Dropping The Hammer

“And now you’re not sure. What changed your mind?”

“Doubts that I can handle the job. Thoughts that I don’t want to handle the job.”

He leaned in closer. “Go on.”

“Senator and Mrs. Covey brought their son into the office this morning for a preliminary interview. As I shook hands with Hayden, I stared into the cold, barren intensity of his predatory eyes and an icy shiver ran though me. In that second, it was as if I knew that he was capable of murder.

“No evidence had been presented. It was nothing Hayden had said or done. I just looked into his eyes and saw Roy Sales.”

“What did you do?”

“I mumbled something about feeling ill, which I was, and then stood and staggered out of the meeting.”

Rachel covered her eyes with her hands, fighting back salty tears of frustration. Her life had changed forever. Now the past was destroying her career with no relief in sight.

“If it turns out Hayden Covey is guilty of the brutal murder of his former girlfriend, I’d say your assessment of him is right on target,” the doctor said.

“Which doesn’t excuse my unprofessional behavior.”

“Have you talked to your boss about the incident?”

“Not yet. I think he was with the Coveys the rest of the morning, but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time until he confronts me about my reaction. I’ll be lucky if I’m not fired. My boss put me to the test and I failed miserably.”

“Failure is a strong word.”

“And not one I’m used to,” she admitted. “But nothing is what I’m used to anymore and I’m tired of having my friends and coworkers feel sorry for me instead of seeing me as an equal.”

“I’m sure most of them mean well,” Dr. Lindquist said.

“I know, but it’s not the way I want to live.”

“Maybe it’s time you changed your life. Go somewhere where everyone doesn’t know about your past.”

“You’re starting to sound like my sister, Dr. Lindquist, and I get her advice for free.”

“What kind of advice does she give you?”

“Stop putting so much pressure on myself. She thinks I should quit the firm and spend some time finding myself again—away from the world of defending people accused of violent crimes.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“You know, Doctor, sometimes I wish you’d just give me answers instead of trying to lead me to work my way through the impossible maze.”

An unexpected smile touched the doctor’s lips. “Sometimes I wish I could, too. Unfortunately, that’s not the way this works. The real answers must come from you.

“So, back to the question. How do you feel about Sydney’s suggestion that you take a less stressful job for a while, maybe a change of scenery, as well?”

“It feels like I’d be giving up. It feels like I would have lost and Roy Sales has won.”

“Any other considerations?”

As usual, she had the feeling Dr. Lindquist was seeing right through her. “There are times I long to walk away from it all,” she admitted reluctantly. “But working for a prominent law firm was the dream that got me through law school. So much time and work have been invested into that dream. I can’t just throw that away.”

“Sometimes dreams change.”

“Or they can be changed for you.”

“Have you considered other career options?”

“Not exactly, but I have a friend who specializes in working with charitable organizations—handles lawsuits and tax issues for them and works with people who wish to set up foundations or donate money in their wills. She loves it. Says she always feels like she’s on the right side.”

“That has a lot of plusses?” the doctor said.

“Then is just walking away from my job what you think I should do?”

“It’s what you think you should do that matters, Rachel. I don’t see that as giving up. Sometimes changing life paths is the most difficult decision of all.”

“I never looked at it that way.”

“You’re a tough, smart woman with good instincts. You’ll make the right decision for you. It just takes time.”

“You have more confidence in me than I do in myself.”

“You’ll get there. I am puzzled, though, why Eric Sr. didn’t just take the lead on this case himself.”

“He’s concerned his friendship with the senator might bias the jury against him. And he claims that I’d be more effective at convincing the jury of Hayden’s innocence.”

“Because of your own past? Your opinion of Hayden Covey would likely count for a lot, considering what you’ve been through.”

She thought painstakingly about Dr. Lindquist’s comment and then cringed as the truth about Eric’s more likely motives took root. He didn’t think she was the most capable defense attorney at the firm.

He was using her, putting his faith in the jurors pitying her and believing she’d never defend Hayden unless she fully believed in his innocence.

Her insides twisted. She had no proof of the theory, but it made sense. How had she not seen that before?

By the time the session with Dr. Lindquist was finished and she reached her car, her decision had been made.

If she hurried, she could catch the most senior partner before he left the office.

She couldn’t go on being a victim forever. She had to fight back.

Chapter Four (#u233b9fe2-90b4-590a-aef2-79feae13f7c7)

A light rain dotted her windshield as Rachel exited the multilevel parking garage at her firm and started toward home. Her emotions still on a roller coaster, the ringing of her phone startled her.

She checked the caller ID on the hands-free display. Her sister, Sydney. She took the call, though she’d hoped not to share her big announcement with her sister until she’d gotten used to it herself.

“Good evening, Sydney. How’s the world inside the FBI this Friday night?”