Me Before You by Sylvia M. Roberts

Chapter 1
     
    In a side room of the Superior Court of Justice, Annie was waiting impatiently for Mia Fisher to arrive, the lawyer that defended in the appeal process by getting three Supreme Court judges deciding to release Annie on the basis of new evidence submitted by defence.
    - You were very lucky! - Told the police that escorted her on the way to court.
    - What?! Lucky for them I finally convinced of my innocence? After I served three long years in prison? You call it luck?
    - Well ... - the woman hesitated, trying to express her opinion, raising her thick, bushy eyebrows almost joined in the middle of her forehead. - Actually you were released because of "technical details" and not to be presumed innocent.
    - Ah yes the "technical details"... Are you referring to the fact that a corrupt police has hidden on purpose a report that could prove my innocence all this time?
    Before the policewoman could reply, the door opened and Mia appeared displaying a bright smile of a won victory.
    - There's a crowd out there! - She said, speaking to Annie. – Mainly journalists.
    - I don’t want to talk to the press. Won’t they leave me alone?
    At that moment the policewoman make a joke:
    - This is a good move! If you play hard to catch, maybe you can get a good price for your story.
    - Let's get out of here now Mia, before I actually commit a murder! - Begged Annie and both took the exit direction to the parking lot, avoiding the main entrance and all the people waiting for them.
    Still, some reporters were covering the back of the building and surrounded them quickly, peppering them with questions and trampling at each other.
    With some difficulty the two were able to reach the car and away from there.
    In a few minutes and the car already transited on a quiet street, far away from all that chaos.
    - "Technical Details" ... - Annie recalled, talking to herself. - That nosy woman...
    Mia turned her head slightly toward Annie, without taking the traffic's attention, and commented:
    - You know, I don’t want to burst your bubble, but as a lawyer I must say I feel a lot better if the decision was because of proven innocence.
    - But the witness has ensured that saw me kilometres away at the time Tom Phelps was murdered!
    - He made sure the witness saw a woman who matches your description, but it was also very dark. And to be frank, I think that this witness had appeared in the first trial, the jury probably wouldn’t consider a reliable testimony.
    - Oh yes? So why did it now become so important? - Annie asked with a worried tone.
    - Because the investigator didn’t forward to defending the report containing the name of the witness, as required by law. - And with a sigh of dismay, she concluded:
    - I hate to agree with that cop, but it really is a "technicality".
    Annie remained silent for a few seconds, and then she remembered:
    - I saw Frank's lawyer in court.
    - Me too. I've talked to him. It seems that Frank has not changed position. He still thinks that you are guilty and doesn’t want to give Jimmy back.
    - My God! - Annie exclaimed, shaking her head vigorously.
    Mia stopped the car in front of the streetlight and spoke with impassioned voice:
    - Don’t panic yet, we will fight to the end.
    - Thank you, Mia. I promise to control myself. After all, I am waiting for three years now...
    - That's it - Mia approved, with an encouraging slap on her friend's leg.
    - I am very happy to have received only a suspension - yelled Cornwall, the head of the researchers behind the desk piled up with papers, newspapers and office objects.
    - I hate police acting on their own. And now, Edwards, as well? That criminal is loose and if not enough the press is outside all the time.
    He was settled with his promotion! Richard Edwards thought.
    And that's all that matters to him. But instead of talking about what was in his mind, he stared at the top and cast doubt on the air:
    - Who said she's a killer? The court released her.
    - No wonder! They