Morning. 8:52 AM. Hall of Lawson, Central Street.

With all the will of a zombie, Mina dragged herself out of bed and headed across town. Dark circles lined her eyes like Winona's raccoonish eyeliner and her normally preppy pink pantsuit was frayed and buttoned wrong. Even a strong dose of frappechino did little to fight the tiredness. She had been up all night, dreaming of Chad's death and with her hands tied, if she didn't give into Farabutto's demands, Winona's boyfriend would meet the same demise.

As she pulled up in the back of a taxi, the portly, five o'clock shadowed driver turned around. He wore a greasy white tank top with a few grease stains on it. "What's da matter bub? Normally you're all up and at em, and saying cheesy taglines about dat hot date with justice!"

Mina averted her eyes, but her nose could not avoid the driver's signature smell of beef and cheese. "I'm sorry...Mr. Vito. I just have a feeling I'm not gonna win this case!"

"Eh," the short driver responded, brushing back what was left of his air. "If I came into work with dat attitude, I wouldn't come into work at all. But if you gots to make a living, kid, well, you gots no choice."

Mina mumbled beneath her breath, causing Vito to add. "I coulda been a hot shot lawyer too. The name Vito D. and my company "I'm Lawing Here" was printed across ad in every magazine in Business Park!"

Really?!" Mina exclaimed.

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"Dat got your attention, kid," Vito said with a sly smile. "But I had your downer attitude back den and now I'm driving cabs in my fifties! I went from a tax attorney to a taxi attorney!"

Mina silently observed the man who had such a fascinating past hidden in the rolls of his greasy tanktop.

"Just remember," Vito remarked. "If yer standing up for what is right, justice will find a way to seep through da cracks! Like it's molasses or sumthin!"

"Oh my lawdy!" Mina said, "I think you're right. I know I'm right and even if it seems hopeless, I gotta just look for an opening so I can take aim at true justice!"

Vito clapped his hairy hands. "Dats my kiddo. Now you gots a Can-do attitude instead of a Can-not!"

"You know," Mina said with a warm smile. "Maybe you can still be an attorney. You still seem to believe in justice!"

Vito threw a hand forward. "Nah kiddo. Gave up dat profession long ago. Besides, I don't think they'd allow me back and…"

But before he finished and could tell Mina another story, there was a crackle over Vito's radio. "Welp, kid," Vito rasped in his chain smokers voice. "You gotta skedaddle. I gots more customers and I really gotta pick up some meat sticks at the Quik Fix!"

Mina nodded happily and slid out. She thanked Vito and as the pumpkin frappechino started to kick it. But even moreso, what kicked her rear into gear was the sage advice she'd received in a strange place. She dashed up the stairs. She had a hot date with justice and couldn't leave her waiting!

When Mina got inside, however, she couldn't believe her eyes.

"Darkness smiles upon us, Mina!" said the husky voice of her gothic friend.

In the lobby, Winona stood with a large pudgy doll of Hario the Plumber complete with his white cap and overalls. The goth was taking pins for sewing and sticking them through the doll itself.

"What are you doing, Winona?"

"Mina, my good fiend. I've created a voodoo doll for Farabutto. If he doesn't tell us where Chet is, let's just say those Wintendo magazines won't be the only thing pinned up!"

Mina sighed. Once again, she was defending a client who was setting themselves up for an unsympathetic judge.