Ciao tutti!

Just a quick note from yours truly - a few people have been sending me messages saying that the legal system described in this story isn't very accurate so I thought I'd just quickly tie up some loose ends.

Firstly: I know! Of course this isn't going to portray the legal system accurately I'm not intending to! This is meant to be a fictional work and whilst I could spend hours researching the legal system and protocols (or I could just ask my dad who's a lawyer) I figured it would be much better if I spent my time working on the characters and plot lines rather than the stuffy stuff :)

Secondly: Whilst it is in no way an accurate depiction of our legal system I am basing my story on the courts and procedure of the UK since it's where I'm from so that may explain why some jargon seems a bit off.

Anyway, hope it clears things up a little - enjoy the next chapter and feel free to message me with any more questions etc. oh, and please, please continue to review - I love knowing what works and what doesn't!

Until next time,

Arrivederci!

TE25

The FAYZ Trials – Chapter 12

Karim was sitting at his desk drenched. He'd gotten caught in the rain without a jacket and now he regretted even coming to the office at all. He was cold, wet and hungry and the only thing his office offered him by means of food was a half empty packet of peanuts he found in his drawer. The place was empty though which meant that at least he could turn up his music and de-stress. With a strong cup of black coffee at his side, Karim put on his reading glasses and pulled out Caine Soren's files.

It was tough reading – he wondered why he was even bothering, Caine stood next to no chance and there was nothing in his files that Karim could use as a final play. He sighed and ran his hands through his thick black hair. It was hopeless...

In her hotel room Diana called for room service. She ordered champagne on ice – not that she was celebrating anything, she just wanted something to do and Karim had left her some cash. Now that was something she could use against him if ever she needed to - a lawyer who drops her off at a swanky hotel, escorts her to her room then leaves her a handful of cash before legging it – it would be a simple case of her word against his.

Diana sighed and lay down on her bed – if only every case was as simple. If only Caine's case was as simple, this was his main case, the next one the one regarding the bugs attacking Perdido Beach would be a walk in the park for Caine after all, he'd practically saved the town and he'd easily be able to charm the jury. Why did Freddy have to be such a good lawyer? Caine had told her that Karim was the best defence in the business how come he didn't know about Freddy?

Her heart sank when the champagne arrived, what good would it do? It was hopeless...

Caine felt like crying. Actually crying. Why was this happening to him? What happened in the FAYZ should stay in the FAYZ like Vegas. Why did the world suddenly want to punish him for trying to stay alive? It's not like they'd been promised help or given a way out – as far as he knew at the time his pre-FAYZ life was over and he'd never be returning. Now, tomorrow he'd be finding out whether or not he was going to be locked up in a cell for good.

Caine couldn't handle that thought, the idea of being trapped, unable to do things or go places at his own will. It made him feel sick. Physically sick – he wanted to throw up on the spot. He thought about the stupid threats he'd made to Karim earlier about getting a different lawyer – who? He'd booked the best in the business!

Caine lay on his bed and tasted the saltiness of his tears. It was hopeless...

Karim put Caine's files away and dimmed the lights in his office. There was no point in looking for something that didn't exist. He headed back outside into the rain where he quickly made his way to his car. Inside he shivered, it was pretty cold now and a lot later than he'd thought, his watch read 11:15. He'd have to stop off at a Chinese on the way home and get some noodles. Stomach growling Karim decided it best if he grabbed food first before leaving town and drove down the road to a nearby hotel. It had bright, colourful bar lights glowing and a bustling crowd so he parked his car and went inside.

"What'll it be friend?" asked the barman. Karim ordered a plate of scampi and a beer – one beer would be ok as far as driving was concerned. Besides, he wanted to be off as soon as possible to get to bed.

He sat with his beer waiting for his food to arrive. The place was a bit of a dump but it seemed friendly enough, it was pretty lively for 11:15 – no wait 11:30 now he realised as he checked his watch again, a few guys were playing pool and there was a handful of people around the jukebox and at the tables.

Karim was halfway through his food when he spotted the blonde woman in a black cocktail dress. Felicity Wishman. Not the person he wanted to see but she'd spotted him too and was making her way towards him.

"Leave me alone." Karim said aware of how rude he sounded.

"Good to see you too." She replied taking a seat beside him "you know my brother is here." Karim glanced around but couldn't see Freddy, Felicity sniggered "oh don't worry, he's in the other bar. Can I get you a drink?" Karim ignored her – how could she possibly be so friendly after everything they'd been through and after everything he'd been through with her brother recently. How could she act so calm and cool, so friendly?

"Please just go away Felicity." Karim asked miserably

"I know you're feeling like crap right now Karim it's written all over your face," Felicity said casually "and being left alone is going to make you feel worse."

"Whiskey." Karim said to her, giving in "get me a whiskey." Felicity smirked and ordered. She looked so much like her brother when she smiled that way Karim noticed, like a smug snake. They chatted idly and soon they were ordering their third whiskeys.

"You disappointed me at the press interview today," she said once the drinks arrived "I was hoping for a scoop." Karim smiled at her, she looked so good under the dim lights, wide eyed and innocent no longer like her brother. Her brother. Freddy. Karim's mouth went sour

"Why don't you chat to Freddy? I'm sure he'd give you one."

"You two used to be friends!"

"Yeah? And we used to be engaged, things change Fliss!" Karim cringed the last time he'd called her Fliss they were sharing an apartment together.

"Nothing changed for me and you know that Karim," Felicity said sadly, Karim turned on her angrily

"Oh yeah? Well then why call it off? I wanted to marry you Fliss, you were the one with other ideas!"

"How could I marry someone who's already married to his work?" she said with tears in her eyes "I called off the engagement you called off the relationship!"

"Felicity I was in love with you!" Karim said feeling angry again

"I'm still in love with you!" she replied breathlessly. Karim faltered and struggled to find words "you were my world Karim! I wanted you to make an honest woman of me, I wanted you to be my husband but all you cared about was your work! I was always second best to your cases and clients – how do you think that made me feel? And when I called it off you didn't even fight for me!"

Karim wasn't sure how to process the information he was hearing. It had been two years since their breakup and she'd never once told him the way she really felt.

"I love you Karim," Felicity said "and I don't care what Freddy says I know that I'll never find anyone even a fraction as good as you were!"

"Felicity please, we've moved on!"

"Really?! Do you have a girlfriend? Have you had a girlfriend – no. Just work."

"It's not like that and it never was!" Karim argued angry with her for putting in him such a situation and for suddenly allowing his feelings for her to resurface. "I loved you but you just couldn't deal with the fact that my job is also important in my life."

"If you loved me you'd put away your pride and realise that there are more important things in life than making a name for yourself as a high flying lawyer!" she said loudly

"Tell your brother!" Karim yelled "I'm trying to help these kids!"

Felicity laughed

"Don't fool yourself Karim – please, if you really loved me, if you ever did before, even if you don't anymore it wouldn't be so easy for you to break my heart like this," she took his hand in hers "you'd give us one more try."

Karim stared at her then stood up

"I have to go."

Caine knew he had one phone call that he could use whilst locked up. One chance to ring someone and beg them for help. His hand clutched the phone and he felt the eyes of his guard watching him as he pressed the number buttons. It was a number he'd had written down in a journal since the days of the FAYZ but had never used. He didn't know why he'd kept it really but he just thanked his own subconscious for never throwing it out as he waited with baited breath for the voice at the other line...

Freddy was shooting pool. He wasn't a big fan of pool but after a few beers and an earful from his sister it was a welcome distraction. Besides, he knew he'd have to wait a couple of hours before getting back into his car to let the alcohol wear off.

After four or five frames with complete strangers and a very strong coffee, he checked his watch and decided to get going. Tomorrow was going to be a big day and he didn't want to be late or over-tired, most of all he didn't want to be wearing the same clothes two days in a row in front of the cameras. As he left the bar he looked around for Felicity but she'd already left – good, he didn't fancy having another heart to heart. Before leaving he picked up a coffee from the vending machine and a packet of crisps so that he'd keep himself occupied and awake at the wheel.

Outside it was still raining, heavier than earlier and Freddy had to run to his car to avoid getting soaked. He switched the heater on inside and turned the radio onto the late night driving station which was playing a loud eighties ballad – good, he thought, at least he wouldn't fall asleep at the wheel with that racket. Giving his windscreen a quick wipe with his sleeve, Freddy drove off into the night.

Astrid was making herself a pot of tea and was thinking about Sam and Caine. Caine had his jury results tomorrow and surely he'd be found guilty this would mean that he'd call for a re-trial just like Sam. Maybe if the general public could see how Karim continued to support Sam and Caine in their re-trials as well as their original trials they would understand what they'd been through better and call the whole trials off.

Who was she kidding? Today the worst news she'd never hoped to receive landed on her doormat in the form of a court summons. She was going to be trialled for the murder of Peter Ellison. Her own brother, Little Pete. Reading the letter had left her cold, until now she'd always been optimistic about her own fate back in the 'real world' but now she knew that she would spend the rest of her life – found guilty or not – regarded as the girl who killed her own brother.

Tomorrow after the jury's decision she was going to have to make an appointment to see Karim and be the next in a long line of FAYZ kids to ask for his help. With that thought in mind she left her kitchen and headed upstairs to bed with her tea. Perhaps she would read a few chapters of a new novel to soothe her and help her get to sleep, but before Astrid could decide which book to read her phone began to ring...

Karim was drunk and he knew it. Too much whiskey and talk from Felicity as well as a good too many shots after her little revelation had left him wandering the streets in the rain, dazed and lost. His only thought was to find his car but he knew he couldn't drive – weird he thought. He soon stumbled along a main road, it was quiet so maybe he could hitch a ride if he stayed near the edge of the road. He tripped along the kerb and landed face down in a puddle of mud and rain. Carefully he stood up, like Bambi learning to walk and made his way along the edge of the road, up ahead he saw the yellow lights of an oncoming car...

Diana was channel hopping when she began to think of Caine. Karim was useless with him and there was zero chance that he'd be getting off lightly tomorrow, one thing was clear: no matter how much of a nice guy Karim was Caine needed a better, stronger lawyer. Something had to be done, he had to find himself someone new.

But who? Everyone knew that Karim was the only guy out there who was willing to risk his reputation and defend the FAYZ kids, it was either too risky, too expensive or too big a case for any other lawyer. Diana sighed and realised that Karim would just have to do, he was the only guy good enough to even come close to winning cases for Caine, nobody was as good as Karim. She switched off the TV and went to turn off the lights when she suddenly had a thought and reached for her phone...

"Strangers waiting up and down the boulevard!" Freddy was actually starting to enjoy his drive home when he spotted a shadowy figure at the side of the road ahead of him, he turned his music down and slowed down slightly, his foot hovering over the accelerator in case it was some weirdo with a gun, as a lawyer he was no stranger to the stories of armed gangs mobbing lonely cars or diners along the highway at night and didn't intend on being the next in a long line of victims.

To his complete surprise it was Karim. Freddy pulled over next to him and rolled down his window

"What the hell are you doing?!" he yelled over at Karim who for some reason was covered in mud. "You could get yourself run over or something!" Karim turned to face him and smiled like a guy who was high – Freddy knew that dazed smile: Karim was drunk.

"Hey Freddy boy!" Karim waved "Nice wheels boy – let's – let's go burn up the road together whoooo!"

He sighed – half of him wanted to drive off and leave the idiot wander around like a lunatic but the other half, the better half told him otherwise. "Get it!" he ordered at Karim unlocking the passenger door. Karim stepped forward and fumbled at the door, impatiently Freddy opened his own door and shoved Karim inside out of the rain before driving off again.

"You don't have to do this" Karim slurred as Freddy handed him his coffee.

"Well I'm a nice guy." Freddy muttered "you're going to have to come back to my place but it's a sofa you're getting and that's it!"

"Your house is...is...like a million miles away man!"Karim moaned "It's like...like...Texas! That's how far away it is! Do you know how far away Texas is Freddy?"

"Well it depends if you're in Arizona or Alaska," Freddy replied tartly "How long is a piece of string?"

Karim stared blankly at him

"Exactly!" he pointed and prodded Freddy in the cheek "How long is the string huh? Man you're so clever man no wonder you're a lawyer Freddy so, so clever man – even if you do live in Texas"

Freddy rolled his eyes

"Right that's it – we're getting you something to eat, I'm not sitting next to this all night."

"Where we going Fred?"

"There's a diner up at the next junction – you need lots of coffee and I need a break."

"Is it far?" Karim asked

"Not again please-"

"Because I think I'm going to throw up!"

Freddy turned to stare at Karim who had suddenly gone ghostly white.

"No way! Not in my car! Not on these seats!"

"Yeah, no – I'm going to be sick man!" Karim had gone from white to green "you got a bag?"

"Oh for Christ's sake Karim!" Freddy hit the brakes, pulled over, switched off the car and waited in disgust as Karim threw up his guts at the side of the road. It was times like this he wished he still smoked it would have been a welcome distraction. Instead he went and sat back in his car out of the drizzle and the cold. He didn't bother switching on the engine – he didn't want the battery to run down in the middle of nowhere and who knew how long Karim would be doing his business in the bushes.

"Hey how you doing back there Karim?" he called out as he checked his tweets – he was trending again.

"Pretty uh- good!" Karim's voice sounded embarrassed and Freddy knew that he'd sobered up a little.

A minute or two later Karim opened the door rather sheepishly and sat down next to Freddy. He looked pale but better. Freddy tossed him a bottle of water he'd had stored in the glove department

"Thanks," he sighed taking a swig. They sat in silence for a while. "Y'know I don't even remember the last time I was this drunk!" Karim said breaking the silence

"I do," Freddy said "you were passed out on my sofa the night you and Felicity got engaged." Karim frowned and looked at him

"I was?"

Freddy laughed

"You certainly were!"

"Oh my God! I don't even remember that night!" he laughed "man, I must have drunk a lot!"

"Oh come on Karim!" Freddy laughed "don't act so surprised I was always picking you up off the floor in college!"

"That's true," Karim smiled "always made sure I had somewhere to sleep at night!"

"At least you got to sleep!" Freddy said giving him a light hearted shove "I'd be up all night checking you hadn't choked to death on your own sick!"

"Ho-ho! Right I believe you there pal!" Karim snorted "I don't remember you ever getting any sleep in college if you know what I mean!?" Freddy grinned and shook his head with a laugh

"Always got more action than you huh K?" he tapped Karim on the back patronizingly but in a friendly way

"I guess," Karim said with a wry smile "but then again – even back then I was sleeping with your sister!"

Freddy stared at him for a second in disbelief then the two of them burst out laughing, normally at first but soon the two of them were crying with laughter.

"Oh man!" Freddy smiled "come on K, let's get going." He wiped a tear from his eye and went to reach for the keys when suddenly he was blinded by the headlamps of a speeding oncoming lorry.