Destination D Read Free Page B

water to trickle down the sides of her mouth.
    Perspiration slid from her forehead, landing on her cheeks, and down her neck to her silk blouse. Allison removed her suit jacket, unaware that her undergarments could be seen through her soaked blouse.
    Pam had carefully observed the scene unfolding before her. Her intimidating gaze distracted Allison so much that she forgot her opening arguments altogether.
    Judge Hampton frowned. “Ms. Hughes, are you all right?”
    â€œI'm sorry, but I'm just really warm…”
    â€œCourt will be in recess for five minutes. Ms. Hughes, I want to see you in my chambers.”
    Allison's body language was that of a clumsy moth that had accidentally flown too close to a spider's web. She'd attempted to catch a glimpse of her client's eye to reassure him that she was still in control, but Pam could tell that it was too late. She had already lost his confidence and it was evidenced by the defeated looked on his face.
    This was the grand and final strategy, number three. Pam's plan was working better than she had expected. It was obvious that Allison was incapable of trying this case. Furthermore, Pam knew that it would take a while to get the case reassigned to another attorney, and this would give her even more time to plan a new strategy. Pam looked at her client again, and gave another assuring wink while Allison's client sat looming in regret and fear.
    Although Pam stood only 5 feet 4 inches tall, in the courtroom, she was a titan with fifty-four trials under her belt. She had never lost a case and that one appeared to be no exception.

Rough Air
    D ee climbed into the hotel van and said, “I'm really getting a bad feeling about this trip.”
    â€œDee, you've been getting some bad vibes for a while now,” Birdie answered back.
    â€œYeah,” Jodie chimed in. “Maybe you need to take some time off.”
    Birdie turned and nodded at Jodie. “You may be suffering from burnout. And we all know how that goes.”
    â€œSure do,” Jodie laughed. “Whenever I feel a case of burnout firing up, I immediately take three days off, whether it's calling in sick or just moving a trip around so I can go lay on the beach for some simple R and R. I come back ready for my next trip and I'm good to go.”
    Oh, but I'm way past the burnout stage. Well, well past it, Dee thought. A faraway look appeared in her eyes as she watched the snow-capped mountains appear larger as they neared the airport. A tear slid down her face and she swiftly wiped it away, hoping no one could see her agony.
    Birdie looked over at Dee and noticed how unusually quiet she was. They had been flying trips together for the past two weeks; it seemed as if every time they headed back to the airport, Dee grew very solemn.
    â€œDee, are you all right?”
    No, I'm not all right. I'm tired of living out of a suitcase for three days. I'm tired of the dumb questions passengers seem to come up with all of the time, and most of all, I'm tired of this smelly uniform and having to be with all of you every week!
    Dee cleared her throat. “Yes, I'm fine,” The last thing she needed was to let them know what she was really thinking. Unless she wanted her business to hang out on the line, she couldn't tell another flight attendant how she was really feeling.
    â€œLook at those mountains!” the pilot shouted. “They're even beautiful in the dark. I think I'm coming back here next week to do some skiing.”
    â€œThat sounds like a great idea, Mike. Dee, are you back on this line again next week, too ?” Jodie asked. Dee stayed wrapped inside her own world and continued staring out of the window as Jodie tapped her on the shoulder.
    â€œHey, Dee, did you hear me?”
    â€œI'm sorry, what did you say?”
    â€œAre you on this trip again next week?”
    â€œUm…I don't know. I can't remember my schedule. I might have swapped it for a