10. Dominque Lambert, 34 a. ACLU Lawyer b. Pretty and self-assured c. Involved with Walstead, on the sly
11. DeShawn Green, 46 a. Attorney with Kaplan, Halliwell and Green b. Stocky and neatly dressed c. Married, three girls, seven grandkids.
12. Collier Allendale, 74 a. Superior Court judge. b. Tall and stately c. Married, two children, two grandchildren, one great-grandchild
And this last bit is the end of it. Not sure what it's about, yet...but getting there.
DeShawn Green was in the gallery when it all went down. Caught a look between Lambert and Walstead that wasn’t right. Asks his wife if she knows anything about Lambert. “Thinks she’s whiter than white.” “She’s ACLU.” “Since when?”
Green meets with Simon, in jail. Depression is getting to him. Finally tells him about changes Walstead made to the arrest report. “You didn’t trust Lambert. Why?” “Didn’t dis-trust her. Just didn’t tell her everything. Never tell anyone everything.” Green takes over the case.
Green gets Simon released on bail due to questions about falsified evidence having been presented. Before Judge Allendale in Superior Court. Walstead pissy, claims didn't know about evidence, but overruled.
Simon’s car was impounded from parking lot then auctioned off. Things shoved in storage. Phone screen shattered but workable. Laptop dead. Credit cards canceled for non-payment, debit card missing. Cash in wallet gone. Green says he will get him reimbursement, contact everyone. “Why bother?”
Simon set up in hotel, overnight; provided bus ticket home on Baron’s and Greyhound for next day. “Do I have a home?” Calls landlord and told they want him out, ASAP. Were told he’s a child molester by cops.
Simon spends the night in the tub, heating the water over and over, close to breaking the razor Green bought him and using the blade to slice up his arms. But doesn’t because he refuses to give Walstead the satisfaction.
Turns out, Simon contacted the state bar about Walstead’s trick with presenting PhD as Doctor. Asked if it was acceptable practice or a violation of ethics. Had shrugged it off; news reports about courtroom situation makes them now taking a closer look.
Harver learns about it and puts Walstead on suspension till figured out. Manville, too. She is livid. Quits. Contacts Green to help. Refused.
Walstead meets with Paley, Garrison and Corelli. They’re being investigated by Internal Affairs. Pissed at Walstead for not stopping it, but it looks like he suborned perjury and is fighting for his own career. Massive argument and finger-pointing. Paley says, “We’ll handle this.” Walstead says nothing, in answer.
Bus station three blocks from hotel. Simon walking to it when stopped by Garrison and Corelli. Handcuffed and forced into their patrol car then head off. Simon hits emergency button on phone. 911 operator comes on and he loudly asks why they arrested him, and where they’re going. Wrong direction for jail. ID’s both of them. Heading out of town.
Mention Paley wants to talk to him about situation. Wants him to say he did approach the man. That’ll make the IA investigation go away, for them. Simon claims the man plans to kill him and they will be just as responsible. They shrug him off, saying, “That’d be stupid.”
911 operator calls in Chief of Police and Harver. GPS on car deactivated. Start sending cars to intersect with patrol car, using Simon’s phone but cuts in and out. Harver wary of getting carried away. Might be a joke. Call the car and see. About to when Allendale appears. Heard from Green that Simon was taken and CoP down here. CoP calls in chopper to find patrol car.
Garrison and Corelli turn off main thoroughfare onto dirt road leading into woods. Simon keeps querying them. Corelli finally realizes his phone is on, grabs it and cuts it off. Wants to turn around. Too late; here’s Paley.
Paley tells Simon to get out of car. “Just want you to sign a statement that you did approach me.” He won’t. Has wrapped a rear-seatbelt around his arm. Paley tries to drag him out but is blocked by it. Argue.
Garrison enters from other side and tries to unravel seatbelt from Simon’s arm. Too much fighting, so Paley pulls gun. Corelli tells him to stop. Helicopter heard passing overhead.
Cruiser radio crackles, demanding Garrison or Corelli to check in. Paley grips Simon by the throat to keep him quiet as Garrison responds they are on other side of town, but Simon kicks Paley and howls, “He’s lying!” Knocks him back.
Paley shoots Simon in chest and face. Corelli shoots Paley in shoulder. Sirens heard approaching. Cops finally roar up. Corelli drops pistol and hands up. Garrison slowly exits car, hands up.
Simon wakes in hospital. Blind in one eye. Internal damage. In pain when he breathes. Lucky to be alive. Tells state police and State's AG everything. Very shaky and much older-seeming. Landlord still wants Simon out but can take an extra month.
Green comes to tell him all hell’s torn loose. Paley’s paralyzed in one arm. He, Corelli and Garrison charged with kidnapping, assault and attempted murder. Found two graves in the woods so investigation widening.
Walstead and Lambert are being disbarred, Manville got a disciplinary letter added to her file. Denton retiring from bench. Harver remaining as DA, but Feds coming in to investigate. ACLU shaken; Lambert was a recent hire. National news, for days. He’d been unconscious for a week, but...“Looks like you’ve won your case.”
Simon shakes his head. “You call this winning?”
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