Seventy Eight

The door to my office flew open, braced myself for his words, but he was quiet. He took his seat and faced me, still silent. 

"I will not apologize." I said to him as if reading his mind.

"You don't have to. You are suspended." He dropped an envelope on my desk. I could not react. I just didn't know how to. "I'm sending a report to the Dean as well. You will never learn. 

About the case…" He trailed off and I suddenly felt happy. There's still a case. She listened to me!

"I am not going to invest either my time or any of the other lawyers time on it. In fact, no one wants to take it. You'll take the case. I don't care whether you aren't a lawyer yet or not. You think you know all already, so go ahead and defend her yourself! " He dropped the file on my table.

"You have four months! You'll be off work and no pay." He snarled. "You think she is innocent, then go ahead and defend her. I don't care how you do it, but this is a case you must win. You must!" He yelled.

"Kamila Dickson, if you don't! Then be ready to lose your job and your law school certificate. I have enough evidence to get you a jail term. Trust me when I saw I will watch your ruin. You'll become a nobody, and I will make sure that happens. You must win this case"

 "I can't defend her. I've not worked on any case before and this is complex Mark."

"I don't give a damn, Kamila Dickson. You have ten minutes to leave this premises, and you might never return. Only if you win the case. Pack all your shits out of here."

Shits?!

Damn you!

I stood up. "Okay then! I'll leave!"

I took my bag and left the premises angrily.

*

I drove straight to a public library to get some books. I needed to read, countless books. I can't imagine myself defending a case in court. And I needed a lead. Something, anything.

The receptionist smiled on seeing me.

"Mrs Dickson, it's been a long time."

"Yeah, I'm glad to be here. I mean, this place looks better." I said.

"Exactly. We also have new books that you'd like."

"Okay, I'll give check them out." I walked into the array of shelves. The familiar scent of vanilla and rain. The last time I said that to Kyle, he told me it smelled like the Dead Writers Perfume, a new brand of perfume which promises to evoke the aroma of books old enough for their authors to have passed to the great writers' retreat in the sky. The paranormal perfume he promised to buy for me, but I rejected outrightly.

The dusty old book got my nostrils watery and for once, I thought it was a waste of time coming here.

Maybe I just needed to clear my head. Perhaps I chose this place, so I'll he alone and be able to think? I stopped at a shelf, paying little attention to the book, but trying to process my thought. Why do I feel like I can't do this?

I don't know this girl. Or do I?

I've never investigated on any case before, but this case doesn't require an amateur like me. Can I?

'Believe in yourself, Kamila. Because I believe in you.'

Who said that?

You can guess…

I will do this. A movement in the shelf brought me out of my trance and I guess there was someone there. I quickly took any book and began to move. I wasn't paying attention and I faced the consequence of bumping into a hard chest. 

Not again!

Bad day indeed!

I took the book I had in my hands, which had fallen to the ground when we bumped.

When I looked up to his face. I was awed. He didn't look any special. In fact, He was commonplace in complexion, in feature, in manners, and even in voice when he finally spoke.

"I apologize Miss."

He was of middle size and of ordinary build. His eyes, of the usual brown, were perhaps icy. Otherwise, there was only an indefinable, faint expression of his lips, something stealthy — a smile — not a smile — a grin. I don't know.

"I apologize too. I wasn't looking." I was about to move past him when he stopped me.

"Ma'am." He said. 

"What?"

"Hm." He smiled, finally I can deduce his smile. "Actually, I've come for the book you are holding. I need it urgently, and I don't think this library has another. When will you return it, please?"

Return? 

Book?

When I checked by the heavy brown leather book in my hands, I saw it was a legend's documentary. What the hell?

I don't even need it. But why would a fully grown man want a legend's book so urgently. 

None of your business, Kamila. My subconscious groaned.

"Do you need it very urgent?"

I wanted to avoid looking like a crazy woman. We pick a book in a library and then admits that it's useless to them. 

"Yes, ma'am."

"Well, then you can have it. I will come get it after you return it. I can use it some other time."

I gave it to him.

"Thank you so much, Miss." Then his gaze trailed to my ring finger. Yeah, I'm married. My subconscious said.

"I'm Jake Anderson." He extended his hands for a shake.

"Kamila Dickson."

"Nice to meet you."

I only nodded, waiting for him to let go of my hands.

He took out a card from his pocket and gave it to me.

"There's my card."

When I glanced at it, I saw he was a detective.

Little wonder.

"You are detective?"

"Yes."

"Little wonder. You much be chasing a legend this time."

"Not really, but yeah, I needed this for an investigation. I must say, You're not just beautiful but smart, Miss Dickson." He smiled, 

"Thank you. I'd better go now." I gave him my card too. I just felt like it was necessary to reciprocate.

"Thanks a lot!" He yelled behind me.

"Welcome." I murmured to myself before getting into my car.