Chapter Three
She looks at her watch again, it's been ten minutes since they've been sitting there, waiting for him. He knows perfectly well that they are there, still he doesn't bother to show up in time. It's like he was the only one with a tight schedule, besides he knows perfectly well how much she hates to be kept waiting.
It doesn't seem to bother her partner that much, he's sitting next to her, resting his head against the wall. If he closed his eyes, he might fall asleep at once, but he knows he can't let that happen.
"Diane, Will, I'm sorry, it's a busy day," she finally hears his voice and looks up at the tall man before standing up from her seat.
"That doesn't give you a reason to waste our time, Peter," she states, ignoring his apology.
"We'll cut this short," he replies and motions in the direction of his office.
She hesitates for a few seconds, but only until she feels the touch of Will's hand on her back, who obviously wants to make her step into the office first. She knows she should look at him to indicate she's not all right with being pushed, especially not that way, but the look on Peter's face makes her forget about her concerns. He definitely doesn't approve of Will's move either and she finds that rather amusing. Taking her eyes off him she takes a step forward and walks into his office followed by the two men.
"We offer twenty years," Peter says right after he arrives behind his desk.
"And we decline," she replies at once, ready to turn around, but his voice stops her.
"Wait, you have to take this to your client, he could face life. He not only killed the man with his own gun, he also buried his dead body on a property that belongs to his firm."
"His gun, his property, you sound very convincing, but there is reasonable doubt and you know that."
"Take the offer to your client," Peter replies, slowly emphasizing each word.
She shouldn't let him talk like that to her, but there's not much she can do with Will being present and probably he is the reason Peter is talking to her like that, he is almost hostile.
"We will get back to you," she says finally, deciding to give up temporarily and she's about to turn around again, when he stops her once more.
"If you'd excuse us, Will, there's something I'd like to discuss with Diane, a private matter, not related to the case."
She can't believe her ears and she makes sure to let her indignation be seen by him, but it doesn't seem to affect him at all.
"Sure," she hears Will's voice, "I'll be outside," he says before walking out and Peter also walks to the door and closes it behind him.
"A private matter?" she asks a little agitated, "How many more people you want to drag into this?"
"If my memory is clear you were the one telling the judge about a meeting that took place right here," he replies with a teasing smile and by the time he gets to the last part of the sentence he's already standing in front of her.
"You were hiding evidence from us," she looks straight into his eyes, which are only a few inches away from hers.
"I wanted to tell you about the evidence, but you rushed away."
"Because your assistant almost caught us, we have to be more careful, the last thing we need during a murder trial is this kind of publicity."
"You know I don't mind going public with this and we will go on that date if you lose this case, which you will, since you seem unwilling to accept a really favourable deal."
"It's an innocent man's life you're talking about."
"That's for the jury to decide."
"I'm glad we agree on that," she says with a hint of a smile and turns in the direction of the door.
"What? You can't leave me like this," his voice sounds surprised and she widens her smile as she walks in the direction of the door.
"See you in court," she turns her head back to look at him one last time before she opens the door and walks out of his office.