“It didn’t matter,” I said to Jordyn.
We were sitting at the bar in the Kwanda Hotel, a short walk from the Stanley Mosk Courthouse on Hill Street. Jordyn was sipping her second martini. I was still on my first.
“What didn’t matter?”
“Mr. Judge James Judith couldn’t have cared less about anything I had to say.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because his mind was already made up.”
“Well, isn’t that an indictment of our legal system.”
“No. It’s a confirmation of the cronyism that exists in our legal system.”
“The Governor?”
“Calling the shots.”
“Why, do you think?”
“Oh, come on, Jordy. You know better than any of us why.”
“But I’d like to think otherwise.”
“I’m sure you would, but not in this case.”
“Cynic.”
“And proud of it.”
We finished the dish of peanuts served with our drinks and signaled for another.
“Is it possible this marks the end of my legal services?”
“Unless for some reason Mr. Petrov decides to press charges against me.”
“For?”
“God knows. He might argue I was in the wrong when I busted his fake walls and sue me for damages. He might want me to pay for his new implants.”
“How likely is that?”
“Not very, given that I’m certain he’s going to make bail and then vanish.”
“You think he’s gonna skip?”
“I know it.”
“How do you know it?”
“I’m the Sheriff. I know everything.”
“Very funny.”
“Of course he’s going to skip. You think he’s likely to hang around waiting for a trial he’s destined to lose?”
“He may not think he’s going to lose.”
“He’s already lost. The proof is irrefutable.”
“Says you.”
“Meaning?”
“He’s connected. He’s got powerful lawyers. There’s every chance he’ll win.”
“So maybe I’ll wind up having to pay for the implants after all.”
We were quiet for a while. The dark of the nearly deserted barroom had insinuated itself into our conversation. The low level background music softened our mood. I looked up to find her staring at me. “I’m at odds with myself, Buddy.”
“Which means?”
“You know what it means. It’s written all over your face.”
I shrugged.
“Oh, come on, Buddy. Here we are. Alone together. In a hotel, no less. Slightly loaded. If for nothing else, we should do it for old times’ sake.”
“Not going to happen, Jordy. I’d love nothing more than to jump on your bones and I have every confidence it would be as great as it always was. But it didn’t work out then and it’s not going to work out now.”
“Because?”
“We’re friends now. And colleagues. I wouldn’t want to damage that.”
She gazed at me, searching my eyes for any sign of weakness.
“And neither would you, for that matter,” I added.
“You know me too well.”
“And want to keep it that way.”
She finished her martini and I paid the tab. We wandered outside and away from the main entrance of the hotel, where we stood silently for several moments.
She put her arms around my neck.
“I love you, Buddy,” she said and kissed me.
“Likewise,” I said, intensifying the kiss.
Suddenly we stopped, gazed at each other for several moments, then walked away in opposite directions.