She looked at both legal teams. I’m setting a trial date for 8 weeks from today. That gives you time to complete discovery, prepare witnesses, and file any additional motions. I expect both sides to engage in goodfaith settlement discussions during this period. Mr. Hail, I’m particularly interested in your client’s willingness to settle given that their motion for quick resolution has failed.

We’ll certainly discuss settlement, your honor, Hail said, his voice tight. See that you do. Court is adjourned. The gavl came down again. People began standing, gathering belongings, talking in excited whispers. Lucas felt Evelyn’s hand on his arm, saw tears in her eyes. Thank you, she said. I don’t know how you did that, but thank you. We’re not done, Lucas reminded her.

This just means we get to fight. We haven’t won yet. No, but we have a chance. A real one. That’s more than I had a week ago. Sarah was grinning, practically bouncing. Did you see Hail’s face? He was so confident. And then you just systematically took apart his entire argument. That was incredible. Lucas allowed himself a small smile.

He’s going to come back harder. Count on it. Losing a summary judgement motion is embarrassing for a lawyer of his caliber. He’ll want revenge. Let him try, Evelyn said fiercely. We’ll be ready. They gathered their materials, started filing out. As they passed the plaintiff’s table, Hail stood, blocking their path. “Congratulations, Mr.

Reed,” he said, his voice cold. “You won a battle. The war is far from over.” “I know,” Lucas said. “But at least now it’s a fair fight.” “Fair,” Hill smiled without warmth. “There’s nothing fair about this. You got lucky with a sympathetic judge and a compelling story, but luck runs out. And when it does, when we go to trial and I put your client on the stand and expose every hole in her story, when the jury sees the evidence in full context, you’re going to wish you’d convinced her to settle. Maybe. Or maybe the jury will

see exactly what Judge Chen saw today, that your case is built on intimidation and misdirection, and that the truth is on our side. Hail’s jaw tightened. You’re naive if you think truth matters more than presentation. I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I’ve destroyed better lawyers than you with more credible clients than Ms. Moore.

Don’t mistake one small victory for actual competence. And don’t mistake my six-year absence for weakness, Lucas replied. I remember how to do this, Mr. Hail. Maybe better than you realize. They stood there for a moment, two lawyers sizing each other up, neither willing to look away first. Finally, Hail stepped aside.

See you in 8 weeks, counselor. Enjoy your temporary success while at it last. Lucas walked past him, Evelyn and Sarah following. Outside the courtroom, they were immediately surrounded by reporters, cameras, questions flying from all directions. Mr. Reed, how does it feel to be back in court after 6 years? Miss Moore, do you feel vindicated by the judge’s ruling? Will you consider Meridian settlement offers? Lucas raised a hand, and the crowd quieted slightly.

We’re pleased that Judge Chen recognized the need for a full trial. The evidence will show that Miz Moore developed her technology independently, and that Meridian’s lawsuit is an attempt to suppress competition. We look forward to presenting our case to a jury. That’s all we have to say at this time. They pushed through the crowd, made it to the parking lot.

Only when they were away from the cameras and reporters did Evelyn finally let out a long breath. That was intense. That was just the beginning. Lucas said, “We have 8 weeks to prepare for trial. 8 weeks to gather more evidence, prepare witnesses, build a case that’s not just defensible, but winning. Today bought us time. Now we have to use it.

” “What’s next?” Sarah asked. “Next, we get Dr. Webb’s testimony locked down. We prepare Evelyn to testify. We find our own expert witness to counter Hutcherson. We go through Meridian’s research files with a microscope, looking for anything that shows their technology was derivative, not innovative. And we prepare for Hail to come at us with everything he’s got.

Evelyn nodded slowly. You’re still willing to do this? See it through to trial? Are you? Yes, absolutely. Then so am I. Lucas paused. But I need to be honest. Hail was right about one thing. Today was just a battle, not the war. Trial is different from motion’s practice. It’s longer, more intense, more unpredictable.

The stakes are higher, and Hail is going to be even more dangerous when he has a jury to play to. “Can we beat him?” Evelyn asked directly. Lucas thought about that question carefully. “A week ago, he would have said the odds were against them. Now, having spent 7 days deep in the evidence, understanding the case inside and out, seeing Judge Chen’s reaction to their arguments, now he had a different answer.

Yes, he said, we can beat him, not because we’re luckier or because we have more resources, but because we have the truth, and if we present it well enough, if we make it impossible for the jury to ignore the timeline and the facts and the evidence, yes, we can win. Evelyn smiled. the first genuinely hopeful smile he’d seen from her. “Then let’s get to work.

” They stood there in the courthouse parking lot, three people who’d been strangers two weeks ago, now bound together by a common cause. The sun was bright overhead. The day was warm, and somewhere inside, Lucas felt something he hadn’t felt in years. Not just purpose, not just conviction, but the simple powerful knowledge that he was exactly where he was supposed to be, doing exactly what he was meant to do.

The carpenter had become a lawyer again, and this time he was fighting for the right side. The 8 weeks between the motion hearing and trial moved differently than the first frantic 7 days. Lucas settled into a rhythm that was intense but sustainable, dividing his time between preparing for trial and maintaining the life he’d built with Nenah.

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