CHAPTER 23

Hennessy stepped out of the courthouse and into the midday heat, the kind that clung to his skin and made the pavement shimmer like a mirage.

He crossed the street without looking, his mind miles away, and wandered into Washington Square Garden. The park was quiet this time of day, the hum of distant traffic muted by the thick canopy of ancient oak trees. He stopped beneath one of the larger oaks, its branches sprawling like arms, offering shade from the unforgiving sun. Tilting his head back, he stared up at the endless blue sky, his eyes unfocused, lost in thought.

With a sigh, Hennessy loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves, the fabric clinging to his damp skin. He sank onto a wooden bench, its surface warm from the sun. For a while, he just sat there, letting the stillness settle over him. No arguments, no files, no ticking clock. Just the shade, the heat, and the distant chirping of birds.

After a few minutes, he stood, the moment of peace fading as the weight of the day returned. He walked the fifteen minutes back to his office, the sun beating down on his shoulders with every step. Outside the building, he paused to wipe the sweat from his brow, already feeling the cool promise of air conditioning through the glass doors. Inside, the chilled air hit him like a blessing. He let out a long breath, grateful for the reprieve.

“Good afternoon,”

Jacinta said as she sipped her coffee. “Why are you smiling so much?”

“The air-conditioning,”

Hennessy pointed to the vents above their heads. “I’m so happy it was invented. I’d hate to think about what life was like before air-conditioning.”

“Well, it’s not all positive.”

Jacinta placed her mug down and sat behind her desk. “My Grandma says air-conditioners put an end to evening socializing in the Southern states. She remembers when people had to leave their houses in the evenings and sit on the porch to enjoy the cooler weather. People would be inclined to wander over to the neighbors’ porch or visit friends down the street just to get out of the house and enjoy the cooler air. She says that once people started putting AC in their homes, nobody went outside in the evenings anymore. She says that comfort put an end to the sense of community.”

“The side effect of progress,”

Hennessy said as he sat down. “How are we going with our expert witnesses?”

“Good. They’ve all provided their statements and their availability. They’re clear about the case they’re testifying in and have all the details about the potential dates and times. The IT specialist took some time to respond, but he’s confirmed his availability now.”

Jacinta tilted her head slightly. “But something’s wrong. What is it?”

“How could you tell something was wrong?”

“Are you kidding me?”

Jacinta laughed. “You can’t hide your emotions. You might be tough, and you might be stoic, but every one of those emotions is written on your face. You can’t hide from me.”

Hennessy smiled. He loved his team. Working with Jacinta had been an absolute pleasure. She was hard-working, smart, and kind. Her presence lit up the room, and he was happy to have found her. When she first started working for the law firm, she requested flexible working hours to help with her family, going to school and volunteering, coaching, or being present as a mother. Having not been in the law for twenty years, Hennessy initially found the request jarring, but once she started, he realized it mattered little. Her work ethic was unmatched.

He sat on the chair beside her desk, huffed, and shook his head. “Garrett requested to add fifteen names to the witness list. Fourteen were nothing witnesses, experts and specialists, and people who will make little difference to our trial tactics, but there was one name that we haven’t seen before. Richard Dunstall. He’s listed as an eyewitness, and his witness statement makes for interesting reading. And with his name in the middle of the list, it appears like Garrett was trying to bury his presence.”

“And the fourteen new witnesses aren’t important?”

“They’re not inconsequential, but they’ll add nothing we haven’t already prepared for. They’re all experts. Some are forensic accountants, some are white-collar crime specialists, and others are expert financial witnesses. I don’t expect Garrett will use all of them, but he’s showing us that he has a lot of firepower when it comes to analyzing the money trail.”

“And the unexpected witness?”

“Richard Dunstall has provided a witness statement that makes for interesting reading. His statement says he used to work for Palin and quit two years ago when he saw Palin embezzling money from several companies, not just the Foundation. The statement also says that he saw the discrepancy in the Foundation’s accounts and approached Palin about it. Palin brushed him off.”

“Interesting,”

Jacinta said. “But why has he come forward now?”

“Because Garrett has lost Tilly and Fisher. They were his big witnesses, the employees who would point the finger at their boss. I imagine Garrett knew about Richard Dunstall this whole time but didn’t use him because he had Tilly and Fisher. Without the affair couple testifying, Garrett needs someone to fill their place.”

“Who are the new companies that Dunstall claims Palin stole money from?”

“His written statement doesn’t mention the company names.”

Hennessy looked at his watch, huffed again, and then stood. “And that’s what I need to find out.”