Elsa glowered at her phone. She didn't want to have to do this. It was stupid. She hadn't done anything wrong, so why the hell should she be the one apologizing? Because you need her help with something, not the other way around. She glared all the harder at the phone, but the task continued to not do itself.

She groaned and took a sip of her coffee. "Fine." As she pressed the call button, she leaned back in her chair, pushing off of her desk until she was at the window. Cars drove by thirty-some stories below her as the phone rang. She could afford throwing the phone out the window to avoid this conversation, and it was very tempting.

On the fifth ring, Anya finally answered. "Elsa?" she asked, her voice already showing irritation. I have the best friends.

"Hi." Just say 'I'm sorry.' You don't have to mean it.

"Was there something you wanted or are we just exchanging pleasantries?" The terse tone made the window option all the more tempting.

"I'm sorry," she grumbled.

A bemused chuckle sounded from the other end of the phone. "Well that is a surprise. Elsa Agnarrsen actually admitting her mistakes for once?"

She always was a sore winner. I still think it's a terrible idea for Belle to be working for her and I am genuinely terrified that it's going to hurt both of them, but fine, maybe I hadn't earned the right to criticize after how I'd been treating her. "I shouldn't have said anything. It was between the two of you, and I was wrong." Elsa was impressed with herself for how sincere she was managing to sound. She hadn't even written cue cards.

"All right. You're forgiven. I was probably overreacting a little too. Wanna grab lunch?"

Elsa glanced at the time. It was almost 10:30. "Yeah, I could eat."

"Oaken's?"

I'm trying to show that I've changed. I might as well add to it. "No, let's go someplace different. Want to get some bagels? Maybe a slice of pizza?" I can't even recall the last time I had a bagel. I am the worst New Yorker.

Anastasia took a moment to reply. "I'm sorry, did Elsa 'I eat Oaken's ever single day for brunch' Agnarrsen just say we should go someplace else?"

"I just call it lunch. The six am coffee is breakfast." And the eight o'clock one. Sometimes the 10 o'clock one if it isn't at Oaken's.

"Sure. There's a good bagel place by my office. I'll text you the address. Meet me there?"

Is it too late to change my answer? I'm not sure if I can go through my day without a chocolate croissant. She mused on that for a moment. That may be why Tiana thinks I need to watch my diet. "Yeah, sure, I'll see you there."

Fifteen minutes later, she arrived at Gothel's and miraculously found parking. Ignoring the construction crew outside, she made her way inside and found Anya waiting for her. "Morning, Elsa."

All right. I admit it. I have missed her. "Morning, Anya." They gave each other a quick hug before Elsa ordered a sesame bagel with some schmear and joined her friend at her table. "So, how is everything?"

"Oh, so Belle didn't tell you?" The corner of her mouth curled up in a slight smirk, emphasizing the dollop of cream cheese stuck there.

Elsa giggled and offered her a napkin. She may have felt a bit more called out if she could take Anastasia a tad more seriously with food on her face. "She did. I'd still like to hear it from you."

The smirk became a genuine smile. Anya loved talking about her work. It was a great way to get her defenses down, so that Elsa could extract the information she needed. Now I just need to figure out how to bring it up without her realizing that it's the only reason I apologized. Great. I'm gonna have to be vulnerable again, aren't I? "Business is really picking up. I won a few cases that earned me a bit of a reputation, and Dimitri had a pretty impressive case of his own." Anya's grin was infectious. It was hard not to be happy for her, she really was managing to make it work. "Did you hear about my recent suit where we actually managed to get the city of New York to pay for a wrongful death? Half a million. The other case was a good three hundred grand, and Dimitri's malpractice suit was a little higher. Before too long we might just join you in the big leagues."

Elsa managed to avoid laughing. "I thought you didn't want that. You wanted a nice peaceful private practice." Not that the two of you could compete with us.

She shrugged. "I suppose you're right. It would still be nice to see Gaston have to actually treat me as an equal for once."

He's not that bad. Oh God, what am I thinking? "Still, I'm happy for you. Hell, you're having better luck than I am. I actually lost a case recently. It," she paused, she really didn't want to talk about it again. "It was an old client of mine and things went really badly. I had no case, and yet I still managed to get an amazing plea deal, but he refused. Now that stupid fucking son of a bitch is gonna be in prison for the next twenty-five years. I didn't take it well." There, I'm vulnerable. Now tell me stuff.

"Oh." She swallowed, her eyes softening as she studied Elsa. "The case Belle mentioned?" Aww, was she checking up on me? "I'm sorry, Elsa. You never did handle losing all that well, and it sounded like this client actually meant a lot to you."

Elsa took a bite of her bagel. It was actually pretty good. Really good, even by New York standards. "You come here a lot? This bagel is fantastic."

"I do. I bring in buckets for the office. Now talk to me about the case."

Elsa shrugged and bit a large chunk out of her bagel. It practically melted in her mouth. "There's not much to say. I cared about the kid. He was an idiot, and I shouldn't have, I knew this was exactly what was going to happen to him, but he'd been my client since his first DUI back when he was sixteen. I'd gotten used to him, and now he's not around anymore." Elsa blinked away a stubborn tear. She didn't shed any more, but she hated how emotional she got about this fucker. "Forget about it, okay? It's over, I'm fine. I have a new case now. With Gaston." She added as much ire to her voice as she could manage, channeling her hate for actually being friends with him now that her hate for him as a person has largely vanished. I care about the worst people.

Anastasia laughed but it turned into a wolfish grin. She was enjoying Elsa's pain a little too much. "Wow. You have to try a case with that asshole?" Hey, that's my nickname for him, get your own. "I feel bad for you. He putting the training wheels back on, or just bored of being stuck up in his ivory tower?"

I can't believe I want to come to his defense. Oh well, let him rot. He's the one that told me to do this. "I think he's trying to make himself look good. A New York law firm can hardly have one of their name partners known as a bigoted asshole. He second chairs a case with an out lesbian, then he doesn't look so bad. It just means there's gonna be attention on us, and I need to make sure we look good. God knows he's not going to do anything himself."

"Of course not. Why do anything when he can have an associate – or a less senior partner do it for him. Christ, he really hasn't changed a bit, has he? We have to work ten times as hard for half the respect, and he barely even wants to give us that."

Elsa sighed. "Yeah. It's a damn boy's club, and they like to make sure we remember it. Unfortunately, it means with all the name partner's watching, I better kick some serious ass. Otherwise my name is never going to be up there."

"You sure you really want it next to his?"

"Of course." Elsa bared her teeth, matching her friend's fiendish expression. "Just think about how much it would piss him off."

Anya clapped her hands together and covered her mouth as she laughed, barely able to contain herself. "Okay, yeah, I'm in. You need to be name partner. What's the case? Anything fun?"

"Murder case. I can't say a lot right now, it's in the news and we just got the case." She paused as she studied Anya, appearing as if an idea was coming to her. "You know, you might actually be able to help. If you're willing."

She leaned in conspiratorially, tilting her head so her ear was closer to Elsa. "What do you need me to do?"

"You know the judge. Vlad?"

Her eyes widened as she leaned back in her seat. "You're trying a case with Vlad? Why? He doesn't even work in this district."

"Oh." She creased her brow, staring at Anya. Would this info even still be good? "He didn't tell you? This is the first case in his bracket since he's moved to Manhattan. Sorry."

She shrugged, trying not to sound hurt. "I hadn't talked to him in a couple weeks. He did say he'd put in again, I guess he got approved. I can't believe he didn't call me." She glanced at her phone.

"I'm sure he will. Anyway, Gaston wanted the case, since it had all that media attention, and who's going to turn down two of the best lawyers in New York? Well, one of the best and a big named showboat."

Anastasia managed to collect herself in time to retort "That's not fair to you, Elsa, you're hardly a showboat." She giggled playfully as Elsa rolled her eyes. "Oh, you meant Gaston. Yeah, he deserves that. So, Vlad, huh? He had seemed to actually be pretty glad that he wasn't in town anymore. He always wanted to want to move here, but it just meant he doesn't have to recuse himself anytime Dimitri or I'd have a case with him. No wonder he didn't tell me. He's probably worried I'm going to chew him out for it." Can't imagine what that'd be like. "Yeah, I think I can help you win."

Elsa placed her hands together and looked as desperate as she could. "Please. Anything you can think of that'll help. I'm not losing another case right now."

She nodded. "Of course, Elsa. Well for starters, don't be rude. Don't play your games, trying to irritate the opposing counsel, he doesn't tolerate any of that stuff. Who's the prosecution?"

"Facilier."

She took a sip of her coffee, but not before Elsa had seen the frightened look she'd given. "I've gone up against him before. The guy has a way with juries. With any luck, Vlad will reign him in some. Shit, Elsa, he is not someone I'd want to go up against if I'm less than 100%. Hell, even then I'd rather not. You're still pretty beat up about that case, are you sure you're ready for this?"

Elsa gave a derisive laugh. "It probably won't be for another month. I'll be more than ready. I'm gonna kick his ass."

Anya gave her a half-smile in encouragement. "Of course you will." The smile faltered and she bit her lip. "Just be careful. I'm amazed he hasn't been disbarred with some of the shit he pulls, let alone that he actually made DA. The only reason he quit his old firm is because they were about ready to fire him." She shook her head. "I don't know how to beat him. He won the only case I've ever had against him, and I'm better than you, so clearly you don't stand a chance."

"I beat you last time, remember?"

Rolling her eyes, Anya spat back "It was a fluke. Give me an actually even case against you, and I'll wipe the floor with you."

"The case was even, you're just not good enough. It's why I'm gonna be the one to beat Facilier."

"Care to put some money on that?"

I piss off Anya way too often to give her something she could disbar me over. "I'm good. So, what can I exploit with Vlad that'll help me here? I know you know more than you've said."

Taking her time, she finished off her bagel and took another sip of her coffee. "He tries to seem unbiased, even more than most judges, but he's a sentimental sap. When I was clerking for him, I saw him completely ignore a bunch of valid objections from a prosecutor just because he had been vilifying the defendant. It's literally his job, but Vlad didn't like the way he did it. If anyone can get someone to make an ass of themselves it's you, and if anyone can piss him off, it's Facilier, you may have lucked out. He's also generally pretty willing to overturn limits, and other rules that would restrain his authority as a judge. If it messes with his ability to run a trial, he'll ignore it, and that includes you. And Gaston. So don't talk over him, don't try to do anything without his say-so, treat him with absolute respect."

"I know how to handle a judge."

"Well he's the judgiest judge. He's got the ego, the pompous sense of nobility, and the desire to actually be a fair and impartial juror, giving every underdog their fair trial. He's gonna love the three of you."

"At least it's two big names against another one? I mean if I was crushing Pan in front of him that'd be a bit of an issue." Or him crushing me again.

"I suppose. Just be careful, Elsa. You're awfully good at pissing people off, and there's two people in there that you don't want to make an enemy of."

"I'll be fine. I just wanted to know what to expect." My last judge seemed to actively be favoring me and I still lost. How am I going to fair with one that won't let me run the courtroom? "I've got nothing to worry about."

With Gaston now up to date on their judge, the two of them walked into the Multnomah County Jail, ready to meet their client and begin preparing his defense. "You're gonna love him," Gaston explained. "He'll testify great. Real likable kid."

After an extensive check in, passing through security, a quick search, and Elsa being glad that she wore her hair down, the two of them were seated in plastic chairs at a scratched and mottled metal table across from their client. "Hi, Eric," Elsa began, her voice high and welcoming, trying to lull their client into a trusting passivity so he'd do whatever they said. She'd honed the tone over a lifetime in law, and it made people trust her as surely as if she was drugging them. Granted, they didn't have much choice by that point, they'd hired her. "My name's Ms. Agnarrsen, you've already met Mr. Gaston. I'd like you to tell me your story.

Eric Clements nervously ran a hand through his short black hair. He looked uncomfortable in the prison uniform he'd been given, more like it was too itchy for him than that he didn't belong. They'd taken his old clothes, the bloody Armani suit he'd been seen in on Television the previous Wednesday, to the lab for testing. Perhaps he just needed a higher quality uniform, maybe federal prison would suit him better. "Ms. Agnarrsen," he repeated, sounding distant. "I already told Mr. Gaston everything." He looked vague, confused, it added to his general out of place appearance. He shouldn't be here. Well, after today he won't be.

"I know, but I need to hear it in your own words. There can't be any surprises."

He nodded, clearing his throat. His eyes finally focused on her and he seemed slightly more there. He looked her up and down as if he was finally seeing her for the first time. "Well I lucked out for my lawyer." The one good thing I can say about Kuzco as a client is he never tried to make a move on me. "Well, I'm sure you already heard everything on the news. I went over to my ex-girlfriend's place, I was just checking up on her, she'd been messaging me some really scary things and I thought she was going to hurt herself. When I got there, I thought I was right. She was lying on the ground in a pool of her own blood. I tried to resuscitate her, they taught the swim team CPR back when I was in high school, I was really rusty at it, but I thought I could save her." A bitter laugh echoed from his throat, sounding entirely foreign in the claustrophobic chamber. "Of course if I'd actually remembered my training, I'd know that CPR is the last thing you should do for someone who's been stabbed, it just sends the blood out of them."

Gaston turned to her and withdrew a piece of paper from his manila folder. "The autopsy showed evidence of chest compressions that would support his story, even broke one of her ribs." Facilier would likely try to spin that to make him sound violent, she'd have to remember to tell the jury that that's how CPR is supposed to work, maybe even bring in an expert on it. Of course, it still wouldn't change that he did the wrong thing, but being in shock would certainly explain that, and it wouldn't make sense for the killer to have done it.

"And that's how you got so much blood on you?" The footage of him, covered in her blood, being paraded into the police car had been running on the news every hour for the last five days. I knew we should've requested a change of venue. Not that anyone anywhere in New York didn't see it. Spoiled rich boy murders pretty white girlfriend, it's the stuff reporters have wet dreams about. Anya actually said those exact words when she got a similar case when we were associates. Great, now I'm quoting her. Elsa was feeling more cynical than usual, which was saying something. Whether that was part of her general depression over her last case, or if it was from somewhere else wasn't clear to her.

He nodded. "It kind of sprayed on me when I did it. I hadn't even noticed the wound. I knew the blood had to have come from somewhere. I don't know how I didn't see it."

She looked back to Gaston. "Have they found the murder weapon?"

He shook his head. "Nope, nada. It's been almost a week, I'm really doubting it'll surface."

She wanted to ask if he'd disposed of it, but she was pretty sure he knew better. "Is there anything else we should know, Mr. Clements? Anything you don't tell us now will just mean that we won't be prepared for it in trial, and it could sink your case. We're your lawyers, it doesn't matter how bad it makes you sound, you need to tell us." I don't know why they always think it's a good idea to lie to their lawyer. Another thing Kuzco was weirdly good about, he was too dumb to lie. She stared into his eyes, the warmth that she had originally greeted him with vanished and her cold gaze bored into him. This case is too big for me to leave anything to chance.

Squinting at her, he tilted his head slightly. "What do you think I haven't said? We broke up, and it was a pretty bad break, I assume that's why the police immediately suspected me, but we'd been starting to be friends again. I was worried about her, so I checked up on her. Apparently I was right to worry. I don't know who would do that to Ariel, she wouldn't hurt a soul." He choked back a sob, tears beading in the corner of his eyes. "Who would do that to her? There was so much blood! It was horrible."

I wish he'd cried like that on the news. "All right, thank you."

"Are you gonna be able to get me out?" He sniffed, wiping at his eyes. "I can't stay in here. It's awful." He tugged at his uniform. It did look really itchy.

She felt a little guilty about her aquamarine silk dress. "I think so. You have strong roots in the community, no criminal record, you should be able to make bail."

He clasped her hand in his own. She recoiled slightly, you never want inmates touching you, for so very many reasons, not the least of which being how hard it is to fight back when they're already grabbing you. Dozens of horror stories she'd heard from other lawyers filled her mind. "Thank you, Elsa, thank you so much. I know you two will do right by me."

With a quick nod, she pulled her hand free and rung it gingerly with her other, making sure it was still whole. "Of course."

Gaston grinned. "See, what did I tell you, Elsie? This guy is a sure thing. We couldn't have found a better client if we set the case up ourselves."

She hoped Gaston would never stoop to that, even to cheer her up. "Well, as we didn't, we should probably still subpoena the DA's office for all of their files."

He shrugged. "I keep telling you, the jury doesn't care about facts." He pointed towards their client, who was still wiping a few stray tears from his face. "Just put this man up on the stand, and we'll be golden. Who'd convict this face?" He was very pretty, for a boy. Attractive rich straight white guys were by far the easiest clients, it's why they mostly represented them – and that they were the only people who could afford the services of Gaston, Philip, & de Ville.

"Did anything happen after you performed CPR? I'd certainly assume she didn't wake up and you then murdered her, but did you see anyone else? Any cars? Any masked figure running into the shadows?" Just need a complete picture, and anything I can nail the cops on for not pursuing.

Shaking his head, he replied "No. I just called the police and waited for them. I know you're not supposed to stop CPR until you're relieved, but she was kind of dead."

Elsa gave a polite chuckle. "Just don't phrase it like that in the courtroom. That's good though, the news neglected to mention that you were the one who called the police. Between the CPR and that, they'll have a tough time making it look like you're guilty."

He answered with a small smile.

"All right, Albert, let's get going. We should get back to the office and go over strategy before the arraignment."

"What strategy? It's an arraignment."

She rolled her eyes at him. "We'll see you in a couple hours, Eric." With that, she knocked on the door, and they were escorted out of the jail.

Back in her office, Elsa reclined in her over-sized leather office chair. You never notice how nice your office smells until you have to go to jail. That stench is overwhelming – metal, sweat, bodily fluids, and awful BO. It is, without a doubt, the worst part of this job.

Gaston threw open the door and plopped down into the less luxurious but still absurdly expensive chair across from her. "How'd you get here so quick? Traffic was a nightmare."

"That's why I always take the long way to the jail. It's quicker," she explained. We should've just carpooled. "You really trust this guy?" She didn't think he was a killer, but there was just something slimy about him that made her immediately dislike him and she worried the jury would do the same.

"Of course, what's not to trust?" Right. He's like Asshole.

Elsa sucked on her teeth. They should really have this conversation, she just really didn't want to. Fuck it. It was gonna happen sometime. "You know, there's a good reason I call you Asshole."

He blinked, blindsided by what to him seemed like a sudden change in topic. "Because I'm a dick and my name starts with 'A'?"

She actually hadn't thought about the fact that they'd both started with the same letter, Asshole just suited him. "Right, let's focus on the dick part." Wow, am I really the one lecturing someone on being a better person? Elsa Agnarrsen, what's happened to you?

"Please, you've never focused on a dick in your life."

"That. That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about. The way I got Anya to forgive me and give me the info on Vlad earlier was by bonding with her over how awful you are. You alienate everyone, especially women, and gay people, and black people, and just people in general."

"Both everyone and people in general?" Doubt was clear on his face. He thinks I overstated, but no, it's completely true.

"Albert, I'm serious. I know that you're a decent guy under it all, but you can't keep making people feel this way. I get that it's a defense mechanism, that you don't want to give anyone the chance to reject you, so you push them away before they have the chance to get to know you, that you hate yourself at least as much as you love yourself, and that being nice is just too much fucking effort. Of course I get it, I am you.If you ever tell anyone that I said that, I will strangle you with your flamboyant satin tie."

"You think my tie is flamboyant?"

That was so very not the point. "It's a skinny tie and it's bright orange, yeah, it's a little flamboyant."

"Oh. I thought it was cute."

She shrugged. "I guess it's kinda cute."

He considered this for a moment, resting his chin in his hand. "Loud colors just suit me."

That earned him a chuckle. "You are very loud."

He met her eyes. "I guess that's why I always felt like we could be friends, not the loud thing, you're rather quiet and you keep to yourself to a point that I was a little worried you were in witness protection, but I always saw myself in you. You didn't deserve what I put you through. I'm sorry."

Here I was thinking that I couldn't manage to get through that thick skull of his. "I've already forgiven you, I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. As loathe as I am to admit it, you're my friend. You are, however, also a name partner in this law firm, and you have to stop treating your employees like this."

"I guess the sensitivity training never really clicked."

"Clearly."

With a heavy sigh sighed, he leaned back in the chair, resting his ankle on his knee. "How would I do it?"

She had not thought that far ahead. Him listening to her in the first place had seemed an already impossible feat. "Throw a pizza party and tell everyone that you're a massive asshole but that you'll try to be better?"

He waved his hand. "Pizza's too overdone. Think Tiana would cater it?"

"Probably. If I ask her to."

He nodded and turned his gaze to the window behind her, looking out on the mid-afternoon city. "I'll do it."

That was easy. "All right. Do I have to come?" I'm not big on parties on the best days, an 'I'm sorry I'm a bigoted asshole' party seems especially unpleasant.

Gaston blew out a slow breath. It was clearly not what he wanted to hear. "That's what they'll all say too, isn't it?"

She had to concede that. "They might."

"Then how can I make it up to them?" His blue eyes lock on hers. In all the time she'd known him, all his years making her life hell, she'd never seen him look like that – defenseless, scared, pitiful. The small part of her that still resented him relished in it, but the better part of her ached at his pain.

"Just stop treating them like that. Anyone you really pissed off, people like Anya or me, you can apologize to, but just stop being so bad. If you start behaving like a human being, then they'll see. They might not forgive you, and they don't have to, but they might at least work a bit harder. I mean, no one really puts much effort into the assignments you give, 'cause you're a dick."

"Wow." He sat up, his eyes still focused on her. "We hire really good lawyers if that's them barely trying."

She tried to resist. This was serious. It started with the corners of her mouth turning up, barely even enough to notice, but it kept coming, until finally she laughed so hard tears came out of her eyes. Trying to hold it back only made the laughter come out that much harder. She was doubled over, clutching her stomach when he finally joined in. They both had to wipe a tear away, though she suspected his wasn't from his joke. "Just start encouraging people instead of," she paused, where to even start? "Everything you do."

"Thanks, Elsa."

She nodded.

"I think I was hoping a little that you'd have this talk with me eventually. I needed that kick. I know how much I've hurt people."

Elsa shrugged. "Hurting people is what we do. Hell, it's why I had to go apologize to Anastasia."

"I thought you said you didn't do anything wrong."

"I didn't. Unfortunately, I haven't earned the benefit of the doubt. I've been a shit friend to her for so long, I'm surprised she put up with it for as long as she did. She doesn't just assume that I'm looking out for her and Belle when I'm worried about them working together, she assumes that I'm disrespecting her. Because I'm an asshole." Shit, I'm becoming self-aware. Go back. I liked it better when I was just a heartless bitch with no friends.

She wasn't sure when Gaston had stood up, but he rested his hand on her shoulder. "Well you've been a pretty great friend to me, when I sure as hell didn't deserve it."

She sneered. Being nice hurts. "I can say the same for you."

"Hug?"

"Don't push your luck."

He checked his Rolex. "Arraignment is in half an hour. We should get going."

"Carpool?"

"Sure, I can show you my new Mustang."

"I just need to get you a chauffeur's hat and it'll be perfect." She followed him out and they made good time on their way to the Manhattan County Courthouse.

"Okay, you're right, this way is quicker," he admitted, as they drove by a spot where they could see the throng of car stuck in traffic.

"Other than having to see a few drug deals on the way, it's by far the best route. Plus, you can give them your card, they're potential clients."

He chuckled and slammed on the brakes. That was the other downside of taking back roads. A truck was setting up for a delivery and they had to weave around it through the narrow passage. Fortunately Gaston managed without so much as a ding on the pristine vehicle.

They arrived with time to spare and soon found themselves in Courtroom 3A with Eric escorted out to them in a grey Brooks Brothers suit. He looked far more presentable than he had in the cell, and far less nervous now that he wasn't picking at his uniform. She wasn't sure that looking comfortable in the defendant's seat would help their case, but it would likely help his testimony.

Elsa rose before the judge had a chance to start. "Elsa Agnarrsen for the defense, your honor. We'll waive reading."

A skeletally thin man stood up at the prosecution's table. "Ardoin Facilier, for the city of New York. Now come on, Ms. Agnarrsen, you're taking all the fun out of this. I've never gotten to hear them read what I'm charging someone with before."

Is every other lawyer in this town French? "You'll just have to wait until your next case then, Mr. Facilier. I have no intention of making this fun for you."

His teeth showed in what must have been a smile. "Well I intend to make this as fun as possible. I mean all these cameras," he gestured toward the news crews in the audience, "I intend to provide them with all the drama they so seek. Hi, Mom." He waved, his grin growing even toothier as he stared right into the camera. "Let's make a show of this, Ms. Agnarrsen. Can you do that for me?"

The gavel banged. Everyone turned to Judge Vasilovich. "I will not have you make a mockery of my courtroom." The words were slow, deliberate, and commanding. "Mr. Facilier, your reputation proceeds you, and you exceed it. If you keep up the showboating, I will hold you in contempt."

"Your handcuffs or mine?" His lips curled, his eyes narrowing as he stared up at Vlad's imposing figure.

"One more word from you without my asking you first and you'll spend the night in a jail cell. Ms. Agnarrsen, I assume you wanted to ask for bail?"

Control was hers again. Facilier was going to be an interesting opponent, but he certainly didn't seem as imposing as both Anya and Albert had made him sound. This only made her more worried. "Yes, your honor. My client has strong ties to the community, he's in college in town, he has classes to go to, and he has no criminal record."

He turned to Facilier. "You can speak."

"I have no objections. You can even release him on his own recognizance if you'd like. See, Elsa? I can play nice."

"You will address me and you will keep your answers relevant, Mr. Facilier," the judge bellowed.

Facilier smiled and inclined his head.

"Bail is set for one hundred thousand. Trial is set for February twenty-fifth."

That's Olaf's birthday. Well, at least I'll remember the date. Eric's father would have no issue making bail, and they were all free to go. She had a month to find out exactly what made Facilier so formidable and figure out how to crush him. She wasn't going to lose again.