18 year old Meghan Hawkins is forced to leave her hometown after being framed for the defamation of Crenshaw High school's golden girl and principal's daughter, Clarise Runnels. Because of this, she gets humiliated and her tragic past comes to the l...
The three of us looked toward the doorway. A man wearing a black suit walked in. His dirty blonde hair was styled in a sleek comb over. He was tall. Comparing Anderson with him, he had about two inches on him—and Anderson was sitting. I noticed the look on Anderson's face. He was annoyed by the man, but who was he?
"Hey Janice, long time no see," blondie gently pulled Janice in a hug. "Mangoes, nice."
The light pink tinge on Janice's face was enough to tell me that she probably has a thing for him. I don't blame her though. He was handsome. I mean, his face was beautiful. His eyes were so blue, they almost mirrored the ocean. His suit fit on his body like a glue—molded to his muscles. Unlike Anderson, this guy doesn't miss a leg day.
"What are you doing here, Angelo?" her voice was timid. She could barely look him in the eye. If she did, she'd probably melt into a puddle.
"The captain called me in to join Anderson's case. You must be Meghan Hawkins, am I right?" he explained, finally turning to me. He held his hand out. "I'm Angelo Collins. I'll be your new lawyer. Don't give up just yet. We're just getting started.
"Who sent you?" I was skeptical about him. I didn't even shake his hand. "How did you know I was even trying to clear my name?"
"The district attorney did. They figured since you're fighting this alone, they sent me to help." If a lie had a scent, it would smell like trees mixed with vanilla and smoke musk. It came off him. Keeping my hands to myself, I began heading toward the doorway.
"You're just here to watch me like Janice is. Instead, you were hired by the Runnels family to make sure I go further with this just so they can laugh in my face." Detective Anderson's eyes were wide. It's fitting for him to be quite honest. It's a part of his brand to be surprised when people can read and figure out someone else's true intentions quickly. However, I knew how Clarise operated when she wanted to keep her spot at the top. It's not the first time she's done something like this. It was on a smaller scale though.
Angelo chuckled at my statement trying to keep his cool. "Oh, come on. It's not like that at all, Miss Hawkins. I'm here to help."
"Angelo," I looked him in the eye. "They paid you $700,000 to see if I take them to court. Then you represent them as their lawyer and win the trial. Plaster me all over the news again as the loser, trying to get frame off their stupid family name. Then I'm back where I started. With nothing but a criminal record to my name and public humiliation once again. And that's what they want. To laugh at me again, tell me that I'm nothing. Tell me that I'll never amount to anything because of who I am. A jail rat living in a run-down two-story house, broke and insecure about everything."
By the look of his paled face, I could tell that I figured out their entire operation—well part of it at least. "You work for the Lawrence law firm which was bought out by the Runnels family two years ago. You're not here to help me. You're here to watch me crack. You're here to watch me get angry. You're here to watch me lose the fight. Now leave before I purposefully get myself arrested again for assault and battery on a lawyer."
He finally recollected himself. "Good luck trying to win a fight, you can't win, jail rat."
"Close the case, Anderson," I turned my attention back detective Anderson who was watching us closely along with Janice.
"But—"
"Close it," the words came out rough between my teeth knowing that Angelo was watching.
"Do what the girl says maybe just maybe you'll finally be treated like a man in your family," Angelo retorted as he left. "Later. Janice, let's catch up some time, hmm?"
Janice's face was flushed with a hint of rosy, pink, closed to red as a tomato. Gently, she pushed her hair away from her face. "S-sure."
Does anyone have a paper bag? I think my food from last night is coming back up.
"I'll hold you to that, cupcake," Angelo winked at her, and I know the strength in her knees left. She looked like she was going to melt into the floor right then and there. "See you soon." He took her hand in his and kissed it before he finally left.
I don't want to ruin the love-fest going on, but if I don't, I'm probably going to be sick.
"I'm sorry, but he looks like a rat crossing the subway tracks. What do you see in him?" I just had to know seeing as you're my parent's private investigator. The girl was about to risk it all and probably let him have his way with her—that's if she wanted that happened, and by the look in her eyes, my guess is probably right.
"What? He's a nice guy. He's only working for them for business that's all. Nothing personal?" She explained, trying to tread the icy waters that laid between her and I.
"Janice, when it comes to my freedom being robbed from me by a rich, spoiled, self-centered, agonizing, annoying, bottom-feeder, power-hungry, dumbo named Clarice Runnels, it's more than personal. It means war." I glared at her. "Now, I'd like you to leave the room."
"What? Why? What did I—"
"You didn't do anything. Just go and don't even think of listening to us through the doorway or try to record our conversation somehow." I needed her to leave. I didn't need her to hear the words that were running across my mind. Filled with insults that may make her cry, I might add.
"Fine," she sighed, reluctantly leaving.
The moment she left, I turned to my attention to Detective Anderson. "You said you'll do whatever you can to help me, right?"
"I did. You only said you're dropping the case to make them think you're dropping it, didn't you?"
"Then let's get started." I smirked.
"What do you have in mind, Ms. Hawkins?"
"Since the Runnels want me to be the bad guy, let's give them what they want."
His brows rested in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"You have to promise me that none of this gets out, Anderson," I held my hand out.
"What are you planning to do, Meghan?" he asked once more.
"I want to expose them. To do that, I need to get everything on them."
"You want all their records? We only have access to their public records though."
"I don't want their public records, Anderson."
"Then—" That's when his face almost lost its color.
"Do we have a deal?" I asked him still holding my hand out.
"Are you about this? Once you do this, there's no going back," he asked again, trying to talk me out of what I plan on doing.
"Anderson, this is my one shot at having my freedom and getting the chance to live like a normal teenager again. This is my shot at not being known as a jail rat. I need this."
He sighed, finally shaking my hand. "Deal. Let's get the captain in on it as well."
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