As she handed me the drink, her smile was a gentle breeze on a summer day. "Here is your drink, it seems you refused the bartender's offer. I noticed you were talking to him earlier." I smiled back, my eyes locking onto hers. "Just one drink?" She chuckled, her laughter like music. "Yes, I don't drink alcohol, sir. May I leave now?" As she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her sleeve slipped, revealing a deep scar on the back of her hand. Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked what had happened. But she brushed it off, her eyes flashing with a mixture of pain and warning. "You don't need to worry about it. It's not your problem." With a brief bow, she turned and walked away, leaving me feeling both intrigued and concerned.
Lexy, her fellow bartender, approached her, curiosity etched on her face. "Who was that?" she asked, tugging on her friend's arm. "The handsome young man who's been staring at you," she added with a sly grin. Lexy rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "You mean Daven?" Her friend's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, you know his name? How suspicious!" Lexy laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Control your imagination. It's not what you think. Let's get back to work. I need to leave early today."
Meanwhile, Miss Donna's heart was racing as she drove through the rain-soaked streets. The thunderstorm warning had her on edge, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed. Was it the governor's men again, trying to intimidate her into complying with their demands? She thought back to the case that had been weighing heavily on her mind. "I won't let him get to me," she muttered, her grip on the steering wheel tightening. "I've worked too hard to maintain my reputation as a fair and just judge."
As she pulled into the parking lot of her bar, a sense of relief washed over her. But it was short-lived. As soon as she stepped out of the car, a gun was pressed to the back of her head. A deep, harsh voice growled, "Don't fail to do what the governor asked you to do, or you'll lose your life." The voice seemed to belong to an older man, but Miss Donna was too terrified to turn around. The man took a few steps back and disappeared into the darkness, leaving her shaken.
She rushed into the bar, her heart still racing. She ordered a shot of whiskey to calm her nerves, her hands trembling as she raised the glass to her lips. Lexy's friend approached her, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay, ma'am?" Miss Donna stammered, trying to compose herself. "Y-yes... just get back to work and tell the manager I'll talk to him another time about the bar's growth." The bartender nodded and walked away, looking puzzled.
...…
The alarm clock rang out at 7am, but I was already awake, thanks to my furry alarm clock, Lolo. My mischievous cat had a knack for knowing when I had an early shift, and she'd wake me up with her playful claws and sloppy kisses. I groggily got out of bed, gave her a scratch behind the ears, and shuffled to the kitchen to feed her. "Good morning, Lolo! You're the best alarm clock a guy could ask for," I said, earning a head butt and a purr.
As I arrived at work, I couldn't help but notice one of the judges, Miss Donna, looking particularly troubled. Her eyes seemed to hold a deep sadness, and I found myself wondering what was wrong. My curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to investigate further.
Later that afternoon, I snuck into the empty courtroom, hoping to catch her alone. To my surprise, she was sitting at the bench, her head in her hands. I approached her quietly, not wanting to startle her. "Is everything alright, Your Honor?" I asked softly.
She looked up, her eyes locking onto mine with a mix of surprise and gratitude. "Such courage," she murmured, a small smile playing on her lips. "Do I know you?" I swallowed hard, feeling a bit out of my depth. "I'm Daven, the gatekeeper. I noticed you seemed troubled earlier, and I just wanted to check in."
Her smile grew warmer, and she nodded. "I appreciate your concern, Daven. Thank you." With a gentle nod, she dismissed me, sending me back to my post with a sense of satisfaction.
As I returned to my gatekeeper duties, I couldn't help but feel a sense of connection with the judge. Maybe it was the way she smiled at me, or the way she seemed to appreciate my concern. Whatever it was, I felt drawn to her, and I couldn't wait to see her again.
As Miss Donna reviewed the evidence, her eyes narrowed, scrutinizing every detail. "Mr. Rogers, do you have anything to say in your defense before I proceed?" she asked, her voice firm but measured.
Mr. Rogers stood up, his eyes scanning the crowded courtroom before bowing respectfully to the judge and the audience. His voice cracked with emotion as he began to speak. "Your Honor, I swear on my life that I am innocent. I had nothing to do with the CEO's murder." He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing.
"I remember that night vividly. I went out to buy baby food for my wife. The next thing I knew, someone placed a handkerchief over my nose, and everything went black. When I came to, I was disoriented and found myself holding a gun, with the CEO's lifeless body lying in front of me. I immediately called the police, but they arrested me for murder instead of listening to my story."
He took a deep breath, his eyes pleading with the judge. "There's one thing that might help clear my name, Your Honor. The person who attacked me had a distinctive tattoo on their hand, a crocodile. I remember it clearly. I don't know what happened after I was knocked out, but I'm telling the truth. Please, believe me."
The courtroom fell silent, with all eyes on Mr. Rogers. Miss Donna's gaze lingered on him, her expression thoughtful. She nodded slowly, making a note on her pad. "We'll take your statement into consideration, Mr. Rogers. The prosecution may proceed with their case."