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  A million objections went through my mind. I’d be doing exactly what I said I wouldn’t do for her, but letting this bribery continue from the offi ce that I was tasked with making look pristine overrode my wish to teach Valerie a lesson. “Yes.”

  He waited for me to elaborate. When I didn’t, he asked,

  “You’re sure?”

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  “Yes.” He didn’t need to know the amount of manipulation I’d have to go through to get Valerie to agree.

  “Fine. You’ll work with Sam here on prepping your friend.

  We’ll approach the judge tomorrow.” With that he got up and turned to leave.

  “You’re welcome, Doug,” the mayor called out sweetly as he crossed through the doorway.

  He deigned to glance back and give her a parting wave. Sam snatched my business card out of my hand and ran after his boss.

  Poor guy. Having to work with that temper every single day.

  “What did we just get ourselves into?” the mayor asked.

  I shut the door behind them. “We have to keep this to ourselves.

  We don’t know who is behind this and can’t trust anyone. If all goes as planed, we’ll have it solved soon.”

  Like usual both the mayor and Tammy nodded their heads, trusting me to make things right. Too bad this wasn’t going to have a good end, no matter how it turned out.

  76

  SIX

  There was a distinct absence of twinkling in her beautiful blues on this visit. They looked like they might have when I fi rst arrived in her chambers, but the twinkle fi zzled out as soon as the DA and Sam followed me inside. I couldn’t blame her. As objective as she was supposed to be as a judge, the DA made everyone react to one extreme.

  “Two questions,” she said when he’d relayed the sting plan to her. “What makes you think this person will come to me with a bribe? And what happens to my colleagues if your plan works?”

  Both valid questions, but it was the second one that was most concerning. She knew the answer, we all did, but clearly she wanted the DA to say it out loud. She’d be an integral part of her colleagues’ demise if this bribe happened how we were planning.

  Four judges were allegedly involved. One had retired, making way for Suzanne to fi ll his spot. The other three were still active.

  As a new judge, she’d already had a hard enough time feeling part of the club. Bringing down three of her colleagues wouldn’t make her more popular.

  “You know what happens, Judge,” Doug told her.

  “Spell it out for me.”

  As superior as Doug acted around everyone, I was shocked to see him so respectful. One thing could be said about him: he defi nitely loves the law. “If you can get him or her to admit that 77

  Lynn Galli

  he’s had cases kicked by other judges, they’ll be brought up on charges. There’s no way around that.”

  She turned her stare to me. Emotions swirled in that one glance. I knew this would tear her up, but she knew she’d have to do it. “And the extent of your involvement?”

  “Ms. St. James knows the defendant that we plan to use as bait.”

  Shocked that Doug not only addressed me by name but that he actually knew my last one, I paused before adding, “She’ll be taking a plea to resolve her legal issues.”

  Suzanne’s eyes rested a little longer on mine. Having been caught staring at them on each of our fi ve prior dates, I felt like squirming now. She was trying to fi gure out if I was being coerced by Doug’s offi ce. I held a steady gaze to let her know the truth.

  “Once she dangles the carrot, we think it will be a week tops before whoever is behind these bribes approaches you. We’ll need you to be more visible over the next week. Eat lunch on the grounds every day, come early and stay late. Avoid just staying in your chambers while on the courthouse grounds.”

  Shifting in her seat, Suzanne turned her stare on him. “And how do you propose I get any work done? I’ve got more cases assigned to me than anyone else on this court, certainly more than you.”

  Doug paled slightly and shot a glance at me for help. I crossed my arms, leaned back a little, and clamped my mouth shut. Suzanne would not believe a word I said in his defense, and I knew her well enough to know that she was just pushing his limits. One of the many things I so liked about her. She didn’t take any guff in her courtroom or from the people she knew, and Doug was trying to make this sound a lot simpler than it would be.

  “I realize that, Your Honor, but this has to be stopped. If you can sacrifi ce for a week, I promise you, this will be over.”

  78

  Objection

  “Big promise there, Counselor.”

  I hid a smile, loving how much she was making him sweat.

  He’d probably drop fi ve pounds before we left her chambers.

  “I don’t see any other way of shutting this down.”

  A long pause before she fi nally relinquished her torture.

  “Neither do I.”

  Relief had Doug and Sam sagging in their seats. Suzanne shot me a quick and private grin. I’d learned to live for those looks in our time together. Dating her had become the single most enjoyable thing I’d done in my entire life, despite the one big problem, of course. She still hadn’t kissed me, but more importantly, hadn’t made love with me. If I weren’t having so much fun with her, I’d be chewing my nails to the nubs.

  “Our investigators will come over with a wire setup,” Doug told her.

  I cut him off. “No, no way. She’s not wearing a wire.” Not only because she’d have to wear it any time she was out in public, but because wires weren’t the best way to capture a confession.

  “It has to be on tape, Lindsay,” he lectured me.

  “Video would be better, Doug,” I lectured right back.

  “We’re just supposed to have someone tail the judge day and night with a camera because you think having it on video would be better?”

  “No,” I made sure he was listening before I continued. “You don’t need the approach on tape. You just need the bribe. Not to mention that many of Her Honor’s conversations are privileged.

  You can’t just put a wire on her and delete the stuff that doesn’t relate.”

  “So what do you suggest?” He once again thought his way was the only way. When would he learn that options were my specialty?

  “She’ll most likely be approached on courthouse grounds since this will be a fi rst time attempt. Anything else would be 79

  Lynn Galli

  creepy for most women. When she’s approached, she shuts down any further talk until they’re right back here in chambers.

  It won’t be seen as unusual that a judge would want absolute privacy when exploring something illegal.” I caught both Sam and Suzanne nodding their agreement.

  “So we wire this room? As you said, most of her confi dential conversations with attorneys will take place here. We’re back to the same problem.”

  “See that laptop over there?” I pointed at the computer Suzanne had sitting on the credenza behind her. “It has a web cam that no one will know is recording unless she tells them. She brings the guy back here, positions the laptop behind her under the guise of shutting it off, and sets it up to record. You get one conversation on tape. There won’t be any room for denial when it’s all over.”

  Now it was Doug who pushed back in his chair and folded his arms, regarding me. “I can see why the mayor fi nds you so valuable.”

  “Are we done for now?” My part of this with Suzanne was over. Let them fi gure out the rest on their own.

  He nodded at me then rose to shake Suzanne’s hand before leaving without another word. Sam looked a little lost as to what to do but eventually clued in to follow his boss.

  Suzanne sat back down and regarded me with a smile. “You got dragged into this to smooth it over with me? I have to say as sucking up goes, they chose the right person to help achieve that.”

&
nbsp; “Are you saying I suck up to you?” I tossed back, already eager to start up our usual banter. Conversing with her had become a favorite hobby of mine.

  “You’re a huge suck up. Don’t think I didn’t know exactly what you were doing when we went to the zoo last weekend. You know I love animals.”

  80

  Objection

  I gave a sinister laugh and twirled a fake mustache. “Yes, I do.”

  “Would I be right in assuming this has something to do with the drug deal I witnessed?”

  Laughing outright, I admitted, “Yep. She’ll be the case we dangle for this guy.”

  Suzanne let the amusement fade. “Is she a concern for you?”

  Her worry was genuine. We’d only known each other for six weeks but already she’d become a good friend and, if anything sexual ever happened between us, a wonderful girlfriend.

  “She’s the niece of a friend of mine. We’re somewhere between acquaintance and friend. More like obligation. She did something stupid; I bailed her out. I wasn’t going to help her this time, but now, it seems I have to.”

  Her hand covered mine. I wanted to cling to it to make the contact more intimate. “You don’t have to get involved. We can wait this person out.”

  “It’s better this way, actually. She needed to take the plea agreement, but she was being stubborn. This will force her hand.”

  Suzanne studied me for a long moment. She lifted my hand in hers and kissed my knuckles. A shiver ran through my body.

  She’d hugged me, kissed my cheek, and kissed my hand. I couldn’t wait for her to really kiss me. So far I’d been letting her drive this relationship. It was such a nice change for me and made everything more enjoyable. Not knowing what to expect because I wasn’t in charge was like being surprised over and over again.

  But if she didn’t kiss me soon, I was going to attack her. My restraint thus far had been commendable, if I do say so myself.

  “Okay, then. I trust you to know when enough is enough.”

  Why that sounded like double-entendre didn’t surprise this recently lust-ridden problem solver at all.

  81

  SEVEN

  Valerie’s apartment was decorated in a Crate&Barrel meets sorority house chic. Mismatched furniture styles purchased over the years had been shoved together because she didn’t know how to de-clutter the living/dining room space.

  Despite calling ahead, she looked surprised to see me on her doorstep. After letting me in, I spotted Nancy and Maria already sitting on the couch. Valerie always assumed she’d need backup for any request of mine.

  “Hey,” Nancy greeted when I took a seat in a high back chair that looked nothing like the modern squared off seat next to it.

  “Hi, Linds,” Maria added. She’d always been the most congenial of the three.

  “Hi there, I didn’t know you’d be here.”

  “We’re heading out to—”

  Nancy’s elbow cut off whatever else Maria was going to say.

  Truly juvenile.

  “We wanted to talk to you,” Valerie started, taking the low slung loveseat across from me.

  She knew I was here to talk to her about her court appearance.

  I didn’t want to get off track, but staying silent with this trio always proved the prudent choice.

  “We’re getting tired of you always dissing us, Linds. We invite you places and you always have some lame excuse. You 82

  Objection

  look down on us every chance you get.”

  I managed to keep from laughing and choked out, “Is this an intervention?”

  “Seriously, Linds,” Valerie started. “We’re your friends, and we don’t like how you’ve been treating us.”

  “Val,” I tried for calm. “We’ve grown apart over the years.

  You all have your interests, and I have mine. I haven’t meant to be rude, but I don’t think we have much fun when we all hang out together. Am I right?” I looked over at Nancy and Maria.

  One shrugged while the other gave a confi rmation nod. “Let’s not pretend we’re back in college and running into each other on campus. Friendship takes work, but we don’t seem to have any common interests anymore. It’s your uncle that ties us together.”

  “You’re, like, dumping us?” Valerie questioned. Her indignant attitude was comical.

  “You’re the ones confronting me and asking me to change.”

  “You’re the one who changed,” Valerie accused.

  I laughed, probably not the smartest idea since I needed to talk her into the sting operation, but she was such a child sometimes.

  “I’ve always been like this, Val. You guys just chose to see what you wanted.”

  “That’s it? You’re done with us?” Her eyes started tearing up.

  Honest to God. I thought about asking Maria to grab a tissue, but that would just prolong the performance.

  “I’m still your uncle’s friend. I’m sure we’ll run into each other frequently, but I’m releasing you of your obligation to try to include me in things. It’s not fun for any of us.”

  Nancy and Maria stole a glance at each other before looking for Valerie’s reaction. They wouldn’t do anything without her say so fi rst.

  “Fine, ditch us. See if we care.”

  Ah, the elementary playground approach to blowing someone off. How refreshing. “I actually came here for a reason.”

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  Lynn Galli

  “What? You need a favor from us now that we’re no longer friends?”

  For a brief moment, I wondered if she were too old for a time-out. We could use that ugly wingback in the corner as the naughty chair. Then again, thirty-six minutes would be torture for all of us, so I guess I answered my own question about her being too old for it. “We should talk in private. It involves your court case.”

  Valerie looked surprised before blowing it off. “Oh, that’s handled.”

  The ready way she offered that up had me worried. “You took the plea?” I was certain that Yoshi would have told me about that.

  “No, I found another way.”

  A creepy feeling came over me. “Tell me you didn’t threaten the victim?”

  “Victim?” Nancy guffawed.

  I shot her a silencing glance. On second thought, it was a good idea to discuss this in front of them all. Valerie would tell them anyway. This way I could impress upon them the importance of confi dentiality.

  “Nope,” Valerie tossed off with a mysterious smile. “You don’t need to be concerned with me anymore.”

  “But I am. If you didn’t take the plea or threaten the victim, there’s not much else you could do to get rid of the case.”

  “I said, drop it, Linds. Seriously.”

  With little choice, I pressed ahead. “I have a better solution.”

  “You’re helping her now?” Nancy accused.

  “Yes. I am going to help, and in turn, Valerie will be assisting both the DA and the mayor.” That wiped the smirks off their faces. “Someone has been bribing judges in cases involving people from city hall or their friends. We want to use Valerie’s case as bait to attract this person so we can bust him or her.”

  All three of their mouths nudged open, eyes wide. “How did you—”

  84

  Objection

  Nancy’s elbow stopped Maria again. It was enough to make me realize exactly what was going on. “Tell me you didn’t pay someone to bribe your judge?”

  Valerie stood abruptly. “I haven’t paid him a cent.”

  “Yet,” Maria muttered.

  “Seriously?” Valerie shot at her.

  “Yeah, seriously,” Maria shot back.

  Apparently that was an entire conversation because they both turned back to me. “This was your way of handling the case? You turned a simple assault with maybe six months max into bribery of a court offi cial that could lead to ten years? Just how stupid are you?”

  “Screw you, Linds,” Valerie spat at me. “You wouldn’
t help.

  You twisted Uncle Thad’s mind against me. I did the only thing I could.” She looked at her two best friends for support.

  Before they could launch equally asinine reasoning at me, I stopped them. “This is what’s going to happen. You’re going to accept the plea bargain offered to you—”

  “No way!” she barked.

  “You will accept the plea or face charges of attempted bribery in addition to assault. With the plea, your record is expunged if you enter anger management therapy. You will do that eagerly, Valerie, or I swear, you’ll do nothing but sit inside a jail cell for the next seven years.”

  “It’s your word against ours,” she huffed.

  “It’s your lie against my recording, idiot.” I held up my currently recording cell phone. They didn’t need to know it wouldn’t be admissible in court.

  “Seriously?” Nancy asked.

  How these three actually functioned in their jobs with such a limited vocabulary was beyond me. “You’ll take the plea. We’ll provide you with the money to pay off the man who is offering to help you. Who is it, by the way?”

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  “Like I’m going to tell you,” Valerie objected.

  I shook my head at her ignorance. “Valerie, you’re no longer on the hook for just a simple assault. Work with the DA’s offi ce and everything will stay off your record.”

  “I’m not going to anger management class!” she yelled, further proving her need for it.

  “You are. Face your situation head on for once. Be an adult.

  You have two choices: seven to ten in jail or eight weeks in anger management.” I looked to her friends to convince her.

  “Think you have to do it, Val, seriously,” Nancy told her, knowing full well how her friend’s temper could get away from her.