“I’ll get it done. Anything else?”
“Yeah, set up a meeting with Bob tomorrow. I have to make sure everything is running smoothly at the firm as I don’t want to end up in Kent’s office again.”
“You got it.”
“I’m going home. I’ll be back at the office in the morning.”
“Sounds good. Take care of yourself, Sarah. I’ll see you in the morning.”
My phone buzzes. I quickly glance at it. It’s from Matthew.
Dinner tonight? Say 7:30pm at The Capital Grille?
A formally dressed waiter escorts me through the restaurant to a table where Matthew is sitting. There’s a bottle of opened champagne already set out, and Matthew is dressed in a beautifully tailored suit. He stands when I approach and hugs me, planting a kiss on each cheek.
“Sorry I’m late. Had to deal with Adam’s antics.” I take a seat.
“No worries. What’s Adam up to now?” He pours a glass of champagne and offers it to me.
I roll my eyes, take the glass and drink the whole thing.
“He’s drunk. He’s calling dozens of random numbers. He’s writing a tell-all, and he’s working with a reporter on his own ‘investigation.’” I throw up air quotes around investigation because that’s how ridiculous it is to me.
“Not much has changed.” Matthew laughs as he takes a sip of his champagne.
I refill my glass. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Adam’s always had a flair for the dramatics.”
“I can’t argue with that.” I flip open the menu and glance around at it, even though I’ve eaten here dozens of times and I always order the same thing: porcini rubbed bone-in ribeye with fifteen-year aged balsamic.
“How’s Eleanor?”
“Same as usual—bitchy, judgmental, rude, condescending… Did I mention bitchy?” I smirk.
“Of course she is,” Matthew says flicking his hand at me.
“She brought up my parents!”
He tilts his chin down. “She didn’t. What did she say?”
“Basically, that I should get over it.”
He lets out a sigh and reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. “Ignore her. She’s just a miserable bitch.”
I give him a small smile, and he squeezes my hand reassuringly. We pick up our glasses of champagne, clink, and drink.
Matthew pauses and looks at me. “You know? I still don’t understand why you’re defending your husband in all of this.”
“Because he’s my husband,” I sigh. “And regardless of what he’s put me through, deep down I still love him.”
“You do?” Matthew gives me an accusatory smile.
“Really, really deep down right now.” I laugh.
Matthew laughs too. “It takes a strong woman to do what you’re doing.”
“But you think I’m crazy for doing it?”
He closes his menu. “Honestly?”
“Of course.”
“Yes. You shouldn’t have taken his case, and I don’t think you’re making the best judgments, most likely due to how personal it is to you. I know Adam’s a little shit, but he does deserve a proper defense.”
I snap my menu closed. “What are you talking about? What poor judgments am I making?”
“Don’t get snappy with me. I invented snap.” Matthew clicks his fingers.
I roll my eyes.
He clears his throat. “As I was saying. You’re pushing this trial through quickly. Why?”
“I have my reasons, and they’re none of your business.”
“They are my business. I’m helping with the case, remember?”
I let out a huff. This was supposed to be an enjoyable dinner. Why is he questioning me or my intentions? I take a drink of champagne and set my glass down. “Adam and Eleanor want a speedy trial, and it’s their right.”
“You should advise them otherwise.” Matthew narrows his eyes at me.
“My boss wants this case closed quickly. I’m not getting profit-share while I’m working on it,” I whisper.
“That’s not an excuse. Get him a different lawyer.”
I slam my fist on the table, bouncing the silverware. “You know I’m the only lawyer that has a chance in hell of winning this case.”
Matthew leans back. “Take it easy.”
“Sorry.” I straighten up the silverware. “I just don’t understand why you’re challenging me. I thought you were my friend.”
“I am, and that’s exactly why I’m challenging you. I don’t want your personal involvement to cloud your judgment. You’re the all-star lawyer. Give me one good, lawful reason why you’re rushing the trial.” He folds his arms in front of his chest and cocks his head.
I glance at the table, around the restaurant, and then at Matthew. “Well, Kelly’s twisted past leaked to the news, and if we can get the case in front of a jury while that information is fresh in people’s minds, it’ll help with reasonable doubt in Adam’s case.”
Matthew nods.
“We don’t know who the third set of DNA belongs to and, in a way, not knowing can help us, because if we knew and that man had a solid alibi, then it’d mean nothing to the case.”
Matthew nods again.
“Same with whoever sent the photo and the threat. A person can’t have an alibi if we don’t know who the person is.”
He smiles at me. “That’s all I needed to know. Sounds like your judgment is clearer than I thought. Now, let’s eat,” Matthew says just as the waiter approaches the table.
A couple of hours later, I’m walking into our—or should I say my—home in D.C. carrying my box of leftovers from dinner and a bottle of wine I picked up on the way home. Hopefully, Anne can get the phone at the lake house shut off by tomorrow. I can’t have Adam ruining everything. I spend the evening sipping wine and reviewing all the facts of the case. I doze off around ten, which I didn’t intend to, but… wine.
It’s much later when I hear someone coming up the stairs. I have had a longing desire for… something, ever since this ordeal started. I’ve been unsatisfied for quite some time, and I need something, anything. I can feel the pressure in the air change slightly, and I know the door has been opened, I’m not the only person in the room anymore. I stare at the ceiling, but with no light, it begins to morph into clouds of blue and black, a swirl of something beyond. I start to lift off the bed, and the room becomes warm, and it feels more familiar than I have ever known. I can feel eyes upon me, circling me like prey in the darkness but I’m not afraid, quite the opposite. I’m dressed in lacy panties and a lacy bra, a piece of meat garnished for presentation.
The mattress presses down, and I feel breath on me. Soft hands slide up my stomach and then grasp at my breasts, massaging them. My breath quickens. I want this as bad as anything in my life. I can feel a cloying stickiness build up in my panties. A rubbing sensation grows as I begin to moan and then something is inside me. My every desire being fulfilled as if the thoughts in my head were being projected on the wall and deciphered. By the time I climax, I am more drained than I have been in days. Sleep quickly comes over me as I drift back down onto the bed, chasing a new sense of longing.