I had commended him from the bench.
Now his eyes moved across my face.
Recognition arrived slowly.
Then all at once.
His hand dropped from his belt.
His skin lost color.
“Judge Carter?”
Margaret stopped crying.
Ruiz stared at me.
“Judge Olivia Carter?”
He removed his cap.
The officers behind him exchanged confused glances.
I wiped blood from my lip with the back of my hand.
“Yes, Chief.”
Ruiz turned sharply.