Chapter 3 Defending The Enemy

JENNA'S POV

After looking at the evidence my boss showed me I couldn't close my jaw. All the evidence pointed at him. His DNA on the murder weapon, him having met her around the time she was killed, a big argument occurring between them. "This can't be. There must be a mistake somewhere." Jace Maddox could be annoying, maybe even a bit shady, but a killer? "I need you, Jenna. Take this case," Ferdinand was saying. "I can't. The evidence is too glaring," I said. "Jenna...." "What you are asking of me is too much, Ferdinand. You told me that they found the body of the girl very close to where Jace lives, they found the blade that had been used to kill her and his fingerprints were all over it, the same girl had gone to see Jace that same day, they had argued shortly before she was murdered and people said that Jace and this girl had never been on good terms. Do you see now that this is an impossible case?" "Jenna, I know this case is a difficult one. But we need to take it. I am giving you this case because you are the best lawyer in my firm. Even though you are one of the youngest and have not been practicing for that long, you have already made a name for yourself in the profession. You have dealt with so many impossible cases as well. So I'm sure you can do this too." "No, I can't. I just can't. This is different. We can't win this type of case. It would just be a waste of time. For Jace to be free, we must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Jace is innocent. Remember? Besides, if Jace did this, isn't he supposed to be punished for his crimes? Why are we defending someone who murders girls?" Deep down I knew I was wrong and I was scared. Scared of making a mistake as Jace's lawyer and making him suffer for life. Yet I knew better than to trust criminals. In this field many people you think you were wrong about always turned out guilty. Jace might have done it and I didn't want to defend him because I will surely be biased. As much as I hated him, I didn't hate him enough to want to jail him. Ferdinand suddenly drew closer to me and pulled me, confused. What was he up to, and why was he looking at me like that? "Jenna, I have not been candid with you and everyone at the firm." "What do you mean?" "Yes, I have not been candid and am sorry." "Can you just go straight to the point, please?" "Ferdinand & Co Firm has been facing many financial difficulties lately. About some months now. I can't explain every detail, but we are approaching bankruptcy." My eyes widened in surprise. What did he mean by we are approaching bankruptcy? "I don't understand. I have not noticed any of these recently." "You won't. I tried my best to keep it from my workers. I have only been able to pay your salaries through loans and from my account. Soon, I won't be able to pay it anymore. The signs would start showing, and I wouldn't be able to hide it anymore." Ferdinand stopped and scratched his head. He looked very nervous and worried. I sighed. "So what has all these got to do with me?" "We need the money, Jenna. Jace is offering to pay a hefty sum to be set free. I mean, who wouldn't?" "So you want me to defend that murderer just for the money? Don't you realize the implications of defending such a person? What would people say about us? The news about the girl's death is all over," I said. "I know. But imagine how the tides would turn in our favor if we prove he isn't the murderer and win this case." "Ferdinand, the evidence is too glaring. I don't know how you expect me to win such a sensitive case. The victim in question is a young girl. The suspect is a man. You know how people are about cases like this. What if people think we are an organization that prevents criminals from getting the justice they deserve? Especially one who goes about killing little girls?" Deep down in me, I knew Jace had to be innocent. It did not make sense. Jace was not someone who would murder a child. He was annoying and got on my nerves constantly, but this...this is something he can not do. It did not make sense. Jace would never kill anyone. Besides, what was the motive? Yet I knew that to prove this would be difficult. Why did they argue shortly before she died? And why was her body found a few blocks away from Jace's home? It was all too confusing. I wanted to refuse. I had the right to refuse a case I was not interested in handling. I had done so a lot of times in the past, and Ferdinand was always very understanding. But when I looked up into Ferdinand's pleading eyes, I knew I could not refuse. No other firm in the city except ours will be willing to handle such a risky case. No one at the firm could defend Jace as well as I could. Not to brag, but I was the best they got at the firm, and no one can handle the case like I do. "Just do it," my freind Daniela said as I asked jer for advice, "I don't think he did it." "I don't know Daniela. What if I lose?" "You won't lose. You've never lost a case before remember?" So, I was given the case and started my preparations. Would I be able to defend the notorious city's billionaire? What if things went wrong? If it was proven that Jace was guilty and I lost the case, what would happen to our reputation? My reputation? What would happen to me?