Page 151 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

She looked at JP. “Do you think the blonde is Hannah?”

“Whoever sent you the text mentioning her wants us to believe she is.”

“Or wants us to believe Bay is.”

Chapter 56

Monday late morning

The hall outside Department 1 was packed with the usual juvenile court traffic. Parents clutching paperwork they didn’t understand. Social workers balancing files and coffee. Attorneys standing against walls trying to negotiate settlements before judges got involved.

Sabre sat on the wooden bench outside the courtroom.

Beside her, Bob flipped through a file thick enough to injure somebody. “You know,” Bob muttered, “if dependency court wanted efficiency, they’d stop scheduling six contested matters at nine o’clock.”

Sabre smiled. “Then what would we complain about?”

“Fair point.”

The courtroom doors opened, and the bailiff stepped out holding a clipboard. “The Garcia matter,” he called.

Two attorneys stood and disappeared inside.

Bob checked his watch. “I’ve got to run before Judge Alvarez decides I’m dead.” He gathered his files and stood. “Try not to adopt any more homicidal teenagers before lunch.”

“No promises.”

Bob pointed at her with a file. “That’s the attitude that concerns me.”

Sabre laughed as he headed down the hallway.

A familiar voice came from behind her. “Bob’s still alive. That’s reassuring.”

Sabre looked up. Daniel Rourke stood a few feet away wearing a charcoal sport coat and the same easy expression as always.

“Rourke.”

He grinned. “You look exactly the same sitting outside court.”

“That’s depressing.”

“Comforting,” he corrected.

Sabre motioned toward the empty spot beside her. “What are you doing here?”

Rourke sat. “I was nearby. I thought I’d see if juvenile court still smelled like burned coffee and bad decisions.”

“It does.”

“Good. I’d hate for traditions to die.”

Sabre laughed softly despite herself. It was easy talking to him. It always had been.

“Do you have time for lunch?”

Sabre glanced down the crowded hallway. “Not unless court suddenly catches fire.”

“So, that’s a no.”