Afterword
Thank you for reading Final Verdict. If you enjoyed it, please post a review where you bought the book. And check out William Bernhardt’s other spellbinding legal thrillers.
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Sneak Preview of Splitsville
William Bernhardt’s next legal thriller, Spiltsville, will be released May 18, 2021. And who will be the lead character? Reread Chapter 21 of this book and see if you can figure it out.
Here’s a sneak preview of Splitsville:
His wife was the easiest to kill. His daughter was the hardest.
But they were all dead now, dead and soon to be buried in a mass grave beneath the terrace. One wife. Five children. Two dogs.
He stirred the wet concrete in the wheelbarrow. Once he was done with this chore, he would disappear and no one would know what happened to any of them. No one but him.
The bodies would be discovered, eventually. He knew that. Busybodies or relatives would break into the home and eventually someone would start digging. Maybe metal detectors or sonograms would tip them off. Maybe someone would notice that part of the terrace had been recently repaired. But by then it would be too late to do anything about it. He would have a new life elsewhere, with a new name, a new path, and a very different calling.
It was her fault. She forced his hand. How much was a man expected to tolerate, and for how long? The never-ending whining. The endless self-martyrdom. The woman was so busy playing her own violin that she couldn’t hear a word he said. He had tried to help her. Again and again. But she wouldn’t listen. He could never do enough for her or her children. She always found some triviality to complain about. Ignoring all he did for them. Ignoring the fact that he supported her and she was completely dependent upon him, never contributing anything but the constant caterwauling.
The religious claptrap was the worst. Did she think religion gave her the upper hand? She wasn’t as smart as him, or as strong as him, or as successful as him, so she compensated by being more religious than him. Jesus loves me, even if you don’t. He enjoyed a good theological debate, but he didn’t enjoy the smug, self-satisfied suggestion that she was morally superior because she chose to believe in a supernatural deity for whom no proof exists. Petty minds make points in the weakest possible ways. Strong minds realize that faith permits infinite possibilities. When people didn’t think rationally, they became easy prey.
You are so charming, she said. Everyone thinks you’re wonderful. But you will not charm God. He knows you for what you truly are.
She rallied the children, using them as a shield and a ransom. He could do anything to her, but she would claim the children. She isolated him, distanced them from him. The offspring became the spoils of war.
Did she not understand that she left him no choice?
At first, he assumed he must die like the others. Eliminate the entire family unit. That would be the ultimate victory, wouldn’t it? Showing the world that she had made life so intolerable they all had to be terminated. But he eventually saw more clearly. He didn’t have to end. He just had to disappear. He would start again, stronger and wiser.
She didn’t think he was serious, not at first. But when he raised the shovel over her head, she realized how wrong she had been. He would never forget the expression on her face, the change wrought in an eyeblink when she suddenly saw how disastrously she had miscalculated.
The blood gushed from her head. With the second blow, hot red tendrils splashed across the terrace. With each blow, more blood splattered across the walls, his face, his hands. Black blood puddled on the barbeque.
Then he heard Abigail scream.
His second daughter, usually at her mother’s side, was of course the first to see. Her voice was an ear-splitting siren that shattered his already fragile nerves. Until then, he had options. He could’ve stopped before the cancer spread. But after that, he had no choice. The story would not end until all the plot threads were all sewn together. One by one they ran out of the house. And one by one he knocked them down like cardboard standees in a shooting gallery. Grit. Bone. Blood. At one point, his hands were so slick he could barely keep a grip on the shovel. But somehow, though his superior determination, he managed to finish the job.
Strangely, he did not feel sick afterward. He did not vomit. He need not feel dizzy. If anything, he felt elated, surging with the natural high and satidfaction that comes from a job well done.
Now he could work in peace, stirring the concrete and digging the grave. No one was expected and no neighbors could see. He worked all night long, sometimes humming to himself. He knew the first day of a new life had arrived. A life in which he would put his talents to better use.
A sailing expedition might be the thing to clear his head, and after that, a change of venue. Happily, he had planned ahead.
Once the grave was ready, he glanced back to the pile of bodies behind him. The wife should go in first, with all her sad minions piled atop her. They could be attached to her apron strings for all of eternity and—
Wait. Something was different. Something had changed.
Oddly, it took him a moment to comprehend what it was.
Someone was missing.
He bent down and rummaged through the pile, shoving bodies aside and taking a blood-stained inventory.
Two of them were gone. His oldest daughter and his youngest. The toddler. The baby of the family.
Perhaps his job was not so complete as he believed.
They could not have been gone long. No one would be out this early in the morning. He had time.
He grabbed his shovel and started running.
Elizabeth didn’t know what had happened, what was going on, or what she was supposed to do. All she knew was that somehow, miraculously, she was still alive, and so was Marie. She didn’t know how long she lay in that pile of bodies, but all at once, like a burst of light in the darkness, her consciousness returned. She still had time.
She tried to be quiet. Father was busy shoveling and stirring and didn’t seem aware of what was happening behind him. She played dead. He was lost in his own private world. She would take advantage of that.
The night was pitch black, but maybe that was to her advantage. It would be hard for him to find them in this inky darkness. Or so she hoped.
This estate was at least a mile from any neighboring homes, so she needed to get started. But what would she do when she reached other houses? Pound on a door and hope someone woke? Forest Glen was a true neighborhood with rows of houses filled with people. That seemed like her best bet. If she could get Marie into that neighborhood, surely someone would come to their rescue.
Quietly, she rose to her feet, scooped up her sister, and raced out of the backyard.
She ran track one year in grade school. She didn’t last very long because she wasn’t very good, but she had learned a few things. Point your toes straight ahead. Ball, heel, ball, heel. She couldn’t swing her arms because she was carrying a little girl who seemed to weigh nothing when you picked her up and seemed to weigh two tons when you were trying to hurry. Every part of Elizabeth hurt, but she ignored that. She focused on the road, the destination. She was the only hope of survival for Marie. And herself.
She knew she was covered with blood. She could imagine what she looked like. She could feel blood around her mouth, caked and smeared. The shovel had struck her sideways in the head, knocking her to the ground. How had she survived? She didn’t know and it didn’t matter. She had a job to do.
She was not going down without a fight. She would fight for herself and this beautiful baby girl who had never hurt anyone.
Tears flowed from her eyes with such intensity that it soaked the collar of her shirt. She felt waves of grief rippling through her body. She had seen what he did to the other
s. Mother didn’t even have a face anymore. It had been erased by his shovel. He almost decapitated her. And then he started on Abigail, and Chris, and Evan. Maybe he was tired by the time he got to her. Maybe that was why she survived. Or maybe she was dead and just didn’t realize it yet. Maybe she was kidding herself, refusing to accept the inevitable.
If that was the case, she was going to continue to refuse as long as she possibly could.
She felt Marie stir in her arms. “Lizzie?”
She was alive. And she was awake. “You’re okay, Marie. You’re fine.”
“Why...are you running?”
It was hard to talk and run at the same time. “We're...just staying safe.”
“Father hit me.”
“I know, honey. He hit all of us.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Something...isn’t right.”
“Where are we going?”
“Someplace safe. For a little while.”
“Is Mommy dead?”
She bit her lip. Their mother could not possibly still be alive, but there was no reason to discuss that now. “I don’t know, Marie. We just need to get somewhere safe.
She saw the gates at the entrance to Forest Glen, just as the tip of the sun crept over the horizon.
She could do this. She knew she could. She knew—
“Slow down, you stupid brat!”
Her entire body seized up. It was him. He was not far behind them and he was closing fast.
Even though she knew her track coach wouldn’t approve, she glanced over her shoulder.
He was carrying the shovel.
A shudder raced through her body, like razor blades slicing her into pieces.
She knew she couldn’t outrace him. But if she could just make it to the first house, the one on the corner...
The house had an open window on the side. Was someone awake? Or did they just like the night air? She couldn’t be sure...
“Marie,” she whispered, “I love you with all my heart.”
“Lizzie...what are you...?”
Elizabeth ran up to the house and shoved her little sister through the window. She heard a crash as her sister landed on the other side. Inside.
“You miserable idiot!” Father grabbed her by her hair and jerked her down. Pain tore through her head. He twisted her around at an excruciating angle, then grabbed her by the throat. Her left knee buckled, sending her tumbling even lower.
His fingernails scraped her face. She tried to kick him, to grab his wrists, but she wasn’t strong or quick enough. She felt his fingertips pressing against her eyes. Another wave of pain pulsed through her body, as if her eyeballs were being pressed against the back of her brain.
“Do you know what you’ve done?”
Yes, she thought, I know what I’ve done. I’ve made it impossible for you to eliminate my whole family. You can’t get inside this house and you can’t ring the bell without starting a conversation you don’t want to have.
Even as she saw the shovel swinging toward her, she was smiling. You tried to eliminate my family. But you won’t succeed. No matter what happens next, there will always be a dangling thread you can never tie off. You will always be looking over your shoulder. You will wonder if this is the day when your past comes back to destroy you.
Her last thought was a happy one. My little sister. Marie.
She’ll be the one who delivers the justice you deserve.
Kenzi stared at the woman on the witness stand, trying not to blink or otherwise betray her thoughts. Possibly everyone in the courtroom needed a moment to digest what the witness had said.
“I’m sorry.” Kenzi cleared her throat. “I’m not sure we all got that. Could you please repeat your last statement?”
“I don’t know how I could state it any more plainly. I got inseminated in an In-N-Out bathroom just off I-5.”
Kenzi glanced around the courtroom. The judge was nodding slowly, obviously trying to maintain her judicial poker face. Even opposing counsel appeared to be struggling to remain composed.
Why could she never have a normal case?
Because in divorce court, nothing was ever normal...
Dan’s Recipes
There are many ways to whip up a tasty Buddha Bowl, but this is one of Dan’s favorites. And if you don’t like tofu, just omit that part of the recipe.
Ingredients (for four servings):
Tofu, pressed and cubed (16 0z. block)
Chickpeas, drained and dried (15 oz. can)
Brussel sprouts, trimmed, outer leaves removed (1 lb.)
Large apple, cored (1)
Medium red onion, cut into wedges (1)
Maple syrup (2 tbsp.)
Thyme (3-4 sprigs)
Cornstarch (2 tsp.)
Garlic powder (2 tsp.)
Onion powder (1 tsp.)
Paprika (2 tsp.)
plus sea salt, black pepper, and olive oil
Instructions:
1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the brussel sprouts in half. Add sprouts, onions, and apples to a foil-lined, greased baking sheet.
2) Mix some olive oil, maple syrup, salt and pepper to taste, and drizzle it over the sprouts combo. Toss till completely coated. Turn the sprouts cut side down. Add the thyme. Bake for 35 minutes.
3) If you want tofu, add the tofu and chickpeas to opposite sides of a lined baking sheet. Sprinkle them with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, sea salt, and pepper. Add the cornstarch ONLY to the tofu.
4) When the oven has only 20 minutes left, add the tofu/chickpea baking sheet. When the oven has 10 minutes left, flip over the tofu and stir the chickpeas, then return the baking sheet to the oven.
A tahini dressing is perfect with this, and kale chips make a great side dish.
About the Author
William Bernhardt is the author of over fifty books, including The Last Chance Lawyer (#1 National Bestseller), the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and Nemesis, two books of poetry, and the Red Sneaker books on writing. In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring authors. The Center hosts an annual conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.
Bernhardt has received the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." In 2019, he received the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book.
In addition Bernhardt has written plays, a musical (book and score), humor, children stories, biography, and puzzles. He has edited two anthologies (Legal Briefs and Natural Suspect) as fundraisers for The Nature Conservancy and the Children’s Legal Defense Fund. In his spare time, he has enjoyed surfing, digging for dinosaurs, trekking through the Himalayas, paragliding, scuba diving, caving, zip-lining over the canopy of the Costa Rican rain forest, and jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet.
In 2017, when Bernhardt delivered the keynote address at the San Francisco Writers Conference, chairman Michael Larsen noted that in addition to penning novels, Bernhardt can “write a sonnet, play a sonata, plant a garden, try a lawsuit, teach a class, cook a gourmet meal, beat you at Scrabble, and work the New York Times crossword in under five minutes.”
Also by William Bernhardt
The Daniel Pike Novels
The Last Chance Lawyer
Court of Killers
Trial by Blood
Twisted Justice
Judge and Jury
Final Verdict
The Ben Kincaid Novels
Primary Justice
Blind Justice
Deadly Justice
Perfect Justice
Naked Justice
Extreme Justice
Dark Justice
Silent Justice
Murder One
Criminal Intent
Death Row
Hate Crime
Capitol Murder
Capitol Threat
Capitol Conspiracy
Capitol Offense
Capitol Betrayal
Justice Returns
Other Novels
Challengers of the Dust
The Game Master
Nemesis: The Final Case of Eliot Ness
Dark Eye
Strip Search
Double Jeopardy
The Midnight Before Christmas
Final Round
The Code of Buddyhood
The Red Sneaker Series on Writing
Story Structure: The Key to Successful Fiction
Creating Character: Bringing Your Story to Life
Perfecting Plot: Charting the Hero’s Journey
Dynamic Dialogue: Letting Your Story Speak
Sizzling Style: Every Word Matters
Powerful Premise: Writing the Irresistible
Excellent Editing: The Writing Process
Thinking Theme: The Heart of the Matter
What Writers Need to Know: Essential Topics
Dazzling Description: Painting the Perfect Picture
The Fundamentals of Fiction (video series)
Poetry
The White Bird
The Ocean’s Edge
For Young Readers
Shine
Princess Alice and the Dreadful Dragon
Equal Justice: The Courage of Ada Sipuel
The Black Sentry
Edited by William Bernhardt
Legal Briefs: Short Stories by Today’s Best Thriller Writers
Natural Suspect: A Collaborative Novel of Suspense
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Final Verdict Page 27