Page 96 of Dirty Judge

“On what?”

“How much she meant to you.” He shut my door and rushed away to assist someone else.

I sighed and cranked my engine, mentally doing the math.

So, I’ll be over her within a day or so…

CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (N.):

DAMAGES CLAIMED AND/OR AWARDED IN A LAWSUIT WHICH WERE CAUSED AS A DIRECT FORESEEABLE RESULT OF WRONGDOING.

LIAM

One Week Later

“Your Honor?” A harsh voice echoed off the walls.

I can’t believe Olivia still hasn’t called or texted me.

“Judge Ashton?”

I’m not calling her, though. She’s the one who fucked ‘us’ up…

“JUDGE. ASHTON.” The voice sliced through my thoughts, making me look up and face reality.

What the…

I was sitting on the bench, facing a damn near-empty courtroom. There was only one defendant and her lawyer left.

The clock on the wall read four fifty-two, and Miss Julia was standing at the podium with her hands on her hips.

“We’re awaiting your ruling on this case, sir,” she said.

“My apologies.” I cleared my throat. “Please repeat what you’re suggesting, Miss Julia.”

“The state is requesting a half a million dollar bail—if you grant bail, passport turnover, and a mandatory GPS tracking device.”

“For a first offense?” I glanced down at the docket.

“The defendant is a danger to society,” she said. “Anyone who would willingly engage in this type of behavior at twenty-five years old is at risk to repeat it again.”

“Defense?” I looked at the other side. “Your take?”

“My client and her friends were skinny dipping off a private dock on The Hudson River, Your Honor,” he said. “This is a simple trespassing charge—a misdemeanor at best—and the state is going overboard with the charges here.”

“I agree.” I scribbled down a note to myself. “Defendant will be released on her own recognizance with a stern warning to read and follow ‘private property’ signs from here on out.”

I banged my gavel. “You’re dismissed.”

“Permission to talk to you in private, Your Honor?” Miss Julia asked.

“As long as it’s not about this case.”

“It’s not, sir.”

“You can follow me into chambers, then.” I stood up and strolled into my office.

I unzipped my robe and tossed it onto a chair, shaking away another random thought of Olivia.