Love, Marriage, Love

Mistakes and crimes

This story is going to be in two timelines. Past and the present. So before the episode I would mention if its changing or else it would be same as the last.

Present

Tia woke up to the alarm sound. Yesterday night she pulled an all nighter so her eyes were Red. She yawned slowly and recollected everything that needed to be done today. The phone rang and she saw her friend's name pop on the screen Preeti.

"Hey Preets Darling"

"Tell me you slept atleast 5 hours" she started.

"Well if you count 4-6 as 5 hours then Yes, I slept 5 hours." She said letting out another yawn.

"T, you should save some of your energy to yourself. You are gonna need it if you are gonna go through with your plan" she sounded worried

"Relax Preeti, I know what I am doing. Lets meet in the court." Tia said confidently.

"Ok, dont worry, everything will be fine and I will pick up your breakfast and we will eat together before the trial" she cut the call before Tia could say anything.

Tia got up and started to get ready. She dressed to perfection. Her hazel coloured eyes sparkled with confidence. He hair put up in a tight ponytail that reached her shoulders. Minimal make up with a suit that just enhanced her beauty.

She is a hot shot lawyer in Torronto. She worked in a law firm but all the high profile cases were given to her after she cracked a near impossible case in the early years of her career. Tia started reaping all the benefits of her hardwork. She took some cases out of interest just to keep herself busy.

Sometimes the easiest of the cases turn out to be the highlight of your career. It was one of such cases that she is going to defend today. The case was simple, a middle class sales representative stabbed a 19 year old boy. The police had all the evidence including the weapon and fingerprints.

She had a direct meet with the accused David Shreek. He said that he stabbed the boy because he drugged his daughter and tried to take advantage of her in their home. He happened to come early and caught him in the act. He first went to check on his daughter and made sure she is sleeping and no harm was done to her and then the next day he followed the boy to a secluded area and stabbed him. He begged Tia to save him because he is a single parent and his daughter needed him the most now.

Tia tried to analyse every proof presented by the police and thought about techniques to proove him innocent thats when she came across an interesting fact. Then she stayed up all night gathering proof to make her stand.

It was 8.45 when she pulled up her car in front of the court. She saw Preeti coming up towards her and she pulled her into a hug.

"Lets hope that everything goes fine Tia. Dont worry I got your back." She said patting her shoulder.

The trial started and the prosecution had been given the chance to present the closing comments. Peter Heiser stood up facing the jury.

"Jury members, this is an act of violence. The victim is an 19 year old boy who had his whole life ahead of him. He was in some wrong company of people but that means he deserves a chance to make everything right not a gruesome ending. The accused Mr. Shreek just for some free drugs chased the boy and stabbed him to death. If he is not able to pay for his addiction he should get help, not punish somebody else for his own helplessness. The evidence on the weapon clearly states that he is the one who is responsible for a young man's life. Thats all your honor"

Now it was Tia's turn "The defense can present the closing statement"

Tia stood up facing the jury.

" A very Good morning to all the Jury members. Mr. Shreek is just like one of us. Imagine your routine everyday. Just like us he woke up in the morning. Kissed his daughter bye to school and left to work. In the evening he came back and helped his daughter in her homework and finished preparing dinner. He sat down for dinner and the police barged into his house stating that he took someone's life. Let alone a boy who he has never heard of. There is no evidence of Mr. Shreek using drugs or being an addict. Now you all must wonder why the police arrested him if he didnt even knew the boy? On what basis? What is the reason for the crime? Any motive?"

The Jury members were all in the edge of their seat, seeing this Tia continued.

"The only reason I see why Mr. Shreek was arrested is that he shares the same name of a known convict Mr. David Shreek."

Everybody let out a shocked tone and the jury began to discuss among themselves

"Ms. Tia, what is this new story you are trying to build?" Peter barged.

"Its not a story your honor. Its all facts and I have evidences to proove my point"

"What evidences?" Peter Heiser hissed

"The known convict David Shreek runs a drug cartel and we all are familiar with that and also the fact that the police has not been able to arrest him till date. Now comes the interesting part, The victim used to work under this cartel some years ago. There are phone records to proove this."

"This is all new evidence. The prosecution was not informed about this"

"Thats because we also got this information yesterday from a source."

"What are you implying Tia?" Peter almost screamed at top of his lungs

"I am not implying anything. I am just stating the facts and the proofs that support my facts. Now I dont know what happened between the Victim and Mr. David Shreek but that David Shreek isnt him. The police somehow forged my clients fingerprints on the murder weapon because other than that there are no evidences of my client knowing the victim. He is just an ordinary middle class worker who earns money to make his ends meet and the police wants to cover up the crimes of some people and decided to frame someone else. My client who cannot even afford a lawyer would have suffered for someone else's crimes."

"Jury members I appeal to you think of my client as one of you. How would you react if the police arrested you just because your name is similar to a felon and they want a scapegoat? Please open up your minds and decide because your decision not only changes my clients destiny but also his daughter's who has no one else to take care of her. Thank you. That is all from my side your honor."

The jury members saw his daughter's face and then decided to speak between themselves. Tia turned confidently and sat in her chair with an unknown pride feeling.

Tia and Preeti were walking in the garden during evening when Preeti spoke

"God Tia, how can you lie so effortlessly? Its like everybody trust you to speak the truth only. You just looked into the eyes of the jury and lied and they believed you"

"I know right, its always been my strength. I have a trusting face I guess. I dont take efforts to lie it just comes to me. Only two people can tell when I am lying"

"One is your mom and the other is?"

"You know I dont like to talk about it"

"Tia, I have known you for almost 10 years now. You were my first friend in Law college. Yet whenever the topic of this mystery person comes you seem so distant that it makes me think that you dont trust me"

"I trust you more than myself, you know that right. Its just I dont want to scrape the wound because its still not dried. Everytime I think about it, it still feels fresh."

"You should let go and move on. Keeping it fresh may be the reason you are still single"

"I dont know if I can hand over my trust and feelings to someone else." A tear escaped her eyes.

"Hey T, you know I am here whenever you are ready to talk about it" she said comforting her.

"I know." Saying this Tia started staring the sky

To lighten the mood Preeti asked "You never told me how did you find a whole another David Shreek?"

"I would tell you if you buy me dinner. God I am starving"

With this they both went to a restaurant.