Thank goodness.
She peered down at us, her brown eyes twinkling. “Ms. Albertini. Has the prosecuting attorney’s office hired anybody else yet?”
I huffed out a breath. “I believe it should happen soon, Judge.”
“Good.” Her skin was a deep brown, her lips red today, and her hair salt and pepper with awesome curl. Her shirt peeked above the judge’s black robe and matched her lipstick. What shade of red was it? I made a mental note to ask her later because it was the perfect color. “At this point, it appears as if charging documents are being submitted too slowly,” she said, a slight bite in her voice.
My eyebrows rose, and I nodded subtly. Oh, I’d definitely hit Nick with that information and soon. Then I smiled, silently thanking her for the opportunity to kick Nick in the preverbal butt that she’d just given me.
“All right. Let’s start withElk County vs. June Applebeefor public nuisance,” the judge said, perching her glasses on her forehead and reading from a file.
I dug out the correct file and read quickly. After a couple of hours, Clark and I had pled out thirteen cases, set for trial ten more, and had worked in tandem well, even though we’d end up against each other in the trials. But we were efficient, and the judge was quick to find trial dates, so when I picked up the last file and began to read, I was already planning my lunch.
The judge cleared her throat. “Elk County vs. Danny Pucci.”
I stifled a gasp and swiveled to watch Danny lope to Clark’s table.
“Hi there, little sister,” Danny gave me a slow wink as he took his seat. I gaped in shock as I stared at my sister Tessa’s ex-fiancé.
Danny was long and lean with a crapload of mean. He was the guy who had mothers rushing to shut their daughters behind locked doors before running out to say hello themselves, and his tan brought out the deep green of his eyes. I had the biggest crush on him while he was engaged to Tessa. Until he beat the heck out of her and stole her car. Now I wanted to return the favor.
I liked to believe that my even mix of Italian and Irish genes lent loyalty, spirituality and spunk to my make-up. But in truth they also created fire and a need for revenge. To hurt those who wounded mine. Danny had nearly destroyed my sister. The wild sister.
I checked the hackles rising on the back of my neck and turned toward the judge.
The judge looked our way. “The charge appears to be domestic violence against a live-in girlfriend, but this charging file is terribly light. Ms. Albertini?”
I cleared my throat and leaned down to read the charging documents. Oh, I wasn’t going to be nice. “Your records are light, judge.” Way too light. It wasn’t a surprise, considering the former prosecuting attorney had gotten involved in the drug trade and then was murdered before all of the lawyers were fired. “From the records, this looks like a third offense.” Yeah, the asshat should’ve been charged with a felony. This had fallen through the cracks. I stood taller to take the lumps. “It appears that additional charges are required here, your honor. The state requests a postponement and a week to prepare for a preliminary hearing.”
Clark glanced my way, surprise in his eyes. “We could plea this out.”
Glass sharp eyes narrowed on mine as Danny stood in faded jeans and a tan shirt decorated with a dragon spitting fire. “I plead not guilty, your honor. Regardless.”
The judge gave me a look that clearly said this was mylastfavor. “It appears we’re not ready for a plea. This time. Very well, Ms. Albertini. One week to amend charges.” She stood, we all jumped to our feet, and the judge strode gracefully out of the courtroom.
Clark turned toward me. “You okay?”
“Yes.” I grabbed the files off my table and ignored his client. My afternoon was swamped, and I had to get through it and fast. I had to find Tessa.
Once I got back to the office, I tried to call but went to her voicemail. Then my first witness arrived to prepare for an upcoming trial, and I had to get down to trying to fix the mess the office had become.
I worked diligently until quitting time and all but ran out the door at five o’clock. Nick hadn’t returned from court, and right now, I didn’t care.
After an afternoon where my red shoes made me feel like anything but a badass, I swung through Margo’s Tai Palace for buckets of calories to take to my sister Tessa’s place. I had tried her phone a couple more times through the afternoon, but she must’ve been working. This was better news given in person…with wine. I’d already picked up several bottles before hitting Margo’s.
It was finally summer, and I drove my Fiat with the top down, trying to suck in fresh air and lose the worry. Timber City had about forty-nine thousand citizens, which was the big city to a girl from Silverville. Most of my family still lived in my hometown, fifty miles east through a mountain pass. Tessa lived here, right off the main drag in town in an apartment above Smiley’s Diner, where she worked as a waitress.
A lot of people, locals and tourists, strolled along the brick sidewalks in the warm weather now that the workday was finished.
I parked at the curb, grabbed the food and wine, and then walked past the diner entrance to a doorway just around the corner. Using my hip, I nudged it open and walked up the cement steps and through another doorway that led to an alcove with two apartment doors.
Tess’s door was the one to the right, and it was ajar.
I stilled. Tessa never left her door open. Panic tried to grab me, but I had to stay smart. Had Danny already found her? No. Maybe she was just putting groceries away or something. As quietly as I could, I set dinner against the wall. Then I walked on my toes across the hard cement to the blue steel door, careful not to let my heels make any noise. My heart pounded, and my lungs tightened painfully.
The massive lump in my throat didn’t allow me to swallow. Okay. Tess had to be okay. I reached her door and gingerly pushed it open, listening for any sound.
“Freeze!” A male voice bellowed from behind me.
