“Yeah. It’s a shame you’re just a Beta.”I fought to hide my excitement and shot back sarcastically, “Planning to tell me to take another injection today too?”“There was too much other scent on that day.”Nathaniel answered readily, then suddenly leaned toward me. Before I could pull away, he pressed his nose to the nape of my neck and inhaled once, then let out a soft laugh.“This one’s okay.”He looked into my eyes from inches away and whispered, “Next time, pierce the throat.”I glared at him and retorted, “If I’d had the strength, I would’ve done just that.”Nathaniel simply laughed.“Well then, see you again, Prosecutor Chrissy Jin.”His smooth voice offered a polite farewell as he turned away. In just a few steps he reached the door and it opened quietly with a soft click.Click.Despite hearing the door, it took me a moment to realize I was alone. Slowly my head turned, and my mind began to clear.My cigarette.That was the first thing that came to mind. I’d had my cigarettes taken before, but never had one stolen. I let out a bitter laugh. Worse still, the only thing I still sensed around me was his sweet scent. Just how much pheromone had he released to leave such a lingering aroma? I staggered to the window and managed to open it. A cool breeze brushed my cheek, but it took a moment before I could even smell the city’s smog. Once my sense of smell returned somewhat, I lifted my arm and sniffed myself all over. No matter what I did, his scent clung to me. Late in my frustration I snapped.“What’s okay about it? Crazy bastard.”Left alone, I let out the curse, then slumped back and absently swept my hair off my face.Dogfight1 |Judge Regan’s chambers /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ were at the end of the corridor. To set the trial date, I’d finished lunch early at the appointed time, running through in my head what the defense might offer.What would their argument boil down to?Right now, barring insanity, they didn’t have much. They’d have to seek a psychological evaluation, find someone who’d sign off on a diagnosis for the right price—some shameless hack who’d falsify results for cash.Then they’d need someone to testify in contradiction, and we’d commission our own evaluation.I knocked and opened the door. Judge Regan sat with his magnifiers resting on the bridge of his nose, frowning as he read.“Good afternoon.”He glanced up at my voice and nodded.“Oh, come in. Has it turned that time already?”I smiled toward the wall and replied, “I came a bit early. It seems the defense counsel hasn’t arrived yet.”“Hm, I see.”It was still five minutes before the hour. I pulled out a chair and sat down, then asked, “What were you reading?”“Hmm? Ah…”He set aside the paperwork instead of answering—it was the court documents for the Davis case.“Are you hurt?”Judge Regan noticed the bandages on my hand and looked up at me in surprise. I forced a smile and covered my hand.“Yes… I had a little accident.”“My word.”He clicked his tongue in sympathy, so I steered the conversation back. “Have you heard what the defense is going to say?”Judge Regan rubbed his eyes behind the magnifiers, looking weary. “You’ll hear it in person. They should be here soon.”At that moment, footsteps clicked along the corridor, as if on cue. I checked my watch—two minutes early.…Huh?I froze. The steps sounded…off.Click.Mixed with the tapping was the sound of something striking the floor, as if a cane were striking in rhythm.Tap… click.I found myself turning toward the door, my pulse quickening the closer the sound came. At last the footsteps halted outside and the clock on the wall struck two o’clock precisely.Knock, knock.A light knock followed without a beat’s hesitation. A few moments later the door opened. I held my breath, then exhaled slowly, expecting that sweet scent—but none came. First, the cane tapped the threshold, then he stepped inside.“Judge Regan.”Nathaniel greeted the judge with a polite nod before shifting his gaze to me.“Prosecutor Chrissy Jin.”Caught off guard by our unexpected reunion, I said nothing and simply stared. Judge Regan looked between us in surprise. “Your leg—what happened? Are you all right?”Watching my awkward gait and the cane in alternation, he asked. Nathaniel glanced at me with a half-smile.“A cat scratched me.”Judge Regan cocked his head in confusion, and I could only grimace. Nathaniel unhesitatingly propped himself on the cane and walked over to the empty chair beside me, then let out a short exhale. The judge, clearly bemused, said, “I had no idea you kept a cat.”“Wild cat,” Nathaniel replied, faint smile playing at his lips. “I’m thinking of catching it and taming it.”I recalled his words from a few hours ago.—Next time, pierce the throat.Surely that ‘next time’ referred to right now. But regrettably, there was a witness. I clenched my teeth as I watched Judge Regan blink at me.Why on earth had this man come here?Curiously, Judge Regan spoke up as though reading my mind. “Will you be representing yourself?”“Yes. I’ve completed all the procedures.”Nathaniel answered simply, then glanced at the calendar. “Let’s get started.”As if he had no further explanation to offer, Judge Regan flipped through the calendar with a reluctant expression. “All right—what date would you like for the trial?”I braced to object—surely he’d push to delay it as long as possible, and I’d protest any excuse he gave. But my expectations were spectacularly off.“I’d like the first hearing to be this month.”I found myself looking at Nathaniel, but he merely stared back at the judge. Judge Regan, equally stunned, blinked. “Today’s the 24th, and that leaves less than a week—so soon?”“Yes.”In his deliberately slow drawl, Nathaniel continued—sounding as if he’d grown tired of this whole affair. “Under the Sixth Amendment, my client has the right to a speedy trial. I think it’s a legitimate request.”

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