Free Trial by Fury by K.G. MacGregor Page A

we got our hands on the evidence—especially the video. Not only that, they can ask a judge for permission to look at all of your emails and messages with Hayley…and anyone else who might be related to the case.”
    “That’s not fair!” He literally withdrew, taking a step back as though separating himself from both her and the case. “Hayley’s been my best friend…like, forever. What we talked about is private. Secrets other people have no right to know.”
    Alarmed by the panic in his voice, she closed the distance between them and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Michael, it’s going to come out anyway if we go forward with the case. That secret list the team had, it’ll be subpoenaed. They’ll be able to determine who posted the video and who shared it with you. But all the attorney cares about at this point is what happened to Hayley. Anything else you talked about…nobody has any reason to make that public.” Even as the words left her lips, she knew she couldn’t make that guarantee. The university administration had already shown its capacity for dirty tricks.
    “But they’ll—God, they can’t do that. Somebody’s going to get hurt.”
    “Look, Michael. I get it. You’re protecting someone on the basketball team, right?”
    He looked as though he might cry. “You have no idea what the rest of those guys are like. They’ll make his life miserable. I promised him I wouldn’t tell.”
    “Michael, they raped your friend and she killed herself.”
    “He had nothing to do with it. Don’t you see? He tried to do the right thing. But if they find out, they’ll beat the crap out of him, Dr. Perone. And then Coach T’s going to kick him off the team.”
    “For doing something brave? He’s a hero for standing up to those guys. So are you.” She couldn’t bring herself to shame him for wanting to hide, not after first going to Theo in disguise so it wouldn’t cost her a promotion. “Michael, I didn’t want to be involved either. There’s a very good chance I could lose my job over this, but we both know that’s not what matters here. We have a responsibility to Hayley. We can’t stop caring about her now, not until we make those people pay for what they did to her.”
    His face contorted with anguish, but she could tell she was getting through.
    “I’ll talk to the attorney and tell her how important your privacy is. I’m sure she’ll do everything in her legal power to protect you.” That much she could promise. “I know it’s tough right now, but someday you’ll look back on this and be so proud you did the right thing. Your friend will feel the same way. It’s who you are.”
    * * *
    Theo was pleased Celia had followed her directions to leave a callback message that gave nothing away. Pressing a finger to her ear to shut out the road noise, she shouted, “You do good work, Doc. If they sack you at Harwood, I can probably find a place for you in the firm.”
    “Doing what exactly? You guys need a drama coach?”
    “Uh, not really…but how’s your driving?” She glanced over at Hank, who was creeping down the interstate again. “Never mind. You were right about Belinda Burkhart. She can’t help us at all. We’re heading back to Atlanta to talk to the grandmother’s brother.”
    She proposed meeting Celia for a drink to pick up Michael’s thumb drive.
    “I dropped it off at your office this morning. I didn’t know you were out.”
    Theo was both pleased and disappointed. Pleased to know Celia had gone out of her way to deliver the data, and disappointed they had no pressing reason to see each other again, at least not right away. When she ended the call, she heard a distinct chuckle from Hank.
    “What?”
    “Didn’t say nothin’.”
    She glanced back at Jalinda, who was wearing earbuds so she could transcribe the recording she’d made with Belinda. She’d missed the conversation.
    As Theo played the words back in her head, her face began to burn.