Page 68 of The System

“Only if we make it awkward.”

“Well, let’s not do that,” Carina suggested.

“Okay.”

“But it might get a little more awkward for another reason. I’m about to go in there and–”

“I know. It’s your job, though. I’m not happy about it, but I understand.”

“If it makes you feel better, I’m not happy about it, either. I wish I didn’t have to do something that could hurt you like this. I don’t know what… I can ask to have another ADA put on this case, but I don’t think my boss will do it.”

“I know. I understand.”

“Good morning,” Frank said as he cleared his throat.

“Mr.Richard,” Carina greeted and quickly stood up. “I’ll see you in there.” She looked down at Kieran and gave her a soft smile. “You too, I guess.”

“Nah, I’ll be in the back of the room, and you face the front, so I doubt you’ll even notice me sitting in the back row putting a curse on you.” Kieran winked at her.

Carina laughed and said, “I’ll have to turn around to catch that, then.”

“You do that, Counselor,” Kieran tossed back at her.

Carina gave her a look that said that she might be understanding Kieran right now. Kieran was flirting with her, and she was aware of it herself, but Carina was maybe, too, now. That made Kieran’s heart race like nothing else before ever had.

CHAPTER 21

“Miss Whitlock, before we begin, I need to see you in my chambers,” the judge said after he sat down.

“Your Honor?” she asked, standing back up after only just sitting down.

“Miss Whitlock, my chambers, please,” he repeated, stood, and walked out of the courtroom.

Carina had no idea what this was about, but having a meeting with the judge ex parte was strange and could open them up to trouble later if Marin’s attorney tried to suggest that something happened during this meeting that negatively impacted Marin’s case once it went to trial. She turned to look at Frank Richard, who only stared down at his file folder that he had open on the table, and followed the judge out the back door that the bailiff was still holding open for her.

“Your Honor?” she asked when she walked in, and the door was closed behind her.

“Carina,” he said after hanging his robe on the coatrack and turning to face her. “What were you thinking?”

“Judge Martin?”

“Sleeping with the sister of the woman you’re prosecuting.”

“I’m sorry. What?” she said in shock.

“I’ve received a request to have you removed from this case, and an ethics complaint will probably follow.” Judge Martin sat down behind his desk. “Sit.” He motioned for her to sit down at one of the chairs in front of it.

“You’ve received… I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s going on here. I’m not sleeping with anyone.”

“I don’t care about the personal lives of any lawyer in my court, but this is a big deal, Carina. The complaint I just received said that you and this Kieran Hart, the twin sister of Marin May, who I’m about to have a hearing for, are in a sexual relationship.”

“We’re not,” she replied.

“Are you sure, because I’ve known you for a long time, and I’m speaking to you now as a professional courtesy, but I can’t help you, Carina. If you are, you can recuse yourself, and maybe that will be enough and there won’t be an ethics complaint. If you lie in here, though, and it comes back to me, I’ll–”

“Judge Martin, I’ve never had a sexual relationship with anyone who has been part of a case I have tried. I will swear to that in court or before any ethics committee. Kieran and I are friends, yes, but nothing more.” She swallowed.

“You’re friends with the sister of the woman you’re trying for murder?”

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