Chapter 41

                                    

                                          
Shay's POV

Harper and I left Amber in the capable hands of Gloria and Kate, who were treating her to all the ice cream she could handle while we went to go visit my family. Harper's ride was a brand new deep blue Mercedes G Wagon, and I really wanted to steal it. When she drove me home after the meeting in the hotel, I knew that she was ready to lay into my parents, and I couldn't wait. I'd never had anyone stand up to them on my behalf, and I had been thoroughly impressed by Harper ever since I'd met her. Of course, that didn't mean my parents would be impressed. Honestly, the thought of her facing off against my parents might have been the only thing keeping me from marching over to Leigh or Nicky's houses and kicking their asses.
               "You're late!" my father yelled, as I came in the front door with Harper. "And who the hell is that? Please tell me you didn't knock her up!"
               My mother rushed in from the living room, then stopped when she saw Harper staring back at her with a stone cold expression. "You must be Mr. and Mrs. Chase. My name is Harper Kelly, Esquire, Shay's lawyer. If you can call your other daughter down, we can get started."
               "What is the meaning of this?" my dad barked. "Why does she need a lawyer?"
               "The better question is, why didn't she get one sooner?" Harper asked in a biting voice. "Please get your other daughter so we can get this done. Whatever you cooked for dinner left a lingering stench, and I don't want my suit ruined."
               I almost choked on my own saliva, as my mother went white, then turned and stomped upstairs to get Lynn. I knew the food crack was a low blow, but it was true. My mom only made what my dad liked, and that was never something as good as Amber would make. Harper wasted little time in sitting at the head of the huge dining room table that we only used for holidays. My father's scowl deepened as he realized she took the seat that he usually sat in for our fancy dinners, so he sat at the other end instead. My mother and Lynn came in, with Lynn's eyes widening as she took in the scene as they took their seats.
               "I'll make this quick," Harper said, her gaze pinning Lynn to the back of her chair. "Did you know that your friends, Nicky and Leigh, were going to hire someone to rape your classmate?"
               My mother gasped, while my father's face paled. Lynn just started sobbing though, and it was easy to tell the truth. "They're not even my friends anymore! They talked a lot at school about doing so many horrible things, but I didn't know which ones they were going to try doing. I thought they were just wishing they could do something, not really do it. That probably was one of the things, but mostly I tried ignoring them, so I can't remember."
               "We told you to stay away from them!" my mother wailed. "Oh my God!"
               Harper held her hand up for silence. "Do you have any proof of their discussions? Texts, or emails?"
               Lynn nodded, her face downcast. "We were in a group chat because they couldn't see each other after they were grounded. I had to mute the conversation though, because it was getting so crazy, and I haven't checked it in ages, so there could be lots of things in there. I'm really so sorry, I know I messed up." She turned her attention to me, with tears streaming down her face. "Shay, I'm so sorry for everything!" I didn't think this was an act, but it was going to take more than a simple apology to undo all the years of her actions. 
               "Perfect." Harper turned her attention to my parents. "Now, are you going to agree to give me those records, and have your daughter testify against those little monsters? Or will I be compelling you to give me the records, and include her as an accessory since she possibly knew about the plot?"