Chapter 2 - Damned Lawyers
Faith looked up in surprise as her new lawyer entered. It was the smooth one from Wolfram & Hart. The one she hadn't pounded into the desk. She was a bit surprised to see him, she'd been expecting a visit from the firm but didn't expect to see anyone in a suit. She'd more expected some little demon to sneak up on her in the cell.
But Faith didn't back down to anyone. So she stared straight at him, she was damned if she was going down without a fight to a soulless lawyer.
Lindsey smiled easily and sat down opposite her. It was then the she noticed that his hand was missing. She couldn't remember, but she was sure he'd had both hands when they'd last met.
"Surprised to see me?" he asked pleasantly.
"Yeah. I figured you'd have some muscle sort me out. Didn't expect to see you."
"Didn't really expect to be here," he smiled. "But I have to admit I wasn't in full possession of all the facts when I tipped off the police where you were staying."
"So that was you," Faith said in a low lethal voice.
"Yeah. But don't worry, you will be out of here within hours," Lindsey continued unperturbed.
"What?" Faith asked confused.
"What you might not realise is that Wolfram & Hart have a substantial proportion of our business in estate management. We are the named executors in a very large number of very extensive and profitable legacies. This has been achieved by maintaining our unblemished reputation. As you can imagine, it's very important when our recently deceased clients may decide to return at a later date.
"Mayor Richard Wilkins of Sunnydale is one of those that has named us as executor of his estate. He very publicly left strict instructions that we were to provide full-service to you in the event that you were ever arrested. We intend to fulfil his wishes in this regard. I was not aware of this until after you had been arrested, and it falls upon me to rectify the situation as painlessly as possible."
Faith looked at the man in front of her in disbelief. She'd screwed this firm over and they were going to get her out. She'd finally plucked up enough courage to face what she'd done and some scum lawyer who'd sold his soul to the devil was going to put her back on the streets.
"No thanks," she said briefly. "I like it here."
Lindsey gave a small smile. "I'm sorry Faith, but you don't fully appreciate the situation. You are not our client, that's Mayor Wilkins. He specified full service, that is what you will get. You will be released with all expedience."
"You can't make me retract my confession," Faith answered hotly.
"I don't have to. I have affidavits from your doctor that say that you were currently receiving medication that can, under some circumstances, cause you to experience lucid hallucinations. You're confession is not legally admissible."
"Then I'll make it again."
Lindsey shook his head. "You don't appreciate the situation. You are still receiving medication. I have more affidavits to testify to that effect."
Faith began to get nervous as she realised where this was going. "What about the physical evidence?"
"It appears that there is no admissible physical evidence. The Mayor made provisions for you in Sunnydale. We have already pursued the matter here. Regarding the assault charges we have witnesses that will swear under oath you were not anywhere near the areas involved."
Faith's face fell as she lost all hope of being able to pay for her crimes in prison. She'd watch parts of the OJ trial. She knew full well how expensive lawyers could turn black into white then back again without ever once contradicting themselves.
She was out of her depth against these guys. Unless she could throw them a curve ball.
"There are other charges that have been brought up yet," she said triumphantly. "Ones you can't get around."
Lindsey looked at her with the same confidence and she was shaken a little. "Faith, I've looked at you're record. I know that there are people out there that you have hurt badly that you might be able to get to press charges against you. We at Wolfram & Hart will not hesitate in pursuing an out-of-court settlement in these cases. And the matter will be settled out-of-court, I have no doubts about that. Now I'm sure that's not what you want."
Faith looked at Lindsey in utter hatred before hanging her head in defeat. She'd considered telephoning Wesley or Mrs. Summers. Either of them could press charges without needing to get Slayers and Watchers and demons involved. But Faith wouldn't even consider putting them at risk anymore. They'd been through enough.
"Faith," Lindsey said quietly. Faith ignored him and just stared at the table top in front of her.
"Faith," Lindsey repeated. Faith refused to look at him so he carried on regardless. "You will be out of here by seven o'clock tonight. We are, after all, a full service law firm."
With that he quickly got up and left, leaving Faith to wonder why God hated her so much.
A minute after Lindsey had left, the guard entered to take her back to her cell. As Faith looked up, she realised that she would have to deal with this situation somehow and it had thrown all her plans out of the window.
How was she supposed to do the right thing when she had these guys screwing it all up for her? If she got away with everything she'd done, how was Buffy ever going to be able to look at her without feeling that Faith had got away with it again?
To be continued..