The judge buried her head in the file, and I couldn’t move. The lady had just sworn in court. It was funny, but…I couldn’t move.
Judge Williams cleared her throat. “Ah, all right then. Ms. Albertini?”
For the second time that week, I purposefully didn’t do my job. Or maybe I did. The bigger picture was that I seek justice, and at the moment, I couldn’t find any by hurting these ladies. “Obviously there was a mistake made here, Judge. The state would like to dismiss all charges, so long as the defendants refrain from repeating the conduct.” I said the last with a firm nod toward the two women.
“Of course,” Thelma uttered breathlessly.
Georgiana pressed her palms together. “Yeah, we won’t make so much noise next time.”
I shook my head. “Stay out of trouble. Promise me.”
They both nodded, and Georgiana grabbed Thelma’s arm and tugged her toward the door.
Judge Williams peered into a file. “Next up I have Randy Taylor.”
Randy looked around eighteen and was still fighting acne. He ambled up, his arms skinny and his brown hair back in a man bun. I knew there were sexy pictures of guys on Pinterest with man buns. Randy was not one of those guys.
“Where’s your attorney?” the judge asked.
“Fired him,” the kid muttered.
The judge sighed. “Is there an offer from the state?” she asked.
I read the file. Randy had been caught with marijuana and then had fled arrest after punching a cop. Not good. Really not good. I didn’t like that at all. “Three years.”
Randy shook his head wildly, and the man bun fell apart as his hair flew around.
The judge sighed. “I take it you plead not guilty and request a jury trial?”
“Yes, your honor.” Randy’s voice wobbled this time.
“Fair enough. We’ll get a calendar going for the case and set the trial date at the next status conference.” The judge made a notation. “Ms. Albertini, you’re excused. Looks like it was a quick day.”
Maybe for her. Mine had given me a migraine. I grabbed my files and all but fled the courtroom. I pushed the door open and headed into the hallway, winding through bodies and ending up outside. The sun had disappeared, and clouds had begun to gather. I increased my speed toward the office.
Randy ran behind me. “Hey, lady. Come on, give me a better deal.”
Irritation almost dropped me cold. I kept violence at bay and squinted at the sky, balancing myself with calves I’d earned by running every day and trying to outdistance stress in law school. If a total klutz and shy geek girl with issues could be athletic, I’d given it my best to be athletic once in a while. “Get a lawyer,” I said.
He allowed a kid on a skateboard to fly by and then returned to walk by my side. “When do you think the trial will be?”
I glanced to my left at the perfectly square park with its winding walking trails, new benches, and freshly cut grass. Flowers and bushes ringed the entire area, adding a splash of color. “The misdemeanor criminal cases are probably a few months out.”
“Good. Um, do I have to stay in Idaho?” His voice cracked as we skirted perfectly tended purple pansies.
“I am not your attorney. But take some advice and go into Washington state for pot from now on. At least it’s kind of legal there.” According to the state, pot was legal, although the federal government disagreed but seemed content to turn a blind eye.
“Okay.” Randy blew out air in a sigh only an eighteen-year-old caught with pot could muster. We headed toward the crosswalk at the corner, and I breathed in the clean scent of cut grass from the center park. “You seem cool to me. How old are you?”
“Old enough to prosecute you,” I said.
He chuckled. The kid needed to leave me alone. My job was to put him in jail, and he wanted to make friends.
He pushed a folded piece of paper in my hand.
“What—” I started to ask.
“Here’s my contact information in case you need to find me. I’m not at the address on the arrest warrant anymore ‘cause I’m staying with my uncle.” A dark flush wandered over his face, and he shuffled his feet before shoving his hands in his pockets.
