Page 125 of The Wrong Side of the Law

Whitehall, on the other hand, has lost all the color from his face, and has gone whiter than his hair.

“I’m saying, Your Honor, that John Whitehall attempted to influence the outcome of this case, and he did it for personal gain.” Gabriel’s words are addressed to the judge, but he’s speaking for the cameras. “I’m saying that he exhibited a reckless disregard for the civil rights of Francis Wilson. I’m saying that John Whitehall wanted Francis Wilson imprisoned, whether or not he was guilty.”

“Are you accusing the State Attorney of corruption in this matter?” the judge asks. “What possible reason would he have? What possible gain could accrue to him from this?”

“There’s far more than one reason,” Gabriel says with a shark-like smile.

He reaches into his briefcase and pulls out a familiar looking stapled packet of about thirty sheets of paper.

“There’s four-point-fourmillionreasons.”

There is more shouting, more questioning, more banging of the gavel and calling for order, but I don’t really notice any of it happening around me.

Gabriel came through, and brilliantly. He started the day looking dumb, but he’s finished things out looking like the conquering hero in front of the national news.

My insurance policy was unnecessary, in the end. But then, isn’t that the best kind of insurance? The one where you never have to file a claim?

Sadly, I already paid for it, and heavily.

It’s a bittersweet moment, watching Gabriel in his triumph. With my betrayal, I’ve forfeited any future I could have had with him. That was the cost of my insurance policy.

With every eye in the room focused on Gabriel Cooper and John Whitehall, nobody notices me slipping quietly out the door.

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