Chapter 6
Outside the library, the sunlight hit me hard.
I stood on the steps and took a deep breath.
Half of what I told her was true and half was a bluff. Perjury was real, and proving intent took work. I made it sound worse on purpose to frighten her.
She was just nineteen, barely seen anything of the world, and her mom had her completely wrapped around her finger.
But at her core, she was scared.
Scared of prison, scared of throwing her whole life away.
That was enough.
My phone rang. It was Julia.
"How did it go?" she asked.
"The seed's been planted," I said. "Now it's up to her."
"Damn, you're savage," Julia laughed. "But with people like this, you gotta go all in."
"Any news on Mark?" I asked.
"I have something," Julia said, and her voice turned serious. "I went through his cases from the last five years, and he's run seven lawsuits just like yours.
"Every defendant was a woman living alone, accused by a neighbor or a coworker of harassment, indecent assault, or rape. Five settled out of court, with payouts from 100 thousand to 260 thousand dollars.
"The other two went to trial, and both got thrown out for lack of evidence."
A chill went down my back.
"So, is this a pro operation?" I asked.
"It looks that way," Julia said. "Gloria is probably one more client. Mark is the one running it.
"They pick women who live alone, who have money, and who have some kind of weak spot. Yours is how you look and the name on your paperwork."
"So I'm not the first," I said.
"Not even close," Julia replied. "But these cases are all over the map, stretched out over years. Hard to get solid proof. Most victims just take the cash, move out, and never want to talk about it again."
"Any chance you can find them?" I asked.
"I'm trying, but it's rough. Most changed their numbers, and nobody wants to relive that mess," Julia said.
I held the phone, watching the cars go by on the street.
"Jordan," Julia said, "this isn't just about clearing your name anymore. If there's a real ring behind this, we have to take them down."
"I know," I said. "We've got a week until court. Is that enough time?"
"I'll do my best," Julia sighed. "But you need to be ready. They'll have more tricks up their sleeves in court. Mark's no pushover."
"Neither am I," I replied.
After hanging up, I didn't head straight home.
I swung by the music store to grab a few new scores for next week.
The owner was a gentle old man, been around for years and knew me well.
"Jordan, have you lost weight?" he asked while he bagged everything.
"Just a little tired," I said.
"Don't forget to take care of yourself," he handed me the bag. "You always pack your schedule so full."
I smiled, keeping quiet.
By the time I left the music store, it was already getting dark.
The city lights came on, and the city started to reveal another side of itself.
I walked home slowly, carrying the sheet music.
As I passed a convenience store, the TV in the window was playing the local news.
The anchor read the copy in a clean, professional voice. "A sexual assault claim in the Sunrise Gardens complex has drawn wide attention this week. The defendant is a local piano teacher, and the plaintiff is seeking 650 thousand dollars in damages."
The scene cut to the entrance of the community, where a few middle-aged women were crowding around a reporter, all talking at once.
"He looked so gentle, who would've thought he was like this!"
"You never know what someone's really like."
"He has to be punished severely, or who would dare live in this community!"
I stood outside the store window, watching those faces full of righteous anger on the TV.
They had no idea what really happened.
Or maybe they just didn't care.
They just wanted some drama, someone to point fingers at, and a chance to feel morally superior for a little while.
My phone buzzed again.
It wasn't Julia.
It was a number I didn't recognize at all.
I picked up, but didn't say a word.
The other side stayed silent too.
All I could hear was heavy breathing.
It lasted about ten seconds, then the call was cut off.
I looked at the number and smirked.
It was another one of Mark's cheap tricks.
He really thought something like that would frighten me.
It was childish.
I saved the number in my contacts as Coward 1.