Free The Law of Attraction by N. M. Silber Page A

cut in incredulously. “Did you just say that
he
worked the register?!” I sighed.
Why did I always get these cases?
    “Yes. He wait on customer. Make change,” Mr. Lao answered.
    “How long did he do this?” Braden asked, glancing at me.
Here it comes. Are you ready for it?
    “Eight hour.”
Cue confetti!
    “He worked a full shift?!” Judge Channing cut in again. I saw Braden cover his mouth and turn toward the prosecution table to fumble with some paper.
Yeah, laugh it up, pretty boy.
    “Yes. He good worker.” Braden coughed.
    “No further questions Your Honor.”
    “Ms. Ginsberg!” Judge Channing looked at me dubiously.
    “Mr. Lao,” I said rising to my feet. “English is not your first language, is it?”
    “No.”
    “And Mr. Sanchez spoke with an accent. True?” (Not like tying him up hadn’t given him a hint to my client’s intentions.)
    “Yes. He have accent.”
    “Thank you. No more questions.” I sat down.
    “Any redirect?”
    “Just one question, Your Honor,” Braden replied. “Mr. Lao, did you understand everything that Mr. Sanchez said to you?”
    “He say give me all your money or I shoot you. You see when you look at security camera video.”
Yep. We were screwed.
Inner-Gabrielle started filing her nails. This one was over.
    “No further questions.”
    “I’m assuming there’s no argument, Ms. Ginsberg?” Judge Channing asked, giving me a look that clearly said that there had damned well better not be any. I tapped my pen against my legal pad as if I were actually giving it careful consideration and making a strategic decision to hold off. I wasn’t fooling anyone. I had nothing.
    “No, Your Honor, however, we hope to discuss the possibility of a plea bargain with the Commonwealth.”
    “Obviously. All charges held for trial. Schedule it.” He banged his gavel. That, thankfully, was the last case of the day. Braden brought me the order and Mr. Sanchez, the industrious armed robber, was led away.
    “No deal.”
    “What? What do you mean no deal?”
    “Gabrielle, the man worked the counter for eight hours with the owner tied up behind him. It’s all on video. I would have to try
really hard
to lose this case at trial.”
    “You want to waste your time trying this? What is it you think I would say to the twelve jurors who gave up their day for that great example of the criminal justice system in action?”
    “Maybe you could put on your ‘everybody has a right to a trial’ defense.”
    “You know, I’m going to win with that one someday, baby. You had just better watch out.”
    “Look, I won’t object to him pleading guilty.”
    “With no agreement? How kind of you! Well, at least people won’t question whether I’m trading sexual favors for deals.”
    “Wait a minute! You never said that was on the table!” he joked.
    “I may have no other choice. He worked the freaking cash register for eight hours to get more money! On camera! C’mon, big boy. I’ll let you cuff me for plea to unlawful restraint with a two year cap.” I winked.
    “Pack up your stuff and come with me,” he said, shaking his head and packing up his own files. I packed up all of my files and followed him out of the courtroom. I saw that we were headed toward the onsite DA’s offices where prosecutors prepared witnesses and negotiated plea bargains. We went in and he led me to an open interview room, shutting the door behind us. I figured that he had taken pity on me and would throw some kind of bone.
    “So, you want to discuss a deal after all?” I asked seriously.
    “I’ll think about it, but don’t expect it to be generous, and I won’t offer anything if the victim objects.”
    “Okay?” I said, feeling a little confused. “I guess I can understand that. So why did you want to come here?”
    “Because I want to kiss that saucy mouth.”
    “Oh,” I said, surprised, and felt goose bumps form on my arms. We were at work. This was… different. He walked over and stood right in