Page 75 of Perfect Distraction
Andrew nodded. “The dumbass that hit us? He ended up getting away with it. All because he had an attorney who did some digging around and found that the Breathalyzer machine the police officer used was a week late for calibration. One week, and it was thrown out as evidence. There was no proof that he was under the influence, even though I smelled it and saw it with my own eyes, and he wasn’t charged with a DUI.”
“I can’t believe that! How is that even possible?”
“He had a damn good attorney, that’s how. That’s not the worst of it. Three weeks after the guy was released, he did it again, and that time he killed somebody.”
Lauren gasped. “Someone you knew?”
Andrew shook his head. “No. But I couldn’t shake this intense anger and a feeling of regret, that there was something I could have said or done through the proceedings, even just as a witness and victim of the crash, that would have either put him behind bars or had his license revoked. And maybe that person would still be alive.
“So that’s what originally prompted my interest in law. I wanted to be on the other side of things, representing victims like Jeni and myself, making sure criminals like him weren’t being set free because of a technicality. The more I’ve learned about the system, the more I’ve seen the other side of the coin, too, where innocent people are wrongly convicted. And I feel strongly about that, too, that someone needs to stand up for them. It’s hard to do both, but I think our justice system should be able to function in a way that’s honest and fair, and in all things, seeks the truth. I want to help get us there.”
“That’s incredible, Andrew.” How was it that one man could be so wonderful? “I can see you doing exactly that. Dedicating your life to protecting people.”
“While you dedicate your life to saving people.”
She looked down. “I don’t save them all.”
“There’s more than one way to save someone,” he said softly.
She smiled but didn’t look at him.
After a moment, he changed the subject. “Tell me what’s so great about Coleman Cancer Center. Why do you want to stay here so badly?”
“So many things. The pharmacy department is advanced, and I love the involvement I have in patient care. There are hospitals where clinical pharmacists don’t exist, and at a place like that I wouldn’t be able to have the direct patient contact that I love so much.”
“I like that part, too,” he put in.
“Yeah, yeah,” she said with a grin. “My coworkers are incredible. I’ve never worked with a group of people who cared so much about the patients they see. It inspires me every day. No matter which clinic I’m in, we’re like a family, celebrating the successes of some patients and being there for one another when things don’t turn out well for others. And aside from that, they’re fun, interesting people. Several of the physicians are from other countries, and it’s fascinating to hear what those places are like. Makes me want to visit them all someday.”
“That’s cool,” Andrew agreed. “I’d love to travel more.”
“Someday,” she said wistfully. “Where will you go first? When you’re a big-time lawyer and can do what you want and take vacations and stuff?”
“It’ll be a while before I work my way up and can do what I want. But…I’d have to say New York City.”
“Really? I was expecting you to say somewhere exotic.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m with you, though. I want to go to New York, too. Go to a Broadway show.”
“Have dinner in Chinatown,” he said.
“Ride the subway.”
“Go for a run in Central Park.”
“Shop at Tiffany’s.”
“Whoa, there. Big spender.”
She laughed. “You only live once, right? What would you drop a lot of cash on?”
Andrew stroked his chin. “A few weeks ago, I would have said season tickets to the Broncos for my whole family. Now, I’m not so sure.”
Lauren frowned. “Stop that. Don’t overhaul your family’s favorite team just because the quarterback is a jerk. I’m sure there’s a player on every NFL team who has done something sketchy for the sake of his game.”
“He’s not just a jerk. He was a jerk to you. I refuse to support him or the team he plays for.”
She pursed her lips, irritated more at herself by the pleasure she felt in that, than at Andrew for being so ridiculous about it.
But was it time to let go a little, and face the truth?
Whether she wanted them to or not, her walls against him were crumbling, and it was only a matter of time before nothing was left.
