“All rise,” Jude’s bailiff said as Jude took the bench.
Serena glanced around the almost empty courtroom before turning her attention to Jude. The few people in attendance let out a small gasp. Jude Rose’s face was a mess, and from Bradley Blum’s expression, it was a total surprise.
She smiled when there’d been a hint of glee on Jude’s marred face when he sat down, and she guessed it was from the fact that Bradley was alone. The young attorney was already sweating and pulling on his tie as if it was trying to strangle him. Maybe it was, since his face was red. The guy really needed to go up a shirt size if he was going to survive the pressure.
“Your Honor, we’re set to hear the defense motion filings for docket number LA6689. There are twenty-eight, unless Mr. Blum has anything else to add,” the bailiff said.
“Mr. Blum, are you and your client ready?” Jude leaned back in his chair and glared at the man over the rim of his glasses. He was an impressive sight even if one of Jude’s eyes was swollen shut.
“If Your Honor would be so inclined, we’d ask for a couple of days’ delay so we can be better prepared,” Bradley said.
“I’d like to hear that from your client,” Jude said, his facial expression not changing.
“Actually, Your Honor, I wasn’t able to reach my client. His father informed me this morning that Mr. Simoneaux is out of town on a short vacation. He can’t be reached but should be home in a couple of days.” Bradley smiled when Jude leaned forward and didn’t say anything for a long while. “We have the next month, sir, so I don’t see the rush. I’m also missing an important court appearance for this, which I told your clerk.”
“Jefferson Parish gave you problems?” Jude asked.
To Serena it sounded like the first crack in the ice, and Bradley was about to go under. No one was obligated to inform Bradley about what had happened the night before. Once they caught Byron, the police couldn’t question him without his lawyer present, but Bradley seemed to have no idea what was about to happen, and obviously Big Byron hadn’t mentioned it.
“No, Your Honor,” Bradley said slowly. “I’m sorry, Your Honor, but are you all right?”
“We’re not here to talk about me and my health, Mr. Blum. To answer your question, no, I’m not all right.”
“Car accident, Your Honor? We don’t mind giving you more time to heal.”
“Mr. Blum, I’m beginning to think you skipped some crucial days in law school. Are you aware that as a stipulation of the bond I set for Mr. Simoneaux, the court has a right to know where he is at all times?”
“Yes, Your Honor, but—”
“Considering the charges Mr. Simoneaux is facing, I would have expected him to display a different kind of behavior. I’d think he’d be at home practicing being contrite as he prayed the rosary.” Jude’s voice started to rise. “That would be my way of handling things, but I’m not Mr. Simoneaux. So unless he’s in the tundra of Alaska where there is no phone service, you can get in touch with him. Where is he?”
“Your Honor, you sound as if Mr. Simoneaux has already been proven guilty. We need the trial to determine that.” Bradley grimaced after he finished speaking, and from Jude’s face, it was a grievous mistake.
“Thank you, Mr. Blum, but unlike you, I actually showed up for all my classes in law school. Unlike you, I’m well aware of that.” Jude slammed his hand on the desk. “Do you need a refresher on the rules I set about when to speak, and how to answer a question?” Bradley wisely only nodded. “Appearing when ordered to do so is the first thing you should’ve told your client. Appearing or not appearing isn’t voluntary. Do you understand that?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Do you think the court will accept his failure to appear because you couldn’t reach him as sufficient enough reason to grant a continuance?” Jude asked.
“No, Your Honor?”
Serena was starting to get worried about how red Bradley was getting, and how vigorously he was pulling on his collar.
“You got one right, Mr. Blum. The court will go on without him. Now, if you or Mr. Simoneaux don’t agree with my decision, there’s always the state appellate court. They might be more understanding of his need for a vacation.” Jude pointed at Bradley when he opened his mouth. “Ms. Ladding, would you like to enlighten Bradley about that avenue of thought?”
“In twenty-two years, Your Honor has only been overturned on appeal once.” Serena stood and answered respectfully.
“What was the reason for the one time?”
“Your Honor was on his honeymoon and someone else filled in for you.”
“Thank you, Ms. Ladding, you’re prepared as usual.” Jude smiled at her and lost it when he stared Bradley down. “You’ll be happy to know I’ll be recusing myself as of today.” Jude delivered the news in his usual blunt style, and Bradley smiled at her for the first time that day.
“Thank you, Your Honor. I’m sure my client—”
“You’re talking again, Mr. Blum, when no one of importance has asked you to do so. As I was saying, I’m recusing myself but have made arrangements for this case.” Jude stood and held the gavel up, ready to recess the proceedings. “We’re all in luck, and Judge Reaper is waiting in my office to deal with your twenty-eight motions, Mr. Blum. I’m impressed, and I’m sure he will be too.”
“Judge Reaper, sir?” Bradley asked in a way that sounded like his mother had told him she didn’t love him and never had.
“Did I stutter?” Jude asked but didn’t give Bradley a chance to answer. “If there’s nothing further, we’re adjourned. I trust you have nothing further, Mr. Blum?” Jude’s expression dared him to say something.
“No, Your Honor, we’re ready,” Bradley said with a firm nod.
“Good, we’re adjourned.”
The clerk told everyone to stay put and they’d reconvene in ten minutes without having to move across the hall to Reaper’s courtroom. Bradley nodded even though he appeared ready to bolt.
“All rise,” the clerk said, and Carlton Reaper took Jude’s seat less than two minutes later. He was younger and, in Serena’s opinion, tougher than Jude, which was bad luck for Bradley.
“Mr. Blum, you have quite the workload for me,” Reaper said, opening a file. “Let’s get started.”
“Yes, Your Honor.” Bradley tapped nervously on his file, his gaze flitting from the judge to Serena.
“The last motion is denied,” Carlton said after ten minutes, banging the gavel down as if beating all of Bradley’s work to death.
Serena could’ve predicted the outcome after her conversation with Desi and Harry that morning, but Carlton had sound case law to back him up. Bradley was shoving things into his briefcase as if dying to get out of there, but his day was far from over. She also suspected Bradley had no idea what was about to happen. She stood again when Carlton glanced her way.
“Ms. Ladding, thank you for appearing today on such short notice. Are the people ready to proceed with their case against Mr. Simoneaux?” Carlton’s demeanor completely changed when he addressed her, and it made Bradley glance up from his packing.
“Yes, sir. I’ve been ready for weeks. Desiree Simoneaux is here and ready to testify, as are the police who were there that night,” she said, glancing at Bradley. “Had it not been for the number of filings by Mr. Blum, we’d be finished by now. We’re prepared to begin.” She smiled at Bradley, and he answered by pulling on his collar. “Do you have a date available?”
“I do indeed. Tomorrow morning at eight sharp,” Carlton said. “Will that be a problem, Mr. Blum?”
“I might need more time, Your Honor. My client isn’t due back for another two days.” Bradley sounded ready to cry.
“I’m sorry, while I was reviewing this case this morning I missed where Judge Rose gave your client permission to leave town. Can you point that out?” Carlton waited and Bradley said nothing. “Good, tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”
When Carlton cleared the door that led to Jude’s private offices, Bradley turned and glared at Serena. “The Grim Reaper is going to hear this case? What did you have to do, sleep with the old bastard Rose to get that?” he asked in a low voice.
“Let me fill you in. Judge Rose is happily married to a lovely woman, and I’m gay. It was pure luck that landed us Judge Reaper—he hates that nickname, by the way. If he catches you using it, the only thing dead will be your career.” She smiled again and closed her briefcase. “I’ll be happy to share your thoughts on the assignment the next time I’m having lunch with Jude. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your admiration of his sex appeal. See you tomorrow,” she said in a sugar-sweet voice.
“You wouldn’t.” Bradley was back to his usual panicked self. “Please don’t.”
“I like you so much I’ll keep my mouth shut, and I’ll give you some advice as a bonus. Pull the police reports for last night, and then up your retainer.”
“Why? I don’t have time for that.”
“It’s free advice, Bradley. Take it or leave it, but don’t complain I never did anything nice for you.” Serena walked out, wondering if she should have simply told him about Byron’s newest fuckup. But the judge hadn’t asked, and it was obvious Blum didn’t know where Byron was, so asking him if he knew his client’s whereabouts so they could arrest him was obviously out of the question. And she didn’t owe him anything.
“Eight o’clock tomorrow. Don’t be late if you want to practice in New Orleans after this case,” she said from the door after blowing him a kiss.
* * *
“Any more days like this, and I might have to retire,” Harry said. They were lying on the floor of the studio naked, staring out the window at the garden.
After Desi had gotten over the shock, she’d given Harry a special kind of surprise. The spontaneous lovemaking session had left them covered in dust, but it’d been worth every second. It was Desi who’d made the first move, and Harry counted it as progress.
“If that’s a threat, I’m all for it. I love spending my days with you.” Desi lifted her head and looked down at her. “And getting you naked is also a favorite, so you won’t get an argument out of me.” Desi kissed her before relaxing again and sighed. “Thanks again for this, honey.”
“You’re welcome, and all we have to do is find a way to get back in the house without Mona seeing us. I can’t deal with her teasing us all night.” She sat up, taking Desi with her. “Then we’ll call Tony and have him plan a shopping trip for all the stuff you’ll need. It can be installed once the cleaning staff finishes.”
Desi draped her arms over her shoulders and smiled at her before kissing her like she wanted to repeat everything they’d done in the last hour. “You’re hard to let go of.”
Harry moved her hands down Desi’s back. “You ready for a shower?”
“No, but I’ll let you up. I know you have to go to work.”
She stood, helped Desi to her feet, and got her crutches. “You’re so beautiful.” She cupped Desi’s face and kissed her again.
Desi smiled up at her, and it made her want to take the rest of the day off, but she couldn’t do that to her staff. “You’re gorgeous all the time, but I love it when you’re naked.”
Harry laughed and turned around as her phone started ringing in her pants. “Thank you, my love, but you’re the good-looking one in the couple.”
“I’m losing you sooner than I thought, huh,” Desi said when Harry retrieved the phone to see who it was. “Is this where the term medical widow comes from?”
She held her finger up and answered. “I had something come up this morning, but I can get there in fifteen. Tell the staff to start working him up and I’ll deal with that right after the knee replacement I moved back today.”
“You want to run ahead?” Desi said with a slight pout. “I don’t want to slow you down.”
Harry stared at her standing with the sun streaming through the windows. There would never come a time that she wouldn’t find Desi attractive, but moments like this made her want to stop the world. “I love you, and I’m not leaving you behind. Let’s share a shower, and then I’ll be gone four hours, tops. There’s only two people waiting on me, so I’ll be home to have dinner with you.”
“I’m being selfish, but I’m not ready to let you go. I shouldn’t, considering you put me back together, but I don’t want to share you today.”
“Spending the rest of my day naked with you is better than whatever is waiting for me, so I’d stay if I could.” She pressed their bodies together again and whispered in Desi’s ear, “After dinner I’ll be happy to make it up to you for having to leave.” She kissed Desi’s neck and went back to her ear. “Do you want to know how I’m going to do that?”
“Yes,” Desi said and held her breath when she reached down and cupped her sex.
“I’m going to start right here, but we’d better stop before I can’t. There’s no way I have that kind of willpower.”
“Jesus,” Desi said and laughed as Harry put her pants on.
“Having to choose between a naked you or a knee replacement is cruel. Put your clothes on before I go blind.” She pulled her shirt over her head and helped Desi with the rest of her clothes. “Tonight I’m taking you out to dinner, and then we’re coming home and taking our time. Lots and lots of time.”
“Get going then.” Desi started for the door, stopping to kiss her. “The sooner you leave, the sooner you come back to me.”
Harry carried Desi inside to save time, and Desi sent her into the shower alone. “I’m not in the mood to behave, so go ahead.”
She finished and came out of the bathroom in scrubs. “I’ll see you in a little while.”
“Can you send Mona in if she’s not busy? I don’t want to slip and break something else. And wear a jacket. It’s cold out there.”
“Okay to both things,” Harry said after a quick kiss. “And take a nap after your shower. You’re going to need it for later.”
“You promise?”
“With all my heart.”