Christmas Eve
Spencer handed Benny an envelope and a bottle of scotch with a red bow on it. “Merry Christmas, Benny.”
“Hey, thanks.” He looked at the bottle. “Oooh, the good stuff.”
“I figured you deserved a little something extra for introducing me to Tish.”
“Part of my job.”
“Speaking of your job, I hope you’re not here all day.”
“Nah. Once I’m done with the morning coffee crowd I’m heading home. We do a big Christmas Eve dinner. I’m surprised you’re working today.”
“Well, one of the courthouse workers who takes food to the jurors told me it sounded like they might be close to a verdict, so I’m going to hang around. And the judge told me to be available just in case. It would be great to get this damn case out of the way for the holidays.”
“No kidding. Speaking of which, you give Tish her present yet?”
“No. I was hoping to do it after the verdict but since we’re out of time I’ll give it to her tonight regardless.”
“I thought you weren’t going to see each other till the case was over?”
“It’s Christmas Eve, Benny. And I’ve got a plan. Which involves a cat.”
*
Tish headed across the street trailing a suitcase and a gift. Benny looked up and smiled. “You’re finally outta there?”
“Yep. They finished up the work on my house yesterday. Just in time.”
“You’ll be home for Christmas, just like the song. What a nice gift.”
She handed him a beautifully wrapped present. “A little something for you, Benny, for being such a good friend to me these past few weeks.”
“You didn’t have to do that, but I’ll take it. So, I understand there might be a verdict today.”
“Huh? Where did you hear that?”
“A certain source.”
“Oh.”
“Speaking of a certain source, you give him his gift yet?”
She shook her head. “No. Not sure what to do about that, Benny.”
“Not much point in going through all the trouble you did and then not give it to him.”
“It’s complicated, Benny.”
“No, Tish formerly from the hotel, it’s not.”
She looked down and didn’t respond.
“Anyway, young lady, I hope you have a Merry Christmas. And you know how to make that happen.”
*
Spencer shoved his way through the horde of media people without saying a word as he quickly headed to the courtroom.
The jury was back. Obviously they wanted to be home for Christmas Eve as well.
He found Brent already in the courtroom, smiling and shaking hands with some of the people who had come to support him.
Tish was seated at her table next to her client. She looked up as he arrived. “Morning, Mr. Capshaw.”
“Morning, Ms. McKenna. Ms. Riggs.”
She locked eyes with him for a brief moment, then turned back to her client.
The jury filed into the courtroom and took their seats. Judge Winston turned to face them. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?”
The foreman stood up. “We have, your honor.”
“What say you?”
Spencer closed his eyes and said a quick prayer.
Please God, let me lose this one…it’s all I want for Christmas…
Along with Tish…
“In the matter of Cynthia Riggs versus Peter Brent and Brent Industries…we, the jury, find for the defendant, Peter Brent.”
Spencer opened his eyes as his jaw dropped.
You gotta be kidding.
He looked at Tish, whose face went ashen. Her client’s sobs filled the courtroom. He stood up, ready to head in her direction when Brent patted him on the shoulder and shook his hand.
“Great job, Spencer. I never should have doubted you.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Merry Christmas.”
He was about to tell Brent to go to hell when he saw the man look toward the jury and smile.
He got several grins back in return.
The courtroom emptied quickly as the media people had reports to file so they could get home for Christmas like everyone else.
Tish still sat there, stunned and seemingly in shock.
When the room had cleared out he walked over to her. “Tish… I—”
“Not now, Spence.”
“Listen, I’m sorry—”
She turned to face him, those spectacular eyes filled with pain. “You should take Benny’s advice right now.”
He slowly nodded. “I understand. I’ll be around the office all day if you want to talk.”
She said nothing, wiped away a tear and turned away.
Spencer started to wish her a Merry Christmas but it didn’t seem right. He headed toward the side door to avoid the reporters, then saw Kayla quickly walking in his direction, carrying a large manila envelope. “Spence, am I too late?”
“Verdict just came in. They ruled for Brent.”
“Dammit.”
“Why, waddaya got?”
“The proof you needed.” She handed him the envelope.
Spencer opened it and took a look at the photos and documents. “Maybe it’s not too late.”
*
The bailiff walked out into the courtroom a few hours later. “Ms. McKenna, I thought you were still here.”
“Sorry, I know I need to clear out. I’m still in shock over the verdict and I can’t bear to face the media. I know they’re still out there and they’ve got the back door covered. I needed a place to hide.”
“Anyway, Judge Winston wants to see you.”
“Huh?”
He shrugged. “She said it’s important.”
Tish gently tapped on Judge Winston’s open door and saw she was on the phone. The judge pointed to a chair in front of her desk and she took a seat.
“Bill, I appreciate you doing this on Christmas Eve,” said the judge. “I’ll be around all day. I’m not gonna miss this. Talk later.” She hung up and smiled at Tish. “That was the Manhattan District Attorney.”
“Okay…”
“He’s on his way to arrest Peter Brent.”
“Excuse me?”
The judge handed her a manila envelope. “He bribed the jury, Ms. McKenna. And we’ve got proof.”
Tish opened the envelope and saw photos of a man in a jewelry store along with a whole bunch of receipts. “I don’t understand. Who is this?”
“Mr. Brent’s executive assistant buying a bunch of Rolex watches and other ridiculously priced pieces of jewelry for the members of the jury. Then giving them out. Along with receipts.”
“How did you get this?”
“You know that transit worker on the jury, the guy in the front row? Someone noticed he was wearing a twenty thousand dollar Rolex and did a little poking around.”
“So where did these photos and documents come from?”
“Not exactly sure. Mr. Capshaw brought them to me. He said a woman handed the envelope to him after the trial.”
“A woman?”
“He said he didn’t know who she was, but she asked him to bring this to me.”
“Mr. Capshaw did this.”
“Yep.”
“And he didn’t know who she was?”
“That’s what he said. And I don’t care.”
“Who spotted the juror with the expensive watch?”
“Beats me. I wouldn’t know a real Rolex from one of those fifty dollar knockoffs they sell on the street. Guess it was someone who knows things about watches.”
“Yeah, you would have to know about watches.”
“Anyway, a bunch of jurors were hanging around doing interviews with reporters. I gave this stuff to a detective and he got a few of them to flip on Brent.”
“Too bad we didn’t have this earlier.”
“Well, all is not lost, Ms. McKenna. I’ve scheduled a news conference in an hour. I’m setting aside the verdict and giving the judgment to your client, in the amount of one hundred million dollars, and ordering the patent to be transferred to her name. So she’s free to sell it to whatever company wants to buy it. You’re welcome to join me. In fact, I’d appreciate it if you would. And bring your client. This is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.”
Tish sat there, jaw hanging open, speechless.
“Well, Ms. McKenna, say something.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m stunned.”
“Well, then, go say something to your client and get her back down here. She just got the world’s best Christmas gift.”