Afternoon Delight - By Mia Zachary Page 0,49

he’d expected. Most people were probably still out in the Plaza, so they were quickly shown to their seats.

Chris had just adjusted his seat cushion, folding his long legs more comfortably under the short tabletop when his cell phone rang. “Excuse me a second, Rei. It’s my sister. Hello?”

“I need you. Can you come over?” Diana’s voice sounded thick, like she’d been crying.

He glanced at Rei. “Um, now? Because I’m with—”

“Yes, now, Chris. Mom, Drea and Dad are all on their way.” Her voice broke on a fresh sob. “Gabriel is in trouble. Michael and I don’t know what to do. Please. You’re the only one he ever listens to.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can, Di.” He hung up and looked at Rei’s curious expression. “I’m really sorry about this, but I’ve got to go.”

TO: RLD49

FROM: [email protected] (via text pager)

RE: QUICK EXIT

I’m sorry I had to leave so abruptly this afternoon. It looks like my sister and her husband may be headed for a nasty divorce and my nephew is caught in the middle.

He’s been getting into trouble at school and Diana caught him smoking. My nephew got suspended from school and refuses to talk to his parents about what happened. I’ll be here at my sister’s pretty much the rest of the evening.

Otherwise I would have taken you up on that bubble bath. I’d have offered to scrub your back. And your front. Top to bottom. I really like your bottom.

Chris

RAINCHECK

Sometimes, especially in a divorce situation, kids need to have an adult they can trust. I’m sure he’ll tell you what’s going on and you can help his parents figure out what to do.

I’m home if you want to talk later. Or come share some bubbles.

Rei

Monday, April 21st

Accomplishments: None

REI PARKED her car in the garage, gathered her briefcase of files and walked toward the courthouse lobby. She made a mental note to try to reach Chris this morning. He’d called last night to let her know that his nephew was sleeping over at his place, but then she hadn’t heard anything more.

As she approached the door, her court services clerk rushed forward with a look of relief and grabbed her by the elbow.

“Mary Alice? What—?”

“You don’t want to go in there, Commissioner.” Mary Alice was twice her age and half her weight, but still managed to strong-arm Rei away from the entrance and toward the opposite side of the garage. “There are reporters crawling through all of the corridors, and Judge Orr wants to see you right away.”

“Why? What’s happened? Thank you.” One of the maintenance staff held the service elevator door until they got in, then pushed the button for their floor. Rei turned to Mary Alice. “What in the world is going on?”

Her clerk patted her arm, but her expression was inscrutable. “The Youth Guidance Center is on level three lockdown. There was a riot among the general population, apparently gang related. Bruce Grayson was involved.”

She felt her heartrate increase, certain she didn’t want to hear any more. “How?”

“Apparently, he instigated a fight, provoking rivals of his brother’s gang. It got…out of hand.”

Rei took a deep breath then slowly exhaled. “Tell me.”

“Fourteen boys in the medical facility. One guard was taken to the hospital in critical condition after Bruce Grayson stabbed him. They don’t think the guard is going to make it.”

10

DESPITE THE ATTEMPT at deception, Rei still had to run the media gauntlet. Television and newspaper reporters crowded the hallway, and it didn’t take them long to spot her coming down the service corridor. She longed to jump back into the elevator and make her escape, but she had to face them in order to get to the supervising judge’s chambers.

“Commissioner Davis, over here!”

“Do you regret your decision?”

“Care to make a statement, Commissioner Davis?”

“Commissioner, do you feel responsible?”

Rei lifted a hand in front of her face to keep the camera lights from blinding her. Mary Alice and Bill Travis, one of the security guards, were doing their best to shield her, but she felt every shouted question like a physical blow. By the time she’d pushed her way through the mob to the presiding judge’s office, she felt battered as well as heart sore.

This was her fault. Fifteen people had been adversely affected by her decision; fifteen people had been hurt by her choice. Maybe sixteen. Because, while she took responsibility for her actions, she also felt like a victim. Had Bruce Grayson completely suckered her?

Bill and Mary Alice waited outside, leaving Rei to