Reasonable Doubt by Carsen Taite

dabbled in various areas of the law, she’d excelled at criminal defense, winning a big victory in a murder case shortly before she retired from practice. A courtroom artist’s rendering of Ellery during a particularly heated federal trial showed her confident and commanding, almost fierce, in the courtroom. Sarah had testified in many trials, but based on the accounts she read, she shuddered to think about being on the other end of an Ellery Durant cross-examination.
    Social sites shared a glimpse into Ellery’s love life, featuring photos from various events, but she rarely appeared with the same date. Sarah typed in April’s name and was pleased to see that she too showed up to many functions with a different woman on her arm, leading her to believe it was unlikely she and Ellery were anything more than casual. That would explain why April had moved on because who would walk away from a hunk like Ellery? One picture of them together showed what a strikingly hot couple they made. Maybe Ellery had only been seeing April for sex. The very idea was painful and she shelved it. Better she get back to work, which, while boring, wasn’t as dangerous as wanting something she couldn’t have.

Chapter Six

    “This is your best work yet.”
    Karen Tron walked around Ellery’s studio, stopping to touch, stroke, and coo over all the new pieces she’d created. Finally, she asked, “It’ll do for the show?” She held her breath waiting for the answer. Her previous work had been popular with Karen’s customers, but the Designer’s Showcase was a carefully curated event that could spur unlimited success.
    “Are you kidding? These pieces will make the show. I’m going to have to open a bigger space. And you’ll need plenty more because these pieces are going to sell out and we’ll have a long wait list.”
    “I’ve been a bit focused.” She’d spent the last few weeks, sawing, hammering, sanding, and varnishing, every action designed to wipe away the memories of the evil that she’d witnessed the night of the explosion. If the product of her catharsis was a sold out show, that was her best revenge.
    “I can have it all, right?”
    Karen’s enthusiasm was contagious, and Ellery met her grin with one of her own. Smiling felt good. It felt real and new. Maybe she was ready for reentry. The gallery show opening was a week away, so she better be since she wasn’t well known enough to pull off the eccentric and slightly reclusive artist bit. “It’s all yours.”
    Karen spent the next hour making detailed notes and photographing all the furniture she planned to display at the show. A week’s time wasn’t much to put together the exhibit, but she’d shrugged off the trouble, saying it had been worth the wait. Ellery hoped so. For once, the work had felt more like an accomplishment than an escape. Although the materials she worked with were often more complex than they seemed at first, that was where the similarities to her old life ended. The work was soothing instead of stressful and, at the end of the day she had something to show for it beyond a fat bank account. She could point to each piece and claim pride of craftsmanship.
    When Karen left, Ellery went into the house and looked around. It was time to come out of her shell and get back to living, and she’d start by making a real dinner instead of subsisting on protein bars and Coke. She opened the cupboards and the fridge and made a list of what she needed and then grabbed her keys and headed to the door. The ring of the house phone stopped her. Very few people called her on the landline and most of them were telemarketers. On impulse she walked over and checked the caller ID. Dad. She picked up the phone. “Checking up on me?”
    “Always.”
    “I’m fine. You’ll be glad to know I’m even considering venturing out of the house.”
    “That’s a relief. I won’t keep you. I just wanted to know if you’re free Friday.”
    “Hey, we can talk now. My