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"It's a little bit late in the week to be calling aon this case, isn't it Mr Shriver?" she asks dryly as she pins Doug with a superior look Like she's the one holding all the cards

"It couldn't be avoided," he says smoothly "With Miss Halstead's preli a holiday, we felt we needed to have thistoday"

Her lips tip up and she has a "knowing" look in her eyes She strokes a finger on the files in front of her--clearly one fora contemplative look before she says, "Mr Shriver, I'm not sure I really want to entertain a plea offer fro In fact, we got in some more DNA results just yesterday that places the defendants in Mr Townsend's house"

My heart is pounding as I take in her s tone She holds all the power here and we are doing nothinga play to take it fro, and that's a lot of stress to bear right now

If it doesn't work, however, Beck and I are prepared to run This weekend, as a et us out of the country quickly and with good documents

"Miss Haently "We are not here to discuss a plea deal for either of the defendants"

"You're not?" Her eyes widen with surprise

"No," he sayscharges against Miss Halstead and Mr North"

It's an indication of the level of her ego when Hammond's head falls backward and her ht Her eyes are shining with amusement as she tilts her head back into position, carefully sweeping her gaze over all the occupants of the room She doesn't even hesitate when she looks at Mr Nichols, who I note has been steadily texting or e on his s played out

"Mr Shriver," Haloith an iciness I've never seen before "I will never drop these charges I have sufficient evidence toto have to suffer the consequences of their rash acts"

"I think you ," he tells her calet flustered by her bullish ways

"And what could that possibly be?" she asks sarcastically

Doug nods down the table toward Roger Nichols, who doesn't even look up fro over the screen, and I hear Hammond make a sound of irritation in her throat Finally, he taps the screen one final time and says, "There That's taken care of"

Then his head lifts up and he pins Haer Nichols I practice criminal law in New York--"

In a ives an aun all the way from New York to help out your case You're more than adequate to represent Mr North"

No one could take that statement from her as a compliment, as the derision in her voice conveys a distinct lack of respect for Beck's attorney

Nichols answers instead "I aun all the way fro Mr North or Miss Halstead"

"Then why are you in this room?" she snaps

Nichols opens the laptop that has been sitting in front of hinored until this moment He punches a few of the keys and turns it to face Hammond as he says, "Because we have evidence that proves Miss Halstead acted in self-defense and Mr North was not there when it happened"

And yupthat's a strangled noise she h "You can't expect me to believe--"

"Miss Hammond," Nichols interrupts with a feral flash in his eyes "I strongly suggest you be quiet and watch this before you embarrass yourself further"

Seven hours earlier

There's a knock on the door and Beck gets up fro roo flustered "Sorry I'm late, traffic was a bitch"

"No worries," I say from my seat as she walks in and looks around at the people asse on coffee, but looks curiously at Dennis, who is sitting beside me

Beck makes introductions

"Kerry, this is Dennis Flaherty He's an investigator orks for er Nichols, who is standing in the living roo on his phone--"is Dennis' attorney from New York"

He looks up fro area, and extends a hand to Kerry "Roger Nichols"

She shakes it as she asks Beck, "So what's going on? What's so urgent you asked us all here?"