Dead Presidents (An Aria Raymond Thriller Book 3), Thomas Ransom [best thriller books to read txt] 📗

Aria looked intently at David, “What about Tanya? Huh? She has no one’s back or any experience in these things. She never even once hesitated to help me out.”

“I didn’t care about myself, Aria,” said David, urgently. He knew there was very little time left in their meeting, “I wasn’t even thinking about myself. They threatened to kill you. I couldn’t let that happen. How could I? I did everything I could, I swear. I had to be careful because even a minor mistake on my part would have cost you your life. They could have harmed your friends as well. I had to make sure they didn’t suspect anything. I needed to stay low for your safety and to find out their plans so I could save your life and protect your friends.”

He paused before continuing, “You tell me, Aria. What else could I have done? My priority was to keep you alive. There was no other way.” David pleaded with Aria.

Aria shook her head, “Yes, there was one other way. You could have told me the truth. Things could have been very different Clar… David. You had so many chances to tell me the truth. We could have gone into this whole crazy situation together. We could have protected one another, but the truth is… you were thinking of yourself first. You were protecting yourself.”

David looked desperately at Aria, “Please, please. Believe me that is not true. You have no idea how much I suffered and how painful it was for me…”

“Excuse me? Oh! I am so sorry that you suffered and that you were in pain. No, no! I was enjoying a vacation here, right? Forced to bathe in front of so many others, eating bland food, getting beaten up, cleaning up nasty shit in the bathrooms day after day, and spending God knows how many hours in isolation to the point that I was sure I was going insane!”

“Aria… I didn’t mean…”

“Oh! Shut up!” Aria snapped. The guard came closer, indicating that the time was up. She stood up and looked at David with disgust, “You are a horrible person. I am glad you finally got what you deserve!”

“Aria, please… wait. Don’t leave like this,” David shouted as Aria walked away towards the door on the other side of the room. “I love you, Aria. I always did. Believe me. I never wanted to hurt you. Please listen…”

Aria knocked on the door, which was immediately opened by the guard outside. Without glancing back, she walked out, ignoring the pleads and shouts from David.

Later that night, she had made her decision. She picked up her phone and called Diaz. Even before Diaz could say hello, Aria said, “Let’s do it.”

“Aria?”

“I want to do it. I want to sue them and get the justice I deserve.” Diaz jumped up from excitement and said, “Yesss!! That’s my girl! I knew you would come around, Aria. This is the right thing to do, and I promise you that we will get the most out of this.”

Aria smiled, “I know, Nicole. I trust you, and I am so glad you will be doing this for me. I wouldn’t even be here without you.”

“I am happy to help, Aria. I am going to get started with this right now and will inform you once everything starts.”

“Great! Thank you so much.”

Diaz grinned as she placed her phone on her side table. She was about to go to bed early tonight, but things everything changed after that call. Her mind was already buzzing with all the things that need to be done to start this case. She grabbed her laptop and notebook and started jotting down ideas and things she would need. Things were finally moving forward. She knew she would be able to get a fair amount of money for Aria with this case. She had always worked for victims who had been wrongfully convicted. This was already a major case, with plenty of media attention. It would help her highlight the cracks in the system and how much the victims had to suffer because of the police's negligence. All they want to do is somehow close the case as quickly as possible and move to the next. For them, it is all about the percentage of cases they solve so they can get their funding and bonuses.

It had been more than a year since Diaz had left the company she worked with. She always wanted to start her own practice so that she could pick the clients she wanted to help. She had gotten into trouble with her bosses so many times before because she refused to work for certain clients and have even worked a few cases free of charge or at minimum charges for the clients she felt truly deserved it. That was the reason she left, and things were working out for her. Taking on Aria’s case is what helped her. Suddenly, she realized that she had almost missed out on this case. David had begged her to take the case, and she had refused initially. It was David who made it work for her. It was a rollercoaster ride from there, but she was glad it happened. This experience had taught her so much. She never would have realized she was this strong. She went to hell and back. Now she was going after the people who were responsible for all the mess, the murders, the stolen money, the lives disrupted, and people threatened.

The truth was she was getting more cases too. Aria’s case made it in the papers, and people wanted the lawyer who got Aria out. She hadn’t accepted any of the cases because she was focused on getting justice for herself and Ellen and hoping to sue the state for Aria.

These two needed most of her attention. However, she also had to pay the bills. Diaz