Introduction
Natalie sat in her office; her desk was neatly piled with the papers and folders of the people she had to deal with today. Natalie liked to believe that she was doing these people a service —keeping them organized, keeping their nose clean enough, so they wouldn’t create more paperwork for her later. The air conditioner hummed louder than usual trying to combat Louisiana’s chronic heat wave. The city government was barely funding these offices that kept these criminals in check. Lately the budget cuts seemed intentional, as if the government preferred that the problems never existed. Just a temporary band-aid to keep the people quiet.
Natalie kept the lights dimmed in her office and the blinds closed. It kept the room cooler, and it kept her sane. Typing away at her computer, she checked the schedule.
First assignment; Leon Valentino. A crime prince—-loud, violent, and very much so had an ego of a lion who’s been poked. Surprisingly he was caught in a drug bust. Bad luck, maybe… but Natalie’s gut suspected something deeper. Especially if the dumbass was offered a two-year plea deal and probation.
Natalie’s chair groaned as she leaned back. An exasperated huff escaped her. Her two fingers snuck under her glasses to massage her eyes. It was barely ten a.m., and this Valentino guy was already late. Forty minutes late. Pulling her fingers away, they lingered on the right clicker of her mouse. The pointer hovered over his file. She clicked print—the machine whirred awake, taking its time to process. It sucked in air before finally spitting out paper. Natalie pushed backwards in her chair, both watching and waiting for the printer to finish.
