Secret Lucidity(86)

“Why?”

“Since it’s the tax payers who are affording this trial, they want to ensure a solid case, especially since you and your mother haven’t been cooperative. My guess is, they are going to use this time, mainly, to get you on board with helping them. So if they haven’t already called you—”

“They did,” I tell him. “Yesterday, but I let it go to voice mail.”

“And this is where you come in.” He takes a pause and then explains, “Do not answer when they call. Liam wants to throw a deal on the table while he has the prosecution in a weak moment.”

My heart thumps in blind hope. “What kind of a deal?”

“It’s a Deferred Judgment Agreement.”

“Dumb it down, Randall.”

“It involves David pleading guilty to a felony on the three counts of second degree rape and the one count of soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor by use of technology. Now, when David does this, the court will not enter a judgment of conviction.”

“I’m still confused by what this actually means.”

“Basically, it means he will be guilty of the crimes, but the court will hold off on actually convicting him. He will remain under court supervision for X amount of time and with any restrictions imposed. If David can abide to the terms of the deferment for the length of supervision, they will drop the conviction.”

“So he would just be able to be free?” I question through growing hope. “No more house arrest?”

“More than likely. But absolutely no prison time. However, if he fails to abide by the stipulations, they would then convict and he would go to prison.”

I pop up to my feet and water drips down my legs as I start pacing anxiously. “What do we do to make this happen?”

“Liam is hesitant that the prosecution will entertain this plea deal if they think they have any chance at getting you on board with the case. This means that you and your mother will need to be firm and final that in no way will you assist in the prosecution of David. Once they know there is no hope, it will be unlikely that they will want to go to trial with an uncooperative victim,” he explains. “But this means that you’re going to have to convince your mother.”

“How long do we have?”

“Honestly? This needs to happen yesterday.”

Without allowing another second to slip by, I hang up and run inside the house with the adrenaline of hope detonating through my veins. David was the one who saved me this year, so I’ll do whatever I need to in order to save him. I’ll give my life to save him.

The guilt and responsibility I endure for being so foolish and clumsy with our love will forever weigh on my shoulders.

My heart pounds so unbelievably hard it feels like it might just explode, but it’s when I burst into my mom’s room that anger starts to spit its infection.

It’s two in the afternoon, and of course, she’s in bed with her manipulative vice. Her clarity dwells at the bottom of the bottle on her nightstand instead of in the nightmarish reality of our lives.

Reaching down to where she lies on the bed, I jostle her shoulder. “Mom, I need you to wake up.”

She rolls over and blinks.

“I just got off the phone with Randall, and I need your help.”

The undeniable insistency in my voice stirs her enough to sit up. Last night’s eyeliner is smudged haphazardly under boozy eyes as her head sways in an attempt to appear lucid.

No, officer. I haven’t been drinking at all.

She’s a horrible faker.

“Did you hear what I said?” My voice pitches through heart-pounding anxiety.

“Hmm?”

“This isn’t a joke, Mom! I’m serious. You need to call the DA. Tell him you won’t help the prosecutor. That you’re in full support of David. It’s the only chance we have to help him. If they don’t have us on their side, they’ll most likely go for a plea deal.”

Her face contorts in disgust when I say his name. “That man deserves to be punished for what he did.”

“Are you kidding me?” I berate. “Don’t you dare pretend to have morals about right or wrong.”

“So you admit it happened then?”

“I’ll admit whatever you want me to if it means you’ll help me.”

“And what about what your father would want?”

How dare she bring him into this.

“Dad wouldn’t want this lingering over us, Mom. He wouldn’t want more lives destroyed. His was enough.” I take a disparaging step back. Agony over the thought of this woman being the one who could possibly stand in the way of David’s fate guts me. “I can’t go on like this.” I strain to get my words out through the emotional noose around my neck. “Help me. Please. I’m begging you so that I don’t have to suffer any longer than what I already have. No good can come of this, only prolonged pain, and I’m done! I’m done with this pain, and I know you are too. This is doing nothing but making everything worse. The sooner this is over, the sooner the media will move on so we can too!”

“So he just gets away with this? That’s what you want?”

Emotions well up, flaring at the base of my throat as I hang on to my tears.

“You’ve let me down more times than I can even count this year, and here I am. I’m still here with you. I haven’t left you yet, so please, all I’m asking for is this one thing. For me. Do this for me.”