Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“You were.”
“I doubt it,” he said as the gearshift unlocked. “But it’s good to see my court orders working. I feel a lot safer in this contraption you call a car now.”
I bit down on my tongue as hard as possible and finally pulled onto the road.
Fortunately, he didn’t try to engage in any small talk on the way to the courthouse.
Unfortunately… I could feel him staring me up and down for the entire drive.
Parking Lot for Judicial Staff Only
Must Display Official Badge in Front Window
All Others Will Be Towed
I coasted right in front of the sign where I’d secured a great space yesterday.
At this hour, only a couple of other cars were here.
“I appreciate the ride, Miss Spencer.” He finally looked away from me and unlocked his door.
When he stepped out, I glanced at the time.
Four twenty-nine.
I hate my life.
He shut my door and walked around to the driver’s side.
I could tell he wanted to say something else—to toy with me just a little more, so I rolled down my windows.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Now that you’re here,” he said. “You might as well stay and clock in early.”
“Come again?”
“You only have an hour before you have to report to work.” He smirked. “It doesn’t make sense for you to drive all the way home for what? A ten-minute nap at best?”
I fucking hate you… I held back the words on the tip of my tongue.
“From the looks of things, it seems like you’re already dressed for the day,” he said. “I can hold the back door while you park, if you like.”
“No, that’s okay, Mr. Ashton.”
“Judge Ashton,” he corrected me.
“Noted,” I said. “I’ll sleep in the parking lot until I have to go inside.”
“There’s a bed in my office.”
“I have a feeling you wouldn’t let me use it.”
“Not for sleeping probably…” His eyes met mine. “But it’s available.”
I was far too exhausted to wonder if he’d actually said the words I thought I heard.
“I’ll see you at five thirty.” I rolled up my windows and drove to the farthest row.
Then I grabbed a blanket from my backseat and used up every single second of my final off hour to rest.
FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE (N.):
IN CRIMINAL LAW, THE DOCTRINE THAT EVIDENCE DISCOVERED DUE TO INFORMATION FOUND THROUGH ILLEGAL SEARCH OR OTHER UNCONSTITUTIONAL MEANS MAY NOT BE INTRODUCED BY A PROSECUTOR.
LIAM
“Judge Ashton! Judge Ashton!” A reporter yelled at me from down the hallway. “It’s Ashley Baron from WRDT-TV! I really need to talk to you!”
Too bad I don’t feel the same…
I continued walking toward the elevator.
“Judge Ashton, please!” She wailed as she ran. “Please!”
The doors glided open just as she caught up, and she somehow leapt in front of me.
Her camera crew was steps behind her.
“I just have a couple questions,” she said. “Please.”
“You have two minutes.”
“How do you feel about being named the Harshest Judge in The City by the Citizens’ Council?”
“Depends,” I said. “Does a check come with that award?”
“You get a bronze middle finger statue.”
“I can’t wait to display it in my chambers, then. I’ll email you a picture whenever I receive it.”
“How do you feel about the Grant Jenkins case being overturned?”
“No comment.”
“Will you be following the new case as a new judge presides over it?”
“I said no comment.”
“Fine,” she said. “Last question. You’re still the only judge in the criminal court who isn’t married. Will that be changing anytime soon?”
“You know I don’t answer personal questions.” I glanced at my watch. “Your two minutes are up.”
“You don’t want to give me two more for old time’s sake?” She winked. “These will be softballs, I swear.”
“Go bother someone else, Ashley.” I motioned for her to get out of my way. “We’re no longer on good terms after how you reported on me long ago.”
“It was never personal.”
“Move.”
“I wasn’t aiming to hurt you,” she said. “I was simply doing my job and trying to report the truth.”
“Then you deserve to be fired.”
Her smile faded and she finally stepped back, letting me inside the elevator.
I couldn’t hit the door-close button fast enough.
Instead of getting off on my floor, I stopped on the third level instead.
“Whoa there, Judge Ashton.” A security guard smiled at me. “Are you sleepwalking?”
“No,” I said. “What makes you think that?”
“You’re never here this early.” He tilted his head to the side. “Everyone knows your routine like the back of their hand.”
“I’m starting a new one as of today.”
“Oh?” He smiled. “And it involves this floor?”
I considered telling him that yes, I was sleepwalking due to stress, but the last thing I needed was to power a new rumor mill.
“I need to get into the case records library to look up a few old cases,” I said. “I have all new clerks, so it’d be quicker for me to handle this myself.”
“Makes perfect sense.” He pulled out a tablet and tapped the screen. “I’ll start keeping it unlocked for you until you tell me otherwise, sir.”