ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON ELEVEN

Episode 137

L.L. Handel sat on the bench, looking incredibly regal and almost majestic in his black robe over his elegant dark suit, his suntanned hands with his solid gold wedding band folded against each other. At his loafered feet sat his loyal and protective golden retriever guide dog Sadie Dog with her red helper dog sash on. On his right side rested his long white cane with its red tip on the end of it.

He listened to the assistant state's attorney Kenneth Zoss giving his opening statement. He fought the urge to sigh. The man sounded incredibly pompous and tight assed. Even more than L.L. or his identical twin brother Thomas did , he thought as he fought to hold back a sudden grin. Stay serious, he mentally told himself. Dignified judges didn't go grinning like ninnies on the bench over the rambling of long winded lawyers. As much as they wanted to. Although his good friend Trevor Talbot, who was the first openly gay and first chronically ill justice on the US Supreme Court, had told him once that he himself had trouble not laughing out loud over some of the bizarre things he and his fellow justices heard from their benches.

This case that was handed to him he wished he had not gotten. Especially if it meant any possible danger to his husband Michael or their son. He did not care about himself but his family was off limits. Michael was always online and he said there were already hate pages being created on the social media pages like LifeChapters. He hoped this thing went by fast with not much drama or possible carnage but part of him didn't think it would be that simple. On paper it was a simple assault. But there were racial issues brewing up in a country that was forever a powder keg about anything to do with race.

A Black homicide detective from a nearby county accused of attacking a White uniform police officer.

The warring groups lead by those repulsive racists and that obnoxious preacher Lazarus Jones.

The rapt news media attention to this case.

As he heard Zoss conclude his opening and Jeremiah Duncan smoothly stand up from his side of the room to start his own opening statement he detected from their steady footsteps on his left someone moving towards himself.

His court clerk leaned close to him , he recognized her by her distinctive floral perfume which was always overpowering , and whispered urgently," Sir , Judge Handel , we need to get you out of here. The baliff has been told there's been a bomb threat called into the courthouse. "

L.L. sighed deeply. Yes. He really wished he had never received this case.