Page 60 of Dirty Judge

“Holy shit, Liv…” Her eyes widened. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

“You think I should just admit to what I did and apologize?” I looked at her. “Maybe he’ll hate me a little less? Would he make me return the clothes?”

“I think you should drink the rest of the wine bottle, watch this documentary with me, and continue using his face as your pussy’s muse until you’re allowed to quit six months from now.”

“So, that’s a no to telling him.”

“It’s a fuck no.” She looked terrified. “Never.”

NONCOMPLIANCE (N.):

THE FAILURE OR REFUSAL TO FOLLOW OR OBEY ESTABLISHED LAWS, REGULATIONS, RULES, COURT ORDERS, OR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.

LIAM

“Aspecial interview is coming your way at seven tomorrow night!” The anchor of the local news smiled on my office’s television screen. “You get to go behind the scenes with one of New York’s top judges!”

“He’s the man who’s been credited with his unique sentences and dubbed ‘the people’s judge!’ Unlike other judges?—”

I clicked it off before she could finish.

I’d only turned it on for a distraction, to keep my mind off dinner, but it still wasn’t here.

Hmmm.

I picked up my phone and called Olivia.

No answer.

I called again.

Nothing.

Confused, I walked over to my door and opened it to call for her, but she wasn’t at her desk.

Maybe she’s stuck in traffic…

I waited for another half hour before bringing in Mara.

Come to my office. It’s an emergency.

My door swung open two minutes later and she stepped in, breathing hard.

“I’m here,” she said. “What do I need to do?”

“An employee has disappeared,” I said. “We may need to file a missing person’s report.”

“What?”

“I told Miss Spencer to get my dinner over two hours ago, and she still hasn’t returned with it.” I pointed to the clock. “Something must have happened to her on the way, correct?”

“Not necessarily…Have you called her?”

“Twice.”

She let out a sigh and took out her phone, tapping the speaker button.

Ring! Ring! Ring!