Chapter 9 - The Pre-Trial Desperation
A month passed.
Sophie's stitches were removed, leaving a faint pink scar near her hairline.
She was smiling again.
She was going back to school.
But the legal machine was just gearing up.
The District Attorney assigned to the case was a tough, no-nonsense woman named Sarah.
She called me into her office to prepare for the preliminary hearing.
"They've hired the most expensive defense attorney in the state, Evelyn."
"They are going to try to discredit you."
"They will paint you as a jealous sister."
I nodded calmly.
"Let them try."
"They can't argue with high-definition video."
That night, there was a knock on my modest apartment door.
I checked the peephole.
It was Preston.
He looked awful.
He had lost weight, his eyes were bloodshot, and he reeked of cheap whiskey.
"Evie, please."
He spoke through the closed door.
"Please, open up."
"I'm going to lose everything."
"I'm facing five years in prison."
I stood on the other side of the door.
I didn't unlock it.
May you like
"You already lost everything, Preston."
"Go home."
