Deadly Drafts - CH 24

PLEA BARGAIN

Judge Highley stomped from chambers, sweats and a heather tee peeking from his unzipped robe. His uncombed moustache corkscrewed across his lip, giving him the air of a very small, very angry walrus. Salty whiskers prickled his cheek. The court lights above flickered on half power.

"This is twice, Dalkowski," the Judge said, "that you've called me on off-hours. This better be good." Robe zipped, Highley harrumphed and sat.

Alex stood from her spot in the gallery, announcing, "This is very important, your honor."

"I wasn't asking for a response, Detective." The judge frowned at the small assemblage in his retro-futurist courtroom: The Irregulars, Milo their lawyer, Alex, DA DA, Brent the pasty Bailiff and a mousy court reporter. The low lights cast deep, gashing shadows over their faces. The Irregulars, already exhausted from panic and shock, stared ahead with the empty-eyes of the walking dead.