For the People Chapter 72

"Call Amelia Milcham," public defender Lyle Douglas announces to Judge Larissa Bingham's court.

Bingham looks toward Kate. "Ms. Beckett?"

"No objection, Your Honor."

"Then take the stand, Ms. Milcham," Bingham orders.

Jason Jordan fixes Amelia with a hard stare as she approaches the clerk to be sworn in. Squaring her shoulders, she stares back before taking the oath.

"Ms. Milcham, what is your relationship to Thomas Milcham?" Douglas inquires.

"He's my brother," Amelia replies.

"And did you and your brother have any discussions regarding Jason Jordan?" Douglas asks.

"We did."

"And what was the nature of those discussions?"

"I told him I had a date with Jason Jordan. When I came home after Jason Jordan assaulted me, Thomas wanted to know what happened. And he insisted on taking me to the hospital."

"Ms. Milcham, I know it's difficult for you to talk about what Jason Jordan did, but I need you to tell the court exactly what you remember telling your brother."

"All right," Amelia agrees, before starting to recount her story.


"So what happened?" Rick asks before Kate's over the threshold of the loft.

"The jury convicted Thomas Milcham of disorderly conduct. He's got to pay a $250 fine, $100 for the paperwork, and will avoid any jail time if he's clean for a year. But he won't have a felony on his record. And now that Amelia's testimony is public record, I can charge Jason Jordan with sexual assault and a lot more if the other young women keep their determination to testify. And I have physical evidence to back up the charges."

"How soon can you proceed with that?"

"I'm looking at multiple felonies, so I'll have to take it to a grand jury. But as soon as they indict, and they will, I'll push for an early trial date. And I should draw Judge Bingham again since she's already familiar with the details of the case. I've got my fingers crossed."

"Mine too, and my toes, although it's hard in these shoes. Have you found out yet whether you'll be the prosecutor on the mariachi murder? Ooh, that's got a ring to it. If I were still putting out mysteries, that would make a great title. Maybe I can pass it on to one of the young writers I'll be mentoring."

Kate presses her palm to Rick's chest. "Wait. You're mentoring young writers? When did this happen?"

"I got a call from one of my old editors at Black Pawn. She made the jump to a new division at G&S that's going to put out lighter tomes. She's got a couple of promising manuscripts from first-timers, and she wanted to know if I could help out. There's nothing more rewarding than guiding young talent."

"And maybe you miss living through your crime-busting alter-egos."

"Maybe a little. I mean it was great to have an avatar like Storm who could press 400 lbs. and blow up bad guys in their dens. Still, I'm becoming Rook in a way I never thought I could – except for his side hustle of writing romance novels. But the real thing is more fun – most of the time, anyway. There aren't too many romance novels where the lovers have to fit their ecstasy into silent stretches of a baby monitor. Still, I found my life mate, which from regencies to bodice rippers is the point."

"If you'd tried any bodice-ripping with me, you could have lost your point."

Rick winces. "Never even on my mind. I prefer unwrapping my presents slowly and appreciatively."

"Except for new gaming consoles."

"Yes, a man can only exert so much self-control. But no gaming tonight. How do you want to celebrate your win? I can always get us a table at Le Cirque, with nary a mariachi band in sight. Alexis has been talking about wanting to see her sister more. I bet she'd be willing to watch Lily for a few hours."

"It's been a long day, and I'd rather order in," Kate decides. "How about Thai? I could use something spicy."

Rick grins, his eyebrows doing the wave. "I always enjoy a little spice."


With a slow smile on his lips, Robert Donnellan looks up from a back booth table to greet Judge Judith Kitteridge. "Thanks for coming, Judy. I wasn't sure you would."

"I wasn't sure I would either," Judy admits. "A judge seeing a defense attorney is a bad idea, Bobby, even if you don't have any cases before me. The rumors are already all over the courthouse. Sooner or later some lawyer's going to throw a Hail Mary and question my competency for the bench."

Sighing, Bobby gazes at the single candle burning on the table. "I know. I should never have put you in that position."

"I put myself in that position," Kitteridge argues, "but I told you before that I can't anymore. As long as I'm a judge, I can't have anything to do with you that isn't strictly professional. And for a while, I may have to recuse myself even from that."

"As long as you're a judge," Bobby repeats. "You don't have to be a judge, Judy. Look, I have to turn away cases because I don't have the staff or facilities to work on them."

"You could hire associates and get bigger offices," Kitteridge points out.

"For which the capital investment would be considerable, and it could be months or years before I'd see enough return to justify it. Besides, the people I have, work really well together. And if it ain't broke…."

"Don't fix it," Judith finishes. "So what are we talking about, Bobby?"

"I'm talking about two firms working in concert. There are small suites for rent in the same building as my offices. I could send you clients the minute you hang out a shingle. The retainers from those would keep your lights on until you bring in some of your own. And I suspect that wouldn't take very long. A lot of people would love to hire a lawyer who knows all the little secrets of the courthouse. And that way, you do what you want. You can turn away clients you don't like or take on some I wouldn't like. No one would be on top, and no one would be on the bottom either unless we want it that way. There'd be no conflict of interest and no worries about future appeals. We could be together on our own terms. I love you, Judy. I don't want to lose you."

Judith shakes her head. "I love you too. But I don't know if I can start from scratch like that, Bobby. And I have cases pending I don't want to dump on other judges. They all have full enough dockets already. I want to make sure I cleared everything. We'd have to be apart during that time, and it could take a while."

"As long as I know you're working towards getting out of there, I can wait," Bobby declares. "It all depends on whether you're willing to make the move. Are you, Judy? Or is being a judge more important than having a life with me?"

"I want a life with you, Bobby. I can start the process, but as I said, tying up all the loose ends could take a while."

"Whatever it takes, it takes. And I've got a couple of huge cases to distract me. The next one is before Judge Milligan."

"Well good luck with that. His brother-in-law is a defense attorney, and he hates him. You two even look a little alike, except your eyes are bluer, and he carries a few more pounds. Whatever you do, don't wear a light colored-suit. The brother-in-law always does and Milligan's constantly saying how inappropriate for court it is."

Bobby leans across the table for a kiss. "Only dark suits. Got it."