Page 36 of Trial Run

“Leland? That’s just her personality. She’s going to do or say whatever it takes to get the best deal for her client.”

“It didn’t sound like she wanted a deal at all. It sounded like she was only interested in getting all the charges dropped.”

Reggie raised her hands in the air. “Why are you mad at me? What did you expect me to do?”

Brooke put her face in her hands. “I don’t know. And I know I’m not sounding rational. I just want this whole thing to be over and I’m telling you, a mistrial sounds like the best thing in the world right about now.”

Reggie looked around to make sure they were alone before stepping closer and pulling Brooke into her arms. “I get it. I really do, but if Benton is the one behind all of this, then I’m not sure a mistrial would end things. He’ll think you went to the judge even though he or whoever is threatening you on his behalf told you not to.”

“Did it ever occur to you he may think that anyway? How do you know Mitchell hasn’t already told him?”

“If she did, she’s a really good actress. Did she sound like she was mixed up in this when we heard them in the garage? She might be involved in some shady deals with him, but she sounded genuinely surprised when he brought up tampering with the jury.”

Brooke sighed. “You’re right.” She eased out of Reggie’s arms. “What do we do next?”

Reggie instantly missed the moment of intimacy and wanted to pull her back, but she resisted, knowing that with Brooke’s life spinning out of control, anything between them had to be on her terms. “We wait and trust the process.”

“Not an easy thing to do.”

Reggie smiled. “I know, but I’m right here if you need me. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

Brooke reached for her hand and threaded her fingers through hers. “Thank you.”

They stared at each other for a moment, while Reggie ran through a list of lines she wanted to say, but before she could settle on one, the sound of the door opening startled them both and Brooke stepped back, dropping her hand in the process.

Leroy poked his head in the door. “Judge says you can go. Asked me to remind you not to talk to anyone about what happened in chambers. Got it?”

“Got it,” Reggie answered for both of them. When he shut the door, she pulled out her keys. “Let me save you an Uber and drive you home?”

“Only if you let me make dinner. It’s going to be omelets this time, though. I haven’t exactly had time to grocery shop.”

Reggie hesitated for a moment knowing she should take advantage of the early release to study, but torn by the prospect of some alone time with Brooke.

“It’s okay if you have other plans,” Brooke said, her tone wistful.

“My other plans consist of flash cards for the PI exam.”

“I’m excellent with flash cards. Besides, Ben needs to study and so do I. We could have a study date.”

Reggie latched onto the word date and made her decision. “Well, I do love a good omelet.”

Brooke laughed. “I didn’t say it would be good.”

Reggie reached for her hand and led her to the door. She had no idea where a study date might lead, but she was up for just about anything that included her and Brooke—far away from the courthouse and this case.

Chapter Fourteen

Brooke opened the front door, hoping Ben hadn’t left a mess in the living room. Yes, Reggie had already been over once, but that time she’d just cleaned the house and known it hadn’t been a wreck before she invited Reggie in. Since then, her life had spiraled out of control, and keeping the house clean seemed like a bridge too far.

“Everything okay?” Reggie asked.

Brooke stepped aside, deciding to surrender to whatever mess might greet them on the other side of the door. “Don’t judge me by the way my place looks.”

“No judgment here. My apartment looks like a college freshman has been bingeing for exams. Lots of empty take-out food containers and Post-it notes on every surface.”

“And here I thought you were an index card kind of woman.”

“I’m full of surprises.”

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