Page 5 of Dirty Judge

“Interesting.” He lifted his shades, revealing a stern set of green eyes. “Do you have any form of identification on you?”

“I have some receipts in my glovebox.”

“Do they haveyour pictureon them?”

“No, but…My signature is very distinct.”

He gave me a blank stare.

“I can also phone a friend,” I said. “Or I can call my mom.”

“That’s not how this works.” He shook his head. “What’s your date of birth and social?”

“My social?”

“Yes, your social, Miss. As in yoursocial security number.”

“I can show you my Instagram page.” I picked up my phone. “I just posted on it last night.”

“My demands of what I need from you were very clear…”

“I have Facebook as well,” I said. “Oh, and I can ask my roommate to take a picture of my license and text it to me in like five minutes if you’re willing to wait.”

He pulled a notepad from his pocket, looking as if he wasn’t listening to a single word I was saying.

“I swear I’m not trying to be difficult,” I said. “I just—I watch a lot of true crime and giving out social security numbers always leads to someone being scammed.”

“You think a police officer is going to scam you?” he asked. “With his body camera rolling?”

“Dirty cops are a real thing, you know…”

“Ma’am—” He rolled his eyes and clicked his pen. “Give me your goddamn date of birth and your social. Now.”

“555-09-0978” I gave up the fight.

“Thank you. I’ll be right back.”

I watched him return to his car through my rearview mirror, and I tried to mentally calculate just how many extra hours at work this ticket would cost me.

Four hours at each job, minimum…Maybe six?

The officer slammed the door to his car shut and strolled back to my driver’s side window.

“Miss Spencer,” he said, “Are you aware that there’s a bench warrant out for your arrest?”

“A what?”

“A bench warrant from three months ago,” he said. “You failed to report to court on a series of violations.”

What violations?

“Um, no…” I shook my head. “You must have me confused with another Olivia Spencer.”

“So, you’re not the same Olivia Spencer with six outstanding parking tickets?”

“Uh…” It was actually eight, but I wasn’t going to admit to that.

“I need you to grab your personal belongings and step out of the vehicle, Miss Spencer.”