My Husband Framed Me for His Mistress's Crash novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: With Prejudice

The same judge heard my case on Monday morning, in the same courtroom where I had fired a nine hundred dollar lawyer with his own pen.

This time I stood at the defense table with Frances beside me, and I wore a plain gray suit.

The deputy attorney general stood at the State's table, alone.

"Your Honor," she said. "The State moves to dismiss all charges against Laurel Kershaw, with prejudice."

The judge took off his glasses.

"On what grounds?"

"On the ground that she was not driving."

"The State has a sworn statement from the driver and a doorbell video from the scene."

"It has the original seat photographs, and a dashcam recording made inside the car."

"It also has a laboratory report on the medication she was given that night, and every night for two years."

A sound came from the gallery. I did not turn around.

"The motion is granted," the judge said. "The charges against Mrs. Kershaw are dismissed with prejudice, and the record will say she was never at the wheel."

I had waited six weeks to hear that sentence.

It was shorter than I expected, and I found I couldn't breathe past it.

"Mrs. Kershaw," the judge said, and he looked at me over the desk. "You told this court on your first morning that you would speak for yourself. I did not believe it would work."

"Thank you, Your Honor."

"I owe you an apology on behalf of this county. I'll put it in the order."

He banged the gavel once, softly.

At the clerk's counter, a county technician knelt with a small tool and a form.

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