Page 35 of Rascal

“Give me a moment. I can’t do this,” Shane declared, stood up, and walked out.

“I’ll go,” one of the men with Chance announced.

Chance nodded. He held my eyes, and there was an apology and sadness in them.

I didn’t acknowledge that as King wrapped an arm tightly around me. “Okay?” he murmured.

“Do you have evidence?” Lieutenant Richards asked, leaning forward.

“Yes,” Artemis replied.

“I’ll need copies.”

“They’re all in that file,” Kristoff responded. “Hallie, the moment you told me who you were, I knew you were innocent. No guilty person parades their history as you did. It was just a matter of digging.”

“Thanks,” I muttered from King’s embrace. I clung to him, unsure what emotions I should be feeling. Shock was my prevalent emotion, and I was certain I should be experiencing more than that. Vindication was there, and also betrayal.

“This was planned with careful consideration and meticulousness. It was a solid frame job,” Chance said.

“Yes. And from someone who knew them both.”

“Why does Jane look so much like me?” I demanded weakly.

“A mask, makeup? Plastic surgery? I don’t have an answer to that until we capture her,” Artemis replied.

King stiffened.

“What?” I asked.

“Not sure, something jogged in my mind. It will come to me sooner or later.”

The door opened, and Shane returned. “I’m sorry,” he said to me.

“Not good enough,” King spat angrily. “You loved her; you should have known Hallie would never have harmed you. Not back then. Shane, you destroyed her life; sorry won’t cut it. Her parents and brothers hated her, labelled her scum, and disowned her. Hallie’s so-called friends turned on her and gave false statements because they believed you. No fucker apart from me trusted her!”

“King…” Shane was lost for words. He collapsed into his chair. “You don’t think it’s going to haunt me, knowing I sent the woman I loved to prison? Hallie was innocent.” Shane’s voice broke, and he swallowed hard.

“And lying in a pool of blood, her baby kicked to death inside her, doesn’t torment Hallie?” King struck, temper rising.

Shane flinched back. “I don’t have the words…”

“No, you don’t. So, sit there and shut the fuck up,” King ordered.

Shane subsided as Harry turned to Lieutenant Richards.

“What happens now?”

“I’m only here as a courtesy, but I will ensure the Attorney General gets all this information. I have to say, I can’t tell whether framing Hallie hindered my case or not. But it appears an innocent woman was sent to prison. Do you need me for anything else?”

“No, Lieutenant Richards, thank you for coming,” Harry replied.

“I would suggest you also leave,” Lieutenant Richards said to Hawthorne. He nodded and left with Lieutenant Richards.

“What now?” Chance asked.

“I continue to file my motions and make sure those who framed Hallie and perjured themselves pay. She lost five years of her life and her child, too. No amount of money can give her that back,” Harry remarked. “But at least Mr Morris will, from this point on, stop his incessant slander of my client and his constant harassment of her.”

Shane looked away as Harry spoke. He seemed unable to meet my eyes. Good. Now Shane knew the truth; maybe he would shut up and leave me alone. There was nothing else to be said. A knock sounded, then the receptionist poked her head in.