Page 31 of Trial Run

“We’ll make it work,” Sarah said, looking at Brooke. “You think you can keep it together in the jury room while we do our thing?”

“You’ve got someone watching Ben?”

“We won’t let anything happen to him.”

Brooke nodded. “Then do what you need to do.”

Reggie squeezed her shoulder and Brooke glanced back, her expression a mix of resolve and fear. She wanted to comfort her, but she wanted to be alone to do it. “Can we have the room, please?”

Lennox and Sarah filed out and she shut the door behind them, waiting a few seconds before asking, “Are you okay?”

“You keep asking me that, but nothing has changed. Ben is still in danger and no one knows who’s making the threats. I’ll be okay when this is all over.”

“Lennox is abrupt, but she knows what she’s doing. If she trusts Sarah, then I do too.”

“And I trust you.”

Reggie could tell it was a big admission and she didn’t take it lightly. “I won’t do anything to make you doubt that.” She reached out a hand. “Shall we go pretend to be jurors for a bit longer?”

Brooke took her hand and stood. “Do you think there’s a possibility this could all end today? Maybe Shirley will fess up and we can all go home?”

Reggie looked deeply into Brooke’s pleading eyes. She wanted to tell Brooke everything was going to be fine and that there was a good chance her ordeal would be over soon, but the truth was she didn’t know, and while she fully supported this plan, it wasn’t without risks. If Mitchell did know what was going on, she had the resources and connections to crush Brooke and her son, especially if she was backed into a corner with no other way out. Hell, her developer pal Harry Benton had personally gone after a judge when he was on the verge of being found out for his crimes.

But telling Brooke any of these thoughts would only make her more stressed than she already was. “Yes, there’s a possibility. I’m going to hope for the best.”

Brooke’s shoulders relaxed and she sighed. “Thank you.”

Thankful the lie had worked, Reggie pointed to the door. “Whatever happens today, I’ve got you. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Brooke looked from her to the closed door and back again before planting a quick, sweet kiss on her cheek. She started to take off, but Reggie clasped her wrist and pulled her back into her arms. For a few silent moments, they stood close, and Reggie felt Brooke’s heart rate quicken, slow, and quicken again, perhaps due to the stress she was under, but maybe, just maybe, Brookewas feeling a hint of the attraction that was beginning to consume her as well.

She wasn’t sure who broke contact first, but the void that opened as they stepped away from each other was vast and she instantly missed their closeness. Maybe this ordealwouldwrap up today and she could explore these feelings. Would Brooke want the same once things returned to normal? She shook her head. She had to believe the attraction between them was born out of more than adversity.

She hoped Brooke believed it too.

* * *

It was almost impossible to listen to anything any of the witnesses said. Their voices were a low hum against the backdrop of worry churning through her gut, and Brooke wasn’t sure she was going to make it through the rest of the day.

After this morning’s meeting with Agent Flores and ADA Roy, she’d gone to the jury room alone to avoid arousing suspicion and spent the next hour waiting around while the judge spoke with the attorneys in chambers. Lisa and Jenny played a guessing game about whether the sides were about to reach a plea deal or if they were arguing over some evidence. They’d tried to engage her, but she wasn’t in the mood to play games, and certainly not ones that were more real than anyone in this room besides Reggie even knew.

When they’d finally filed into the courtroom, she’d studiously avoided looking at the defense table at first before realizing not looking might arouse more suspicion than facing them head-on. When she did sneak a look over at Shirley, all she saw was her engaged in what appeared to be a very serious conversation with her attorney, and neither of them seemed to notice she was even in the room. She supposed that was a good thing.

“Are you okay?” Reggie asked in a low whisper.

“You keep asking me that.”

“I keep hoping you will be.”

“I’m as okay as possible, considering.” She could tell by the plea in Reggie’s eyes that she’d hoped for more, but she was doing her best to hold it together.

Thankfully, Judge Hunt banged his gavel at that moment, saving her from having to offer assurances she didn’t have to give.

“We’re going to take our lunch break earlier than usual, but I expect everyone back and ready to go by twelve thirty.”

He was out of his seat and through the door before the bailiff could shout “all rise.” Brooke followed the rest of the jurors on the trek back to the jury room, pondering a way to find a few moments to herself so she could sort out her thoughts.

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