Indicted (Bad Judgment #1) by Leigh James Page A

with the government recited in front of everyone. “Mr. Sweeney, do you fully understand and accept the terms of your agreement with the government today? You understand that you’ll have a record for the rest of your life, one that can't be expunged.” Mr. Sweeney nodded, nervously. “And you still want to make the deal?”
    “I do,” said Mr. Sweeney, who was likely avoiding a lengthy prison sentence.
    “Then I now pronounce your plea bargain entered,” Judge Alvarez said, and smiled briefly, revealing a small set of even, snow-white teeth. Everyone chuckled, including me, because Judge Alvarez was now absolutely the last person on earth that I wanted to piss off. If I laughed at his small joke, maybe he’d let my client go.
    If only it were that easy. I laughed anyway.
    “Next, it’s United States v. Walker. Mr. Walker is being arraigned on RICO and related charges,” the clerk said, as Walker followed David and I up to the table. At least David knew which table to sit at. No one else told you. You had to know your shit when you went to court — like which table the Defendant was expected to sit at, and that you had to stand when the judge entered the room — otherwise you would look like the complete asshole that you probably were.
    It was silent in the courtroom as Marnie Edmonds appeared to be looking at a brief that a junior U.S. Attorney had just handed to her. She looked impeccable and impossibly calm in a crisp navy suit. I wondered if the woman ever broke a sweat. I wondered if I’d ever get to see it.
    The judge was reading something on his desk. I was suddenly, desperately nervous again. He looked up at us and spoke, and I put my hands on the table in front of me, trying to stay my dizziness, and closed my eyes and listened.
    “United States versus Broden Walker. Counsel, please enter your names for the record.”
    “David Proctor of Proctor & Buchanan, Your Honor,” David said. I opened my eyes and found Judge Alvarez looking at me expectantly. David nudged me.
    “Nicole Reynolds of Proctor & Buchanan,” I said, my voice shaking a little. “Your honor.”
    “I am honored,” he said, smiling at me pleasantly, and there were chuckles from the back of the room. I didn’t know if he was making fun of me or if he thought I was cute in a new-lawyer sort of way.
    He turned to Marnie. “Marnie Edmonds, United States District Attorney, your honor. May it please the court?”
    “It always does, Attorney Edmonds,” the Judge said, showing those teeth again. I decided I cautiously liked him, even though he still scared me and he apparently also liked Marnie.
    “Mr. Walker, please stand,” the Judge said, and Walker rose to his full height. I looked up at him and smiled; for as often as he sent me spinning, right now, in the eye of the storm, he was what was holding me to the earth.
    I would recite The Rules five times, I promised myself. Later.
    “You are being charged with larceny, RICO, and multiple counts of fraud and larceny. Have your attorneys fully explained the nature of the charges against you?” he asked.
    “Yes, your honor,” Walker said, his voice even and calm.
    “I would assume nothing less, at the rates they’re charging you,” Judge Alvarez said, bestowing a full-wattage smile on Walker. I realized then that Judge Alvarez was handsome, and that he was going to be more candid than I’d expected. “And how do you choose to enter your plea today,” he continued, “with respect to each count? RICO?”
    “Not guilty, your honor.”
    “Larceny?”
    “Not guilty, your honor.”
    It went on that way for twenty counts. When they finished, there was a murmuring in the courtroom that was silenced by one disapproving glance of the clerk.
    “Very well,” said Judge Alvarez. “You may be seated.”
    Walker sat down next to me, his posture perfect. He looked calm, relieved even. I slid my foot over and touched his, only for a split second. He proceeded to elbow me accidentally