Reasonable Doubt(15)

What the hell is wrong with me? Attracted to a prospective intern? An UNDERGRADUATE intern?

“Well, let’s get started then.” George interrupted my thoughts. “Mr. Hamilton, would you care to start with the first question?”

“Not particularly,” I said, trying to ignore the fact that Miss Everhart was smoothing her dress over her thighs.

He nudged me under the table and whispered under his breath, “Family, Andrew...Family.”

I rolled my eyes. “Why do you want to be a lawyer, Miss Everhart?”

“I enjoy screwing people over,” she said. “I figure I might as well get paid for it.”

My lips curved into a smile, and George and Will laughed.

“In all seriousness, gentlemen,” she continued, “I come from a large family of lawyers and judges; it’s what I’ve known my whole life. I know the justice system is far from perfect, but nothing makes me happier than seeing it at its best. There’s no greater feeling than working for the good of society.”

“Good answer,” Will said. “Now, we’re going to ask you a series of questions regarding the real-world case study packets that we mailed you. Were you able to complete everything?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Great. Question number one: Your client walks into a federal bank with a loaded gun in his pocket. Upon being brushed by a stranger, the gun fires—shooting him in the leg. Regarding the charges that the prosecution filed, how would you have your client plead?”

“What?” I looked over at him. “Could you repeat that question, Will?”

“The prompt?”

“Whatever you just asked.”

He nodded and happily repeated it, putting extra emphasis on the crime of walking into a bank with a loaded firearm.

My mind immediately flashed back to the conversation I’d had with Alyssa last night.

I smiled, thinking that maybe Alyssa’s “friend” was a headline story in the local news, that maybe I could figure out who she was without her telling me. I pulled out my phone and held it underneath the conference table, googling “Man shoots himself in federal bank. North Carolina.”

Nothing relevant appeared.

Hmmm...

“How would you make him plead, Miss Everhart?” Will asked again.

“No contest,” she said quickly.

“No contest?” He sounded slightly impressed. “Why so?”

“He doesn’t have a license to carry, so I’m sure the prosecution will try to make it seem like he carried that gun into the bank for a reason. Regardless of if he only hurt himself, he’s looking at a prison sentence, so we could bypass the trial and try to limit it to the lowest terms possible.”

I blinked, refusing to believe that her answer was anything more than a coincidence. As a matter of fact, as soon as she started to further explain her logic, I knew that it was; only a student would start talking about “emotional appeal” right after a no contest plea.

As Will and George continued to pepper her with questions, I googled variations of that federal gun case. “Man fires gun in bank.” “No contest plea in federal bank case.” “Man injures himself in bank shooting.”

Still, nothing.

“Miss Everhart, are there any lawyers that you wish to model your own career after?” Greg asked.

“Yes, actually,” she said. “I’ve always admired the career of Liam Henderson.”

“Liam Henderson?” I raised my eyebrow. “Who is that?” Usually, interviewees named a federal judge, a well-known prosecutor, or a familiar district attorney. But an unknown? Never.

“Well, he made history as the youngest lawyer to ever uncover a government conspiracy, and he—”

I tuned out her answer. I’d just thought of another phrase to google.

“Interesting choice, Miss Everhart,” Will said. “Do you have any current mentors in the law profession besides your family members?”

“I do.”

“Are you in close contact with this mentor? If so, how often?”

“We talk almost every day, so I’d like to think that we’re close.”

Why isn’t this case popping up? If it’s a “federal” bank shooting, it should be plastered all over the papers...

“Would your mentor be able to speak to us, or send a letter regarding your character?” Will was definitely impressed with this woman, and she had this job. The second set of questions he had yet to ask weren’t really necessary.