Gypsy

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

·Adam·

"You have got to be kidding me," I grumble under my breath, unable to look away from the surface of the podium I'm standing behind. Alex Guthrie elbows me in my side, silently telling me to shut my mouth.

"Mr. Cain, have you something else to add in your defense?"

I look up at the man in his official black robe, my ears burning nearly as hot as my anger. I open my mouth to speak but Alex beats me to it.

"No, your honor. My client has nothing else to add."

The judge stares at me as if contemplating whether or not to push the issue. After a long moment, he gives a decisive nod and finalizes my sentence.

"The court hereby charges you, Adam Cain, the defendant, with non-grievous assault and orders you to forty hours of community service. Please see the clerk on your way out." He bangs his gavel and it's over. He turns his attention from me to speak to the uniformed officer near him.

"Bailiff, please call the next case."

I look over at my lawyer and shake my head in disappointment as we turn away to make room for the next hapless lawbreaker. He looks back at me and shrugs his thin shoulders.

"You win some, you lose some. Just be thankful he was in a good mood." He offers me a sympathetic smile that doesn't reach his cerulean eyes before he co tinues. "You won't be going to jail, and once your service is complete, the charges will be dismissed. You'll be able to put all this behind you as if it never happened."

As we move to leave the packed courtroom, I find his optimism to be more irritating than usual. I've known Alex a long time, ever since I was a kid and long before his hair had all turned silver. He was my father's lawyer long before he became mine, and when my dad handed over the reins to the business, Guthrie came along as part of the package.

We're preparing to exit through the back doors of the courtroom, when a small, dark-haired young woman barrels through them, slamming into me as she passes by.

"Watch where you're going, Ginger."

Surprised, I stop and turn to watch her as she hurries toward the podium I've just left. She stares darkly at me over her shoulder for just a moment before turning to watch where she's going, and it stokes the angry flames inside me. The least she could have done was apologize, but it's an unfortunate fact that some people are just rude.

I shake my head irritably, then turn away to follow Alex out. I try to put the encounter out of my mind--at this point, it's just par for the course. It's not as if I'll ever see her again, so it's really not worth my time or energy anyway.

This is a new experience for me, one that I don't ever intend to repeat. I've only ever been to the courthouse on official business, and have never had an occasion to be on the docket of any court proceedings. I frown at that as I follow Alex to the clerk's office, where I will soon learn what odious task awaits me.

When we finally reach the desk, we have to stand in line. It seems the courts were busy today, and I wonder how many of these poor schmucks are actually like me, having no reason to be here but for someone else's pettiness. I pinch the bridge of my nose against the headache forming behind my eyes and resign myself to wait.

When we finally leave the building, most of the day has already gone. I've missed a whole day of work, and for what? To be given a ridiculous sentence for something that wasn't even my fault.