“Is that right?”
“Absolutely. Take another Plan B, and you gon’ be saying ya alphabets backward.” I guffawed and lifted from his lap, but he grabbed my hips to sit me back down. “Where are you going?”
“The judge wants to see us this morning.” I checked my watch. “I gotta go.”
“Did he say what for?”
“No, but I’m sure it’s regarding the trial. Once I leave the courthouse, I have to go into the office and prep for court this afternoon.”
“I went to visit Terrica last night.”
I looked at him and frowned. “Emery?—”
“It’s not what you think. Just like I didn’t touch Leyla, I didn’t touch her either.”
“Then what happened?”
“Them niggas basically are coercing her to get on the stand and commit perjury.”
My frown deepened. “What?”
“That’s what she said, but I made sure to let her know that if she gets on that stand tomorrow and lies, she won’t have to worry about going to jail. She’ll be going in a dark hole right along with her mama.”
“Baby, you can’t keep threatening people.”
“It’s not a threat, Yum. That shit is a for sure promise, one I intend to keep.”
“What if she gets on the stand and tells them you paid her a visit and threatened her?”
“She won’t. I’m sure she loves herself and her mama too much to play with her life like that.” I shook my head. “What’s the judge’s name again?”
“This judge’s name is Samuel Cason.”
“What happened to Larkin?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll know more when I get there. It has to be something important for him to ask us to come this morning.” I stood from his lap.
“Eat something.”
“I can’t. It’s already eight-thir?—”
“Yumi.” He gave me a stern look.
“Fine. Bossy ass.” I giggled and grabbed a bagel, spread some cream cheese on it, placed a few pieces of bacon on it, then wrapped it in a napkin. “I love you.”
“I love you more, Yum.”
“I’ll see you later?”
“You know it.”
I pecked his lips a few times before grabbing my satchel and purse, then headed out. When I made it outside, Kevin and Reggie were already waiting in the SUV, prepared to follow me. I acknowledged them before climbing in my car and pulling out of the gates.
Jeremiah stoodat the end of the staircase, waiting for me once I entered through the doors of the thirty-eighth district court. We greeted one another before heading up the stairs and down the hall toward the judges’ chambers. Upon approaching, I saw AUSA George Smith and AUSA Austin Rivers standing by the door, conversing. Their attention came to us, and they immediately stopped talking.
“Smith, Rivers, good morning, gentlemen,” Jeremiah greeted, holding his hand out for a shake. They looked at me.
“Good morning, Attorney Clark. Fine day, isn’t it?” Smith asked, giving a condescending smile. I wanted to be rude, but I decided I wouldn’t give him what he was begging for. He was trying to get a rise out of me, . . . always had.
