etherium-The Last Paladin: 2nd Installment

Sitting amidst the almost silent bustle of the courtroom, Paul Matthews fidgets with his papers. He is lean, sharply dressed, every crease is well tailored, not a hair is out of place on his head. For a young man of 33 he is really quite mature in his demeanor, even in comparison to the man sitting at the table opposite him, the lawyer for the prosecution. In the seat next to Paul is another man, the accused, who sits silently, nervously as though awaiting some strange fate.
   At the front of the courtroom a door opens, and the silent bustle dies down to a silent, barely audible whisper as the judge enters the room. The man to Paul's right stiffens and Paul can feel the fear emanate from him, in response he quickly reaches out his hand tapping the man lightly on the shoulder in a gesture of reassurance. Paul is certain, but Ozel Geis, his client, is not certain. He has been shaken by everything from the accusation to the time spent being alternately battered and uplifted by the voices of witnesses and others.
   Not everyone faces rape charges in their life, and it is apparently better not to, as the look in Ozel's eyes is a little disconcerting. His face is thin, angular, with a slight suggestion of menace, though it goes away upon closer inspection. He is dressed equally as sharply as Paul, and everything about him is razor sharp. His fine attire, his shining leather shoes, the small earring in his ear, and the chain around his neck that is mostly concealed by his buttoned up shirt. Ozel is a little older than Paul, a little more wear and tear is evident in his posture even though he carries himself well.
   Paul took the case because of the compelling evidence of the man's innocence, defending those he knew were guilty is far from the type of thing that Paul Matthews wants to be known for. Ozel was certainly not the greatest man, Paul knew that he had been cheating on his wife with the woman who accused him of rape. Paul also knew that the charges were merely a jealous attempt to get back at Ozel for not choosing to leave his wife for her. The case had been well played by Paul, and he was very confident of the victory, even if Ozel still had his doubts.
   "All rise" intoned the courtroom bailiff as all in the room rose momentarily to their feet for the ascension of the judge to his place above the court. Then just as quickly, "You may be seated" and everyone returned audibly to their seat as though they had been straining to sit back down.
   "Bring in the jury please." The judge's voice is strong, he is clearly very accustomed to commanding his courtroom. When he is finished speaking, the jury begins to file in to the room, silently taking their seats with the empty expression of boredom on their faces. Taking a sheet of paper from the person who is obviously the foreperson of the jury the bailiff walks stiffly the few paces to hand it to the judge even as he speaks again.
   "Has the jury reached a verdict in the case of the State of New York v. Ozel Geis?" his words are covered ever so lightly by the sound of the crinkling of the paper that he has unfolded, read, and refolded back in to the hands of the bailiff before he even finishes speaking the words.
   The much less sure voice of the foreperson rings out in the room, "We have your Honor."
   "And what have you decided on the charge of rape?"
   "We the jury find the defendant, Ozel Geis, not guilty of rape."
   "Thank you for your service ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Mr. Geis, you are free to leave."
   As Paul smiles in relief, not in the relief of knowing that he has successfully won his case, but just knowing that the case is over and he can move on to the next one. Ozel grabs his hand, a large smile on his face, only somewhat twisted by his angular features.

   Several hours later in the darkness outside of a small, well appointed downtown club lights and sounds emit as the door opens and Paul Matthews enters. A small, but well dressed, wealthy crowd of people quickly enfolds Paul. Words of congratulation and praise are lofted from all sides of him as they each try to get his attention. The look on Paul's face as he walks with this crowd seems to indicate that he has experienced this before, and that he has learned very well how to accept it and move on.
   A man with a craggy face and a mass of slick, dark hair emerges from the crowd. Paul immediately recognizes him and, extricating himself from the crowd of well wishers, approaches him deferentially. The man doesn't speak any words, but rather simply gives a pleasing look of appraisal as he gazes over Paul's face. A smile like a boulder cracking emerges from the deep set lines of his face, flashing only long enough for Paul to recognize it, he grasps Paul's hand giving it a firm shake, and just as quickly moves on and melts back in to the small crowd.
   Standing there in the midst of this celebration Paul is somewhat disconcerted by the surprise encounter with the president of Curran, Hoffman, and Shlesinger, the firm he works for as an associate attorney. However, he doesn't have long to think on this matter as another person emerges from the crowd, obviously approaching Paul with the intent to engage him in conversation. Breaking from his reverie of thought and surprise Paul quickly jumps to greet the newcomer, whose white hair stands out against the well defined features of his face and shoulders.
   "Barry, so glad to see you!" grasping the man by the hand the two only momentarily act as though this will be their only greeting before quickly embracing each other and laughing as only long time friends will do in a situation such as this. "Mr. Curran just shook my hand, Barry, he shook my hand, I think I know what that means, but tell me, what is the talk in the board room?"
   Barry Aigle breaks into a magnificent smile, filled with flashing white teeth, before immediately grasping Paul's elbow and leading him off into a quieter corner of the noise filled room. Barry's swift change of demeanor is a small shock. For the look in Barry's eyes, while still happy, is one of seriousness, though Paul does not see anything of concern in the eyes that he knows almost as well as he knows those of his own father.
   "Paul, have you heard anything from anyone else yet?" the look of utter incomprehension on Paul's face is enough of an answer for Barry as he moves on, "Well, we had a meeting after the verdict came down today, everyone was very impressed by your performance, as always I might add!" An almost fatherly note of pride drifts lazily through his tone as he continues on, "We've had a big new case come in from one of our top clients, a Mr. K. Emitikos. We are all quite amazed, actually, myself above all others, but he has been accused of murder! Can you imagine one of our best clients, a murderer?" Incredulity almost rolls off of Barry's tongue as he steams onward, "So we were meeting about this particular case when the news of the verdict came in, and the decision was unanimous, and I didn't even forward the motion! You've been chosen to take the case, to get these obviously false charges removed from the record of Mr. Emitikos. Paul, I don't think I need to say this, but this is extremely big..."
   Paul, not listening anymore, knew who Mr. Emitikos was, he was the firm's richest client, one of the wealthiest men in New York City, owner of so many business ventures one couldn't keep track of them all. The man was the firm's top client by far, and the fact that the board had selected Paul to take on the case had a clear and resounding purpose to it. Paul's eyes widened slightly in disbelief over the implications of what he was hearing as Barry smiled broadly.
   Almost feeling as though he can't stand Paul finds a hand at his elbow, helping him to a chair not three feet distant from him. The hand is soft and supple, one that he knows well, it is Jen Bastets, Barry's assistant. Her appearance at his side while contemplating the enormity of what he has just been offered is a strong dose of reassuring medicine to him. Looking up at her he smiles briefly, she returns the smile, also very briefly, before speaking.
   "So Paul, taking on a big case for the firm I hear." She smiles again as she speaks, obviously pleased, a note of affection in her tone, though it is an ambiguous one that doesn't have a clear source. "And guess what the best part is Paul? Barry wants me to be your assistant during the course of the trial! We'll be working together, isn't it great?!" This time the tone is obviously one of friendly affection, and Paul smiles up in happiness amidst the weight of the impending journey.
   He looks at Jen, appraising her fiery red hair, her slim figure that he could recognize from a block away because of how often they have worked together. The figure that for years he has innocently and shyly admired, but always from a distance, will now be by his side over the course of the next weeks and months, during the preparation and presentation of the case. He feels a weight lift off his shoulders as he rises from his chair to embrace Barry and Jen in turn.