After the verdict had been passed, Todd shrieked loudly and immediately removed his robot helmet in the lobby. "Mademoiselle Mina!" he cried. "I am so happy I could kiss you on both cheeks like a true European countryman!"

Mina winced and grinned nervously. "Please don't!"

"Oui!" Todd said still smiling. "Even a French robot like me knows about personal space!"

Blind approached Mina. Star and Trudy were waiting behind him with giddy expressions, bouncing excitedly in place over the liberation of their robot hero. Blind put his hands on his hips, giving an affirmative nod to his girlfriend. "Nice job out there, rookie," said the handsome ex prosecutor with a playful salute."And it seems Mr. Smooth Criminal isn't off the hook yet. He's still a suspect in this case."

"Yes indeedy!" Mina said, her teeth arrayed in a shiny grin. "The judge said, 'if they find one finger print of his on the remote. It's the slammer for him!"

Blind moved in, his broad shoulders casting a sexy shadow over Mina. He held his hands to her shoulders. "And nice job handling my ex. I know some may say I'm anal retentive in court, but she could fit a yard stick up her…"

"Ahem!" a snobby and intellectual voice called from behind them. "You have such a way with words, William. Especially about someone you betrayed!"

Mina and Blind faced Ashley in the doorway. Her poofy blonde hair filling the archway like it belonged to a prized poodle. "You may have an innocent verdict, Hawkins," Ashley said, "But I'm going to personally see to it that my client, Miss Krepes is innocent. Something smells rancid and it's not the odor of French cologne stinking up the courtroom."

Mina nodded. Surprisingly, she agreed with Ashley. Flannel had pulled a fast one on the court and the audience.

"Well," Ashley said. "I don't have time to waste on you, undergrads. I'm working overtime to keep my court record prim and proper. I'm sure you're just gonna go home and watch some brain rotting kidult cartoons which gives me the advantage."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Mina raised her finger and opened her mouth, but when Ninja Kitty dashed crossed her mind in a shinobi feline style run, nothing came out.

Ashley walked away. "Grade ya later."

As her newfound riva headed off to the police chief and her deputies, Mina managed a small gasp. "My lawdy," she squeaked. "She sure has a PHD in insulting people."

Everyone laughed (even Blind managed a few reserved chuckles) and Mina flashed a thumbs up at them. "Who's up for some pizza at my place. And some mindless kidult cartoons!"

Her friends cheered and Blind whisked her away. No one noticed the suave Jack Michaelson impersonator heading towards the court lavatory. He clutched his E-Phone and paged someone with the phone muted.

***

Flannel Billions stood in the bathroom stall. The red-white tiled floors of the Lawson Court building had nary a stain of any kind of watsit or whosit on the floor. They were clean and smooth, exactly how he liked it. He had secured the door so no one could enter the room as he made a direct line to his employer, Maxine Electra of the esteemed Electra Company.

He placed the phone to his ear and a husky voice came over the line. Despite being female, it was much deeper than his.

"Nice job dodging the law right when it was about to shock you, Mr. Billions."

Flannel struck a disco pose with his hand up in the air. "Ooh yeah, they bought that Jack Michaelson facade! Nobody realized the true reason I wore these gloves!"

"Very good. As was your charade. It left them paralyzed."

"My offbeat rhythm had them shaking their heads in confusion. Sadly…the DeFunkt deal has fallen through. I was hoping Todd would sell the rights to the Electra Company if he went to prison."

Maxine's guffaw toned down and her voice grew stern and serious. "I saw it all on Court TV, Mr. Billions. You have failed me big time."

Flannel began to sweat but kept his cool. "My deepest apologies, Ms. Electra."

"Fortunately," Maxine said. "I have other, more voluptuous ways of enticing the French government over here. Consider yourself lucky."

"Thank you, Ms. Electra."

"Just keep your head down now, Mr. Billions. But Mr. Billions, one thing…"

"Y-yes?" Flannel stuttered.

"Mess up again and your clothing brand is getting the electric chair! I will drop you immediately and you will have to change your name to Flannel Pennies…"

Flannel gasped. His jaw hung open. She had the ability to make his worst nightmare come true. He couldn't fail her. He wouldn't.

"I understand, Madame…hee hee."

He giggled nervously like he was the eir to the pop throne.