Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 6
“Hi,” she whispered as she took her place in front of the blank video screen. She had not expected to see Dirk when she’d walked through the door to appear in front of the video link with the judge. Cynthia forced herself not to rush into his arms.
“I’m glad to see you, Cynthia. Are you okay?” Dirk asked as he positioned himself next to her.
“It’s tough in here,” she admitted. “But I’m fine.”
Cynthia stared at his appearance in the tailored suit she knew was custom made to fit his toned body. There was no way that came off the rack at a department store. He oozed confidence and legal expertise. Immediately, hope filled her heart. She was so glad to see him.
“How’s Bullyboo?” Cynthia couldn’t keep herself from asking.
“He misses you, but I’m distracting him with magic tricks.”
“You know how to do magic?” she asked.
“Of course. Here comes the judge,” Dirk said, waving at the screen.
“Good morning, Your Honor. I’m Dirk O’Roark, the defendant’s attorney.”
“I’m used to seeing you on the other side of the courtroom, Mr. O’Roark,” the judge observed drily before turning his attention to Cynthia.
“State your name.”
“Cynthia Grant.”
“You are charged with introducing a cyberattack against Edgewater Industries. Are you prepared to enter a plea?” the man dressed in black robes asked.
Cynthia peeked at Dirk to make sure she knew what to do. When he nodded at her, she answered, “Not guilty. My brother-in-law blackmailed me. I never meant to harm my employer.”
“You evaded capture for several days before turning yourself in,” the judge observed.
“My client has never been in trouble with the law. She was understandably scared and confused. Ms. Grant never left the immediate area. She did not flee.”
“Noted, Mr. O’Roark.” The judge wrote some notes on a paper before glancing up at Cynthia with a shrewd look.
“Are you a flight risk, Ms. Grant? Do you plan to flee the charges leveled against you?”
“No! I wish to see this process through. Running away will only make things worse,” Cynthia said, meeting his glance directly.
“In that case, I am going to recommend that you are released on house arrest. You will wear an ankle bracelet and cooperate with all the supervision involved in that alternative. Please note, Ms. Grant, if you screw this up, you will go to jail without the possibility of a second chance. Don’t make another poor choice.”
“I won’t, Judge. Thank you.” Cynthia’s head spun. They’re going to let me out of jail?
“The courts are backed up with cases. Yours should come in front of me in three months,” the judge announced.
“Thank you, Judge Phillips.” Dirk acknowledged the information, and the screen blackened.
“Back to your cell until the paperwork is finished. You should be out in a few hours,” the guard informed her.
Cynthia nodded and took a step to follow before she panicked. Turning, she looked at Dirk and whispered furiously, “I don’t have a home to be confined to. I don’t think they’ll let me back on the Edgewater campus to live in my apartment.”
“You’ll stay with me, Cynthia,” he assured her as the guard yelled for her to follow him again.
Rushing toward the guard, Cynthia didn’t process Dirk’s words until she reached her cell. She was going to stay with the man who thought she was his Little girl for three months until her case reached the courtroom. Twirling in a circle before dropping to sit on her bed, Cynthia celebrated the judge’s decision.
Four hours later, Cynthia walked into the fresh air with a half-pound bracelet encircling her ankle and a list of all her restrictions. Number one on the list was a ban on using any type of device with internet or computer access. Dirk’s hand on the small of her back guided her toward his car. Mechanically, she allowed him to help her into the spacious sedan as she read and reread the conditions of her release.
“What surprises you the most?” he asked a few minutes later as he drove away from the crowded downtown area containing the police office and jail.
“That you’re taking me home.”
“Why?”
“I’m jobless, homeless, and waiting to go to jail. I definitely don’t rank well in the best guests to invite to stay with you,” she said. She tried to be funny, but her words fell flat.
“You’re painting a bleak picture when you should be celebrating,” he reminded her.
“I know. I’m sorry.” Cynthia tried to blink the tears away and focus on being out of jail. All she could think of were the few special things she had in her apartment on the Edgewater campus and the job she loved. Who knew what would happen to her possessions? She was sure she could never pass through the security gate to go to her apartment in B Tower.
“Did you notice the clause in there that would allow you to work?”