Page 15 of Trial Run

While she drove, she replayed the conversation with the stranger who’d been waiting at her car.

“I’ve done what you’ve asked me to do. Why are you still threatening me?”

“It’s not a threat. It’s a promise. It’s time for you to take the next step.”

“Then tell me what it is and stop being so damn cryptic.”

“The woman on trial has been unjustly accused. It’s up to you to make it right.”

“Still cryptic. I’m one person out of twelve. There’s nothing I can do.”

“You have two choices. You either convince the rest to vote with you or you hold out no matter what. I suggest you start laying the groundwork tomorrow.”

“And if I don’t?”

“You know the risk and what’s important to you. If you want to avoid the harm, you’ll do what’s asked of you.”

“Who are you?”

“A concerned citizen. You know what to do.”

He’d left abruptly after his “concerned citizen” pronouncement, and she hadn’t had time to process the interaction before Reggie appeared out of nowhere. The timing was suspicious, but it was possible she was reading too much into it since Reggie had parked next to her and they’d all been dismissed from court at the same time. Didn’t matter. As much as she might want to, confiding in Reggie could spell disaster and it wasn’t a chance she was willing to take. Not when Ben’s life could be at stake.

But a quick trip for ice cream was an innocuous venture and it might make her feel a little more normal. She pulled into the parking lot at Braum’s and found a space near the front door. She didn’t wait for Reggie to park, but she stood outside the front door until she appeared beside her.

“Braum’s. Interesting choice.”

Brooke stiffened slightly. “Look, I know there are a ton of fancy new places with funky new flavors, but this is my favorite and it’s my son’s favorite, and I’ll fight anyone who thinks it’s not as good as the others.”

Reggie raised her hands in the air. “No need to fight. I completely agree. It’s old school, but it’s one of the best.” She opened the door. “After you?”

Brooke led the way and ordered a cone with cherries, pecans, and cream and Reggie ordered one with rocky road. Reggie insisted on paying and she didn’t have the energy to argue. They sat down at a booth and enjoyed their ice cream in silence, and for a few minutes Brooke managed to shut out everything else: her precarious employment, whether she’d passed her Econ exam,the fact she was stuck on jury duty, and the threat on her son’s life that hung on her complying with the whim of a stranger she didn’t even understand.

“What’s your son’s name?”

And there went her relaxation. She hesitated for a moment before deciding the question wasn’t too personal and she’d look like a weirdo for refusing to answer. “Ben.”

“And you said he’s twelve?”

She had to admit she was impressed Reggie remembered. “Twelve going on forty.”

Reggie smiled. “I get that. Smart kid?”

“Genius level. But a little socially awkward so while he can ace any test put in front of him, a school dance will have him spinning out.”

“Does he get that from you or his dad?”

She stared into Reggie’s eyes for a minute, trying to read intent. It was probably an innocent question, but it didn’t feel that way. Of course, nothing felt right since she’d first received the call about the jury summons, which prompted her to ask. “When did you get your jury summons?”

Reggie looked surprised by the question. “Last month. Why?”

Brooke shook her head. “No reason.” She wondered if anyone else on the jury had just received their summons. If throwing the case was so important to the mysterious stranger, it seems like they would’ve wanted to ensure their fate wasn’t entirely in one juror’s hands. Then again, they’d be stupid to pick Reggie since she had courthouse connections. “How’s your ice cream?” she asked, to change the subject.

“It’s good, but I get the impression you want to talk about something else.”

Brooke took another bite to avoid having to answer. She wanted to confide in someone, and Reggie seemed as good a person as any, but she imagined how things would go. She’d tell Reggie she’d been threatened and Reggie would insist they inform Judge Hunt. Judge Hunt would insist on questioning her and she’d refuse to answer. She wasn’t sure what would happen next, but she suspected it wouldn’t be good.

“What happens if we can’t reach a verdict?”

---