Pretty Dangerous Read Free Page B

up.
    MiMi stood as well. She wore a smile, but
whispered out of the side of her mouth. “I don’t want to get caught
in some kind of gang war, Luz. I mean just because I was making
conversation? I didn’t even bring up Diana’s past. She did!”
    Luz looped an arm through one of MiMi’s.
“Relax chica. You should be okay until your girlfriends get you
out.”
    “Lord, let that be real soon,” MiMi said. She
repeated that prayer for the rest of the night.
     
     
     

Chapter 2
     
     
    Two days later, MiMi entered the court room
making her best effort to look innocent. The judge maintained a
bland expression when her case was finally called. She wore the
dove gray skirt, a white blouse, and sensible pumps Willa and Jazz
had brought her. MiMi glanced down at herself. The plain clothes
would have to go later, but today she strove to fit the bland
outfit. The judge gave MiMi a critical stare as she walked in with
Officer Alvarez close behind. The woman nodded that MiMi could
proceed to the table. MiMi sat between her attorney and the court
appointed interpreter. She was doing fine, calmly listening to the
muted translation from the petite woman. Then Roderick came in.
    MiMi stopped listening and turned to her
attorney. “What’s he doing here?”
    “Your cases are linked.” Mr. Columba
replied.
    “Our cases are not ‘linked’. Roderick decided
to buy weed without consulting me,” MiMi said and huffed in
outrage.
    She felt a tap on her shoulder and looked
back. Willa frowned a warning from the front row. Jazz gave a
slight shake of her head and mouthed, “Keep cool.”
    Mr. Columba looked past MiMi at the
interpreter. He continued in Spanish. Apparently explaining in
detail exhausted his limited English language skills. He spoke
rapidly making discreet gestures toward the judge and then the
prosecutor. The woman nodded, let him finish, and then placed a
hand on MiMi’s left arm as if to urge restraint.
    “Mr. Columba says the judge wanted to save
time because you were arrested together. Señor Jefferson also
mentioned you several times in his statement,” the woman said with
a note of apology in her voice.
    “I’ll just bet he did, the slimy weasel,”
MiMi hissed.
    “We’re not sure yet what his lawyer will
say,” the interpreter continued. She paused as MiMi’s attorney
broke in with a few more sentences. “Mr. Columba says it may not be
a bad sign. Hold your patience.”
    “You’re definitely channeling Willa,” MiMi
murmured.
    “Qué?” The interpreter blinked at her in
puzzlement.
    “Never mind.” MiMi decided not to look at
Roderick again. Her “patience” would be tested enough being in the
same space with him.
    For the next forty minutes, a lot of legal
housekeeping went on interminably. The lawyers and others
apparently found it all quite routine. The judge even left a few
times. Papers got shuffled as the court reporter and others went
through whatever procedures they needed to complete. MiMi scowled
when Roderick’s attorney got to go first. She listened as the
interpreter recounted his version of the events, which included
MiMi wanting to party as much as he did. In this case implying she
wanted to buy weed, too. She twisted her hands together tightly,
wishing Roderick’s lying neck was between them. Finally the
interpreter stopped. MiMi’s hearted pounded.
    “What’s happening? Is he blaming me?” she
whispered.
    The woman shushed her, and when the judge
paused, she and the lawyer nodded to one another before she spoke.
“Mr. Jefferson had less than two ounces, so he will pay a fine and
must leave the country. He admitted that you didn’t go with him to
buy the weed, and the police can’t find the dealer.”
    “Hallelujah,” MiMi burst out.
    The judge squinted at her as his words came
out in rapid fire, all in Spanish of course. He banged his gavel to
punctuate his displeasure.
    “Lo siento mucho, tu honor,” MiMi said
promptly. She’d practiced that phrase with