Cecelia Ahern - Perfect

“I already have a representative.”

Crevan puts his pen down. “Mr. Willingham has flown in from abroad, last-minute, to assist me here today.”

“Sorry I disturbed your golf holiday,” I say to the lawyer. “Seeing as my previous representative, Mr. Berry, is in a drug-induced state, I request to use my new counsel. We don’t need any private jets to get him here. He’s right over there. I won’t talk to you a second longer until you bring him in.”

They all look at Raphael. He waves.

“ Him? ” Willingham asks.

“I find that the people who’ve had to fight the hardest in their lives are the strongest. What have you ever had to fight for, Mr. Willingham? If you want my business, you’ll have to sell yourself to me.”

“No,” Crevan says simply. “Mr. Willingham is your appointed lawyer.”

Sanchez and Jackson look at Crevan because they know that’s not right. I should be able to choose who I want.

“I think that Ms. North retains the right to choose her counsel,” Judge Jackson says, overruling Crevan.

While Jackson, Crevan, and a hotheaded Willingham discuss the changes between them, Sanchez is busy texting on her phone. I wonder what she is up to.

“Mr. Willingham, thank you for your presence today. I’ll make sure the Guild jet is at your disposal,” Crevan says finally.

Mr. Willingham seems very unhappy and he lets it be known through a series of huffs and pants and stern looks, but that’s as far as he goes: His hands are tied; the powers that be have spoken. He passes Raphael as he leaves, giving him a disgusted once-over.

Raphael is brought into my cell, sits down, crosses his legs. “Now, where were we?” he says.

“We’re here to discuss Celestine’s sentencing,” Jackson begins. “This has been a very public disobedience and disrespect of the Guild, of Guild rules, and she must be punished accordingly. Though evading the Guild is nothing new, and there are sanctions in place for that, her case is unprecedented. We thought it best to gather and discuss it out of court.”

Crevan and Sanchez sit quietly. They both have other plans.

“Indeed, Judge Jackson, we appreciate your settling it in this way,” Raphael takes over. “It’s best for everybody involved. So let’s begin, the Guild is a morality court. What immoral acts has Celestine carried out recently? Making a speech at a gathering that you arranged? A very inspiring one by the way, Celestine. No, I believe the Guild has not yet removed freedom of speech. All Celestine has done to the Guild is evade her Whistleblower and missed her curfews, and if she is to be punished for that, we look to precedent. In the case of Angelina Tinder missing a curfew, you removed her children from her care for one week; in the case of Victoria Shannon, you arranged to have her work without pay for one week. For Daniel Schmidt it was one month; for Michael Auburn it was six months, until he missed his mortgage payments and his home was almost taken from him, until common sense prevailed in the form of the high court.”

He rattles all these cases off the top of his head.

“But Celestine doesn’t have a job, she doesn’t have children, and she certainly doesn’t have a home. If you punish her family, then I will take you to court for human rights violations. Families of Flawed cannot be punished for Flawed acts.

“But let’s not forget the Guild incorrectly incarcerated her sister, Juniper, who did nothing wrong, and her grandfather, who you have yet to prove has done anything wrong.”

“He aided an evader,” Crevan says.

“But where is your proof? If you had any, then you would have charged him by now. These acts against Celestine’s sister and grandfather were carried out in order to bring Celestine out of the woodwork. The Guild has done nothing but antagonize my client and fill her with fear so as to prevent her from finding her way back. Instead of discussing punishments, I say Celestine North deserves an act of mercy.”

“Mr. Angelo, the court of the Guild doesn’t sit to administer clemency,” Judge Jackson politely says, denying the request.

“I agree. Nor does it sit to introduce a role for justice after a wrongful conviction. But the government can,” Raphael explains. “A government without decency, a government without mercy, is a pretty harsh overlord. I intend to appeal to Prime Minister Percy on this issue.”

“A wrongful conviction?” Judge Jackson frowns. “We’re here to discuss Celestine’s evasion. And with all due respect, Mr. Angelo, the election is tomorrow. You will be taking a risk—who knows who will be in government?”

“Indeed, it could very well be Prime Minister Sleepwell, and I’m sure she’ll take a more favorable view.”

“I hardly think that will be the situation,” Crevan snorts.

Judge Jackson looks less sure and annoyed that Crevan keeps talking despite being told to take a backseat.

A guard interrupts our meeting. “Judge Jackson, there is an important phone call for you, in your office.”

“Can’t it wait?” Jackson asks, confused. “ This is important.”

“It’s urgent, sir.”

I look at Sanchez, who seems coy, and I realize whatever she was texting on her phone made sure that Jackson would have to leave the room. This disappoints me, as I think Raphael was getting through to Judge Jackson, or that at least he could be more fair.

When Jackson leaves, Raphael continues. “How do you wish to further punish my client? After all, you branded her already in the five areas.”

“Well, we can always find more areas,” Crevan says to me jokingly, with a twinkle in his eye.

He actually thinks that nobody knows. Sanchez regards him differently then. I can tell his arrogance has angered her.

“A spine, perhaps,” Raphael says.

My heart drums manically. We’re finally there. Raphael is going for it now.

Sanchez senses it, too, and sits up rigidly.

Crevan looks at Raphael coldly.

There’s a long silence.

“Let’s all be honest with one another now,” Raphael says. “There is footage, Judge Crevan, that reveals you branding this young lady’s spine yourself, without anesthetic.”

Crevan’s eye twitches. “This footage allegedly exists but it is rather elusive, as nobody can seem to find it. Personally I think it’s an idle threat, one that doesn’t exist.”

“It exists,” I say.

“I can assure you, Judge Sanchez, there is no such footage, and even if there is, I’m sure it’s a cheap re-creation, along with everything else we can view on the Internet,” he says to Sanchez.

He’s trying to reel her in. She remains silent, keeping her cards close to her chest. I can’t be certain whose side she’s going to eventually take.

“I know that Celestine was in your home this morning,” Crevan says, suspicious.

“Indeed, I called you personally to tell you, but the Whistleblowers got to her first.”

“I called the Whistleblowers on myself,” I interrupt their cat-and-mouse game, which is starting to bug me. No games. Just honesty. “Judge Sanchez wanted to hand me over to you herself. She wanted to give me to you for something in return. Do a little deal.”

She looks at me, surprised, but must continue now that I’ve begun.

“You’ve made too many mistakes, Bosco,” Sanchez says. “There is a private inquiry into your actions; it has asked me to comply. I’m going to have to answer honestly.”

“What do you want from me?” Crevan asks her, and it’s as if Raphael and I suddenly aren’t in the room.

“I want you gone. I want to be head judge of the Guild.”

Crevan laughs nervously. “You want me to step down?”

“I want control. Full control.”