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"You’re at ," he said "Where are you?"

Royce rolled out of bed when she gave hi on?"

She headed to the closet "He’s going to tell me to plea"

"Did he say that?"

She yanked a pink t-shirt fro to feel like hers, clinging to that little piece of goodness in the midst of a whole lot of hell

By the time Lauren had dressed in jeans and pulled on boots, Royce was leading Milton to his living roo, and dressed in his standard black suit and red tie, was crackling with anger "I’ the trial date postponed a week Plead the case"

She crossed her arms in front of her "Milton…"

"The Mayor wants the case done I want this case done I only let you ride this out because the victim’s family took it to the news"

"Not because the woman murdered her husband," Lauren said "Of course not"

"The public, and the jury, will be syet a building full of people killed and I did nothing to stop it"

Lauren took that like a punch in the gut "If we plead it out now, you’ll look weak and we’ll invite other attacks You’ll risk your office falling apart, and on an election year to boot"

He considered her a longto ith, a piece of this puzzle that justifies the deal asn’t happening Then you plead the da and do it by Monday" He headed for the door and stopped and turned "And I’ to let the media know that there is new evidence, and plead talks are in the works So you daood follow up story to justify this I’ after hi even when the door slammed shut Royce pulled her into his arms "Baby"

She pushed away from him "No Don’t You want this too Everyone wants this I don’t knohy I fight like this I don’t knohy I think that what is right o call Mark"

He looked like heback "Just remember his reasons aren’t ht "I know I do I don’t mean to lash out at you I’ anymore But I know I can’t keep this up I can’t leave Julie in a hotel I can’t put other people at risk It just feels like this was all for nothing"

"I’m here when you need me"