Acknowledgements:
Omi as always
The BTN8rs - with apologies
The BTN Chatters - for their support
Disclaimers:
"A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend" - Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I do not own any Numb3rs characters nor do I have any rights to
anything related to the TV show Numb3rs. I plead fair use and claim
only my own writing and characters.
"Where are they?"
Margaret paced the tiny courthouse conference room as Paul, her fellow attorney, railed into the phone. After a few choice swear words he hung up and she turned to him, looking hopeful.
"Where are the pictures?"
"The courier got lost, if you can believe it, on the way to the courthouse."
"Our case! Court's only in recess for another five minutes! If we can't get the evidence..."
"I know!" Paul collapsed into a chair. "I'd have gone to pick them up myself if I hadn't trusted Eddie to get the pictures to us on time. I mean we're lucky he even got the shots, Tartano's been so careful not to get caught."
"That luck won't mean anything if the judge dismisses our case before we get them." Margaret gathered up her briefcase and coat. "I'll just have to stall. You stay out here and make sure the courier doesn't get lost looking for the courtroom."
She headed back inside, nodding politely to the attorneys sitting at the defense table and ignoring their slumlord client.
"All rise!"
The judge came in and got settled, looking like he was ready to get down to business.
"Be seated. The prosecution may call their next witness."
Margaret swallowed hard, glancing back at the closed courtroom door.
"Actually, your honor, at this time the prosecution would like to..." As she stepped around the table she knocked against her briefcase and sent it into her glass of water, spilling it all over the table. "Oh my!" The water quickly began dripping to the floor, puddling on the tile. "Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry! Does anyone have a towel or something?" She fished in her briefcase and pulled out a tiny wad of tissues and began to mop ineffectually at the mess.
"Bailiff, can you get someone to come in and take care of this?" the judge intoned, annoyed.
After few minutes, which Margaret spent apologizing profusely, a cleaning woman came in with a mop. Margaret got in her way a little, but the woman still cleaned up the mess promptly.
"Thank you, really thank you," Margaret made a show of thanking the cleaning woman, but eventually the court returned to normal and the judge was facing her down again.
"Is the prosecution ready to continue with their next witness?"
Margaret took a deep breath.
"Your honor, the prosecution would like to..." There was a noise at the back of the courtroom and Paul burst in, dragging a hapless courier by the arm. He nodded to Margaret and a smile broke out on her face as she turned to the judge. "Your honor, the prosecution would like to introduce some new evidence!"