Chapter 84: The Criminal Context
The news broke at seven AM Friday: U.S. Attorney Cameron Dennis formally charging Ava Hessington with conspiracy to commit murder, bribery of foreign officials, and obstruction of justice. The press conference was carried live on every business channel.
I watched from my office, coffee cooling in my hand, as Dennis outlined the charges. Six murders in Africa, orchestrated by Hessington to secure pipeline rights, millions in bribes, systematic cover-up. He had witnesses, documents, recorded conversations.
Strong case. Or strong performance. With prosecutors, sometimes hard to tell the difference.
Harvey's response came at noon. Press conference outside Pearson Hardman, Harvey in his best suit, confidence radiating like armor.
"My client, Ava Hessington, is innocent. The charges brought by Mr. Dennis are politically motivated and factually baseless. We will prove her innocence in court, and Mr. Dennis will regret this prosecution."
Classic Harvey. Aggressive, uncompromising, making the prosecutor defend his case before trial even started.
[ **Blackmail Archive: Cameron Dennis Profile** ]
Cameron Dennis - U.S. Attorney, Southern District Age: 52 Reputation: Ambitious, aggressive, politically connected Known for: High-profile prosecutions, media savvy, conviction rate 87% Weaknesses: Overconfidence, occasionally cuts corners, hostile to defense counsel Assessment: Formidable opponent, but Harvey has beaten him before
The criminal case would dominate headlines. Murder accusations, federal prosecution, corporate scandal—everything media loved. My civil wrongful death case would get buried in coverage.
Which was fine. I didn't need media attention. I needed jury attention. And juries in civil cases cared about evidence and sympathy, not spectacle.
Zane appeared at my door around two PM.
"Watching the circus?"
"Professionally curious about how the criminal case affects ours."
"It doesn't. Not directly. Different burden of proof—beyond reasonable doubt versus preponderance of evidence. Different evidence—murder conspiracy versus safety negligence. Different juries." He sat down. "Dennis will try to prove she ordered murders. Harvey will defend her innocence. Meanwhile, we prove her company's negligence killed workers. All three outcomes can coexist independently."
"She could be acquitted criminally but lose our civil case."
"Exactly. Like O.J. Simpson—acquitted of murder, liable for wrongful death. Different standards, different results." Zane pulled out his tablet. "I'm scheduling you for site visit to Ecuador next week. Inspect the explosion location, interview surviving workers, gather physical evidence. I need you to know this case inside out."
"Understood."
The Ecuador trip was two days—fly out Monday, inspect Tuesday, return Wednesday. The facility was still operational, though the damaged section remained cordoned off for investigation. I toured it with structural engineer and safety expert, documenting every violation that had contributed to the explosion.
Gas detection system—installed but not maintained, sensors failed three months before explosion, repairs not authorized due to budget constraints. Ventilation system—inadequate for facility size, workers complained about air quality, management claimed it met minimum regulatory standards. Emergency protocols—existed on paper, not enforced in practice, workers never received updated training.
Every corner cut, every cost saved, every risk accepted—all contributed to six men dying.
I interviewed surviving workers who'd known the victims. They all told similar stories: concerns voiced, complaints filed, management assurances that everything was safe. Then the explosion, and six coworkers dead.
"Miguel tried to stop it," one worker told me in Spanish, Rachel's paralegal translating. "He filed report every month. Said equipment would fail. They told him he was worrying too much. Then it failed exactly like he said it would."
Back in New York, I compiled everything into comprehensive brief. Photographs of failed equipment, maintenance logs showing declined repairs, worker testimony about ignored warnings, expert analysis proving causation.
[ **Win Rate Calculator: Updated Civil Case Assessment** ]
Evidence Strength: Excellent (documented negligence, clear causation) Witness Quality: Strong (surviving workers, safety experts, family members) Defense Challenges: Corporate responsibility diffusion, regulatory compliance claims Success Probability: 72% (improved after site investigation)
Seventy-two percent. Solid odds. Winnable case built on strong evidence and sympathetic plaintiffs.
Thursday afternoon, Zane and I met to discuss strategy.
"Criminal case gets media attention," I said. "We use that spotlight to highlight real victims—not Ava Hessington facing jail, but workers who died because her company valued profit over safety."
"Agreed. Dennis's prosecution makes Hessington Oil look like criminal enterprise. We don't need to prove criminal intent—just negligence. That's easier burden, stronger evidence, more relatable to jury."
"Even if she's acquitted of murder charges, our case proceeds independently. Different evidence, different theory, different outcome entirely possible."
"Exactly. So we build our case assuming criminal trial never happens. Focus on what we can prove—safety violations, causation, damages. Let Harvey and Dennis fight their murder conspiracy battle. We fight for the families."
I spent the evening organizing evidence into trial presentation. Opening statement emphasizing human cost. Expert testimony proving negligence. Worker testimony about ignored warnings. Family testimony about loss and impact. Damages calculation showing economic and emotional harm.
The case was strong. Not guaranteed—no case ever was—but strong enough to win if presented properly.
My phone buzzed. Text from Donna: How's the big case?
Building nicely. Strong evidence, sympathetic clients, clear negligence. Should be winnable.
Even with Harvey on the other side?
Harvey's defending criminal charges. I'm prosecuting civil negligence. Different cases, different standards. He can win his and I can win mine.
Good luck. Come home at reasonable hour—we're christening the new apartment with actual cooking.
Be there by seven.
I packed up my office, took the subway to Chelsea, walked to the apartment Donna and I now officially shared. She'd already started cooking—something that smelled Italian, wine breathing on the counter, the domestic normalcy we'd built together.
"How was Ecuador?" she asked, handing me wine.
"Sad. Six men died because management chose profits over safety. Now their families want acknowledgment that those deaths mattered."
"And you're going to get them that acknowledgment."
"I'm going to try. Harvey's team will fight hard. Jessica doesn't lose civil cases easily. But the evidence is strong. We have good chance."
We ate at the small table we'd bought together, talking about work and plans and the particular mundanity of shared life. After dinner, washing dishes side by side, Donna asked the question I'd been avoiding.
"Are you okay fighting Harvey again? After everything ?"
"It's not about Harvey. It's about the families. They deserve justice regardless of who opposes me in court."
"That's the right answer. Just make sure you remember it when things get difficult."
I dried the last plate, set it in the cabinet, pulled her close. "Thank you. For reminding me what matters."
"Always. That's what partners do."
Later, lying in bed in apartment that was ours, city lights filtering through windows, I thought about the Hessington case. Criminal charges would get headlines. My civil case would get justice—maybe. Different goals, different measures of success.
But both mattered. Dennis would try to put Ava Hessington in prison. I'd try to get the families compensation and recognition. Harvey would defend against both.
Adversarial system at its finest. Or most brutal. Depending on perspective.
Either way, I was ready.
This time, the work actually mattered beyond my own advancement.
That made it worth fighting for.
MORE POWER STONES And REVIEWS== MORE CHAPTERS
To supporting Me in Pateron .
with exclusive access to more chapters (based on tiers more chapters for each tiers) on my Patreon, you get more chapters if you ask for more (in few days), plus new fanfic every week! Your support starting at just $6/month helps me keep crafting the stories you love across epic universes like [ In The Witcher With Avatar Powers,In The Vikings With Deja Vu System,Stranger Things Demogorgon Tamer ...].
By joining, you're not just getting more chapters—you're helping me bring new worlds, twists, and adventures to life. Every pledge makes a huge difference!
👉 Join now at patreon.com/TheFinex5 and start reading today!