Page 78 of Freedom's Kiss
“What do you mean?”
“The prosecution is going to argue that you were present at the time of the robbery and that you had possession of a weapon.”
He nodded. “But that’s true.”
“Yes, but what they will conveniently leave out is that your weapon wasn’t loaded, and you had no plans to harm anyone. That instead of demanding all the cash in the register, you asked for a specific amount. One that I can prove totals to the cost of one month’s rent and a couple of days’ worth of groceries. Further, I plan to bring the situation with your previous employer and his work of slander and defamation to the jurors’ attention and how, because of that, you were unable to find work to support your family.”
A spark of hope shone in Curtis’s eyes for the first time. “Do you think that will work?”
“Enough that the district attorney might be willing to negotiate and settle on lesser charges.”
He seemed to take that in, and instead of being disappointed Adam didn’t think he’d be outright acquitted, he accepted the responsibility of his actions. He looked up and met Adam’s gaze head on. “My wife and son?”
“I’m meeting with her after this and taking her to fill out paperwork for support. She should qualify for food stamps, housing, and help with childcare while she’s at work.” He leaned forward. “I promise I will do everything within my power to help you. That includes taking care of your family while you cannot.”
The large man’s eyes filled, and he blinked hard several times. “Why are you doing this for me?”
“Besides it being the right thing to do?” Adam sat back in his chair, a smile playing at his lips. “Someone recently reminded me of something I had lost sight of.” And he would continue to thank her for pushing him to see past his shame and accept it for the gift it was…even if it took him the rest of his life to do so.
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
He held Curtis’s gaze in his own. If the man hadn’t heard anything this whole time, Adam wanted him to walk away with this. “Amazing grace.”
