Chapter 87: The Cameron Dennis Factor
The call came Tuesday morning, direct line, no secretary screening.
"Scott Roden? Cameron Dennis. U.S. Attorney. Got a minute?"
I recognized the name instantly—prosecutor handling the Hessington murder charges. Ambitious, aggressive, media-savvy. The kind of attorney who saw cases as stepping stones to political office.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Dennis?"
"Your civil discovery in the Hessington wrongful death case is turning up evidence I need for my criminal prosecution. Internal communications, financial records, safety violation documentation. We should coordinate."
I leaned back in my chair, processing the request. "My obligation is to my clients, not your prosecution."
"Your clients want justice. A murder conviction gets them that."
"Justice for them is proving negligence caused their family members' deaths. Your murder conviction is a separate goal that doesn't necessarily serve their interests."
Dennis's voice hardened slightly. "Don't play naive. You know how this works. Civil and criminal cases strengthen each other. Your discovery helps me convict Ava Hessington. That helps your clients' narrative."
"Or it compromises my case independence. Makes it look like we're coordinating to attack a defendant instead of seeking legitimate civil remedy."
"Smart lawyers coordinate all the time—"
"Smart lawyers maintain appropriate boundaries," I interrupted. "Especially when criminal and civil proceedings involve the same defendant. I can't subordinate my clients' civil interests to your prosecution agenda."
Silence on the other end. I could almost hear Dennis recalculating his approach.
"What if I subpoena your discovery materials?"
"Then you get what courts order you get. But I won't voluntarily strategize with you, won't coordinate timing, won't let your criminal case drive my civil case."
"You're making this harder than it needs to be."
"I'm maintaining ethical boundaries. Those sometimes make things harder."
After we hung up, I sat staring at my phone. Cameron Dennis represented a type of lawyer I could become—brilliant tactician who let ambition override ethics, who saw cases as battles to win rather than clients to serve, who'd push boundaries because the end justified means.
That wasn't who I wanted to be.
I grabbed my notes and headed to Zane's office. He was reviewing contracts, reading glasses perched on his nose, the particular focus of someone who actually read the fine print.
"Got a minute?" I asked from his doorway.
"For you? Always. What's wrong?"
I explained Dennis's call, the coordination request, the implied pressure to cooperate.
Zane set down his contracts, removed his glasses. "What did you tell him?"
"That my duty is to my clients exclusively. That I won't strategize with him or let his criminal case drive mine."
"Good answer. What's the ethical concern?"
"He's right that coordination could help both cases. His conviction strengthens our negligence narrative. Refusing cooperation might hurt my clients if it limits available evidence."
"Does cooperation actually help your clients?"
I thought about that. "Maybe. But it also entangles our civil case with his criminal prosecution. Makes us look like we're ganging up on Ava Hessington rather than seeking legitimate remedy for wrongful deaths."
"Then your instinct was correct. Your duty is to your clients exclusively. If helping Dennis helps them, consider it. If it doesn't—or if it creates complications that outweigh benefits—refuse. Never subordinate civil clients to prosecutor's agenda."
"Even if the prosecutor's right that coordination serves justice?"
"Whose definition of justice? Dennis wants conviction to advance his career. Your clients want acknowledgment that their family members mattered. Those aren't the same thing." Zane leaned forward. "Cameron Dennis is brilliant prosecutor with political ambitions. He'll use your case to strengthen his if you let him. Don't let him."
Back in my office, I drafted response to Dennis's implicit request. Professional but firm—I'd provide documents that were public record or discoverable in both proceedings, nothing more. No strategic coordination, no timing alignment, no subordination of civil interests to criminal goals.
[ **Blackmail Archive: Cameron Dennis Assessment** ]
Cameron Dennis - U.S. Attorney Strengths: Brilliant tactician, aggressive prosecutor, media savvy Weaknesses: Ambition overrides ethics, pushes boundaries, uses people Threat Level: High (will exploit cooperation, entangle cases) Recommendation: Maintain professional distance, limited cooperation only
Dennis called back an hour after receiving my email.
"This is unnecessarily rigid."
"This is appropriately professional. I'll provide public documents and standard discoverable materials. Beyond that, you're on your own."
"You're making my job harder."
"I'm doing my job. Which is representing my clients' civil interests, not advancing your prosecution."
"Fine. But when Ava Hessington walks free because we didn't coordinate effectively, remember this conversation."
"If she walks free, it'll be because you couldn't prove your case beyond reasonable doubt. That's not my responsibility."
He hung up without further comment. I sat processing the exchange, recognizing the choice point it represented.
[ **System Notification: Character Development Moment** ]
Choice Point Identified: Prosecutorial Alliance Path A: Aggressive coordination with Dennis - Enhanced tactical position Path B: Principled independence - Ethical clarity, reduced resources Selection: Path B chosen Assessment: Consistent development
The System was right. This was choice between becoming the kind of lawyer who let ambition drive everything versus the kind who maintained boundaries even when inconvenient.
Cameron Dennis was brilliant. He'd probably convict Ava Hessington through sheer force of will and tactical aggression. But he'd also bend rules, pressure witnesses, use people instrumentally to achieve goals.
That evening, I told Donna about Dennis's approach.
"You turned down cooperation with a federal prosecutor?" she asked, setting down her wine.
"I turned down inappropriate entanglement. There's a difference."
"Harvey would have coordinated with him. Used the alliance to strengthen both cases."
"I'm not Harvey. I don't want to be Harvey." I paused. "Dennis represents who I could become if I prioritize winning over everything else. Brilliant tactician, questionable ethics, ambition that overrides principle. That's not the path I want."
Donna moved closer, kissed me. "Good. Because I fell in love with someone who chooses principle even when calculation serves him better. Don't become someone different just to win cases."
"Even if it means harder path to victory?"
"Especially then. Easy victories aren't worth having."
I held her close, thinking about the choice I'd made. Limited cooperation with Dennis instead of full alliance. Principled advocacy instead of aggressive coordination. Client interests above prosecutorial goals.
The right choices weren't always the winning choices. But they were the choices I could live with.
That had to be enough.
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!