“He didn’t kill her, Stephen. There’s nothing you or anyone can do to Tony,” Eugenia said, quietly.
“Please, tell me you’re joking.”
“Tell me again, how you’re the practising lawyer?”
“There has to be something in these … that can …”
“Nadine didn’t die from a beating. Or anything related to any physicality on his part. Our hands are tied.”
“I can’t accept that.”
Eugenia stared at Stephen. Part of her felt sorry for him. It was the same part that prevented her from getting irritated. He had spoken up too late. Now, Nadine was dead and he was looking for someone to blame. He wasn’t the only one who wanted something bad to happen to Tony. Yes, Tony’s abuse had destroyed Nadine – but technically, he didn’t kill her. She had stepped in front of a moving car. Stephen wanting to find something to pin on Tony, was uncomfortable to watch. The toll of Nadine’s death on him, even more so. He looked even more dejected now, than he did at her traditional wedding ceremony.
“Go home. It doesn’t matter how long you pore at the books, you won’t find anything you can use.”
Stephen said nothing.
“If you carry on this way, you’re the one who’s going to end up behind bars. Vigilante behaviour, revenge missions, jungle justice … whatever you want to call them …”
“I’m not going to do anything,” insisted Stephen.
“Good. Because like I said, you’ll end up behind bars. And he’s not worth it.”
As she turned away, Stephen spoke. “He’s going to do it again, isn’t he?”
“Probably,” she agreed.
“He’s going to get away with what he’s done. And he’ll be free to repeat it.”
“Pretty much so.”
“Tell me again, why I became a lawyer?”
“You wanted to help people. Then real life happened. And you learned as our American friends would say that the law is an arse.”