Page 134 of The Fire We Make

Joy nodded, her shoulders dropping a bit.

“It’s all you baby,” he whispered. “I laid it up for you, all you have to do is dunk that bitch.”

Joy looked up at him, folder in hand. “Whatever that means,” she whispered back before straightening, flipping her hair over her shoulder and strutting through the open doors of the courtroom with the confidence of a seasoned vet.

Ace followed behind her with a grin.

The courtroom was quieter than Joy expected, even for a pre-trial hearing.

The jury box was empty and so was the spectators box with the exception of a few reporters taking notes on the proceedings.

There was no excitement or fanfare. To everyone else, this was simply a routine pre-trial hearing. Only she and Ace knew just how exciting things would be getting soon.

She sat at the defense table, fingers laced on top of the wood.

Across the aisle, DA Young shuffled papers that wouldn’t do him any good.

Joy was shocked to find out that he was trying this case himself. It made her believe this was about more than a little stash house in Manhattan.

“Counselors,” the judge called, peering over his glasses. “Are we ready to proceed?”

Ace inclined his head. “Yes, Your Honor.”

Young stood and cleared his throat.“We are prepared to move forward, pending⁠—”

“Your Honor,” Joy cut in smoothly, her voice calm but carrying. “Before we proceed, the defense would like to address a matter that directly impacts the integrity of this case.”

The room stilled.

Judge Ingals leaned back slightly. “Go ahead, Ms. Thibodeaux.”

Joy stood, taking one final glance at Ace who gave her a reassuring nod.

“At the time of filing, Detective Harris was the lead investigator. He oversaw evidence collection, conducted interviews, and established the narrative the prosecution now seeks to present to this court.”

She turned slightly, gesturing—not at the prosecution—but at the empty seat.

“However,” she continued, “Detective Harris has been removed from investigations of this case and is no longer available to testify.”

DA Young shifted. “Your Honor, the detective’s absence is temporary and⁠—”

“Temporary?” Joy echoed, turning her gaze on him.

“He has been missing for over a week,” she said. “And prior to his disappearance, he had been called in for an internal investigation regarding misconduct tied directly to this case.”

A heavy silence settled over them.

Judge Ingals’s expression sharpened. “What misconduct?”

Joy reached for the file in front of her, flipping it open with practiced ease.

“Tampering with evidence,” she said plainly. “Improper chain of custody. Fabrication of key details used to justify the initial charges. And manufacturing falsified evidence to obtain a warrant for the raid from this very court.”

One by one, the words landed like stones.

Joy slipped each one into the DA's pocket hoping to drown him along with this case.

She let them sit before continuing.