Vigilant

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

Hope blinked a couple of times and turned to face the wall, blocking Ari out.

Ari sighed and sat on the bench that lined the wall. “Hope, you have a history of working the streets and this isn’t the first time you’ve gone missing for more than a couple of days.”

“I’ve been better, though! No tardies or absences!” Rare tears filled Hope’s eyes.

“Not recently, but your file is full of violations. Judge Hatcher may not let you come home this time. She thinks you’ll go back on the street.” Ari shook her head. “I hate to say it, but I agree. You need some time in here to think things over and figure out what you want to do with yourself.”

“I’m not lying!” Hope said.

Ari stood and picked up her bag. “I want to believe you, but you’ve lied to me before.”

Hope went over to the door and kicked it several times, the loud noise bouncing off the metal. “Take me out of here,” she yelled, furious that Ari didn’t believe her. The guard opened the door and grabbed Hope by the arm. She turned to Ari and said, “You just wait, Ms. Grant. They’ll find me in here and you’ll know the truth. This jail can’t stop them.”

The officer led her out of the room and shut the door behind them. Hope continued yelling as they walked away, her voice echoing against the walls. Ari, sat back on the bench and rested her face in her hands, feeling like a complete failure.

* * *

Self-defeat only lasted for a moment.

A knock on the outer metal door brought Ari out of her funk. She composed herself before the door opened, smoothing her hair and taking a deep breath. It was one thing around there to be a caring advocate, but another entirely to be seen as weak. Someone in these kids’ lives had to be strong and usually, that role ended up on Ari’s twenty-six-year-old shoulders.

Nick Sanders opened the door and gave Ari a grin. “You finished in here? Judge Hatcher requested you in her chambers. I just had an appointment with her and I offered to find you.”

“I’m finished.” She picked up her bag and walked toward the out-of-place attorney. Most people who came in and out of Juvenile Court had a tired, rough look about them. Not Nick. He had that all-American glow. Dark blond hair, bright blue eyes and perfectly perfect teeth. He was the knight in shining armor around there. “Any idea what this is about?”

“Not a clue,” he said. Nick worked as a public defender for the kids charged and up for trial. They had worked together on several cases over the last couple of months and had gone out once or twice with people from their combined offices. She liked having a friendly face at court buffering the angry parents and upset children.

“I hope it’s not about Hope’s case. I don’t even know what’s going on with her.”

“What happened?” he asked.“She told me some tale about being kidnapped and forced into prostitution. But when it was time, she wouldn’t get on the stand. Judge Hatcher had no choice but to send her back downstairs since she wouldn’t even defend herself.”

Nick placed his arm around her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You can only do so much. Hope has to take some responsibility.”

“I know that. Honestly, I think she’s lying and trying to make me feel guilty for not supporting her more. Somehow it’s working.”

They stopped outside the brown wooden door with the gold plate across the front that said, “Judge Hatcher.”

“You and I both know that more lies come through this place than truth. Half the time they can’t even help but make something up. It’s habit. All you did was follow procedure. You placed a warrant on her when she failed to go to school and work. Because of that, she was arrested. You’re here to advocate for her but it’s her job to speak up. It’s a hard lesson for these kids to learn.”

Nick offered Ari another smile and that time, she returned it. “You’re right. I’m just letting it get to me today.”

“It’s not a bad thing that you care for your clients, Ari,” he said. “But it’s the hard reality that they can’t always return the emotion. They’re kids. Damaged ones.”

“Stop being so wise, Mr. Sanders. You’re making me seem like a newbie or something.”

“Unlikely. We all know your hardcore. The kids are terrified of being placed on your caseload.”

“Yeah, right,” she laughed, but his accusation held more than a grain of truth. There wasn’t much she was afraid of, anymore.

He raised his hand to the door, but stopped, frowning down at her. “Oh hey, I heard about the robbery. Are you okay?”

Ari nodded. Although the robbery itself was public knowledge, having been covered by the Glory City local news that night, she still hadn’t told anyone about her encounter with the mystery guy other than her roommate, Oliver.

&nb