Chapter 5: The Ally I Trusted
I stared at the photograph until the screen dimmed.
The person in the reflection was only partially visible.
A shoulder.
A hand.
A familiar watch.
But it was enough.
I knew that watch.
I had seen it almost every day for months.
Rachel noticed my expression.
“Who is it?””
I locked my phone.
“I’m not sure.””
Thomas looked at me.
“You are.””
I hated that he knew me so well.
I placed the phone on the desk.
“The photo was taken yesterday.””
Rachel stepped closer.
“Inside your chambers?””
“Yes.””
Her face changed.
“That’s impossible.””
“No,” Thomas said quietly.
“It’s just impossible if we assume everyone followed the rules.””
Nobody spoke.
Because that was the frightening part.
People inside a courthouse knew the rules.
They knew where cameras were.
They knew which doors required authorization.
They knew how to move without being noticed.
Rachel looked at the recording device.
“Who has access to chambers?””
“Clerks. Bailiffs. Court staff. Attorneys with permission.””
“And judges.””
“Yes.””
She hesitated.
“Could someone have copied a key card?””
“Possibly.””
Thomas folded his arms.
“Who benefits from making you look compromised?””
The answer came quickly.
Michael Voss.
But saying his name out loud felt too simple.
Too convenient.
I had spent years in courtrooms watching people manipulate facts.
The obvious answer was often the trap.
“We need to find out who placed that device,” I said.
Rachel nodded.
“I’ll contact judicial security.””
“No.””
Both of them looked at me.
“I want this handled quietly.””
Thomas frowned.
“That’s risky.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
I looked at the photo again.
“Because whoever is behind this believes they control the situation.””
I picked up the phone.
“I want to know what they do when they think they’re winning.””
Later that afternoon, I returned to Courtroom 4B.
The trial continued.
The jury entered.
The attorneys took their places.
And Michael Voss sat there with the same arrogant expression he had worn every day.
But now I saw something different.
Not confidence.
Calculation.
During a break, he approached the defense table.
“Judge Carter.””
I looked at him.
“Yes?””
“Interesting day.””
I kept my expression neutral.
“For you, perhaps.””
He smiled.
“I heard there was an incident.””
“You hear a lot.””
“I pay attention.””
“That’s one way to describe it.””
His smile faded.
“Careful.””
I looked directly at him.
“Is that a threat?””
“No.””
“Because it sounded like one.””
Michael leaned closer.
“You’re making a mistake.””
“Which one?””
“Thinking you’re the only person who knows how this game works.””
Before I could respond, his attorney called him back.
But I noticed something.
His hands were shaking.
Small.
Almost invisible.
But shaking.
Someone had frightened Michael Voss.
And that meant he wasn’t the person pulling every string.
That evening, I stayed late.
The courthouse emptied slowly.
The same building that had been full of noise that morning became almost silent.
Thomas waited outside my office.
“You’re still here.””
“So are you.””
“I’m your bailiff.””
“And I’m your judge.””
He smiled slightly.
“Fair.””
I gathered my files.
Then the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
The hallway went dark.
Thomas immediately reached for his radio.
“Security?””
Static answered.
Then a voice came through.
Not security.
A whisper.
“Judge Carter.””
I froze.
Thomas looked at me.
“Did you hear that?””
The voice came again.
Closer.
“Stop looking for answers.””
The emergency lights turned on.
The hallway was empty.
Thomas moved in front of me.
“Stay here.””
“No.””
“Evelyn.””
“I’m not hiding in my own courthouse.””
We walked slowly down the hallway.
Every door was closed.
Every office was dark.
Then we reached the elevator.
The broken elevator.
The one that had forced me through the lobby that morning.
The doors suddenly opened.
Thomas stepped back.
Inside the elevator was a small envelope.
No name.
No address.
Just one word written across the front.
*SORRY.*
Thomas looked at me.
“Don’t touch it.””
I didn’t.
Security arrived minutes later.
The envelope was opened carefully.
Inside was a printed document.
A list of names.
At the top was Officer Daniel Whitmore.
Below him were several others.
And at the bottom of the page was a name that made my entire body go cold.
May you like
Because it belonged to someone who had been defending me all day.
Someone I trusted.
