8:47 AM, Hall of Lawson, Business Park. Autumn.

Mina had been trying to reach Winona all morning, desperate to know if she had any relation to the black diamond skull brooch. But she called her gothic friend, left frantic messages on her phone, texted her and even asked Trudy about her whereabouts, but it all proved futile. She stood in the lobby of the esteemed court building and started to worry that perhaps her friend had seen her messages and high tailed it out of Business Park. Perhaps Giles had warned her and it was all the more means to skedaddle before the copper's could arrive.

Her shaking hand clutched a jittering cappuccino coffee and as a deep voice sounded from behind her, she nearly launched herself through the ceiling.

"Gadzooks! Miss Attorney!" the voice cried, sounding like a dopey middle aged man. "I didn't meant to scare you!"

Mina turned around to see Monty Banks, wearing his putrid yellow and green plaid suit. A new brown toupee on his head frizzed like the fur of a dead animal in the rain. Accompying him, was his mistress Georgia Peach. She wore a powder blue and sunny yellow with the usual fruity bows and earrings. She had a white sash slung around her shoulder that read, 'Miss Georgia, Voted Finest Peaches In The Land.'

Mina was now doused with hot coffee that ruined her finest, pinkest lawyer outfit. She practically hissed at Monty, hardly concealing her loathing of the man. "I see they let you out of the slammer, Mr. Banks."

"And it's a good thing they did," Monty giggled with his arm around his much younger mistress. "I wasn't very popular in prison. Not like I am here with my sweet Peach!"

"Oh please," Georgia cried clasping her hands and batting her thick eyelashes. "Please Miz Attorney, let my baby run free like my chickens did in the Kentucky Chicken Run of 2016. I can't stand being alone in his cozy ol'mansion being waited on hand and foot."

"I'll try my best…" Mina muttered. "You did hear about Giles D. Butler right?"

Monty let out a stressed sigh. "Yes…I had no idea I was being bamboozled by that fake fraudulent butler. Giles was like a brother to me ..albeit one I paid minimum wage so it is with great pain to know he got me arrested on purpose."

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"Well," Mina said, "At least he's gone now and…I…"

Without warning, Monty Banks lunged at Mina and seized her hand in his sweaty palms. "Oh thank you Miss Attorney. Thank you for all you're doing!" he blubbered. "I had no idea that any attorney would even take my case with the amount of evidence and my slightly dodgy history, but it warms my slightly clogged heart that you'd take it on regardless."

Mina looked into the man's beady eyes as tears seeped from them. She had a strong urge to tell him it wasn't him she cared about, but that he'd waive her student loans. But he let out a loud sob and a baby-bawl and she knew those tears didn't belong to a crocodile.

"Yes…" Mina said, at last. "It's going to be a hard up case…but I didn't become a lawyer for something to be easypeazy."

"Exactly!" Monty said, and he ripped his toupee off to blow his nose like a detuned trombone. "It won't be like taking candy from a baby but…"

Mina and the normally dim Georgia both glared at Monty over his past infant theft.

"Too soon?" he said straightening his wig on his head.

"Yes…" Mina said. "Please don't mention that or any of your past corruption in court."

Monty nodded. "Got it, girly."

The towering, bald balif with the single earring who resembled a cleaning mascot, stepped into the lobby. "Five minutes before court is in session," he said deeply.

"Right-o!" Monty answered. "We better hustle. I can't wait to be as free as a lark in spring!"

"I'm gonna get front row seats!" Georgia Peach said in her happy drawl. "This is gonna be more exciting than a bowl fulla grits with cheesy!"

Mina shook her head as they walked past her. "Is country food really that exciting?" she asked herself wrinkling her nose.

Before she could proceed into the court room, the familiar chiptuned theme of Ninja Kitty played on her phone. She removed it from her pocket. "Speak of the devil," she said. "It's a text from Winona."

Her heart racing; she tapped her way to the message. Her eyes widened as they scanned it.

"Gloom morning to you, Mina.

I'm sorry I couldn't answer previously. Goths like myself tend to repose in our coffins and not set out in the light of day. But seeing as its pouring outside, I can make an exception. As you know, I love all kinds of dark, disturbing accessories and I would love to fix my eyes on this item. Perhaps it is the mark of a true killer. ;)"

The last part of the message unnerved the young attorney. She was hoping her friend would be there in a wink…but not that kind of suspcious wink.

But at the doors to the courtroom opened, she knew she'd after to meet her friend later. For now, she had a steamy hot date with justice.