Judge, Jury, & Executioner

Chapter 2

"Nathan Reaves recent novel, Echoes of a Shadow, has managed to replicate the feeling of being involved in the actual case. While inspired by true events, Mr. Reaves also managed to maintain an original idea. With relatable characters and a gripping story, Mr. Reaves is on the fast track to becoming the next Jeffery Deaver." He read aloud.

His audience, Megan his daughter and his sister Allison, began clapping as he finished. Reaves bowed, jokingly, and then sat the newspaper down. It wasn't everyday your name ended up on the third page. Then again, Reaves had been in the paper a lot in the last year. First, is started with his article about following the police around during their investigation of a supposed revenge murderer.

After writing the article of a lifetime, Reaves was awarded the Pulitzer for the fourth time. Granted, he had missed last years and so his winning streak ceased. Reaves' boss had had him working every big story for the first five months. In his spare time, Reaves had begun writing his novel. It seemed like a great idea at the time. By the time he was finished, New York Report -his former place of employment- had been working him for hours on end.

Reaves bowed out gracefully and had his story published. Since it wasn't entirely factual, he was able to publish it as a fictional book instead of true crime. (Because, and let's be honest, who reads true crime novels.) Reaves book had made its way onto the New York Bestseller list. Number 11.

While he knew Maddox would probably hate him for the book, he didn't care anymore. One mistake, that she felt was so bad, and told him to leave. Reaves had spent weeks angry and frustrated about it. Finally, he had found some peace and decided avoiding her for the rest of his life was the best course of action. Then again, he couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he was given the chance to see her.

"Dad!" Megan yelled breaking his concentration.

Reaves looked up from the plate of food saw her looking at him annoyed. "Huh?"

"I asked if you remembered you had jury duty today?" She repeated, apparently.

Reaves looked at the time and then he frantically finished his meal. Allison was watching him run around the house grabbing his coat and tie. Reaves went from the kitchen to his bedroom in about a second. Running to the door he stopped long enough to tell Megan to be safe at school. She replied with a sarcastic comment about meeting up with some of her friends to smoke.

Reaves ignored it for the most part and ran to the car. Getting inside he made sure he had his phone and wallet. Peeling out of the driveway, he avoided running over his neighbor's little boy's tricycle.

Reaves headed for the courthouse in the quiet car that seemed on,y to amplify his thoughts from earlier. Reaves hadn't thought much about that day in a while. For some reason, he had spent hours replaying everything trying to find some way to defend himself and fix it. But nothing he did ever worked. Despite the fact he saved her life,
-twice- Maddox couldn't forgive him.

She'd been lied to too many times, and Reaves had done exactly that. At the time, he would've given anything to get her to forgive him. As time passed, though, he became less concerned with her forgiving him and more determined to prove her wrong. Reaves flew through the intersection and checked the time. He wouldn't be extremely late. Then again, wasn't there a fee if you were late?

This was his second time actually being called in for jury duty. Usually, they never sent anything telling him he was summoned. They just alerted to him he could be summoned to go. Allison and Megan had been reminding him all week. He wondered about what case it would be, and if he'd even have to be questioned by the attorneys. Reaves ran a yellow light as it turned to red and he heard a car honk.