Jake sat slumped on William's couch, a half-empty mug of cold coffee in his hand. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was pale. The faint smell of motor oil clung to him—a stubborn remnant of his years spent as a mechanic. Even though he hadn't set foot in the shop since being fired, it was as if the scent was a permanent part of him. William watched from the kitchen, his heart heavy.
"Jake," William said gently, stepping into the living room. "You've gotta talk to me, man. You've been sitting there for hours."
Jake sighed, his gaze fixed on the coffee table. "What's there to say, Will? I've got nothing left. The shop kicked me to the curb, and now I'm staring at lawyer bills I can't pay, knowing I might end up in jail."
William sat across from him, trying to figure out the right approach. "We'll figure it out. Start from the beginning. What exactly are they saying you did?"
Jake leaned back, running his hands over his face. "They're saying I fudged invoices—charged customers for work that was never done and pocketed the difference. But I didn't. I've been busting my ass for years, and now they're making me the scapegoat."
William frowned. "Why you?"
Jake let out a bitter laugh. "Because I wasn't afraid to speak up. When management started cutting corners, I called them out. Guess they decided I was more trouble than I was worth."
William leaned forward, his brows furrowed. "And Jeff? What's his role in all this?"
Jake's jaw tightened. "Jeff's the shop manager. He told me to handle some invoices and mark them as 'completed.' Said it was standard procedure. Turns out, he was skimming off the top and using my name to cover his tracks."
William's fists clenched. "And they fired you instead of investigating?"
Jake nodded. "Yep. Said it was my fault, and now I'm stuck with the fallout."
William took a deep breath, trying to calm the anger bubbling inside him. "Give me the name of the shop."
Jake looked at him warily. "Why?"
"Just trust me," William said. "I've got an idea."
Later that afternoon, William parked outside Jake's former workplace, a dingy auto repair shop with a crooked sign that read "Jefferson's Auto Garage." The smell of oil and burnt rubber filled the air as he stepped inside.
The AI's voice chimed in his mind, calm and methodical. "The shop's network appears rudimentary. Access to digital files should be achievable."
William smirked. "Good. Let's see what we can find."
A burly man in his forties, wearing a grease-stained uniform, approached him with a suspicious look. "Can I help you?"
"Hi," William said, forcing a smile. "I've got an old car that's been giving me trouble, and someone recommended this place. Thought I'd come by to see what you could do."
The man's expression softened. "You're in the right place. Jeff handles diagnostics for tricky cases. He's in the back."
"Thanks," William replied, making his way toward the office.
Inside, Jeff sat at a cluttered desk, surrounded by piles of invoices and spare parts. He looked up as William entered, his eyes narrowing. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"Nope," William said cheerfully. "Just passing through. Thought I'd see if you're the right shop to help me keep my clunker running."
Jeff chuckled. "We've worked on plenty of clunkers. What seems to be the problem?"
William launched into a fabricated story about engine troubles and poor gas mileage, letting Jeff ramble on about the shop's capabilities. Meanwhile, the AI worked in the background, accessing the shop's network through William's phone.
"Scanning deleted files… locating communications linked to Jeff's account," the AI reported.
William nodded subtly, keeping Jeff distracted with questions about repair options and pricing.
"Recovered data includes falsified invoices and internal emails implicating Jeff," the AI said. "Shall I forward this information?"
"Send it to Jake's lawyer," William thought. "And while you're at it, make sure the shop's owner sees it too."
"Understood," the AI replied. "Forwarding data now."
William continued the conversation with Jeff, hiding his satisfaction as his phone buzzed with confirmation messages. By the time he left the shop, the evidence was in the right hands.
That evening, as William drove home, his phone rang. It was Jake.
"Will!" Jake sounded breathless. "You're not gonna believe this."
"What's up?" William asked, feigning ignorance.
"My lawyer just called," Jake said, his voice filled with disbelief. "They got an anonymous email showing Jeff's emails and doctored invoices. The idiot actually admitted to framing me in one of the messages! They sent everything to the shop's owner, and now Jeff's getting grilled."
William grinned, relief washing over him. "That's amazing, man. Looks like you're finally catching a break."
Jake genuinly laughed for the first time in weeks. "I don't know who sent the email, but they might've just saved my ass."
As Jake continued to talk, William let his gaze wander to the horizon, his smile growing. He didn't need to tell Jake what he'd done—or how the AI had made it possible. For now, it was enough to know his friend might finally have a chance to clear his name.
The courthouse was packed on the day of Jake's trial, the air heavy with tension. William sat in the gallery, nervously tapping his foot as he watched Jake's lawyer, Melissa Greene, prepare her case. Despite her youthful appearance, Melissa exuded a quiet confidence that set William at ease.
The prosecutor began their opening argument, attempting to paint Jake as a dishonest employee who had betrayed his employer's trust. William's stomach churned as he listened to the skewed narrative. But Melissa remained calm, scribbling notes and waiting her turn.
When Melissa rose, she started with a simple yet powerful statement. "Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the court, what we have here is not a case of fraud but a case of systemic manipulation, scapegoating, and injustice."
She turned to Jake, who sat stoically at the defense table. "My client, Jake Daniels, has been falsely accused of actions orchestrated by his former manager, Jeff Patterson. Thanks to crucial evidence, including internal communications and falsified invoices, we can prove that Jake was set up to take the fall for Mr. Patterson's misconduct."
The courtroom buzzed as Melissa presented the recovered emails and invoices. Each piece of evidence was like a hammer striking a nail, driving the prosecutor's argument further into the ground.
"Not only was my client wrongfully terminated," Melissa continued, "but the actions of Mr. Patterson and this company caused a cascade of personal and financial ruin. Jake Daniels lost his livelihood, his home, and even his relationship due to the stress and stigma placed upon him by these false accusations."
Jake's eyes darted to William, confusion and gratitude flickering in his expression. William met his gaze but quickly looked away, keeping his involvement hidden.
As the trial progressed, Melissa systematically dismantled the prosecution's case. Witnesses, including other shop employees, corroborated Jake's account, describing Jeff's shady practices and manipulative behavior. By the end of the day, it was clear the tide had turned in Jake's favor.
The judge's verdict was swift and decisive. "The court finds Jake Daniels not guilty on all charges. Furthermore, the court orders Jefferson's Auto Garage to compensate Mr. Daniels for his legal fees and lost wages."
The gallery erupted in applause, and Jake slumped in his seat, overcome with relief. William joined him outside the courtroom, clapping him on the back. "You did it, man. It's over."
Jake smiled weakly. "Yeah… somehow."
A week later, Jake received an unexpected call from the owner of Jefferson's Auto Garage. The man apologized profusely for what had happened and explained that Jeff had been fired and was now under investigation for his own misconduct.
"I've been thinking a lot about how this whole mess unfolded," the owner said. "I want to make things right, and I believe the best way to do that is to offer you the garage."
Jake nearly dropped the phone. "The garage? Are you serious?"
"You've got the skills, Jake," the owner continued. "And more importantly, you've got the integrity this place needs. Consider it yours."
When Jake told William the news, he was pacing the living room, disbelief written all over his face. "I can't believe it. Me, running a garage?"
William played it cool, leaning against the doorframe. "Why not? You've earned it. Maybe the universe is finally throwing you a bone."
Jake laughed. "If this is the universe's way of apologizing, I'll take it."
Jake spent the next few weeks overhauling the shop's operations. He implemented new policies, brought in better equipment, and focused on building trust with customers. Under his management, Jefferson's Auto Garage quickly gained a reputation for quality work and honesty.
One evening, after closing up the shop, Jake and William sat in the office, scrolling through house listings on a laptop.
"This one's got a decent-sized garage," Jake said, pointing at the screen. "Plenty of space for tools and projects."
William nodded. "And this one's closer to downtown. Could be good for business."
As they reviewed their options, a sense of optimism filled the room. For the first time in a long time, the future felt bright. They weren't just surviving anymore—they were building something. Together.