And it stung.
For years he concentrated on legal theory not the practice of the law. It was safer. However he reworked the curriculum to better prepare a new crop of lawyers for the reality out there. He offered them the truth, a warning and his lingering love of the law.
He often wondered that, if he could do it all over again, would he stand on his principles? He wasn’t sure. It didn't get him anywhere the first time. In his studies, he discovered the Greek origins of the word justice. It actually meant revenge. If only it were still true. If only it was possible to apply its ancient meaning to Carson.
Leo felt foolish for hoping for things that never came, like second chances. He quietly continued reading papers in his office.
He saw a shadow move over his desk. Through the frosted door window he could see a dark figure in the hallway. The doorknob turned and a hooded woman dressed in a peculiar driving costume and holstered gun stepped into his office. She strolled in as casually as if she'd had an appointment. Dumb struck the Professor asked, "Who are you?"
"Why don't you just call me Witness X for now." Replied Betty.
His mustache quivered. "What do you want?"
"I'm sorry if I scared you. Believe me you have no reason to be alarmed. We have a mutual enemy. That makes us allies by circumstance. I want to dethrone Carson and I’d like your help."
A fire sparked in his eyes at the name. Through clenched teeth he repeated it like he was invoking the devil.
"Carson!"
A bad memory valve blew in his mind. His pulse pounded in his ears as his blood pressure climbed. The rage hit him too hard to calm himself with meditation. He needed chemical help. Only his medicine could save him now. He fumbled into the desk drawer for pills, popped two into his mouth and swallowed them down dry. He trembled in his chair.
Betty approached him almost revealing that she was a nurse. She asked, "Are you ok?"
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "I’ll be fine in a minute."
Betty observed as his breathing slowly returned to normal. Moments later he opened his eyes alert and ready to participate in the strange meeting. He calmly said, "Tell me more. What is your interest in… that person?"
She said. "Carson ruined my life. I want to punish him for it."
Then Betty went on to tell the story of how she came to the city and what her life had become. As she spoke the ominous facade of a Witness X faded and he heard the familiar testimony of a real person. She was another victim of Carson’s reign. She offered the Professor a slightly modified version to maintain her anonymity. Based on what she learned about Leo, she knew he was smart. If he had too many specific details about her life, he might be able to figure out who she was, if he had the mind to.
Once she finished, the Professor cautiously reflected. "My life took a similar turn due to my dealings with…that person. But you probably know that, and that's why you're here now."
She nodded.
"So tell me, how do you intend on dethroning… that person?" He asked.
Betty explained. "I have access to thousands and thousands of private documents in the Citadel Bank. They cover decades of deals. There has to be proof of Carson's wrong doing in them somewhere. He gloats about illegal activities all the time but doesn't go into specifics. I don't have the expertise to identify incriminating evidence in the files. Even if I saw it, I’m afraid I’ll miss something. I need to know what to look for specifically. I have a lot of other skills, but legal matters are a mystery to me. Carson must be punished for all he's done to countless victims. I need your help to put him away for good."
He tried to read this mysterious Witness X who stood before him. From what he could see of her face she looked young, like a student, but spoke like a much older woman. She was serious like a wounded adult. When she spoke, she got right to the point. She was direct and candid with her feelings, but obviously she kept some details of her stories from him. He thought it was to protect him, so he could maintain a safe distance if things went bad. To him it was a considerate move and he appreciated it. Her access to the bank was hard for him to believe, but if what she said was true, he was being offered an extraordinary opportunity. He couldn't tell if she could really deliver all she was promising.
He crossed his legs and continued to ask questions in the same way he challenged his students in class. He spoke in a condescending tone. "What exactly do you want from me?"
She said. "I want you to teach me. I need a crash course in how to spot crimes in contracts. That’s all."
He laughed and said sarcastically. "Oh, that's all, huh?"
"I didn't mean it like that. I know I’m over simplifying it. And it kills me to say this but I can't figure this out on my own."
She could see that she had his attention but couldn’t tell what he was going to do.
He sat rocking in his chair. He stared at her in silence. She was getting impatient. To speed things up she added. "I can pay you for your time and services."
He detected a hint of desperation in her words and demeanor. He said. "You’d be the first client I’ve had in a decade."
There was another long silence. Betty waited.
He was skeptical, and proceeded with his line of questioning. "Why come to me?"
She didn’t care for the condescending tone he was using with her. “You’re uniquely qualified for the job."
He asked, "Why do you hide your face? Why the…disguise."
"So you can’t hurt me."
Her answer stuck him like an arrow. He said. "I would never."
She said. "People always say things like that at the beginning of relationships."
He sat in silence waiting for her to expound on that thought.
"I’d like your help but if you aren't willing to get involved, I will find another way."
There was more silence.
Unlike most men, she couldn't read him. If he was interested in her proposal she couldn't tell. She started feeling exposed and vulnerable. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. She must have misinterpreted this man’s history and projected her own need for vengeance onto him. Couldn’t he see the gift she was offering him? She was willing to deliver Carson's head on a plate. But he didn’t seem to care. She shook her head and said. "I'm sorry I wasted your time."
She turned to exit.
Leo wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t want her to go, but he couldn’t tell if that was the right or wrong decision. His mind raced. She offered the second chance he’d been hoping for, and now she was leaving with it. Could it be real? It could be a chance to rewrite history, or it could be the final straw that sent him into oblivion. Could justice still prevail? Could he take that risk again?
He couldn’t let the vengeance wraith disappear into the night. "Wait. How do I get in touch with you?"
She responded with her back turned. "You can't. This is a one-time opportunity. You have to make a decision now."
"How do I know if I can trust you?" he asked.
She said. "You don’t have to trust me, I’m taking all the risk. I just want you to teach me. You must hate him as much as I do and I don’t think either of us can get him by ourselves.”
He waved her back in. He imagined what he could do if he had a map to all the skeletons entombed in the bank. He imagined all the discoveries that could be made if left unsupervised in Carson’s lair.
Betty asked. "So will you take the case?"
Leo confessed. “I’m not so sure I can face… that person in court again. I don’t think it would do either of us much good.”