Judith (Queen's Birds of Prey 3)

It might be nice, she thought, to not have to listen to whiney brats all day. Not have to figure out if someone buying her product was really a nasty person or the cops. Either way, she was due for a little rest and relaxation time. Mostly, she thought, she’d be able to not have to put up with her brothers. Harland and George were the only family she had left. They also depended on her for every little thing they needed.

Harland was mentally challenged. That was the fancy term they’d put on him when he’d failed preschool all those years ago. Since their parents died, she’d been responsible for him. It was tough going at times, but he had his usefulness too. Like when he had to dig a hole. He’d dig to China if she didn’t go out and tell him to stop, it was deep enough.

George was plain stupid. He never got jokes. Even if you took the time to explain them to him, he would still stare at you as if you had three heads, for Christ’s sake. He didn’t care for fun. And worst of all, he hated to be dirty. He showered several times a day without fail. Also, his hands were raw because he would use hand sanitizer until it literally ate away at his skin.

When the bailiff came to tell everyone to stand, she didn’t on principle. No one stood up when she entered the room, and to her, it was a waste of time to get up and down like she was some sort of jack in the box.

The judge—Harmon, if she read the placard correctly—cocked a brow at her. She didn’t pay him any mind. This was going to be an all-day event anyway. Being as old as she was, getting up and down like he thought he deserved was hard on her old bones. Once again, she thought some jail time would be perfect right about now.

As soon as the doors were closed behind her, she didn’t bother waiting on someone to ask her to speak. Standing up, because she wanted to have his full attention, she cleared her throat when he asked her what she had to say.

“Plenty, as a matter of fact. But for now, I want to plead guilty.” He asked her if she knew what the charges were. “I haven’t any idea what sort of crap was concocted on my behalf. But I want to plead guilty to it. All of it, as a matter of fact.”

“I see. Do you have an attorney? It says here that you’ve refused the one assigned to you.” She didn’t point out how he’d asked a question he already had the answer to but told him she didn’t need one. “I see. So, I’m to assume you don’t care what the charges are against you. You’re just going to assume it’s nothing to get you into too much trouble and be done with it. I’m sorry to say, it’s not going to work like that with this trial. There are a great many people who are going to need to hear what you were doing out there under the guise of caring for children.”

“I’m assuming you mean the porn videos?” He didn’t even blink at her. “Yes, yes. I did those. I wasn’t getting enough money by being a nice person. That was what I had to do to care for those brats and my family. I did it. Move on.”

“Be that as it may, I’m going to tell you now, there will be a trial, as well as witnesses and the entire gamut of things that happen in a courtroom. It’s what I get paid to do.” He hit his gavel on the desk like that was supposed to be taken as fact. “Is there anything else, Ms. Holloway? As it stands right now, you’re already getting on my nerves. It’s only eight-thirty in the morning too.”

“I’m well aware of what the time is. Even though they took my watch from me, I know the time without a clock better than most. I’m not going to sit through a trial with you. I told you, I’m guilty. I just want to get on with the sentencing and be done with you. This is a total waste of my tax dollars.” She gave him her best “I’m not fucking around with you” stare, but he only laughed. “And what, pray, do you find so funny?”

“You. Especially if you think this display of temper or whatever it is you’re trying to convey to me by your look is going to get you anywhere. I’m married to a beautiful Irish woman who has the temper to match her fine red hair and freckles. If you think to even get close to what I’ve put up with over the last thirty some years, then you’re sadly mistaken.” He laughed a little more before continuing. “Now, have a seat, Ms. Holloway, before I have you removed to be shackled. I’ve suddenly decided that having you here for this entire trial might be the most fun I’ve had in some time. Sit down.”

She was sitting before she could think about it. He had used the mojo stuff on her, which meant he wasn’t a good Christian human, such as she was. What was this world coming to when every Tom, Dick, and Harry could simply take over the jobs of humans that needed it?

They droned on about all the things she’d done. It wasn’t as if anyone in this room didn’t know she’d been caught. Most of these idiots thought she was wrong for doing something to provide for her family. People needed to get their heads out of their asses and think about the things she’d had to give up while she’d been doing the job of keeping kids off the street.

You don’t honestly think you did the right thing in this, do you? She looked around for who was speaking to her. I’m in the room with you, Hanna, but I’m not close enough to speak to you directly. I do believe that sitting next to you would be dangerous—for you, not me. I’d strangle you where you sit and not have a single thought about it.

“Who is this?” Everyone stopped talking to look at her. “There is someone here speaking to me, and I want to know who it is.”

No one can hear me, but you. You’re only making a fool of yourself—or I should say, a bigger fool of yourself—by talking about me. She asked the person again who dared to speak to her. Dares? I suppose you would find it as a cut on your personality to have someone like me speaking to you. You don’t like shifters, do you?

“They’re an abomination to the world. Where are you? I want to know who this is.” He told her not to speak aloud, or she’d never find out what they had to say. “I’ll do as I want, you bastard. Where are you?”

As I said, here in the room with you. Go ahead and speak to me aloud. They’ll only think you’re insane and lock you up in an institution someplace. I, however, don’t think you’d enjoy that overly much. The people there, the criminally insane, would have it in their heads that you’re a monster. More so than they might be. People, shifters or not, they don’t take kindly to having children killed. Especially ones so young as a month. She thought of all the things she could say to him on that score. Ah, so you’ve thought about it, have you? Well, think of this. When they put you into a room with equal criminals such as yourself, they’ll latch onto you like you’re fresh meat—a new face. You won’t be able to get away from them. Then one night, when you’re trying your best to ignore them, the staff will turn their back on the room, and you’ll end up dead. Did I tell you how much people hate your sort of murderer?

Hanna had to think about how to answer without speaking when it occurred to her to just think her answers. I don’t care what they call me. I will not be put into an insane place either. I’m not crazy. He asked her why she thought she wasn’t. I’m as sane as anyone. I needed more money than they were paying me.

I don’t think they could have paid you nearly enough for you to have stopped what you were doing. You seemed to enjoy it too much, I’d say. She didn’t have to answer—she had enjoyed some aspects of the movie-making. Why was it necessary for you to kill them off when you were finished with them? Why not allow them to be adopted instead of killing them, then burying them in the back yard as you did?

Children have no concept of keeping their mouths shut. If they’d mentioned me at all and what we were doing, then I would have been caught decades ago. He told her it sounded as if she had enjoyed that as well. Killing them? I suppose I did in some way. They were forever wanting this or that. What did they expect me to do, shit a toy out for them? As it was then, I’d have to take all the gifts they were given and sell them off. Do you have any idea how much it costs daily to feed them? More than you make in a month, I’m betting.

I’m sure you thought so. But it’s doubtful you were spending all that much. I have heard what you were feeding them. Oats two meals out of three? Then peanut butter sandwiches the other meal? No meat except on Sundays? Hanna told him she was working on a budget. You mean a budget for the children. Just the night before you were arrested, you and your brothers had steaks along with large baked potatoes. That wasn’t just one of either. You and the other two ate like that every night of the week. What a shame you won’t get those sorts of meals while in prison.

She didn’t bother pointing out to him that she’d had to keep house daily. Make sure the kids had a bath, food, and some sort of learning craft. It took a lot out of her to do such things. Not to mention, fending off all the people who wanted to take her from her job. Keeping a home full of children from potential deadbeat parents was a full-time job.

Oh, and don’t forget the time it took you to make and sell your side job. I don’t know how you were able to live with yourself doing what you did. Again, there wasn’t any reason for her to answer him. He’d just make some sort of snide remark back to her. I’d never do that. I’m a nice person. It’s you that is the monster in all this.

This time she turned to find him. There was no doubt in her mind that she’d be able to pick him out. The man was going to pay for talking to her this way. When his laughter echoed through he

r mind, she glared harder at each man until they looked in her direction.

You won’t figure it out, I’m afraid. You’re assuming I’m a man when I’m not. I’m not human either. I can change myself into whatever creature and person I want to be. How about I give you a little hint? The laughter again. Look to your right, Hanna, and I’ll prove to you what I mean.

Looking to her right, she saw nothing. Then as she was looking again, just to be sure, she saw herself sitting in a chair at the back of the room. The little wave had her waving back. Hanna turned in her chair so quickly it tipped in a way she was sure she was going to hit the floor. However, with the tilting of it and her weight, the chair broke and splintered under her.

Getting herself upright proved to be more difficult than she thought it should have been. It wasn’t until she was standing up, holding onto the table for a moment, that she realized she’d been hurt. The blood running down her leg worried her. It was a steady stream that had her sick to her belly.