A Long Road to Redemption

Chapter 17

"All rise," the court bailiff called out, "the Honorable Judge William Corley presiding."

The judge walked in and took his seat on the bench. "Be seated, please. Bailiff, call the first case, please."

"Yes, Your Honor. People versus Sidney Lewis."

"Thank you. I understand that there is an offer of a plea agreement. Is that correct, Mr. Cooper?"

"That is correct, Your Honor. The People have made an offer."

"Defense, is your client prepared to accept this agreement?"

Brady looked at Sidney. She gave him a slight nod. "Be strong," he said to her.

"Your Honor, Miss Lewis is prepared to enter a guilty plea and accept Mr. Cooper's plea agreement."

"Defense, please approach the bench."

Sidney and Brady rose and walked to the judge's bench. It seemed like the longest walk of her life. "Miss Lewis. Do you understand what you are agreeing to today? By pleading guilty and accepting this deal, you will agree to serve 12 years in the Helen Palmer Prison for Women?"

"Yes, Your Honor, I understand and agree with the terms of the plea."

"Are you sure? You have the right to a trial. Are you certain this decision is your own and is not being forced upon you by any person?"

"Yes, Your Honor. This is my decision."

"Very well. Would you like to make a statement before I officially pronounce the sentence?"

"I just want to say how sorry I am to everyone that I have affected. I'm sorry to my parents for letting them down because they raised me to be a good person, and I failed to live up to that. I sincerely apologize to the Pierson family for taking their son away from them. I loved Lawson. I betrayed that love with my actions. I wish that night never happened, and I will spend the rest of my life regretting it and trying to make amends. I guess that's all I have to say."

"Miss Lewis, in light of your acceptance of the plea bargain agreement reached with the state, the court is satisfied that you have made this decision willingly and of sound mind. Therefore, this court's judgment is that the agreement be honored and hereby imposed. Sidney Lewis, having pleaded guilty to the crime of Second-Degree Murder, this court judges that you shall be taken from this place and incarcerated in the Helen Palmer Prison for Women for a term of no less than 12 years and not to exceed 25 years. The defendant is hereby remanded into the custody of the Department of Corrections to begin her sentence. Bailiff, you may remove the prisoner."

As the courtroom cleared, Luke Brady went outside to await Leonard Pierson. He did not have to wait long as Pierson made his way out surrounded by the press, answering questions as he went. He locked eyes with Brady and began breaking away from the press. He approached Brady deliberately and slowly.

"I believe that you have a piece of my property," Pierson said, "I would like it returned now as per our agreement."

"Of course, Mr. Pierson, but before I hand it over to you, there are some things I need to talk to you about."

"You do have the drive, don't you?"

"Oh yes, I do, and I am certainly going to give it to you before I go see Sidney off, but there are some technicalities we need to iron out before I simply give it to you and let you ride into the sunset."

"Technicalities?"

"Oh yes, sir, you see, most people think I'm a poor lawyer when actually I'm more of a second-rate lawyer. The thing is, it's my job to make sure that my clients are taken care of and well-represented for as long as they retain me."

"Yes, yes, get on with it."

"Of course, sir. You see, Sidney is in a bad spot right now, and while it will be a long time before she needs it, she will need to make a living when she's released."

"Well, I hope you find her something suitable. The flash drive if you please."

"Oh no, sir, not yet. By the way, did you enjoy your little midnight visit with Sidney the other night? It's kind of funny that we started out serving 15 years, but today, it's down to 12. I wonder how that happened?"

"We all know what is at stake here, Brady; give me the drive."

"Oh yes, oh yes, I will, sir. Like I said, Sidney will need a decent-paying job when she's released, and you're going to make that happen."

"And why the hell would I do that?"

Brady removed the flash drive from his jacket pocket. "I don't want you to blame Sidney for this. I swear she is so naïve at times; she fell for all that good boy crap from your son, after all. You see, she told me where to find the flash drive the day she was arrested, and I've had it ever since. Now, this is the part that's going to interest you. See, Sidney didn't get past all those videos, and really, who could blame her? But that's why I'm a lawyer. Second rate, right?"

Pierson was starting to feel his temper rise. "Are you going to give me the drive?"

"Please be patient, sir, because, like I said, this is your part. You see, I watched the videos looking for things I could use for her defense, and your son had great taste in women. However, there were other files on the drive. Some of those files made interesting reading about Pierson Shipping and Transportation Company. Interesting things you have been hauling all over the country from south of the border. Very interesting indeed. Your son must have had a terrible memory because he recorded all of it on that drive. I guess with all that drinking and late-night sex partners, one partner was named Jim; if I'm not mistaken. He needed a way to remember everything. There are so many records, delivery schedules, people, places, you get the idea. Anyway, I needed a way to keep Sidney safe and keep you honest, so I made a copy of the flash drive for my records."

"You did what?"

"Might want to keep your voice down, sir. There's still a lot of press around. So here's the deal. I'm keeping this copy safe as an insurance policy for Sidney. In 12 years, she walks out of that prison, a free woman with a convenient job offer waiting for her. Nothing too fancy, but enough to support her and a future family. If anything should happen to her in jail or if you attempt to harm me to recover my copy, the people I have entrusted with this copy will send it far and wide to every government agency, from the FBI to the Food and Drug Administration. Hell, the president might even get a copy. Every media outlet will have it, and I don't think the Pierson shipping empire will survive that.

"So that's your game? Why not use this information to keep her out of prison entirely?"

"Because you've framed her good. There's evidence, police, prosecutors, and media who will keep digging into Lawson's death, and what would they find? In the end, Sidney would end up dead. This way, there is the threat that if you harm her, you burn with her."

"And just how exactly do I avoid all of this?"

"The day Sidney walks safe and sound out of prison and into a new job, the drive vanishes."

"And just what do you get out of all this?"

"Two things: first, my client will be cared for once this is over. Second, I get the pride of knowing that I beat the great Leonard Pierson at his own game."

"And how do I know the drive has been destroyed?"

"As long as she leaves prison alive and well, you won't have to find out. Do we have a deal?"

"Fine. She's not worth the trouble anyway. Now give me the drive."

"Here you go, sir, as promised. As long as you keep your promise, this will all go away." Brady handed him the flash drive and turned to go. He walked about ten feet and turned back around. "People say I'm a bad lawyer, but I've learned a thing or two. What do you think?"

Pierson did not say a word. He turned around, got to his car, and drove off. Brady turned to walk back inside to see Sidney one last time before they transported her. She may never know what he did for her today, but at least he could say he did all he could for her. The next several years would be hard, but at least now, he believed she would survive. He was not so sure about that this morning. Now, at least it was not a total loss. She will suffer, but at least a new life will be waiting after she pays her debt to society.