“I don’t think the corruption and the bribery necessarily had to do with that. I know that when it came to you, he was set in his ways. He just believed that you did it and that was it. That’s one of the reasons he refused to test the DNA. He didn't want to have proof of something to the contrary.”

“So, what happened?” I ask.

“We, at the office, mainly me but another paralegal as well, we started gathering evidence secretly. Just anything that we found suspicious. And when we thought we had a good case, we turned that over to the authorities. He suspected something because that’s when he fired me.”

I shake my head. “I thought that he fired you because he found out that we tested the DNA.”

“No.” She smiles. “I wouldn’t have gotten my job back if that were the case. Luckily, no one knows about that and hopefully no one ever will.”

“So, what’s going to happen now?” Nicholas asks.

“The new DA is working on the case against Owen. He gave Robert immunity in exchange for his testimony and I think he’s working on the same deal for Ricky.”

“Wow, that’s great,” I say.

“They are going to officially serve him the papers and arrest him at the jail tomorrow,” Meredith says. “He’s already incarcerated so the two states will have to work out some sort of arrangement. I guess he’ll first stand trial for what he did to you, Olive, and then be extradited here to face the murder charges.”

A feeling of euphoria mixed with relief sweeps over my whole body and I finally relax.

Owen will finally get what is coming to him. He will finally get what he deserves.

30

Olive

When we prepare for her wedding…

After Nicholas’ release, we spend every waking moment together and we still can’t get enough of each other.

We sleep in late.

We go to lunch and then spend our afternoons in bed.

We laugh and talk and lose ourselves in each other and it’s never enough.

We go to the movies and eat dinner and sleep in each other’s arms. He lives in my room and Sydney doesn’t seem to mind. James wasn’t able to get a job in Boston but did get one in New York and they plan on moving there after they get married.

At first, her pregnancy doesn’t seem very difficult but then the exhaustion sets in. So, she has been spending most of her days planning the wedding and taking long naps.

I keep meaning to talk to her about marrying him again, but every time I see them, they actually look happy.