Page 43 of Dirty Judge

“Judge Ashton! Judge Ashton!” A reporter yelled at me from down the hallway. “It’s Ashley Baron from WRDT-TV! I really need to talk to you!”

Too bad I don’t feel the same…

I continued walking toward the elevator.

“Judge Ashton, please!” She wailed as she ran. “Please!”

The doors glided open just as she caught up, and she somehow leapt in front of me.

Her camera crew was steps behind her.

“I just have a couple questions,” she said. “Please.”

“You have two minutes.”

“How do you feel about being named the Harshest Judge in The City by the Citizens’ Council?”

“Depends,” I said. “Does a check come with that award?”

“You get a bronze middle finger statue.”

“I can’t wait to display it in my chambers, then. I’ll email you a picture whenever I receive it.”

“How do you feel about the Grant Jenkins case being overturned?”

“No comment.”

“Will you be following the new case as a new judge presides over it?”

“I said no comment.”

“Fine,” she said. “Last question. You’re still the only judge in the criminal court who isn’t married. Will that be changing anytime soon?”

“You know I don’t answer personal questions.” I glanced at my watch. “Your two minutes are up.”

“You don’t want to give me two more for old time’s sake?” She winked. “These will be softballs, I swear.”

“Go bother someone else, Ashley.” I motioned for her to get out of my way. “We’re no longer on good terms after how you reported on me long ago.”

“It was never personal.”

“Move.”

“I wasn’t aiming to hurt you,” she said. “I was simply doing my job and trying to report the truth.”

“Then you deserve to be fired.”

Her smile faded and she finally stepped back, letting me inside the elevator.

I couldn’t hit the door-close button fast enough.

Instead of getting off on my floor, I stopped on the third level instead.

“Whoa there, Judge Ashton.” A security guard smiled at me. “Are you sleepwalking?”

“No,” I said. “What makes you think that?”

“You’re never here this early.” He tilted his head to the side. “Everyone knows your routine like the back of their hand.”