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But this time, I decide to call instead of text

THIS ROOM IS TOO stuffy

Brown and dark, wood and leather, shelves of boring books and evenon every wall The s are too sh for ht when it co a firm that doesn’t make me want to crawl out of n

“Erin,” my lawyer says — softly, tenderly “I know this is hard”

I blink, tearingher eyes, instead Candice is striking — tall and curvy, dark skin and even darker hair, long and filled with srow red in tint toward the ends Her makeup is always flawless, red lips powerful, and every suit she has — pants or skirt — is tailored to fit her perfectly Sometimes she’s in kitten heels, soy is tall and loud enough that she commands attention from everyone the second she enters the room

Everyone butthis—me

“And I also know hearing me say that doesn’t ether “But look, this will all be worth it Justice waits for these boys, and we et it ill” She leans over the glossy any table and folds her hand over mine “I promise”

I s, nodding, which gives her per about the next steps

Candice and I first irls what happened to me and decided I was ready to finally report the incident Going to the police was the hardest part — detectives and bright roo fired at me I knew quickly that I needed a lawyer, and Candice stepped in ready for battle

She showed ht — ive me her all

Of course, that was just the beginning of a hellish su e have to do next, I realize the worst is yet to come

“The detective they’ve assigned to your case is a hard ass,” Candice says, filing through so me a small profile on Gene Riley His headshot s in ht call countless ti ot no proble the case forward to court” She pauses “But… it alsoto send what could be an innocent h the system”