull me from it. I know she is.”
“You don’t know that. Maybe it’s just a warning.”
“Stop it,” he yelled in a whisper. “Just fucking stop it. I know I asked you to talk to Jason, but I really wish I hadn’t. It didn’t even do any good, and now it’s screwing me over right when I have something. I’m so close. I can feel it. The truth is right there in front of me and now I’m going to lose it and an innocent man might go to prison because I made a stupid choice to let my wife do the work for me.”
“Babe, this is not the end of the world. Whatever happens we’ll figure it out. You have other clients. We have a savings account. You don’t need this case. It’s all going to work out.”
The look he gave her spoke words, telling her she didn’t know him at all if that’s what she truly thought. The hurt was unmistakable. She was trying to make him feel better and accomplished the exact opposite. She started to speak again, to ask him what he needed from her, but no sooner did the words start forming the Judge’s chamber door opened and she beckoned them in.
Keith stood, straightened his tie and walked ahead with Annie following behind.
“Have a seat,” Judge Sanders told them, but they both continued to stand. “I got wind this morning that you, Doctor Nichols, have been speaking with Jason Polls. Offering him counseling sessions. Is this true?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“And you didn’t stop to think that might be a conflict of interest?”
The question seemed redundant and Annie lowered her eyes, feeling like a reprimanded child. Of course she knew it was a conflict of interest.
“And you Counselor. You let your client move forward with this? Did you advise him to talk with her?”
“Yes, Your Honor, but only to his benefit. I wanted to see what outcome we could expect if he were to speak with another therapist. I didn’t want a negative result to be filed on paper somewhere.”
“Do you realize by letting your wife interview Jason and knowing full well it wouldn’t be admissible in court that you’ve violated your attorney client privilege?”
“I never told Annabel any specific details regarding the case. I asked her to talk with him, and after she gave me her professional opinion on behalf of his sanity. That was all. No other information was exchanged.”
“Is that true Doctor Nichols? You spoke to Jason? Gave your opinion and that was all?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Then I guess the real issue here is your ethical standards,” she pointed at Annie.
“Excuse me?”
“From what I’ve heard this was not a one off appointment for you. You’ve been seeing him now for what, two
weeks? Or at least it will be on Monday.”
“How did you know—”
Judge Sanders held up a hand to stop her from talking and continued with her own questioning. “Did you receive permission from Jason to continue these sessions under full disclosure about your relationship with Keith and the ethical malpractice he could incur?”
“I asked Jason if he wanted to continue meeting with me and he said yes. I never told Keith we were carrying on for the exact reason you just mentioned.”
“Take it up with the APA Doctor Nichols. I have already placed a grievance with them and informed the school board as well.”
“What? No. You can’t do that.”
“I can and I have,” she gathered papers on her desk as she continued speaking, placing them into a briefcase. “You want to know why I know you didn’t disclose the details of your position as you should have? Because I was forwarded an email from Jason himself with no understanding of your role as his psychologist. He was continuing his sessions because he thought it’s what his lawyer wanted him to do. What he needed to do to receive an innocent verdict.”
“Who forwarded you the email?” Keith finally spoke up and asked.
“You’re still on thin ice with me Counselor. If I were you I’d thank your lucky stars I’m not kicking you off this case instead of asking feeble questions.”
“You’re not kicking me off?” He breathed out a sigh of relief.
“No. I think it’s in the best interest of your client to keep you on, but if you do so much as walk wrong from here on out, I’ll remove you from this case in a heartbeat.”
“Understood.”
Annie was now sitting in the chair initially offered with a shell shock expression. She didn’t believe this was really happening, and what’s worse, Keith made no move to stop it, did absolutely nothing to help her when this whole thing was his idea. Sure she spoke with Jason a second time and was planning to do so again, but what did it matter? She never breathed a word of what Jason told her in confidence and she could never be called to testify due to her relationship with the defending lawyer. Talking with her was the safest and probably the smartest thing Jason could do. There was no ethics issue. Period. But when a grievance is brought to the board it’s an impossible thing to live down, even if the APA finds her actions within their code of conduct. She will have this complaint on her record for the rest of her career. She wanted to cry, break down right then and there, but that would look like she was admitting guilt and there was nothing she was guilty about. Instead she held her head high, concentrated on taking deep breaths to distract her from the urge to punch this fucking Judge’s face in. Keith’s too.
The Judge gathered her briefcase in hand and made her exit, but stopped after opening the door, turning back to them. “One more thing Counselor, please advise your client not to answer any emails pertaining to the case without your awareness and approval. The prosecution emailed him direct to set up a time for him to meet with their psychologist, and before you say anything I’m already dealing with them for going outside the boundaries of protocol, but as an answer to your previous question, that’s how I got light of this situation. I know you are new to murder trials, so I’m telling you this as a courtesy, to enlighten you to the fact that the state does not play fair or often times by the rules. They will do whatever they need to do to get a conviction. It’s their ass on the line as well. Not just yours.”
“Thank you Your Honor, I appreciate you telling me.”
She walked out without another word, leaving Annie and Keith alone. Annie didn’t know what to say to him. She felt angry, hurt, but most of all betrayed. Keith didn’t know what to say either if his silence meant anything. They sat side by side in the cold, desolate room, each of them wordless until Annie stood to leave.
“Where are you going? We should talk.”
“Talk about what? How you just cost me my career to benefit yours?”
“That’s not what I did and you know it. Just wait until after the trial. You know your dad will get you out of this. He’ll make a call, set everything straight and no one will be the wiser of this little blip on your perfect transcript. I think you’re over reacting.”
“I’m not over reacting,” she yelled, not caring who overheard. “My dad can’t fix this. If you’ve forgotten he’s running for Governor. He can’t risk getting involved and damaging his reputation in the process.”
“No, that’s exactly why he’ll get involved. You are his reputation. He cares too much about what everyone fucking thinks to ever let this see the light of day. Just chill out.”
Annie crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head and refused to look at him. Fifteen minutes ago he was the one freaking out and now that it wasn’t his ass being hung out to dry he didn’t give a shit. He only cared about himself and the stupid case. “You can’t tell me to chill out Keith. This is my life. It’s everything I’ve worked for since before I even met you.” Despite her best efforts the tears started breaking through and she tried to wipe them away as quick as they fell.
“This is not the end of the world. It’s all going to work out. Isn’t that what you told me before we came in here? Maybe you should take a page out of your own advice.”
Keith called the last few words to her back as she stormed out of the room, unable to listen to him any more. She didn’t even recognize the man sitting next to her, the man who would drop everything he was doing to give her what she wanted. It was unfair to expect that from him, this she knew deep down, but when you’re used to certain gestures, it’s hard to see them for what they’re worth. They become something you just expect, and she expected more from Keith than what he was giving.
Annie sat in her car, hidden in a dark corner of the parking garage and finally let her emotions run free. She hadn’t cried so hard since the day she found out she lost their baby, and on that thought, she cried even harder, missing everything she could have had, but never will. This was it for her. What was she supposed to do if her dad couldn’t get her out of it? Just start over? Pick a new career and hope for the best? Maybe she was being over dramatic, maybe everything would work itself out, but in that moment she didn’t believe it would. There is something divine and self serving to wallow in your own misery and Annie wasn’t wasting time partaking. This is usually when a person would pray to God, beg Him to help get you out of this and you’ll do better, you’ll do things right for a change. But in Annie’s wallowing, she didn’t turn to God, she turned to the only person she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt would make her feel better no matter what.
“Brax,” she choked out, her hand holding the phone against her ear.
“What’s wrong,” he asked immediately. “Where are you? I’m coming to get you.”
“In my car,” she managed between sharp intakes of breath. “At the courthouse.”
“I’ll be right there. Don’t move.”
A large truck pulled up next to her, a white Ford with the word Raptor painted in black on the side. She heard the driver’s side door open and close. She was in a trance, curled up on top of her seat, staring straight out her side window, but barely registered much through her fog of tears. The only reason she noticed the truck at all was because it was hard not to. Her view now consisted of a nice paint job and a wheel well. She turned and rested her check on the steering wheel, moving her gaze to the opposite window when her door was suddenly opened and she was pulled from the car, wrapped in strong arms she knew so well. He didn’t say a word, didn’t ask what happened, just held her, knowing that’s what she needed most. They stood in the garage, between their vehicles, holding each other for dear life and she didn’t give two thoughts as to who might see. It was the first time she didn’t care. It was exactly where she wanted to be.
Brax opened the truck door and settled her in, even reached over to buckle her seatbelt before shutting the door and walking around to get in himself. He started the truck and reached for her hand, rubbing small circles wit
h the pad of his thumb while backing out of the spot.
The truck smelled new, it obviously was, but was also mixed with the very distinct scent of him, not a cologne, but something more. A scent she yearned for; wanted to bottle up and hold close.
He drove for an hour, neither one of them speaking, content to sit in silence. The sun dipped behind the mountains and the valley buildings soon became sparse. Just the open road ahead of them.
“Where are we going?” Annie finally asked.
“I don’t know. North. Wherever you want to go. Just seemed like you needed to get away.”
“Away sounds good,” she told him. “Can I smoke in here?”
He responded by rolling her window down and she reached to the floor for her purse, which he was kind enough to remember to take with them while she was too focused on her melt down.
“Feel better?”
She nodded.
“Want to tell me what that was about? Who I need to kill for making you cry like that.”
Annie finished her cigarette while explaining the story from start to finish, amazed she was able to get it out without crying again.
“So what does that mean? You lost your job?”
“Yes. For the time being. Keith thinks I can get it back, but I’m not so sure. Being accused of an ethics violation when you’re a psychologist is like you being accused of being a snitch. Is that the right word?” She managed a laugh at her feeble attempt of criminal lingo. “It doesn’t matter if it comes out being false, in the end, no one would ever trust you again. It’s the same for me. Even if I call my dad, and he can get the claim removed, things like that follow you forever. No one wants to tell their dark and dirty secrets to someone who can’t be trusted.”
“Then fuck ‘em. You don’t need that job.”
“Yes I do Brax. It’s the one thing I’m good at. I can’t just be one of those women that sit at home all day. That’s not me.”
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