JENNIE

I watch Tzuyu's mannerisms and the way she carries herself around the courtroom. She's borderline high-strung and was probably the kind of child whose parents told her to settle down her entire childhood. The three or four minutes we interacted at the retirement party showed none of this energy. I like her though, even though we're complete opposites and have a history she's not aware of. She's young, eager, and not afraid to be loud in the courtroom.

My mind wanders to her and Lisa, and I visualize them having sex. It's only for a moment, and then my professionalism tamps it down."How many of you believe that large corporations put their own interests above those of their employees?" Tzuyu asks the twelve people who are up first for jury selection. A few raise their hands, and she and her associate put their heads together and mark something down on a clipboard.

This will be most of my day. Jury selection. If I'm lucky, we'll have it done before lunch or shortly thereafter. Then we can dismiss the people who were called in to do their civic duty so they can get back to their lives. More questions are asked, more people are cycled into the courtroom, more are dismissed, and by noon, we have a jury and alternates. I dismiss the courtroom and return to my chambers.

April has a club sandwich and chips on my desk waiting for me. She alternates between salads and sandwiches each day, at my request. I'm glad today's carbohydrate day, because the afternoon is going to be as grueling as the morning was, and I'll need protein.

My eyes hurt from the fluorescent light that fills the room with a bluish-white color that I can't imagine is healthy. The courtroom is twice as bad. I open my curtains for warmer sunlight and wish I hadn't. I watch Tzuyu walk into the parking lot and climb right into Lisa's car. It's hard to be certain, but I think they kiss. I move away from the window and sit down to my lunch. I don't know how to feel about that. Tzuyu's a nice-enough person, but I can't imagine she's fulfilling Lisa's needs. I take a bite of my sandwich and review my afternoon schedule. Hopefully, it'll be easy.

Samuel knocks at my door. "Judge Kim?"

"Come in."

"I have the copies you requested."

He holds up a folder. I wave him inside. "Thanks. Just throw it in my in-box. I appreciate your help."

I return to reviewing my docket as though what he's dropping off isn't a big deal. When he leaves and closes the door, I reach for the packet and slip it into my briefcase.

N: I haven't heard from you in days.

Nayeon's text makes me smile. She's exaggerating. We texted yesterday before Lisa stopped by.

J: Liar. It's been less than twenty-four hours.

N: It's not too late to consider spending Thanksgiving with us.

J: Sounds so family-ish, but I have to work Friday. THE LAW NEVER STOPS.

N: Smiley-face emoji. It will for me. I took it off. Think I might do some shopping with the kids on Friday.

It's sweet that she's already doing mom things with them.

J: I haven't been on the job long enough to start taking vacations.

N: Maybe next summer.

I can't believe I've been a judge for six months. I haven't been in the courtroom that long, but my time started when I was sworn in.

N: And you have Christmas.

J: My parents are coming to town for Christmas, so not much of a vacation, but it'll be nice to see them. How's Mr. Bloom?

N: Wonderful. How are you doing being friends with Lisa?

J: She's coming over tonight. Just to hang out.

I don't know why I don't tell Nayeon that we're reviewing the case. Maybe to have some mystery still with Lisa, or maybe because I don't want her to worry. I'm in good hands. Very good hands.

N: Oh? So, you're doing okay with that? I like her. If things can't work out in the more-than-friends scenario, then I like her for your friend. She's a good egg.

J: Thanks. I miss you.

N: Call me tonight. I miss you more.

"Hi, Judge Kim. Thanks for your help in court today." Tzuyu steps into the elevator and smiles as she adjusts her bag over her shoulder and pulls out her phone.

"No need to thank me. Just doing my job," I say. I look her over discreetly and pick out things about her that I think Lisa admires. Her profession, her brains, her small waistline? I could probably wrap my hands around her waist. She looks good in a suit.

Her ass doesn't quite lift enough in those heels, but I give her an A for effort. She also likes my shoes. Every time we've shared space, she's noticed them.

"Hey, doll. I'll be outside in one minute. See you then."

She hangs up the phone and looks at me sheepishly. "My car's in the shop. I don't want to splurge on a new one, but I might have to. Dead water pump and something else under the hood I can't remember."

"That's too bad. With the weather changing, a reliable car might be a wise investment," I say, very boringly. I've always splurged on cars. Luxury has always been important to me. Safety, too. I switch out cars every two years. The last thing I want is to be stranded in the middle of nowhere because my car died. We walk down the hallway to the parking lot. We both stall at the door, then reach for it at the same time.

"I'm sorry. Go ahead," she says.

"Thank you."

I stutter for a moment when I see Lisa's car pull up near the sidewalk. I keep the smile on my face as I walk past them, even though it takes effort for the corners of my mouth to stay turned up instead of down.

"Have a good night, Judge," Tzuyu says.

"You do the same." I make eye contact with Lisa until Tzuyu leans into my line of vision to kiss the soft spot in the corner of Lisa's mouth. I turn my head and slip into my car. I'm not ready for that display, and it slightly jars me. Is she still coming over tonight?

I'm going to plan as though she is. Lisa has yet to let me down.

I'm home with a glass of wine in my hand within twenty minutes. Thai food sounds warm and delicious, so I place an order for Pad Thai, spicy shrimp soup, and spring rolls. It should be here in forty minutes. I change out of my suit, take a quick shower, and pull on yoga pants, a lightweight hoodie, and thick socks. My hair is damp and my makeup light. My phone rings. It's the doorman.

"Ms. Kim? You have a visitor. Lisa Manoban."

"Thank you. Please send her up."

I pour an extra glass of wine and open the door when she knocks lightly. I hand it to her and invite her inside. "I have the files."

"And I have dinner." She holds up a bag. "It was downstairs when I got here. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all. I hope you like Thai."

"I do."

We don't talk about Tzuyu at all. It's none of my business. "I'll fix the plates. Start looking through the case notes. We should probably look at everyone who has storage space in the warehouse. It might not be as obvious as everyone thought. Maybe it was a coincidence that Seamus started the fire in the bank unit and the target was some other unit."

Lisa finds the list of renters in the warehouse and opens her laptop. "I'll start searching the names on the list."

I hand her a plate and sit on the couch next to her. "There are so many units here. This might take a while." I pause for a moment to enjoy the spicy pepper scent of her cologne before taking half the list from her. I slide down to the floor and rest my back against the couch. I'm apt to do something stupid and regrettable if I sit next to her with our knees touching from time to time.

"So far, most the of renters are individuals. There are only a few businesses. On my list at least," she says.

"Somewhere there's a list of all witnesses involved in the case so maybe a name will pop up, but I'm certain the lawyers on both sides have already reviewed this. This is 101 Law stuff right here."

I finish my plate and put it on top of Lisa's already clean plate.

Using both hands makes the job a lot easier.

"Why do people have storage units?"

"What do you mean?"

"If it's something important, wouldn't they keep it in a safe at home?" she asks.

"Logically, yes, but having if off site and away from your family is smart, too. I'm sure you've seen plenty of stuff destroyed by fires." I have a safety-deposit box for my important documents.

My bank is going to have to explode in order for any important paperwork to disappear.

"Why not use a security-deposit box?"

I swear she's in my mind sometimes. "Too traceable. Besides, they can be subpoenaed." I hand her my list. "Let's trade. Nothing jumps out on mine."

Our fingers brush when we swap lists, and I ignore the jolt that rushes over me. She doesn't seem to be affected and steadily reaches for her wineglass.

"I like this wine. Is it local?" Lisa's face lights up at the hand-sketched label. She runs her finger over the burgundy and cream colors as though she can feel the twisting ribbon under her fingertips.

"It is. I went on an alcoholic shopping spree when I moved and bought a dozen local wines to try. They're all pretty good."

She nods. "Honestly, you can't fuck up a Moscato. It's basically sugared wine and the only way I like it."

"But you like your whiskey hard with a punch," I say. I regret bringing up our past because it needs to stay there. "I can pour you a whiskey if you'd like."

She puts her hand on my shoulder. "I like the wine."

My stomach flutters at her warm touch, and I stop myself from putting my hand over hers. I clear my throat. "Just make yourself at home with whatever you want." I freeze. Even though I mean what I say, I don't want her to take it any way than what I mean.

She reviews the new list of renters. I take my list and read over the names several times before they start sinking in. I sit up. One of the names is not only different but sounds entirely too familiar. S. Jeremy Harper. "Hold up. Look at this one." My red nail leaves a dent in the paper where I poke it in excitement. "No. This can't be right." I stand up in disbelief. "He couldn't be this stupid."

Lisa stands when I start pacing. "What's going on?"

"Maybe I'm wrong, but I think the fire was set because of Sterling Moore."

"What do you mean? We know he's involved, but that's quite a leap." She takes the paper from me as if it will become clear to her just by holding it.

"This is a pretty clear connection."

"Will you please share?"

My pulse races as I fix the jigsaw pieces in my mind. "Okay. Sterling has three children, named Scout, Harper, and Jeremy."

"Really? Aren't those names from To Kill a Mockingbird or something?"

I roll my eyes. "People are forever trying to come up with names that are cool, but ultimately, names are fads. Anyway, don't you think S. Jeremy Harper is a little too obvious? How did nobody catch this?"

"How do you know Sterling's kids' names?" she asks.

"His wife told me the night I was assaulted."

She cringes. I give her a soft smile. "His wife was talking about their children with Nayeon. And those names aren't easy to forget."

"We need to call the detective right now," she says and picks up her phone. She pauses before dialing his number. "Will you get into trouble for having these files?"

"No. I'm the judge on the case. We're not breaking any rules."

She nods. "And how are we going to explain us?"

Her eyes are guarded, but I know she's worried about my reputation. I touch her arm and the muscles in her forearm jump. I miss our connection. "It's fine. Our friendship is already on record from when I talked to the detective about seeing the mayor get into an argument."

She puts both hands on my shoulders and turns me to face her.

"I understand that, but this could get ugly. It could be part of a much-larger issue, and we might have to testify or something. There's a difference between telling a detective about our relationship and discussing it in open court."

I relax into her semi-embrace. Her strength is exactly what I need. "Before you say no, I need you to hear me out."

"No."

"You don't even know what I'm going to say." I take a small step closer, but she doesn't move.

"Whenever somebody starts off like that, the answer is always no." She crosses her arms in front of her.

"You don't need to be involved. I can have the conversation with the detective and your name doesn't have to come up. It's not unreasonable to say I was reviewing the case file and saw the name. He doesn't need to know you were here. That way, we have less explaining."

"No. I don't like this at all. What if the detective is one of the mayor's henchmen, and he tries to hurt you?" she asks.

I sit on the couch to show I'm completely calm, even though my stomach twitches. "I can meet him in a public place, like downstairs."

She shakes her head. "I want to be near. I'll agree to this only if you let me be in the same space, and in public there's always a chance he could see me. What about up here? I can listen from upstairs."

Her idea has merit. I sure as hell am tired of being alone with men. "Okay. I can agree to that. I'd feel better if you were here."

She rubs her hands together. "Perfect. Now let's call Detective Simpson and see if he wants to talk tonight."

I roll my neck and pick up my phone. Lisa nods encouragingly.

I call the detective's cell phone because it's well after working hours.

"Hello? Detective Simpson. It's Judge Kim." I tell him I have something that might help in the investigation into Mayor Moore.

Either he's a really good actor, or he really dislikes the mayor.

"I can be there in twenty minutes." His voice drips with hatred and desperation.

I disconnect the call and stare at Lisa. "He'll be here soon. I don't think he likes the mayor."

Lisa stands a little taller, and her eyes darken. I can feel the energy ramp up and radiate from her. I'm incredibly turned on. The delicious things we could do in twenty minutes. But I know she's involved with Tzuyu, and I can't give her what she's asking for, so I take a step back and excuse myself. Hiding out in the bathroom isn't brave, but I need space from her. I'm flushed from tonight's events, and my clit is throbbing with need. I smile. When was the last time I felt a rush of desire this strong?

After several minutes, Lisa lightly taps on the door. "Are you okay in there? Do you want to cancel?"

I open the door. "I'm fine. Just needed a self-pep talk." Or an orgasm, which I'll take care of after everyone leaves. She stares at me. and her gaze drops to my lips. She wants to kiss me. I wonder if she can tell I want, no, need to fuck. Judging by the way her nostrils flare and the quick rise and fall of her chest, she knows. Right before either one of us can say or act, my phone rings.

"Yes?"

"Ms. Kim? There's a Detective Simpson here to see you."

"Thank you. Please send him up."

Lisa squeezes my arm and climbs the stairs to my bedroom.

She won't be visible but will be able to see and hear our conversation perfectly from the loft.

I open the door when Detective Simpson knocks. "Detective, thank you for coming over so quickly."

"Happy to, Judge Kim. What can I do for you this evening?" he asks. He is polite and respectful, but his energy level is high like Lisa's.

"Please have a seat. Can I get you a glass of water?"

"No, thank you. You said you have some information that might help the case?" His knee is bouncing fast, and I resist the urge to put my hand on it to still it. My anxiety is high, and his nervousness is feeding it. I hope it's code for "thank you for this information, now we can nail him" instead of "have you shared this with anyone" and my world goes black.

"I decided to look over the Seamus Williams's case after my assailant said his name. I wondered why Williams clammed up and didn't try to save himself." I hand him the list of the individuals and businesses who had units at The Vault, the warehouse that Seamus burned down. "I don't think the bank storage was the target."

"That case is closed, right?"

"The arson part is, but you might want to take a look at this unit."

I hand him the map of The Vault's layout. It contains five stories of storage units, ranging in size from twenty by forty to something smaller, like five by ten. "The bank had two twenty-by-forty units across from one another, but look at who had the unit right next to the bank." I point to the name on the list. "S. Jeremy Harper."

"Who is S. Jeremy Harper?"

"Maybe nobody, but Sterling Moore has three children. Scout, Jeremy, and Harper. It could be completely coincidental, but it could be more." I want to spew out everything Lisa and I deduced, but I want Simpson to make the connection himself. When the realization hits, he looks up at me and nods.

"Thank you for this information." He stands.

"I'd like to be kept out of this as much as possible, but I'll do whatever you need me to do." I can almost feel Lisa hiss with anger. She doesn't want me to put myself in any more danger, but I have a responsibility.

"I understand. I'll keep you posted, but I'm sure something will happen sooner rather than later. Thank you again for the information."

"Have a good night." I lock the door behind him, look up at the loft, and meet Lisa's eyes. She doesn't appear happy. "I know, I know, but the sooner this gets handled, the safer we'll all be."

"At least he seemed to appreciate the information. Maybe he'll do something positive with it." She walks down the stairs until she's directly in front of me.

I'm nervous to be this close to her. "I really need a break from always looking over my shoulder. I went out for the first time in forever, and it was wonderful to just have a drink."

She stiffens at my news but smiles. "Oh, that's nice. I'm sure you hate being cooped up."

"I'm going out tomorrow because, as much as I love my new place, I need to stare at different walls." Fuck. Why did I say that?

Now she'll want an explanation.

"It's a good thing we Scooby-Doo'ed this case." She grabs her coat. "Looks like my job here is done."

"As a friend, you are more than welcome to stay and watch a movie."

She pauses as though reconsidering her decision but slips into her coat instead. "Thanks, but I should go and run some errands. Be careful, Jennie. Promise me that, okay?"

I want to smooth the worry lines off her face with my fingertips, but I fold my arms and nod instead. "I promise. You, too."

"Have fun tomorrow night, and Happy Thanksgiving," she says right before she closes the door.

I say "Happy Thanksgiving," but she's already gone.