Page 261 of Kentrell

I finally got through the hearing transcripts and the initial ruling. I also had one of our interns pull additional case law and witness statements from similar trials in Cook County from the same year.

You were right.

There areglaringinconsistencies in the timeline, and whoever processed the physical evidence didn’t follow proper chain of custody. That alone should’ve triggered further review.

More disturbing, though—Judge Whitaker dismissed a crucial statement from a key witness without explanation. It reads as if they were protecting someone, or trying to rush to a conviction. Shaniece’s counsel didn’t push back.

I think we have enough to begin motioning for a formal reexamination. I’ll draft it and send over a working version by the end of the week.

Let’s get her justice.

—Tasha

I blinked. Once… twice… then sank back in the chair, tears stinging my eyes before I could stop them.

“We’re one step closer, Jellybean,” I whispered.

And I wasn’t stopping until I got her home.

I switched out of my emails and over to my texts as I sipped my tea.

I already knew I couldn’t get any real work done on my phone.

Kentrell’s cold, carbon-gray laptop sat closed on top of a mountain of papers and files, half-buried beneath the mess.

Me

Hey, is it cool if I use your laptop in the office?

He responded fast, like he’d been waiting on me.

My Honey

You ain’t gotta ask to use shit ma

Whatever you want

get it

I smiled, because of course he said that. Still…

Can you tell me the passcode though?

Another quick reply.

My Honey

ZoesMan1

Ihollered. Literally laughed so hard I had to sit back down. I didn’t even text back—I hit the video call button.

When he answered, I was still giggling. “Iknowyou lying!” I said, holding back another laugh as his smirking face filled the screen.

He leaned back wherever he was—probably with the guys or one of his brothers—and gave me that slow grin that always made my toes curl.

“When did you change it?” I asked, squinting at him playfully.

“Don’t worry ’bout it,” he said smooth as ever. “Figured you’d be back on yo shit. I saw you emailing and shit.”

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