Page 97 of Dirty Judge

It was bad enough that I missed her when I was at home, but being in the office made it more than clear that she wasthe best law clerk I’d ever had.

Julia stepped inside seconds later, slamming the door shut behind her.

“With all due respect, sir,” she said, “I need to know what’s going on with you.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’ve been off—way off—for weeks, and at the rate you’re going, I’m willing to bet that you’d let a murderer out on bail if he gave you the right smile.”

“I’m pretty sure that I just kept five of those locked up this week.”

“Only because I fucking pressed you on it,” she said. “You’ve been in goddamn la-la-land for almost all the latest arraignments.”

“Who the hell do you think you’re talking to right now?” I arched a brow. “Better yet, is he in the room with us?”

“I’m only letting you know what everyone else in my office has been saying…” She let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re not being the Judge Ashton that we’re used to, and we’re hoping that nothing is wrong.”

Everything is wrong.

“I appreciate your concern.” That was all I could say to that. “I’ll have Mara get some interns to flag and make notations on this week’s cases. I lost my senior clerk a couple weeks ago, so…”

“Oh.” She frowned. “Well, that explains things. I’m so sorry.”

“Is there anything else we need to discuss?” I asked.

“Yeah.” She pulled a folded sheet from her pocket. “Here are the notes on my office’s upcoming investigation into you.”

“Are you trying to lose your job?”

“Just wanted to give you a heads up.” She shrugged. “They’ll be watching you very closely during the Jenkins retrial, so stay away, okay?”

“Okay.” I stuffed the sheet into my drawer. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She walked to the door. “If you don’t mind me asking, how did she die?”

“What?”

“Your law clerk,” she said. “How did she die?”

I blinked, confused.

“That’s what you meant when you said you ‘lost’ her.” She tilted her head to the side. “Right?”

“No, I meant she quit.”

“Ohhhh.” She laughed. “Oh, okay. That’s so much better than the rumors, then.”

“Is it?”

“I mean, yeah,” she said, cackling even louder. “Before you told me that, some of my colleagues were assuming someone broke your heart.”

“Glad my pain could make you laugh.”

“I knew better than to believe that, though.” She snorted. “You don’t have a heart to break…”

GAG ORDER (N.):

A JUDGE'S ORDER PROHIBITING THE ATTORNEYS AND THE PARTIES TO A PENDING LAWSUIT OR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION FROM TALKING TO THE MEDIA OR THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CASE