[Music] years ago I had no clue that my life would take such a drastic turn back then I was an ambitious lawyer focused on winning every case my clients were often unsavory characters some even dangerous whose names were whispered in circles I wasn't always proud to be associated with but I thrived in the chaos quickly realizing that law wasn't just about Justice it was of strategy my ability to navigate this Shady terrain earned me both wealth and notoriety the deeper I went the more entangled I became forming alliances with those who could shift things in
my favor As Time passed my moral compass shifted leading me to make decisions that left me indebted to men like Sergeant Devon cross despite his upstanding nature our paths crossed during the worst time in his life that encounter would later come back to haunt him linking Us in an unspoken contract he owed me after I saved his family's home from foreclosure and it wasn't long before I called in that favor what neither of us could anticipate was how this debt would bring unwanted attention to both of us falcon's nest a bar and grill along the
Aging Route 7 sits at the intersection of Three Counties just outside Town known as a hangout for local law enforcement it might not seem like an ideal spot for a discreet meeting which is why it was perfect for me I pulled into the parking lot already crowded Ed and headed inside for a cop bar falcon's nest was surprisingly upscale with a spacious bar and plenty of seating it was the last Friday of the month busy but not overwhelming ideal for a conversation with Sergeant cross the crowd made the meeting appear casual not suspicious when I
walked in most of the patrons greeted me with hostile stares I expected it given that I was suspected of liquidating my Unfaithful Wife and Her Lover a police detective of course there was no charge no bodies no evidence the couple in their car had vanished Without a Trace still in their eyes I was guilty I had motive and as a lowly lawyer I needed proof when Devon arrived he didn't look thrilled with my choice of venue he was tall well-built and could only be described as honorable he was there to repay a debt and cleanse
himself of the guilt of owing a man like me now let me be frank I'm what you'd call Crooked a lawyer without any moral standing I've been an unindicted co-conspirator and at least half a dozen organized crime cases poor Devon was in a bad place the day he walked into my office with a thick stack of forclosure papers at the time he was a metropolitan police officer a sufferer of carnivory mortgage fraud it was early 2008 and he his wife and their four children were about to lose their home he had already approached every honest
and semi-honest lawyer but had found no real help he came to me out of sheer desperation frankly I'm not sure why I helped him he was a good honest cop loyal to his friends but he wasn't someone I could use and he couldn't pay he admitted that right away online scammers had taken his last dime the Foreclosure was scheduled for the next day he just sat in my office this large physically strong man with tears in his eyes telling me about his daughter his little princess who had cancer he didn't know how to tell her
and her brothers that they were about to lose their home I filed for bankruptcy to stop the sale then I had some of my shadier clients visit a mortgage broker and get a confession that the foreclosure documents were forged in other words a mortgage fraudster backed by two of the more violent criminals had for once told the truth it only took a bigger bribe to the court than Deutsche Bank was willing to pay to finally get some justice why did I do all this I still don't know but it was tough for Devon cross to
accept that his family home had been saved by a crook like me you chose a strange place to meet he said even someone like me has a conscience I didn't want you to feel obligated by helping me so you picked this place he asked as lah the barid approached what can I get you Bruce she asked she and I had a long history of harmless flirting and me giving her way too much advice she had a young son and no man at home having made the mistake of choosing looks over reliability there was tension in
L's expression everyone believed I was guilty so I must be which meant that anyone seen with me would suffer and yet I noticed lah came to the table when she could have easily passed my service to someone else l was a good friend as it turned out I had more people like her than I realized I didn't want them to suffer for staying loyal to me I needed to fix my life and show people they could feel comfortable around me again Devon cross stood in my way offering me a Lifeline but I had to make
the most of itg us two Boston beers lah I said I have to say counselor you've got guts coming in here where Paul Moreno's friends and colleagues hang out Devon said Paul Moreno was the guy who seduced my wife and dragged me into all this trouble he his Ford GT and my wife vanished on the night of March 17th St Patrick's Day after back-to-back thunderstorms flooded three counties around Shari Creek in any of the western states it would have been called a river but here it's misleadingly called a creek a name that's caused plenty of
suffering people have tried for years to build Bridges and structures around it only to pay with lives and property for underestimating the Shari by the morning of March 18th all the emergency crews were f focused on rescuing flood sufferers no one realized my wife and her lover were missing for a few days then of course all suspicion fell on me fortune favors the Bold as they say I told Debon we made small talk for a while as he got down to business after two beers I finally said just tell me what you came to say
and I'll handle the rest don't worry no one will ever know the advice came from you he leaned in and whispered they've got a warrant and they're coming to your house and office at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday I pushed my chair back stood up and let it crash to the floor then I shouted look when I need advice I'm not going to get it from some Subway Pig and that guy will be a better friend than you and for the last time I don't know what happened to my wife I stormed out leaving a bewildered
Devon behind but he was sharp and would realize that everyone would assume the worst they'd think he was an ambitious cop trying to get ahead pushing for a confession from me wouldn't hurt his career but being seen in a secret meeting with me would destroy him as it stood the encounter was public enough that no one would believe he had tipped me off walking out of Falcon's rest I sighed I had only myself to blame for how things had spiraled out of control I'd let my emotions cloud my judgment now I'd have to work hard
to get out from under the oppressive weight of Justice in this country yet my late wife's words about milk haunted me like a swarm of bees stinging my heart until all the life drained from it October 1st I saw him again today he's very tall and handsome with wavy black hair Jenny says she knows him in fact she slept with him he's a cop which means he's probably following me because of Bruce it's hard to imagine someone as ordinary as Bruce making people so suspicious but it's likely due to his being a lawyer for high-profile
criminals the people he deals with are much more intriguing than poor Bruce don't get me wrong I love him dearly he's like a teddy bear the kind of person you feel safe with I'll never understand why people think he's dangerous Jenny says the cop chasing me is a real stud he's loaded his name's Paul Moreno she's been seeing him for the last 6 months her husband Bob is like a carbon copy of my Bruce except he's got a dull real estate practice instead of handling criminal defense you can't blame Jenny for falling for a cop's
charm Temptation like that is hard to resist after s years of marriage and two kids she's craving excitement or so she says as for me after 15 years of marriage and a 14-year-old daughter I'm ready for a rocking chair on the back porch women like me just don't catch the attention of young studs anymore it makes me feel ancient October 15th Bruce is out of town again lately it feels like he's traveling more and more if it were anyone else I'd suspect infidelity but Bruce is loyal like a spaniel he joined a gym today thanks
to Jenny she's into fitness and wanted a workout partner I'm not in bad shape not like Bruce who's dealing with middle-age but I figured I could use some toning I've upped my morning jog from 1 mile to two still I need to work on my stomach and bum I've been feeling anxious about the idea of my daughter leaving home maybe getting in shape will help why did I let my 14-year-old talk me into sending her to boarding school Rachel's so much like my mother full of ambition with little concern for others mom still mocks my
choice of career but I believe helping others is the highest calling being a social worker can be frustrating but on those rare days when you help someone change their life it's incredibly rewarding Rachel might be trying to escape the stigma of Bruce's profession people say such cruel things and a teenage girl can be very sensitive maybe it's better for her to leave but I'll still miss her I saw him again today God he's so handsome he was at my gym looking like a total stud in a tight suit you could see the definition of his
abs but I tried not to stare at the Bulge in his shorts why he's still following me I don't know but Paul Moreno is definitely catching my attention October 17th I saw Paul Mareno at the gym again today he caught my eye and held my gaze until I had to look away Jenny thinks he's interested in me but I can't imagine why unless it's because of Bruce I've been thinking about Paul a lot lately it's just a harmless fantasy right nothing wrong with that November 2nd I voted today though it probably doesn't matter as I
was leaving the polling station I saw Paul again he wasn't even trying to hide he hadn't been following me for a while but over the past few days he's reappeared he actually said hello this time so I stopped to talk are you following me again I asked turning to face him well that's my job and my excuse he replied with a smirk but what if I was just following you for other reasons why would you do that I questioned narrowing my eyes he grinned have you looked in a mirror lately I sighed and waved him
off stop I'm the mother of a teenager ever heard the term mil he asked his tone playful no what's that I responded confused he leaned in slightly it's a term for a hot mom who catches the eye of younger guys stop it I'm an old lady I said shaking my head he chuckled softly yes you are an older woman but not old just mature at that moment I saw someone I knew and ended the conversation I couldn't believe he was flirting with me like that sure I've lost 5 PBS since joining the gym but still
a young guy interested in me it's flattering I used to feel intimidated by all the younger women with their fit bodies but getting a personal trainer and sticking to it is clearly paying off Bruce has noticed too he just sent me two dozen roses when I called to ask why he said he wanted to send flowers to his beautiful wife what can I say about a man like that I love him deeply I might flirt with a handsome young man but I'll never betray my devoted husband Jake I said as soon as he picked up
the phone Jesus do you know what time it is counselor he groaned sounding half asleep I've been calling you since about 9 I replied frustration creeping into my voice I've been at work Jake Trumble explained well I've got a new job for you I said getting straight to the point can't it wait Jake asked clearly not thrilled no it's urgent I pressed and what is it he asked now sounding more awake I need a complete black binder at my residence and office by Sunday Dawn this Sunday Jake questioned surprised yes this Sunday I confirmed it
takes 72 hours and you're giving me 24 at best Jake pointed out I'm sorry I just got a message that I need it I explained well it's going to cost you a lot Jake warned how much I asked bracing myself 35 Jake said after all the business I've sent your way that's my special price for anyone else it would be 50 Jake made no mention of the fact that it was unlikely I'd live to send him any more cases moreover at this point whether I was a business partner or not I was in no position
to bargain he could charge me any price he wanted and I would have to pay it fine but do it I said November 9th I've seen Paul three times this week now he always smiles and waves Jenny is fully involved with him and says he's the best lover she's ever had he's 29 8 years younger than me Jenny claims that being with him makes her feel like it's her first time today while I was at Starbucks sipping my mocha latte Paul came over and sat at my table he didn't say anything for a long time
just looked at me and I kept ignoring him finally he broke the silence I've been reassigned he said breaking the silence what I asked asked confusion creeping into my voice I'm no longer officially following you he explained and what does that mean I asked still trying to understand well for starters it means my superiors don't believe you're involved in any crimes your husband may have committed he said calmly then unexpectedly he reached across the table and placed his hand over mine but it also means I can finally tell you how much I like you I'd
like us to get to know each other better I pulled my hand back slightly you know I'm married what do you mean by get to know me better he gently took my other hand between his it means you're a beautiful woman married to a man who can't fulfill you you deserve to experience real love between a man and a woman what about Jenny I've heard you two were involved I asked trying to steer the conversation away what Jenny and I had was just casual she's unhappy in her marriage but I'm looking for something something deeper
he said dismissing the topic besides you don't really think any man would choose her over you he added with a smile I met his gaze my voice firm as I said I'm married I've never cheated on my husband he leaned in slightly can he say the same you've seen him what do you think I think we both know you deserve more he said softly at that I stood up leaving most of my latte untouched I had to get out of there this man was affecting me more than I cared to admit and it made me
uncomfortable December 1st since our encounter at the coffee shop I hadn't seen Paul and I felt both relieved and disappointed I regretted not seeing him his attention did wonders for my ego and I couldn't deny my physical attraction to him after all I had never been with anyone but my husband I was curious about what it would be like with another man especially someone so wealthy and skilled after work I was walking to my car in the DSs parking lot it was a little late because I had been delayed by paperwork the lot was well
lit but empty as I approached my car I had the distinct feeling that someone was watching me I bent down to open the door and suddenly Paul was right next to me I jumped startled Paul you nearly scared me to end are you stalking me now I'm sorry he said slipping his hand around my waist under my open coat I just needed to see you I can't stop thinking about you I probably should have been scared but in truth he had been on my mind constantly I wanted to see him too please I begged leave
me alone I can't do this to my husband instead of responding he leaned in and kissed me there was an electric force between us I need you he said more than I've ever needed any woman if it were just about me I'd leave you alone but I can feel your body calling to me I couldn't stop myself from kissing him back back but then I pulled away jumped into my car and shut the door I can't I wish I could but I can't they didn't bother knocking four officers in tactical gear picked the lock and
barged into my house early Sunday morning I suppose they thought they'd catch me off guard asleep instead I was already up in the kitchen making what the tourist brochures call a full English breakfast sure I swapped out the kippers for locks but I found a specialty shop that sold kidney pie I was frying scrambled eggs in a large pan when the first officer stormed into the kitchen I hope you like scrambled eggs I said as he grabbed me and shoved me outside they threw me into a police van while they ransacked my house they tore
up carpet and dug through my flower beds thankfully most of my floors were wood so they only damaged a few boards and left the upper floors relatively untouched the basement though they completely wrecked what bothered me most was when they went after the trunk of my car it felt unnecessary since I'd left the keys in the ignition but it seemed destruction was their main goal still they weren't entirely heartless after they finished tearing apart my house a few officers I'd gotten to know over the years invited me to Denny's for lunch so where'd you hide
the bodies Bruce they asked well I ate what they called the big breakfast which was a let down compared to the meal I'd planned as far as I know there aren't any bodies come on they disappeared in March it's October now do you think it'll rain today it's been pretty dry since those spring and summer storms my flower beds are ruined so I'll have to replant bulbs if I want flowers next spring but at least I'm better off than the folks near Shari Creek I said referring to the flooding in the area the officers at
Denny's weren't interested in the flood or my flowers they only cared about one thing getting a confession they were desperate because they had next to no evidence the problem was I knew how quickly things could change just like a creek spilling over you might not see those spring flowers but you'll feel better if you help us out we know you had your reasons maybe you just lost control stop being a lawyer for once and own up to it we'll work with you I don't think it'll rain looks like we're in for a drought after all
that wet weather I'll stop by Lowe's later for some light bulbs okay have it your way lawyer but cop butchers get the end penalty in this state you might want to think long and hard about that December 9th I had one hell of a day we got a an early call five kids in need of protection normally I don't work with child protective services but it's the busy season with a bad flu outbreak and people taking time off for the holidays we were short staffed and had to be flexible still placing five children under 7
in emergency care was no easy task by 4:00 a.m. we had placed the children and set up support for the new foster parents I was feeling pretty good about it until the State foster care Department called unhappy with the placement it was the same bureaucratic nonsense as always they were concerned about child care payments going to State retirees this could be considered double dipping one of the state workers said we spent an hour going back and forth on the issue it escalated all the way to the county executive and the state DSS commissioner just when
I thought the case was falling apart I heard from the foster parents when are the kids coming the woman asked we're ready my two daughters are here to help well the state's concerned about making payments since you receive a state pension I explained her response was filled with real anger well tell that idiot Governor to keep his lousy payments just send the kids the county executive laughed when he heard this and said send the kids we can sue the state for the money later if needed it took another 3 hours to get the children to
their new home and settled in by the time I headed home it was nearly 8:00 and I didn't get in until 9:00 the first thing I did was take a hot shower I thought about calling Bruce sometimes when I call we can talk for hours but other times he seems busy like his clients take up all his time usually I wait for him to call me but today I just needed to talk to someone about my day I wrapped myself in my terrycloth robe and was about to call when the doorbell rang tightening the robe
I answered with the chain on Paul stood at the door looking both handsome and a little guilty can I come in he asked I don't think that's a good idea I replied I know your husband's out of town you're all alone I just want to come in for a little while maybe have a cup of coffee and talk I can't Paul I said you can trust me he smiled gently it's not you I don't trust it's me please just for a few minutes for some reason I let him in I made us some coffee and
we sat on opposite ends of the large sectional couch as I sat down I adjusted my robe which felt too short for the situation relax he said noticing my discomfort I'm not here to take advantage of you I'm just a friend I heard you had a rough day yeah I replied and as we talked about my day I started to feel more at ease I convinced myself that there was nothing wrong with two people having a drink we switched from coffee to wine and ate frozen pizza for dinner it was nearly midnight when Paul finally
said what he had come to say Elaine I'll always be your friend but I have feelings for you deep feelings what I'm feeling for you is love his words made me tense please he continued let me finish your husband is in New York right now meeting with organized crime members and their anti-surveillance expert they're plotting how to beat the government's wiretapping these are dangerous people and he's helping them stop I don't want to hear this Bruce isn't here to defend himself and it's not fair you're loyal I see that but is it fair to you
to be tied to a man like that when I followed you and fell in love I saw what a kind caring woman you are you help people you're a saint who married the devil but no matter what happens I'll always be here for you over the course of the evening we had gradually moved closer on the couch I knew it was wrong but I couldn't stop myself we both knew where things were headed like a runaway train that couldn't be stopped then I heard the phone ringing it had probably been ringing for a while and
suddenly it was clear who was calling Bruce I said breaking away from Paul's grip it was Bruce just checking in he said sorry did I wake you I lost track of time I braced myself and tried to have a normal conversation Bruce was chatty going on and on while I watched Paul grow more impatient finally he gave me a sad smile and quietly left Bruce's call had saved me from crossing a line I could never uncross but did I really want to be saved the DA's conference room had a worn out look as if it
hadn't been updated in the last 20 years Tanya Marshall the daughter of a former state senator who had dodged prosecution and secured her a job in the DA's office now served as the da herself she wasn't better or worse than the others just another person in power who oppressed the poor while complaining about the rich affording lawyers where's your tool Mr Gray she asked we didn't find it when we searched your house a tool I said a Smith and Wesson 44 magnum registered to you it's missing it is this is the first I've heard of
it it was in the top drawer of my nightstand is it really gone this would be easier if we were honest with each other she said sure go ahead and start what evidence did your officer supposedly find in my house all in good time she replied well then I'll answer your questions on my own time I said standing up with that she handed me a notice of my right to appear before the grand jury that was the real point of the meeting I had no intention of going the outcome was clear I was going to
be indicted for two liquidations the da had no choice they'd broken into my wife's desk and taken her diary they knew all about her Affair of course to someone like Tanya it read like a tragic love story my perspective was different it was a shame about the desk it was a small colonial era antique that had sat in a dealer's display case for nearly a year we had just gotten married and our daughter Rachel was learning to walk Elaine was working on her master's degree in social work and I was a struggling new lawyer I
loved her and knew how much she wanted that desk every time we walked by the store she'd stop and gaze at it I saved every penny I could but when I finally went to buy it for our anniversary it was gone from the window I went inside and asked for it and the manager said it had been moved to the back when it was delivered to our little apartment Elaine was overjoyed over the years I watched her sit at that desk thinking how lucky I was to have her love is made up of those little
moments her excitement over that antique desk our daughter's first steps buying our first house elain's Pride when she earned her master's degree all those moments combined they form what people call love when they opened the desk and found the journal I suppose I could have left the drawers unlocked but then they might not have noticed the diary locking them made it stand out and I needed them to find it still the destruction of the desk stung maybe it made me realize that Elaine was really gone the diary had the effect I expected its contents leaked
quickly and the pressure on the DA's office ramped up they had what they saw as proof and the public knew about the affair my Unfaithful Wife and Her Lover had become a modern-day Romeo and Juliet January 2nd I can't do this can I Jenny just laughs at my hesitation what's wrong with you two your husbands are out of town you go to his apartment and no one will ever know it's that simple how am I ever going to face Bruce again I asked feeling the heavy weight of guilt I don't care what people say about
him he's always treated me well what am I supposed to say if he finds out blame him for leaving you alone all the time Jenny suggested casually brushing aside my worries he doesn't really leave that often I muttered trying to defend Bruce despite my internal struggle and when we're together we have a good marriage it's just that Paul makes me feel things I've never felt before like I said Bruce won't find out and if he does just do what I did with Bob Jenny said her voice indifferent what did you do remember the day we
arrived here and Bob looked so upset yeah I remember at one point he asked to lie down in the bedroom he looked almost sick well he found out I had slept with Paul and I told him everything I told him I still loved him but that there was nothing he could do about it I said a man like Paul knows how to treat women Bob probably wanted to eliminate him but physically he couldn't take on Paul you're lucky Bob doesn't own a tool I said knowing Bruce wasn't the type to react that way honestly I
added thinking it over I don't think Bruce would handle it like Bob did I have a feeling he'd do something about it but Jenny insisted I was wrong we talked about how much Bruce loves me and she said he'd handle it just like Bob but deep down I knew Bruce was different I'd seen Paul about six times in the last 3 weeks we were never truly alone but I noticed him watching me maybe he was watching Bruce too today Bruce was home and being very attentive Paul slipped me a note it had an address a
date and a time I'm pretty sure it's the address of his apartment and the time is when Bruce will be in New York I don't want to go but I know I will I keep telling myself I'm only going to ask Paul to leave me alone January 15th god what have I done I spent the day at Paul's apartment it started off fine I told him we couldn't be alone together that I couldn't betray my husband but things spiraled out of control and we ended up in bed I left in tears swearing it wouldn't happen
again but neither of us believed it was really over as I walked out of his apartment I knew I would definitely be back Tanya's presentation before the grand jury was far better than her usual which meant it was good like the product of a ghost riter her boss district attorney Silva Marx sat beside her Marx wasn't about to let a subordinate steal all the glory but wasn't foolish enough to handle the case herself I represented myself presiding judge baskam warned me that a lawyer representing himself as a fool for a client I replied that it's
better than having a fool for a lawyer baskam would do whatever he could to ensure Justice was served meaning I'd be convicted he'd bend over backward to support a weak prosecution and twist the concept of Reasonable Doubt into something closer to guilty until proven innocent in his instructions to the jury my only concern was that someone might notice I had an ace up my sleeve waiting for the right moment to play it I had the truth on my side while they had the tragic Romance of Romeo and Juliet the lovers were a police officer and
my wife a social worker I was cast as the villain whether I was innocent or guilty didn't matter life isn't fair and Justice rarely finds its way into the courtroom Sergeant McVey did you open the trunk of the defendant's car Tanya asked her first witness yes the car immediately raised my suspicions it was an Old Brown Toyota Camry not what you'd expect from a high-priced lawyer it's very unremarkable with a large trunk McVey said setting the scene for the jury I see Tanya said flashing a smile at the jury subtly suggesting I was being Sly
what if anything did you find in the trunk it looked recently cleaned but we found hair and fibers matching officer Paul Moreno and Elaine gray McVey answered so it's possible their bodies were in the trunk Tanya asked giving a knowing look to the jury objection that calls for speculation I interrupted judge baskam predictably siding with the prosecution overruled the witness is an expert heun's being asked for his opinion Tanya nodded and turned back to the witness so Sergeant she prompted McVey emboldened by the ruling confidently continued in my expert opinion the Camry was used to
transport and dispose of your wife and her lovers bodies when it was my turn for cross-examination I asked sergeant if the bodies were transported in the Camry what happened to the bright blue Ford Mustang Shelby 500 GT MC looked confused I'm not sure what you mean Paul Moreno's car his prized Mustang it's still missing isn't it I clarified I don't know about that McVey mumbled clearly caught off guard but you do know his his car is gone and that car is anything but unremarkable isn't it I directed the question more to the jury than to
McBay after a pause McVey reluctantly admitted yes Paul's car is missing now back to the Camry I continued you broke into the trunk but why didn't you use the keys that were already in the ignition McVey looked momentarily stunned but before he could respond Tanya objected the question is argumentative and assumes facts not in evidence the judge unsurprisingly sustained the objection there was no point in pressing further McVey could only look sheepish as he retreated next the prosecution called investigator Kim a to the stand Ang eagerly informed the jury about pulling up the carpet in
my basement and discovering traces of blood were you able to identify this Blood by type or DNA Tanya asked her tone heavy as if building up to something damning no it was too decomposed Ang replied but there was a strong smell of bleach in the base which is why I suspected we'd find blood bleach is often used to clean up blood stains when it was my turn to question Ang I kept it brief the basement was the laundry room wasn't it I asked yes and confirmed you expected to find bleach in a laundry room didn't
you I pressed I can't say it depends on the person doing the laundry Ang answered evasively the seven women on the jury didn't seem to agree with Ang's attempt to dodge the question but then came the real drama the reading of of my wife's diary January 16th I feel both guilty and like I'm floating on air I can't stop thinking about Paul his incredible body and how he made me feel but the guilt over Bruce is eating at me for the first time I want to believe all the terrible things people say about him but
I know they're not true Bruce has always been so loving and I've repaid him with the ultimate betrayal I feel like my guilt is written all over me as if Bruce will look at me and instantly know what I've done to him to us the desk I'm writing at was a gift from Bruce bought at a time when we didn't have much money it's a real antique I used to stop and admire it in the store window even though I knew we couldn't afford it despite our struggles I stopped using birth control a decision I
made on my own Bruce never criticized me for it he was thrilled when I got pregnant even when we were struggling financially he somehow found a way to buy me this extravagant gift my loving husband of 15 years whom I've betrayed so easily I keep going back and forth should I never see Paul again or should I run straight into his arms when Bruce gets back from his trip tonight maybe he'll sense what's happened and that will end it one way or another I don't know what I'll say to him I don't want to hurt
him January 17th nothing happened last night if Bruce suspects anything he didn't show it still our interaction felt off like there was a distance between us maybe I'm imagining it because of my guilt Bruce seemed tired so I'll just have to wait and see I left for work early this morning barely able to look him in the eye I had barely made it to work when Paul called we chatted until I had to get back to my job and somehow talking to him lifted my spirits it gave me hope that everything would work out I
have to admit what I feel for Paul is love maybe not the same love I have for Bruce but it's something I've never experienced before January 19th I took a long lunch today not really for lunch but to meet Paul at his apartment he works the 4 to midnight shift so we had a couple of hours together when I got home Bruce seemed calm but I can't shake the feeling that something's different between us there's a distance I can't quite figure out February 12th this past month has been chaos my affair with Paul has intensified
we see each other at least twice a week during the day and when Bruce is out of town which has been happening more often we meet in the evenings Paul told me that Bruce is involved with some very dangerous people the FBI is concerned because Bruce is helping them with anti-surveillance technology blocking their warrants the equipment is illegal but can be purchased with special permits Paul didn't say it outright but I know he's still monitoring Bruce I should be thankful Paul always knows where Bruce is but the tension between Paul and me is growing I'm
torn between two men I love and their enemies I'm trapped in a no-win situation Bruce has been such a good husband showering me with gifts sending flowers and being so loving but I can't shake the feeling he knows what's going on he hasn't shown any signs but after 15 years I can tell something is bothering him March 16th Rachel is home for spring break I haven't seen her since Christmas and she seems happy but I suspect she wanted to go to boarding school to escape the rumors about Bruce she loves him but she can't avoid
The Whispers it must be hard for her to deal with what people say about her father with Rachel home Paul and I can't meet at the house and Paul mentioned that people at work are getting suspicious about us it would ruin his career if anyone found out Paul plans to ask for a transfer he wants me to leave Bruce but when it comes down to it I know what Paul is asking of me is wrong what I've been doing with him is wrong on so many levels seeing Rachel reminds me that I'm first and foremost
her mother and Bruce's wife they don't deserve the pain I would cause by leaving with Paul the hurt I would inflict on my family far outweighs the pain I'll feel losing Paul I think I'm finally coming to my senses this passion for Paul has clouded my judgment I need to do the right thing when I see Paul tomorrow I'll end it it will hurt him but he'll survive Jenny is waiting for him I know that she's young and beautiful and her husband can't stop her infatuation with Paul a man like Bob doesn't stand a chance
P against someone like Paul people say Bruce isn't like other men would Bruce hurt Paul if he found out I don't think Bruce would ever hurt me but maybe I'm wrong the rumors the horrible things people say about him they can't all be true can they I've known and loved Bruce All These Years yet I still have doubts Paul keeps insisting Bruce is dangerous and that I'm at risk but I just can't believe Bruce could hurt anyone March 17th tomorrow I'm going to break up with Paul it will hurt but it's the right thing to
do I called Jenny and told her she might need to comfort Paul after tomorrow the young paralal Tanya had selected finished reading the final entry in my wife's diary the prosecution had aimed to paint me as a jealous abusive husband who came Between Two Lovers but elain's diary didn't quite support that story after all she had chosen to stay in our home instead of running off with the man who tried to steal her Paul Moreno was a home wrecker a man who knew my wife was happily married but pursued her anyway maybe he believed the
rumors law enforcement spread about me or maybe he thought he was rescuing the woman he loved but in the end the two lovers waited too long and met a tragic end in a case like this there are so many what ifs what if Elaine had confessed to me earlier or what if they had ended the affair sooner who knows how things might have played out but none of that mattered now What mattered was saving my life after hearing elain's diary the jury was already leaning toward conviction and everyone in the courtroom could sense it I
had a long list of witnesses but only one truly mattered Jake Trumble took the stand on paper he seemed like an ordinary witness his expert report was 500 pages of technical details with mention of a video buried on page 439 we started with his credentials a degree in electrical engineering from RIT service and Army intelligence and 20 years in the FBI not bad what I hadn't fully considered was that after leaving the FBI I Jake had been hired by the same criminal organizations he once pursued for the government he had become invaluable to me and
others in battling government surveillance Mr Trumble have you done any work for me in the past I asked yes several times he replied and the last time you worked for me what exactly did you do I inquired I installed a full video surveillance system covering both your home and office inside and out we call it Black cover designed to catch Dirty Deeds Trumble explained and what do you mean by Dirty Deeds I pressed the usual unauthorized entry to plant listening devices or evidence he clarified and did you discover any such Deeds I asked leaning in
slightly yes my team and I observed Sergeant McVey take the keys to a brown Camry open the trunk and dump materials from a bag inside later he returned with other officers and broke open the trunk with a crowbar they then collected what they called Trace samples from the trunk the courtroom buzzed with shock Trumble was in his element and submitted the video as evidence despite the prosecution's objections Trumble went on to explain how investigator Ang had planted blood in the basement without forensic evidence the prosecution's case crumbled they had no proof of a crime just
a missing couple a missing tool and an ordinary car when the not- guilty verdict was read my daughter Rachel hugged me she never believed I had eliminated her mother and that's all that really mattered to me still many people believe I'd gotten away with liquidation surprisingly no action was taken against the officers who tried to frame me in a way they saved my life by presenting the prosecution with a case too weak to convict the long dry summer revealed a blue Ford Mustang in the now exposed mud of Shari Creek inside the car they found
the bodies crammed into the frame it turned out the flood waters had carried the car away and then let it sink deep into the rushing Creek elain's purse with the GPS tracker I had planted was found along with her remains Elaine had been right to be suspicious I was collecting evidence of her Affair I loved her but she had hurt me deeply in my mind Paul Moreno was the snake who had tried to destroy a good marriage it broke my heart but I was planning a divorce not a liquidation still the police wouldn't have believed
that my wife and her lover were dead and even if I were a saint they would have found me guilty but I was no saint L's body lay beneath Paul's in the car the autopsy revealed that they had both been shot but the bullets were meant for Paul they passed through him and into her the double homicide was the result of a powerful weapon a044 caliber Smith and Wesson hand tool the same one that had disappeared from my nightstand if the police had just been patient they wouldn't have needed to plant evidence the lovers story
and the leaked diary had pushed them to act too soon I'd been set up but skill and luck saved me as an attorney I took pride in my work law enforcement lamented that the system had been outwitted by a cunning lawyer but in the end I survived lah set her beer aside giving me a warm smile then placed her hand on my shoulder in a show of support we were at Chambers the bar frequented by lawyers in town LTI had moved on to a new job and I followed her here out of loyalty Chambers was
a much better spot for me to drink than Falcon's rest where the cops would never forgive me for beating them in court here the regulars had a certain sympathy for a disgraced lawyer a poor attorney with a ruined reputation but that opinion wasn't entirely accurate the clients I needed saw my acquittal on charges where I was clearly guilty as proof of my skills the negative publicity had only made me raise my hourly rate and hire a young associate to help with the growing demand far from being tainted I was becoming something of an anti-hero Tanya
on the other hand wasn't so lucky she was forced out of the DA's office made the scapegoat for the prosecution's failure it didn't matter that she built her case on fabricated evidence the public needed someone to blame and she was the easiest Target Meanwhile my career thrived I had weathered the worst storm of my life and ironically it made me more successful than ever I had a reputation now as a lawyer who could get the guilty off deserved or not at Chambers I SI my beer and leaned back feeling the weight of recent events finally
lift my drinking buddy Bob another attorney gulped down half his beer in one go relax Bob no need to rush I said I don't have a wife waiting for me at home and yours isn't worth hurrying back to I added with a smirk Bob frowned as he usually did when I mentioned his wife Jenny I think he finally realized that some women no matter how beautiful weren't worth the trouble Jenny definitely fell into that category I'm sorry Bob began but couldn't quite finish please I waved him off I didn't ask for an apology you must
realize that given the situation none is expected but I never meant to offend Elaine he added pleading of course you didn't it was an accident Bob a man like you isn't familiar with tools you couldn't have known the bullets would go through officer Moro and strike the woman with him and I object to calling what they were doing being with each other they were screwing Bob winced clearly uncomfortable with the memory exactly he had the seats laid flat like a bed you couldn't even see who was was in the car I was upset freaking out
after Jenny told me she was seeing him again exactly you were in a days barely aware of your actions but tell me did you wipe my tool for fingerprints before you planted it I asked quietly Bob went pale swallowing hard probably yes I wasn't thinking straight I stole it from your house during a visit I planned to scare Paul to make him stay away I knew you kept the tool in your bedroom I did I said staring into my beer it was a gift from a client I kept it there to protect Elaine when I
wasn't home Bob nodded and I wondered if he grasped the irony the tool I had left to protect Elaine had been the one that eliminated her she told me she was going to see him again Bob said his voice shaking she told me without any remorse Paul needs some friendly reassurance she said I couldn't just do nothing I drove to where I thought they'd be his car wasn't there and I panicked I called home no answer I jumped to conclusions a reasonable mistake under the circumstances I said flatly yes Bob whispered it was already raining
hard when I reached the county road by the creek I parked and walked down on a good night the moon would light everything up but the weather was bad I heard them laughing in the car then she moaned and something in me snapped I fired without thinking I don't even remember holding the tool anymore Bob took a deep breath clearly shaken by the memory I didn't know Elaine was in the car until much later I'm so sorry Bruce are you going to tell the police he asked his voice barely audible I Shrugged it's not for
me to judge you Bob I'm many things but I'm no hypocrite but I liquidated your wife Bob said as if trying to confess again yes but it was an accident just bad luck I don't know how the car ended up in the creek I thought it would be found sooner but when it wasn't people started pointing fingers at me naturally Bob said but without the bodies or the tool they couldn't prove anything I put a GPS tracker in Elaine's purse so I knew where the car was I assumed the creek carried it off and let
it sink the evidence was always there it was just a matter of time before they found it I'm sorry for all of it and I'm sorry people still think you did it you should turn me in Bob said sounding resigned I shook my head slowly we can't control what people think Bob and I'm not going to replace a convenient lie with an ugly truth you're safe from me then why did you invite me here Bob asked clearly confused to give you this I said pulling a folded document from my jacket and handing it to him
what is it he asked eyeing the paper with suspicion my bill of course I replied calmly I've arranged one hell of a liquidation defense for you Bob but you defended yourself and whose fault is that I spent time and money the responsible party should pay and I must say I did a damn good job Bob looked at the amount on the bill it's not too bad he said hollowly it was a great defense I corrected Bob sighed and pulled out his wallet do you take American Express of course I said watching him swipe his card
he looked relieved that I'd keep his secret and I knew Bob would carry his guilt for the rest of his life as for me I had done what I had to do to survive in a world where innocence is assumed guilty I had to use my wits after Bob left lahti brought me another beer she saw the look on my face and asked are you okay I nodded slowly yes I said things are finally working out for the best and as I sat there in the quiet bar the weight of everything that had happened slowly
began to fade in the end I had survived and in this world survival is all that matters [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]
