Free Broken (Endurance) by April Thomas

put him away for life.
     
    "I'm finished." Cressida slammed her folders closed and nodded at the two police officers.
     
    They walked forward and each grabbed a hold of Blake's arms, yanking him up and out of his chair 
     
    Busy putting her files away, Cressida glanced up to see him glaring at her.
     
    "I will be seeing you soon," he said.
     
    "Look. Mr. Carter, there is a lot more involved in this case besides DNA. They can still implicate you in these crimes. You may get out for a short time, but everything done in the dark will come to light," Cressida growled. She grabbed her things and walked out of the room. She felt so much rage boiling up inside of her and she had so many questions and so many people she needed to talk to. She pulled out her cell phone and called her secretary to set up a meeting with the prosecuting attorney for the Blake Carter case.
     
    When she reached her car, she got in and simply sat there for a while as she tried to assimilate what had just happened.  Her father had lied to her about taking the case. The thought clung to her and fostered a growing frustration.  "That bastard knew from the very beginning," Cressida grumbled as she started her car and drove off.
     
    ***
     
    Maxwell looked at his watch. He and Cressida had agreed to meet for lunch and, she was already twenty minutes late. He sat in her office reading the morning newspaper and drinking a bottle of water.
     
    Cressida's secretary had been busy all morning accepting calls and sending faxes. When Cressida had called in what seemed to be a very rushed and angry tone, it completely slipped her mind to tell her that Maxwell was waiting for her.
     
    He had taken care of his business meetings early that morning and was free for the rest of the day, and while he didn’t mind waiting, he repeatedly glanced at his watch, a habit, he thought. Forty-five minutes later he heard the office door burst open. Cressida stomped through the door and headed to her desk where she broke down and wept.
     
    Maxwell sat up and folded the newspaper, flopping it down on the coffee table as he stood. Cressida was unaware of his presence and he hesitated a moment, sensing he was violating her space.  But when her shoulders shook with pain and grief, he came to her side and wrapped his arms around her.
     
    Cressida jumped and turned to him, her red eyes wide with surprise.  “Maxwell.” Relief softened her eyes and she leaned into him. "I'm so sorry. I know I’m late. I got wrapped up in this case." She swiped her hands across her cheeks, wiping away her tears.
     
    "You're upset and that’s understandable. It’s a wonder you made it here at all. He tilted her chin up so she would look him in the face. “How did the interview go?"
     
    "Oh, Maxwell, I can't do this.  I can’t," Cressida cried. "This man is evil. Everything about him is just nasty and vile. I feel filthy just having been around him."
     
    Maxwell held her close. "I know this is hard for you."
     
    "No, you don't even know the half." Cressida pushed him away and started pacing before her fireplace.
     
    "What did you learn?" Maxwell said.
     
    Cressida stopped and rested her hand on the mantle. "My father lied to me. Blake requested me. He wanted me to be his lawyer and my father agreed."
     
    "What the hell are you telling me?" Maxwell said, walking towards her.
     
    "That's not all." Cressida took a deep breath and folded her arms across her chest. "The results of the DNA tests haven’t come back yet. Blake seems certain that it’s not his.  He claims they are trying to pin cold cases on him."
     
    "Cressida, I can't believe..."
     
    "How do you think I feel? If those tests come back saying it's not his DNA, he is going to walk."
     
    Maxwell was speechless. Something just wasn't adding up. He could sense that Blake had a lot more tricks up his sleeves. It was times like this that he really missed his brother. Tamarius would be able to psychically see beyond the