I changed 70 to 71 by accident, but they pretend that 71 is 70, 72 is 71 and so on
Chapter 69 – Justice and Reaction
April 16, 2014 – Wednesday – 7:41 AM
New York State Courthouse – Courtroom 2E
The second day of the trial began as the first had ended: with simmering tension. The courtroom was packed—journalists in every corner, federal agents discreetly in the hallways, and eyes trained on the man calmly walking down the center of the room: Logan Moore.
He wore the same suit as the day before. Dark tie. Stare. The same hands that had been leafing through codes now bore the weight of conviction.
Around him, the Pearson Hardman team stood like soldiers in formation: Rachel with finalized files, Harvey with a close reading of the jury's behavior, Mike monitoring online updates. Jessica watched everything from the back row, like a silent pillar.
8:15 AM – Final Testimonies
The defense tried to reverse the damage of the first day, bringing in an outside compliance consultant to validate Sentinel's procedures.
But Logan was ready.
— Dr. Vickers, how many times have you been hired by Sentinel?
— Five.
— On all those occasions, did you find any irregularities?
— No. The audits were approved.
— And were you paid a bonus for positive opinions?
— Yes, within the market standard.
Logan walked slowly through the courtroom.
— So, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, look: a man paid for positive opinions, who never saw any problems... exactly as expected. This is not an audit. This is legal theater.
The jury reacted in silence. But their eyes said it all.
09:50 – Logan Moore's Closing Remarks
Judge Alcott allowed 10 minutes for the closing statement.
Logan stood up. He walked to the center of the room. He looked at the jurors. He didn't read anything. He spoke from the soul.
— We've heard a lot here. Contracts, figures, clauses, legal terms. But deep down… this case is about something else.
He paused. Took a deep breath.
— It's about power.
— About what happens when a company believes it can do anything, to anyone, at any cost. It's about a system that has stopped protecting people and started protecting connections.
— But today, in this room, with you… we have the chance to say no. To show that not all power buys silence.
He stepped forward.
— Today, you have the chance to prove that the truth still matters.
Silence. A piercing silence.
11:05 – Jury deliberation
The jury was released. Everyone expected long hours of discussion.
But in less than 90 minutes, the bell rang.
12:45 – Verdict
— On the charges of contract fraud, corruption and obstruction, this jury finds Sentinel Protection Group… guilty.
— Regarding the directors involved... guilty.
— And as for the political co-defendants named in the records... the jury recommends immediate investigation.
The room exploded in murmurs. Harvey smiled. Rachel closed her eyes in relief. Jessica let out a pent-up breath. Mike murmured, "He did it."
Logan just nodded, as if confirming that he had done what had to be done.
1:20 p.m. – Leaving the Courthouse
The April sun shone over Manhattan. The audience waited. Reporters held out microphones. But Logan asked for space. He walked outside, around the side block, toward the backstage entrance where the witnesses exited.
That was when he heard the dry crack. A sound he knew all too well.
Shots. Two. A short interval. Then two more.
Rachel screamed.
Logan turned around with combat instinct. His hand reached for his back. In seconds, his Glock 19 was in his hand, steady, ready.
"Get down!" he shouted, already taking cover behind one of the building's pillars.
The sounds came from a black car parked at the intersection on the corner. Two men got out—armed, confused by the quick reaction.
Logan took a breath. Mind calculating distance. Light. Movement.
First shot. Straight into the knee of the man on the left.
He fell with a hoarse cry. The gun flew to the ground.
The second tried to run. Logan advanced quickly calculated steps, gun steady.
Second shot. In the shoulder. Dominant. The attacker spun and fell face down.
Logan approached, scanning the surroundings with his eyes. No civilians were injured. Police protection was already running along the sidewalk.
He reached the two fallen men.
With his foot, he kicked the gun away. He crouched down. He picked up the pistol from the ground. He checked to see if there was still ammunition.
"You guys failed twice," he said quietly. "First by trying. Then by failing."
Rachel ran to him, eyes wide.
"Logan… are you okay?"
He stood up. He pulled out the Glock's magazine. Checked it. Reloaded.
"I'm fine. But I'll have to go to the store. Buy more ammo."
Rachel smiled, still in shock.
"You're impossible."
"You're just well trained."
Harvey came in panting.
"That was an attempt, Logan."
"And it was foiled."
Logan put his gun away, handed the attackers over to the cops.
"The trial is over. The truth won. And now… even cowards know that."
5:20 p.m. – Jéssica's Office
"They targeted you because they know the weight your name carries," Jessica said, as Logan finished his report to the internal security department.
"And they missed," Logan replied. "I carry more than a name. I carry purpose."
She raised her wine glass.
"And armed purpose."
Logan smiled.
"Only when necessary."
Chapter 71 – After the Storm
April 17, 2014 – Thursday – 6:52 AM
Pearson Hardman – Logan Moore's Office
The city was still waking up from the shock. Newspapers circulated with headlines in large letters, radio stations opened the mornings with the same subject, TV news programs repeated the images with emphasis:
"Lawyer Logan Moore stops attack with precision and coolness" – The New York Times
"Hero in a suit: the lawyer who drew his gun and protected the court" – CNN
"The man who stood up to the system... and the armed men" – The Atlantic
But inside office 51A, at the top of the Pearson Hardman building, Logan Moore's mind was already elsewhere.
He was wearing a light blue shirt, a graphite gray tie, and rolled-up sleeves. On the table were three new client files, a half-drunk cup of coffee, and a handwritten note from Rachel:
"You still owe me lunch. Surviving an assassination attempt doesn't exempt you from that. – R."
Logan smiled slightly. But he didn't answer. He opened the first file. He began to read.
07:40 – Meeting Room
Rachel entered without knocking, holding a tablet.
"They've been at the firm's door since six," she said. "Two television channels, four newspapers, and a political podcast team."
Logan looked up.
"They're wasting their time. There's nothing but work here."
"The DOJ has issued an official statement now. Do you want to read it?"
She turned the tablet over. He read it silently.
"The United States Department of Justice recognizes the exemplary performance of attorney Logan Moore, who acted with courage and professionalism in the face of a threat to the integrity of a high-stakes trial. His conduct represents the highest standards of civil service, even outside the public sphere."
Logan just nodded.
"Nice. Protocol."
"You saved lives."
"I did what needed to be done. Now I have three contracts to review and a corporate criminal defense hearing tomorrow."
Rachel crossed her arms.
"You're not going to let this get to you?"
Logan looked at her gently.
"Rachel, this is in the past. It didn't happen in my office. It didn't happen to me personally. The bullet was meant to silence what I stood for there. And that… that doesn't die with a single shot."
8:15 AM – Jessica Pearson's Office
Jessica was reading the Wall Street Journal intently when Logan walked in.
"Today's article calls you "the symbol of the new public defender of the 21st century. They said you're the fusion of a prosecutor, a defense attorney, and a federal agent. They've elevated you to an archetype."
Logan sat down.
"I just want to keep practicing law. Here. With you guys."
Jessica looked at him with the look of someone who understood, but also saw beyond.
— You are free to do this. But be prepared. The world may try to pull you to another stage.
— And I will remain on the same ground. High ceilings don't interest me if I can't walk barefoot.
She smiled.
— You always had your feet on the ground. Even when the world tried to put you on a pedestal.
9:30 AM – Team Meeting
In conference room 3B, Harvey, Mike, Rachel, Donna and Louis were there. Logan came in with three new folders.
— No rest today? — Harvey said, with a smile.
— We rest when we finish — Logan replied, handing over the cases.
Mike commented:
— I thought you would have at least taken the day off.
— I did — Logan replied. — I took it away from the media. From the buzz. From the ego.
Rachel smiled. Harvey nodded.
Louis looked at Logan, more serious than usual.
"You changed something in me, Moore. And I hate to admit it. But seeing you get up, walk into the courthouse, and walk away from an attack like it was just another Tuesday… it made me want to be better."
Logan replied with a sincere look.
"Then it was worth it."
1:10 PM – Restaurant on 5th Avenue
Rachel and Logan finally had lunch, as promised.
"You know, even though you say it didn't affect you…" she said, "you're more… focused. Quieter. Like you cleared your mind of everything."
Logan picked at his food. Then he answered calmly:
"Because I realized something that afternoon. When you look at a gun pointed at you, you either feel fear… or you feel certainty. And all I felt was certainty. Certainty that I haven't changed because of any of this. Nor will I.
Rachel rested her chin on her hand.
— It's strange… you're not just admired now. You're feared. Respected. They bring up your name in boardrooms as if it were a legal argument.
Logan smiled.
— Then keep on bringing it up. In the meantime, we'll get to work.
3:55 p.m. – DOJ Email
An email arrived in his inbox. It was personal. From the Assistant Attorney General.
"Dr. Moore, we'd like to talk to you about the possibility of leading a national committee on public and contract integrity. Your track record and recent conduct have shown us that your experience and approach are unique for this moment in the country. It would be an honor to have your perspective."
Logan read it. Then he closed the email. He saved it as "Reply Later." And he returned to the case file on the municipal corruption case that he was handling would tend the following week.
6:20 PM – Leaving the Office
As the hallways of Pearson Hardman emptied, Logan remained. He only left when it was already night. In the elevator lobby, he found Harvey.
"I would have taken at least a few days off," Harvey said. "After everything."
"And I would have missed two important cases. Plus lunch with Rachel."
Harvey laughed.
"You really are made of different stuff."
Logan looked at him.
"No. I just remind myself every day why I started. And it wasn't for fame. Or headlines. It was for justice. For ethics. And for gratitude."
Harvey was silent.
Then he extended his hand.
"You remind me why I got into this too."
Logan shook his hand.
"Then we'll keep going."
10:45 PM – Logan's Apartment
At home, the lights dimmed, the piano playing in the background. Logan wrote in his personal notebook.
"A system only remains clean if those who protect it refuse to dirty it."
"The bullet didn't hit me. But it confirmed to me: I'm on the right path."
"The truth doesn't scream. It remains."
He closed the notebook.
He looked at the gun stored in the safe. In silence.
Then he went to the bookshelf, picked up a criminal code he had written down when he was doing his LLM. And went back to studying.
Because, for Logan Moore, the world still needed good lawyers and he was still one of them.
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