judge’s signature on one of the papers.
Laureen nodded as she sniffled again. “The public defenders told us he was pretty easygoing and that everything should work out since the boys were first offenders. They said it should never have come to this.”
“Making a statement for his public image maybe....” Sophia guessed. She didn’t realize she’d spoken aloud until she heard Laureen Bradford gasp.
“Oh, Miss Laur, I’m sorry.” Sophia eased an apologetic look toward her mother. Scooting to the edge of the rose-colored armchair she occupied, she reached over to pat the woman’s knee. “I’ll look into it and see what I can do,” she promised.
Laureen blinked, and her teary eyes began to sparkle with hope. “Thank you, baby.”
Sophia nodded again and then left her mother to console her friend.
“Baby girl!”
Sophia heard the familiar call within minutes of leaving the sunroom. Her father was on his way down the corridor toward her.
“How is it in there?” Gerald Hail asked, cocking his head toward the sunroom door.
Sophia cast a forlorn look toward the door, as well. “I don’t know what I can do, but I’m gonna try to help.”
Gerald nodded. “They’ll appreciate it. Your mother’s very worried.”
“I’m sorry I bothered you guys today.”
Squeezing his daughter’s upper arms, Gerald stood back on his long legs and regarded Sophia with a curious stare. “What’s up?” he probed.
“Daddy—”
“What?”
Sophia shifted her weight. “It’s probably not the best time to get into it now.”
“Now you have to tell me.” Gerald folded his arms over his broad chest, causing the jacket of his nylon warm-up suit to rustle. “You know I won’t let up till you tell me.”
Sophia bowed her head, inhaling her breath and courage. “They offered me the job as chief of detectives.”
Gerald let out a “Whoop!” that had his daughter jumping. Moments later, he’d pulled Sophia into a crushing hug and swung her in a semicircle.
“Are you serious?” Sophia couldn’t have hidden her disbelief had she tried.
“Are you?” Gerald countered, pushing back a mahogany curl that clung to Sophia’s cheek. “Do you know how much that job of yours worries us? Now we can rest easier.”
Sophia’s smile was curious. “What are you saying, Dad?”
“Well, hell, as chief you can put your lil’ butt behind a desk instead of out there in the street.”
“Daddy...” Sophia grimaced at her father’s declaration. “I’m still a cop, you know?”
“Sure you are.” Gerald gave Sophia’s chin a playful bump with his fist. “And now you’re a cop who doesn’t have to put her life on the line every day.”
Sophia’s phone picked that moment to vibrate. Gerald squeezed his daughter’s wrist when he saw the mobile’s faceplate glow.
“You get that and we’ll talk later.” Gerald kissed her forehead and then continued his trek down the long hall.
“Hail.” Sophia answered before the call was sent to voice mail. She hadn’t recognized the displayed number and was still rather dumbfounded when the man on the other end of the line began to speak.
“I’m sorry, Mr...?”
“Apologies, Detective.” The man chuckled. “I’m sure you’re running in so many crazy directions right now. Lem Chenowith here. I’ve just been hired as head of your style team. We’d like to schedule some time to meet and get acquainted. What works best with your schedule?”
“Uh...” Sophia was scratching the fine hair smattered along her temple. “Mr. uh—”
“Chenowith,” Lem promptly supplied.
“Mr. Chenowith. Style team?”
“At your service. Now, what’s a good time for us to drop by for a chat?” the man went on, with no thought that what he said was in any way out of the ordinary.
“Mr. Chenowith, I’m sorry but I think you have the wrong number. I—”
“Detective Hail, my team and I have been brought on board by the commissioner’s office. We’ve been hired to keep our new chief of Ds looking her best.”
Sophia stopped in the foyer and leaned against the wall. She pulled the phone away from her ear just briefly before continuing the strange conversation. “Mr. Chenowith—”
“Lem, please.”
“I think there’s been a mistake.” Sophia exchanged scratching the hair at her temple for massaging the bridge of her nose. “The last thing I need is help getting dressed.” She laughed at the absurdity of it all.
“Trust me, Detective, I certainly understand. Most people are very put off by the suggestion that their wardrobe isn’t up to par.”
Sophia bowed her head and gave it a shake.
“But don’t you worry,” Lem continued right along. “You just leave it all to me, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
“I’m sure I won’t.”
Lem found nothing to criticize in the flat way Sophia voiced the phrase and took her words to mean that all was well.
“We look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Chief.”
“Sure thing.” Sophia gave a mocking two-finger salute. At that point, she was so exasperated that she didn’t care to argue any further. “Mr. Chen—Lem.”
“Very good.”
“Look, Lem, I’m in the middle of something—”
“Yes, yes, of course. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Sophia could only stare at the phone once the connection ended. She felt as if she’d just been through a whirlwind. She was pushing off the wall to head for the front door when Veronica arrived in the foyer.
“Ma—” Sophia found herself pulled into a tight squeeze before she could say anymore.
“Congratulations! Your daddy just told me all about it.” Veronica danced in place after she released her daughter from the embrace.
Sophia could tell from her mother’s elated expression that she was happy for the same reasons as her father. After the dizzying conversation with the head of her new style team, Sophia was in no mood to make an issue of it.
“How’s Miss Laur?” Sophia asked instead.
The glee Veronica showed began to dim. She tugged at the oversize cuffs on the white pin-striped blouse she wore and glanced across her shoulder. “All this hit her and Les out of nowhere. Ken’s such a good boy. Sophia, honey, there has to be some kind of mistake.” She clasped her hands and propped them against her chin. “Hopefully there’s some way the boys can make up for it without going to jail.”
Sophia didn’t bother to tell her mother that the chances of that sort of break were bleak for two black kids.
“Don’t worry, Mama. I’ll look into it. We’ll find a way.” Sophia nodded past the woman’s shoulder. “You keep Miss Laureen calm. If she thinks of anything, she can call me.”
“I will, honey, and you and I should make some time to discuss the celebration party.”
Sophia ceased retrieving keys from her pocket. “Celebration for what?”
“Ha! Your