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Dan’s phone told him it was almost eight when he finally got the text. The jury was returning.
“Last chance to make predictions,” he murmured to Maria as they took their seats at the plaintiff’s table.
“No fools, remember?”
“Maybe a sporting proposition?”
“Let’s wait and see if we have any money when this is over.”
The opposing parties filed into the courtroom. Sweeney was still present, surprisingly. Dan expected him to leave as soon as the jury was dismissed, but he re-entered wearing a smug, confident grin that begged to be slapped off.
The judge called the court back into session. A few moments later, the bailiff brought the jury back.
He noticed, as they returned, that they looked the other way, didn’t make eye contact with him. There was no grinning or winking. Of course, there could be many explanations for the poker face. Everyone liked having a secret, and right now, for at least a few more moments, they had a good one.
“Have you reached a verdict?”
A middle-aged stout woman in the back row rose. “We have, your honor.” She held up the verdict form the judge had sent into the jury room.
The bailiff picked up the form and carried it to the judge. The judge looked it over, presumably checking for technical deficiencies. As far as Dan was concerned, it was a power play. The judge wanted to know before anyone else did. And damned if he didn’t maintain the same inscrutable poker face.
He passed the form back to the bailiff, who carried it to the forewoman, who would announce the verdict.
“On the plaintiff’s claim against the defendant for slander in violation contrary to the laws of the state of Florida, we find for the defendant.”
Dan felt his stomach drop. They found for Sweeney? Sweeney?
He felt Maria’s hand cover his. Stay calm, she was saying. Stay calm.
Did she think he would explode? More likely he would cry. This was his fault. He hadn’t proved his case. He didn’t prove damages and the jury probably didn’t think Sweeney’s comments were bad enough to amount to much. In some cynical minds, the difference between a criminal lawyer and a criminal just weren’t that great.
Sweeney was still grinning, and it had spread to his two lawyers.
“And on the defendant’s counterclaim for slander?” the judge asked.
The forewoman nodded. “On the defendant’s counterclaim against the plaintiff for slander, we find in favor of the defendant.”
Oh my God. Oh my God. It was actually happening. His worst nightmare. Sweeney won. They bought his bull. They were going to give him everything he wanted.
He had taken on the most powerful man in the city and come up short. And now not only was he going to pay, but his sister, and his firm, and everyone he cared about in the entire world would pay too.
At the other table, Sweeney was leering. Sneering. That’s what you get when you take me on, he was saying nonverbally.
The judge cleared his throat. “Did the jury make a determination on the subject of damages to be awarded to the defendant?”
“We did, your honor.” The forewoman glanced down at her paper. “On the counterclaim for slander, the jury finds that the defendant should be awarded the amount...of one cent.”
Dan’s lips parted. Did he hear that right?
“Is there anything further?”
The forewoman shook her head.
“Very well. I want to thank the jury for its service during this long and complex trial. You have performed your civic duty...”
He continued to talk, but Dan didn’t hear much of it.
One cent? A penny?
In other words, the jury was saying that, yes, technically Dan had slandered Sweeney. He had picked a fight that didn’t need to be fought. But they didn’t much care. And they thought the damage to Sweeney’s reputation amounted to...a penny.
When the judge finished and dismissed the court, Dan and Maria rose.
“I consider this a win,” Maria said.
“I don’t,” Dan replied. “But I’m grateful that I haven’t destroyed everyone I know.”
The party at the other table packed up their belongings. Caldwell and Drake didn’t look happy. They had probably run up two or three hundred thousand bucks in legal fees—and managed to recover one cent as a result.
Dan crossed over to their table.
Caldwell cut him off before he could speak. “Don’t gloat. It’s so unprofessional.”
He shook his head, then leaned forward toward Sweeney.
“And,” Caldwell added, “don’t initiate another lawsuit.”
Dan ignored her. “We’re not done, Sweeney. Once this verdict hits the news, your reputation will be finished. Once the police finish their investigation of your sleazy porn operation, you’ll be in prison.”
Sweeney chuckled. “You are so naïve. Do you think I don’t know about Detective Kakazu’s little investigation? He can’t hurt me. I have more friends in the police department than he does.”
“This is too big to be swept under the rug. The public will demand that the cops press charges.”
“Oh, I agree with that.” Sweeney grinned gleefully. “But who exactly will be charged? You were on the premises, not me. And you trashed the place like a crazy man. We have the video from a security camera. You picked a lock, broke in like you owned the place, treated the equipment like it was your own, and addressed one of the women by her first name. Seems like you knew all about it before you got there.”
You’ll never make that stick.”
He looked away. “You’re full of bluster.” Sweeney was trying to assert his usual cool insouciance, but Dan could sense he was having trouble holding it together. “But not so great with the delivery.”
“This is the moment when everything changes.”
“I know one thing that will never change.” Sweeney’s mouth widened, baring his teeth. “Your father was a murderer. He died in prison as a murderer.”
“My father was a hero,” Dan spat back. “He opposed you and your cartel way back when. That’s why you were in the cop car with Fisher the night of the shootout, isn’t it?”
Sweeney said nothing. But his eyes told Dan everything he needed to know.
“Fisher was a loose cannon and he threatened the empire you and your evil friends were building. So you were going to take him out. You probably engineered the entire shootout to provide cover. But my father beat you to the punch. But my father was motivated by love. And you, as always, were motivated by greed.”
Sweeney stared at him, his eyes steely gray. “Anything else, little boy?”
“Yes. I’m going to finish what my father started. Just wait and see.”