as if she wanted to speak.
The judge made a note. “Why is that?”
“This is my client’s first offense. She just turned eighteen a week ago.”
“And the creep tried to assault me,” Sooner said. Her voice had the same rusty quality as Mariah’s. “He planted those crystals in my purse. I didn’t even know they were there. He’s just mad because I wouldn’t sleep with him and I called him fat.”
A rumble of chuckles passed through the courtroom, prompting the judge to raise her gaze and silence everyone with a look. “The police report mentions your complaint that he attempted sexual assault, but there is no evidence to support the claim.”
“It’s the truth,” Sooner said.
Charlotte held up a manicured hand, silencing the girl. “I know the court’s dockets are full and there are more important cases to consider.”
The judge stared at the attorney with a cynical eye. They both knew that this case, a first offense, did not warrant a great deal of her time. “All right, counselor, I’ll bite. What do you suggest?”
“Charges be dismissed.”
The suggestion seemed to amuse the judge. “Just like that?”
“She has no priors. And she is young. But if the court wishes, I can prepare an extensive case on her behalf.”
The judge studied Charlotte. “Why her? Why now?”
Because I never should have left her with Grady. “My practice is dedicating more time to pro bono work.”
“Yes, I heard your summation was something to see yesterday. However, this case won’t get you much publicity.”
“Nevertheless, I am fully committed to the defense.”
The judge drummed her fingers on the bench. “All right, I’ll concede. But your reputation is bailing this kid out, counselor.” The judge didn’t hesitate and rapped her gavel. “Charges are dismissed, but if Ms. Sooner Tate gets into trouble again, it’s your hide, counselor.”
“Agreed.”
The judge hit her gavel on the bench. “Case dismissed.”
Sooner looked at Charlotte, her dark eyes searching and angry. “Did I just admit that I did it?”
As the bailiff read the next set of charges, Charlotte took the girl tightly by the arm and led her out of the courtroom.
Outside in the busy hallway, Sooner pulled free and glared at Charlotte. “I didn’t do it.”
“The charges were dismissed.”
This close, standing face to face, Charlotte got her first real look at the girl. She had long dark hair and olive skin like Mariah’s, but her eyes were as green as Charlotte’s. She was slender, as tall as Charlotte, and held herself with surprising poise. Her billowy loose dress was sleeveless, revealing not only a slender figure underneath but also a tiger tattoo on the inside of her right forearm.
“Yeah, but it sounds like I’m on some kind of watch list for the next year.”
“We both are.” Charlotte had a thousand questions for the girl about her life. “If you keep your nose clean, then we won’t have a problem.”
“Hey, I was just shopping.” Sooner’s raised voice caught the attention of several passersby. “The creep expected more because I work at the carnival.”
“Lower your voice.”
Sooner folded her arms over her chest and looked almost as if she were pouting like a kid. “He was gross.”
“Maybe it’s time to find yourself another job.”
“Working the Madame Divine tent is a good gig. And it sure beats slinging fast food or straightening the bottles at the baseball toss.”
Anger, grief, and sadness swirled around her and she raced to keep ahead of them. “I don’t know what to tell you, Sooner. The tent is not the best place for a kid. Neither is the carnival.”
Sooner shrugged. “Beats the streets.”
“That sounds like something Grady would say.” Bitterness added bite to the words.
Her eyes narrowed. “Grady said I had an aunt who was a fancy attorney but I didn’t believe him.”
“He said that?”
“Yeah. But if you know Grady, he says a lot of stuff. So why would a
The judge made a note. “Why is that?”
“This is my client’s first offense. She just turned eighteen a week ago.”
“And the creep tried to assault me,” Sooner said. Her voice had the same rusty quality as Mariah’s. “He planted those crystals in my purse. I didn’t even know they were there. He’s just mad because I wouldn’t sleep with him and I called him fat.”
A rumble of chuckles passed through the courtroom, prompting the judge to raise her gaze and silence everyone with a look. “The police report mentions your complaint that he attempted sexual assault, but there is no evidence to support the claim.”
“It’s the truth,” Sooner said.
Charlotte held up a manicured hand, silencing the girl. “I know the court’s dockets are full and there are more important cases to consider.”
The judge stared at the attorney with a cynical eye. They both knew that this case, a first offense, did not warrant a great deal of her time. “All right, counselor, I’ll bite. What do you suggest?”
“Charges be dismissed.”
The suggestion seemed to amuse the judge. “Just like that?”
“She has no priors. And she is young. But if the court wishes, I can prepare an extensive case on her behalf.”
The judge studied Charlotte. “Why her? Why now?”
Because I never should have left her with Grady. “My practice is dedicating more time to pro bono work.”
“Yes, I heard your summation was something to see yesterday. However, this case won’t get you much publicity.”
“Nevertheless, I am fully committed to the defense.”
The judge drummed her fingers on the bench. “All right, I’ll concede. But your reputation is bailing this kid out, counselor.” The judge didn’t hesitate and rapped her gavel. “Charges are dismissed, but if Ms. Sooner Tate gets into trouble again, it’s your hide, counselor.”
“Agreed.”
The judge hit her gavel on the bench. “Case dismissed.”
Sooner looked at Charlotte, her dark eyes searching and angry. “Did I just admit that I did it?”
As the bailiff read the next set of charges, Charlotte took the girl tightly by the arm and led her out of the courtroom.
Outside in the busy hallway, Sooner pulled free and glared at Charlotte. “I didn’t do it.”
“The charges were dismissed.”
This close, standing face to face, Charlotte got her first real look at the girl. She had long dark hair and olive skin like Mariah’s, but her eyes were as green as Charlotte’s. She was slender, as tall as Charlotte, and held herself with surprising poise. Her billowy loose dress was sleeveless, revealing not only a slender figure underneath but also a tiger tattoo on the inside of her right forearm.
“Yeah, but it sounds like I’m on some kind of watch list for the next year.”
“We both are.” Charlotte had a thousand questions for the girl about her life. “If you keep your nose clean, then we won’t have a problem.”
“Hey, I was just shopping.” Sooner’s raised voice caught the attention of several passersby. “The creep expected more because I work at the carnival.”
“Lower your voice.”
Sooner folded her arms over her chest and looked almost as if she were pouting like a kid. “He was gross.”
“Maybe it’s time to find yourself another job.”
“Working the Madame Divine tent is a good gig. And it sure beats slinging fast food or straightening the bottles at the baseball toss.”
Anger, grief, and sadness swirled around her and she raced to keep ahead of them. “I don’t know what to tell you, Sooner. The tent is not the best place for a kid. Neither is the carnival.”
Sooner shrugged. “Beats the streets.”
“That sounds like something Grady would say.” Bitterness added bite to the words.
Her eyes narrowed. “Grady said I had an aunt who was a fancy attorney but I didn’t believe him.”
“He said that?”
“Yeah. But if you know Grady, he says a lot of stuff. So why would a
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