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I shrug “Louis Vuitton” I didn’t grow up on a horse ranch I just prefer it to this

I pass over the envelope containing the photographs Derek requested while Marc fills out the check-in forh the metal detector On the other side, Marcus holds his ar through airport security, but worse No cell phones in jail, no devices of any kind If sooes doe’re stuck here just like every other criminal in the joint

“I spent half the night going over all we’ve got,” he says under his breath, as we follow the guard down the corridor “Sloan Reynolds has no family, no dependents, and his co out” His eyes meet mine, and he nods

I sht?”

“That’s what I hear” We pause outside the door before facing the prosecution

We enter the small conference roo African-Aentleman

“Earl Mason,” he says, taking a seat across the table froainst Derek Alexander, and I have to say, it looks pretty open and shut”

Dark eyes glance up at us, and I can tell he’s not finished “Your client willfully and of sound ht here in his confession As far as I can tell, we have every reason to expect a conviction for first-degree murder”

Marcus places his satchel on the table beside him “Quite a bit is left out of that confession, which is e’re here today” I watch as he pulls out three thick files

“And you are?” A salt and pepper broers over Earl’s eyes

“Marcus Merritt, attorney for the defendant”

“I haven’t seen you around the courthouse before” He scrutinizes the man beside me, but I don’t even sense a tremor from Marc “Are you licensed to practice in the state of Maryland?”

“If necessary, I will associate local counsel for trial, but we don’t think a trial will be necessary” Marcus ansith a swagger that makes me wince This old man is not one to fuck with

The prosecutor holds his gaze a beat longer before returning to the documents in front of hi charges against Mr Alexander before pretrial discovery and trial preparation begins I’ve told you what I have What do you have?”

Sliding the first folder across the table, Marcus begins “My client is, and was, engaged to the ex-wife of the deceased”