A price for justice

The courtroom hummed with the heavy weight of silence. Mr. Carson’s hands gripped the edges of the witness box, his knuckles pale, as he faced the judge’s elevated bench. His heart pounded in his chest, but his voice remained unwavering when he spoke.

“My lord,” he began, his gaze never leaving the frail figure sitting in the defendant's seat. “It wasn’t him. It was a young man driving the car that struck and killed that man. Not this elderly man.” He pointed to Mr. Ben, who slumped in his chair, eyes fixed on the floor.

The prosecutor, Mr. Greg, stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. “But Mr. Ben was there at the scene and he confessed immediately.”

Mr. Carson shook his head, the words sharp as they left his lips. “Why are you taking the blame for a crime you didn’t commit?” His voice broke slightly as he turned to face the elderly man directly.

The room held its breath as Mr. Dan’s shoulders trembled, and after a long, painful pause, he looked up. His voice cracked. “I’m sorry. I killed the man. I’m guilty.”

The words hung in the air, suffocating, as Mr. Greg’s protest caught in his throat. But the judge, unmoved, raised a hand, silencing him. “Since the accused has confessed, I will proceed with my ruling.” He adjusted his glasses, his eyes cold and distant. “Ten years imprisonment for Mr. Ben.”

The gavel fell with a finality that seemed to echo through the courtroom. Mr. Carson felt the weight of the sentence press down on him like a crushing force. His chest tightened, his breath shallow as he watched Mr. Dan, fear and confusion flashing across his face as officers approached to lead him away.

“No, no!” Mr. Ben cried out, his voice high-pitched with panic. “This isn't what I was told! I wasn’t supposed to go to prison!” He fought against the handcuffs, his eyes wild with desperation. His gaze locked with Mr. Carson’s, an unspoken plea, but Carson could do nothing but watch as the old man was dragged away.

The courtroom emptied, but Carson’s feet felt glued to the floor. He stood frozen, unable to move. Minutes passed before he stumbled out into the bathroom, splashing cold water onto his face in a futile attempt to wash away the image of Mr. Dan’s fate. He stared at his reflection, eyes hollow.

As he turned to leave, a familiar voice echoed from the hallway—a voice he recognized but didn’t want to hear.

“…always support the Blackwood Group. And I trust you’ll back my bid for chief judge,” the judge’s voice was low, almost a whisper, but it cut through Carson like a knife. There was a pause, followed by a cruel laugh.

Carson’s blood ran cold. The Blackwood Group? The prestigious family whose name was tied to philanthropy, to untold wealth and influence? His breath hitched as he heard the judge end the call. Then, turning the corner, the judge spotted Carson, and their eyes met. For a split second, Carson saw the mask slip, the cold, calculating stare behind it. The judge didn’t speak, but the message was clear: Stay silent, or else.

Carson’s mind reeled, his thoughts tumbling over one another as he hurried out of the courthouse. He couldn’t let this go. He had to find the truth, no matter the cost. He drove to the accident site, his pulse quickening with each passing mile. But when he arrived at the café, the attendant’s words hit him like a slap in the face.

“The police took the CCTV footage, sir." The police? Even they were in on it?

Frustration boiled inside him as he slumped into the driver’s seat, pressing his forehead against the steering wheel. They’re everywhere, he thought. Everywhere.

At home, his daughters greeted him with smiles, but the weight of the day’s events hung heavily in the air. He sat down to dinner, recounting the trial, his voice strained but determined. Grace, his wife, watched him with concern etched deep in her eyes.

“You don’t understand, honey,” she said softly. “These people, they don’t play by the rules. They’ll do anything to protect themselves. Please, just drop it.”

But Carson shook his head, his jaw clenched. “No. I won’t let an innocent man rot in prison.”

His gaze shifted to Camelia, his eldest daughter. “What do you think, sweetheart? Should I drop it, or fight for what’s right?”

Camelia paused, her fork suspended in mid-air. Then, meeting his eyes, she nodded firmly. “Fight for what’s right, Dad.”

A flicker of pride crossed Carson’s face. “That’s my girl.”

The evening wore on, rain pounding against the windows, and Carson tried to push the darkness of the day from his mind. But then, there was a knock at the door.

Grace hesitated before opening it, revealing a man in a black suit and dark sunglasses, his posture cold, unreadable. He stepped inside without a word, setting a sleek briefcase on the table. The man opened it, revealing stacks of cash, crisp bills piled high. His voice was flat, impersonal. “Forget the case.”

Carson’s chest tightened as his anger flared. He stood abruptly, his fists clenched at his sides. “No. I will not be bought. Take your money and leave.”

The man’s expression didn’t change. He nodded once and turned on his heel, heading for the door. Outside, the engine of a sleek black car revved, and as the window rolled down, a woman’s voice emerged—calm, measured, but with an unmistakable edge.

“You know what to do.”

The car pulled away, disappearing into the night.

Minutes later, the Carson home erupted into flames. Neighbors gathered, helpless, as fire crews rushed in, but it was already too late. The inferno swallowed the house, every room, every memory, burned away in the chaos. Carson’s family was gone.

Far away, in a dim prison cell, Mr. Ben’s lifeless body swayed from a rope, casting eerie shadows against the walls— he'd committed suicide. But on his bunk, something had been left—something missed in the darkness. A small, folded note lay there, ink smudged but legible.

And in the dim glow of the flames, a black-suited figure watched the Carson house burn to the ground. In the distance, a scorched mailbox lay on the ground, its contents scattered. Among them, one single, ominous note—There’s always a price for justice.

In the morning, authorities would find the charred remains and the scene would be declared an accident. But it wasn't.