Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 427

Theodore stood by, speechless. He hadn't said a single word.

The lawyer was equally stunned. Weren't Hanley Archer supposed to be the easy one?

Hanley delivered a final blow. "And are you even a competent lawyer? Didn't you review her case file before taking her on? She nearly poisoned Mr. Whitman to death. What kind of colossal idiot do you think he is that he'd post her bail?"

The so-called colossal idiot winced.

The lawyer pushed his glasses up his nose. "Of course I read the file. But Cecilia said Mr. Whitman doesn't blame her. She said her original intention wasn't to harm him. She said… she's the person Mr. Whitman loves most in the world, and that no matter what she's done, he would, for old times' sake, save her one last time."

He then looked at Hanley and cleared his throat. "And she also mentioned that you, Mr. Archer, were the most agreeable and protective of her…"

"Bullshit!" Hanley exploded. "He might be an idiot, but I'm not!"

The aforementioned idiot winced again.

"Let me tell you something," Hanley snarled, "we'd be better off staying out of this case. But if we do get involved, it'll be to make sure she rots in prison!" With that, he practically shoved the lawyer out the door, slammed it shut, and turned to Theodore. "Okay, I got rid of him. If he comes back, don't you dare do anything stupid!"

He was particularly worried by the lawyer's claim that "Mr. Whitman would, for old times' sake, save her one last time." He knew Theodore wouldn't go back to Cecilia, but saving her one last time? He couldn't be sure.

The lawyer was in a daze as he left the building.

This was nothing like what Cecilia had described.

He started to dread his next appointment. Would he be met with the same attitude?

But he had to go. No matter what, he had to try.

The lawyer felt like he'd chosen the worst possible day to make these calls. Each family member was less cooperative than the last.

"Ms. Nita, your husband, Jared Page, is currently being held in a detention center. Did you know that? I am the lawyer he's retained, and I will do my best to protect his legal rights."

"Okay, I see," Nita replied, her tone indifferent. She wanted nothing more to do with Jared or his problems.

The lawyer felt the conversation stalling again.

He gathered his thoughts. "Would you be available to meet? The retainer agreement needs to be signed by a family member."

"You should go find his parents," Nita said.

The lawyer sighed. How could he explain that he'd already tried that two days ago? Jared Page's parents had been just as uncooperative, insisting they wouldn't hire a lawyer. They trusted the country and the law, they'd said. If their son had broken the law, he should be educated by the state.