Page 28 of The Prey
“Actually, she’s much, much better,” she said. “From what I’ve heard and seen—she’s by the book. Follows procedure. I love judges who actually do that.”
He nodded. He didn’t know much about Judge Collins. That always made him antsy. He hadn’t fully trusted a judge since the day Gia and her brother had been shot in George’s office ten years ago. That was a day he would never forget. The bullet had passed through her arm. If it had been a little higher it could have killed her. He had never forgotten her face when he’d stepped into George’s office after it had happened. She had been there—standing next to her bleeding brother and her future sister-in-law, so scared. She’d been just a teenager then. Whenever he thought about that day, he thought about that moment.
Before Hudson could stop himself, he wrapped his fingers around her arm, just above the scar. She looked up at him.
She was taller than average—around five-nine, he thought. He liked that. At his height, yes, he liked Giavonna Hiller exactly the way she was.
The doors opened again. Clarke came in like he owned the damned place.
Hudson fought the urge to tense. To leap up and rip the man’s head off his shoulders for evendaringto be in the same state as the woman next to him. Hudson would admit it tohimself—this was a man he would have no qualms about ripping apart.
Yes, Hudson really was an animal inside. Especially when it came to her.
She subconsciously shifted closer to Hudson. He let his hand linger on her arm, when what he wanted was to pull her in closer.
The bailiff came out, took up his post near the front of the courtroom where the man had stood almost every trial Hudson had ever argued. Ed Hughes was a fixture in the Barratt County courthouse room A. The judge was about to enter.
Hudson took his place behind the prosecution’s table and waited.
The judge surprised him. Five-foot or so. She was maybe ten years older than Hudson. Possibly younger than that, though. She was one of those women who would age beautifully. She was an attractive woman, and moved with confidence. A bit different than Judge King who had been a bit slovenly and sloppy, in spite of a strong understanding of the law.
Thick glasses sat on a small nose. Her blonde hair was rigidly neat. She was meticulous. Orderly. The only thing that stood out of place was a coffee mug with cartoon eyeballs or something.
He looked at the jury. Seven men. Five women. He didn’t recognize any of them. Sometimes that was hard for him to manage, living in such a small area.
Then the judge looked at the defendant.
The kid was rough-looking. Dirty blond hair he hadn’t even washed for court. His eyes were blank. Hard. Just like the last time.
Hudson had gone up against this punk before.
Hudson had offered to Walters twice to plead these latest charges down—from a maximum of twenty-five years to fifteen. But the defense had decided to take their chances.
This was going to be a waste of everyone’s time. But due process—it mattered foreveryone.He’d fight to defend that until he died if he had to. Even if it washistime that was being wasted.
“This is a serious case,” Judge Collins began. Her voice was deeper than Hudson had expected. For some reason, just looking at her, he’d almost assumed she’d be mousy and squeaky. “Let me be perfectly clear to both sides: I expect professionalism. There will be no games in my courtroom. No tricks. We will follow procedure and we will follow the letter of the law. There will be no side antics. I do not tolerate theatrics. Remember that. Do you understand?”
Hudson said that he did. Very clearly. But she wasn’t looking at him or Giavonna—her attention was on the defense.
Clarke’s response came next. “Understood, Your Honor.”
Even the sound of the man’s voice pissed Hudson off.
It was a long day.Made ten times worse by Clarke’s mere presence. Clarke was trying to gaslight and sidestep, and it was obvious he was ill-prepared. And apathetic to the entire proceeding. Hudson had seen several looks of irritation on the judge’s face.
He understood.
Giavonna stayed quiet beside Hudson for the most part, assisting when needed. The judge finally adjourned. They were free to go. No one said much.
Hudson stood first, waiting for her to gather her files and slide them into her bag. He made sure to keep himself between her and the defense team as they moved toward the exit.
Then they were outside on the courthouse steps.
Clarke shifted right into their path.
Hudson held out a hand in front of her. Instinctively. He would protect. No matter what the threat.
“Hudson,” Clarke said. “How are you doing tonight?”
