The Innocent Woman

to prove anything.” Steve Winslow pointed at A. D. A. Pearson. “He does. He has to prove everything .”
    Steve smiled. “You can see now why I made such a big deal during jury selection over your willingness to consider this defendant innocent.
    “Because she is innocent.”
    Steve ticked them off on his fingers.
    “She’s presumed innocent.
    “She is innocent.
    “And it’s your duty to find her innocent.
    “I thank you.”

9.
    A MY D EARBORN COULD HARDLY contain herself.
    “I can’t believe it’s over,” she said.
    Tracy Garvin patted her arm. “I know.”
    “And so quickly. My god, the jurors weren’t gone twenty minutes.”
    “I’m surprised they took that long.”
    “I don’t know how I can ever repay him.”
    “You don’t have to.”
    “I know. I heard what he said, but—”
    “Then don’t worry about it.”
    Amy and Tracy were standing on the steps outside the courthouse. The verdict had been announced minutes before, disposing of the entire case in one day, a consummation not only devoutly to be wished, but beyond Judge Dalrymple’s wildest dreams. Steve Winslow had turned Amy Dearborn over to Tracy Garvin and asked her to wait, saying there were a few details he wanted to take care of.
    Amy Dearborn looked at her watch. “It’s getting late,” she said. “I do want to thank him, but maybe I should come by the office.”
    Tracy Garvin frowned. “He said to wait.”
    “I know that. It’s just...I don’t know. It’s hard to hold still. I want to keep moving.”
    “I’m sure he won’t be long,” Tracy said with a slight edge in her voice. After all Steve had done, it was a little much, this woman not being willing to wait. She was about to say something to that effect when Steve came out the door.
    Amy Dearborn’s eyes lit up. “Mr. Winslow, I just can’t thank you enough. I’ve been going crazy out here waiting to tell you. Where did you go?”
    “I told you, I had some business to take care of.” Steve reached into his pants pocket and, with a bit of a flourish, pulled out some money. “I believe this belongs to you.”
    Amy Dearborn blinked. “What?”
    “It’s not much, I’m afraid, but forty dollars is forty dollars.”
    “Forty dollars?”
    “Yes. Two twenty dollar bills. With quite a history. If you don’t need to spend them, you might want to frame them.”
    “You got them to release the court exhibit?” Tracy said.
    “Of course I did. This money was removed from her person. If she didn’t steal it, it’s rightfully hers.” Steve held it out to Amy. “Here you go.”
    Amy put up her hand. “Please. You should keep it.. After all you’ve done.”
    Steve smiled. “Thanks all the same, but I’d rather not. If it got out I was charging forty bucks for a day in court, it would be hard to explain. I’d rather leave things just as they are.”
    “But you have to be paid.”
    Steve shook his head, “Not for this. You gave me a dollar. Provisional retainer just to make it legal. Well, that’s all the money I expected to see from this case.” Steve held up one finger. “On the other hand, F. L. Jewelry fired you without cause, had you arrested and charged you with theft. That charge was without foundation, has been proven so in a court of law. I would expect a jeweler to have both assets and insurance.”
    Amy looked at him. “Do you mean...?”
    “I think you’re entitled to some compensation for what you went through. If you agree, I’d be happy to file suit in your behalf. In which case, I would feel justified in taking a fee.” Steve held up his hand. “But that’s beside the point, and I wouldn’t want you to file suit just for that reason. But the way I see it, yes, we’re happy you got off. You did nothing wrong, so you should have got off.
    “On the other hand, Fletcher and Lowery did something wrong, so why should they get off? Macklin too.”
    Amy frowned. “Mr. Macklin? Why him?”
    “Why not. He’s the one who came up with the stupid plan in the first place. Planting the twenty dollar bills, and then letting everyone get a hold of them. Some plan.
    “But the point is, in a case like this you file suit against everyone. Because Fletcher and Lowery will try to shift the blame to him anyway, and he’ll try to dump it back on them. You don’t worry about that. You name everyone, and let the jury award damages and apportion blame.”
    “Just what does that mean?”
    “Well, say the jury finds in your favor and