GET READY WITH ME

"Hey Jimmy! Oh my days, it's so nice to finally see you. I thought you were never going to get back from your honeymoon." "Did you miss me that much?" Jimmy snorted. "Oh please, get off your high horse! You've only been gone a month and as you can see, I'm not dead" Judith rolled her eyes. "But you missed me, right? Admit it, you peacock!" Jimmy slapped her shoulder playfully, making his way into her apartment and taking a seat. "The only thing I can admit to is that having to deal with the last case without my private investigator was a living hell for me. But I'm so glad you're back" She shrieked and took a seat right beside him. "Hey, how rude of you! Aren't you going to offer me something. I drove three hours to get here" "Umm, I'm quite sure you didn't drive for three hours just to ask me to get you something. Besides, your new wife is Nigerian, she must've loaded you with so much food and drinks before you left the house, huh?" Judith smirked "How did you know?" Jimmy asked "She loves cooking and wouldn't let me leave the house without a taste of her Jollof rice. Man, I've gained some pounds and I'm definitely sure I would've gained more if I didn't put an end to the honeymoon. But hey, I'm obsessed. You know, you should get yourself a man too that's obsessed with you" He joked "Maybe I will get myself a man if only you will get some sense" Judith laughed. "I'm not doing this with you, I'm married now, so I'm definitely matured than you are." He smirked and picked up an office folder from her coffee table. "New murder case?" "Yeah, Lyon asked me to defend his 'boy' in court for this" she pointed at the folder in his hands. Jimmy skimmed through the file and gaps suddenly, "Do you know who this 'boy' is?" "Yeah , a certain Francis Calloway. Should it ring a bell?" She raised a brow. "Umm, THE Francis Calloway" "Am I supposed to know who he is?" Jimmy sighed, "Have you met with him yet?" "Uh, no. The files came in this morning and I haven't even accepted to represent him yet. What's the big deal about this guy?" Jimmy took out his phone and read out an article, "Francis Calloway: co-owner of Trex - a multi billion dollar tech company, heir to the Calloway's Dynasty. Do you get it now? Girl, you hit the jackpot! But, why is he tried for murder? He's rich, he can get out of this." "You didn't even ask if he did it or not. Look, he may be wealthy, but he can't buy his way out of the law. He can't bend it. Besides, Lyon said he wanted to get his name out of every mud" "And he chose you." Jimmy got up to take some cookies from her kitchen counter. "What do you mean 'he chose me'? Obviously, Lyon told him how efficient I am. He's not different from other murder suspects I have defended in the past." Judith hissed. "Um, girl, he's rich, like freaking wealthy" Jimmy reminded. "And..? I still don't get the big deal about this guy. Why did he get himself involved in such a mess in the first place? Pfft, he's gotta face the law now. And he needs me to figure out his s**t so his ass doesn't rot in jail" Jimmy stared at her in silence, watched her take out a pen and jotter from her purse to jot sone things down. "What are you doing?" He asked. "I'm writing out some things to get for the group home. My birthday is around the corner, remember?" Judith says as she scribbles more things down. "Judith, how long are you going to keep doing this for? The group home revives terrible memories for you and you're too occupied to be broken down" "Jimmy, I have told you this before and I'm going to tell you this again, the group home was my home. The only home that ever accepted me when I couldn't get a family to call my own. Yes, I have memories I wouldn't want to recall, but I don't want such memories to be recreated for the kids there. Let them know someone still cares. And if it means me going by the home every year on my birthday to give to them, I have no problems regardless of the terrible memories that may be recalled. Jim, their future matters more than my past." "Of course, you know I'll support you regardless of what may be." "Thanks Jim. I know I can count on you." "And what about the Calloway's case? Are you taking it?" Jim asked. Judith heaved a sigh, "I don't see why not. What do you think? Should I take it?" Jimmy gets up and paces about the room, "Francis killed his stepmother's assistant" "Allegedly" Judith corrected "Allegedly. Now Judith, some big boy has your boy in the mud" "Jimmy," she looked at him with longing in her eyes "do I take it or not?" The room fell silent. Jimmy picked up the folder and looked into it again, skimming through the pages while Judith sat, her eyes trailing his every move expecting an answer. "Personally," Jimmy cleared his throat, "I think you're up to the task and you know I'll support you to the very end..." "But..?" Judith added "But I fear you'll be in danger especially with the fact that you don't know who and what you're dealing with" "Jim, I know who and what I'm dealing with - a murder case on Mr Francis Calloway, that's it!" "Girl, it's way beyond that. Some rich boys are all around this case and the moment word gets out that you'll be Calloway's attorney, they'll be after you. That's what I'm scared of." "Jim, I can handle myself. I've been beaten, threatened and even stalked by such people in the past. What's the difference now?" Jimmy heaved a sigh and stared blankly at her. "What? You know what I'm talking about, this can't be any different from the previous ones. You know Jim, I still do not know how big of a deal this is. You haven't given me any reason I should stay away from this case." "Let me make a correction, I never said you should take the case or not. I just stated the pros and cons. Besides, if you want to take the case, I'll be solidly behind you. All I'm saying is the case is a dangerous one and you've got to be smart about it." "Jim, I'm tired of going back and forth, do I take it or not? And please give me a direct answer this time." She crossed her arms. "Do you think you're up to it?" "Jim!" She almost screamed, " of course I am up to the task and you know this." "So, do you want to take the case?" Jimmy rubbed his hands a bit nervously. Judith stared at him wonderingly, "Is this guy that dangerous for you not to have a direct answer? I just wanted to seek your opinion to know if it's okay for me to represent him, not like I'm sacred as you obviously are" she referred to his reactions. "But with the way you're acting all up, I'll take the case. I mean, we'll never know what's hiding in a cupboard until you check it out, right? You may just find a skeleton" "Judith, if you want to take it, then it's fine by me. But, just keep in mind that there'll be lots of skeletons you'll find, maybe not all, but lots." Jimmy's phone rang breaking the silence between them. On the screen showed 'wifey' which Judith saw. "You should take that, at least Helen should ease whatever tension you have." Judith said while approaching the kitchen. She fetches herself a cold bottle of soda and the rest of the cookies on her counter while she overhears Jimmy's conversation on phone. "Oh, yes babe, she's doing well, she sends her greetings.. Umm, I don't know about that yet, I'll mention that to her.. Just send me the list and I'll get it on my way.. Love you too babe, muah!" He made a kiss sound on the phone. "Ahem!" Judith announces herself making Jimmy turn to look at her. "Seems like the new couple can't stay far from each other" she said with a sly smile. "She's having some of her Nigerian friends over at the house tomorrow. She forgot to get the condiments of err... Egusi soup, yeah! So, she wants me to get them for her." He said, grinning from ear to ear. "Egu.. what? I know Nigerians have more soups than normal dishes but what's that?" Judith asks, taking her seat. "She said it's made out of dried melon seeds and spinach. It's so tasty. She made it twice for me and boy! I licked my fingers. And yeah, she asked if you'd like to join dinner tomorrow with us and her friends of course. What do you say?" "Umm, I'd love to and I'll see to it. I'd be meeting with Mr Calloway tomorrow to discuss the brief of the case. Will you be there?" "Sure, what time?" "I would send you the details" "Alright then. I got to go get things for the Egusi soup." He said rising to his feet. "Jim, I know we may have had it a bit rough today, and I may not say this often, but thank you for always looking out for me. No one ever does but you" Judith said. "Judith, you had my back once that saved me from being killed that night, I will never be able to repay you enough. So, don't thank me, I'm just doing my job, ma'am." "Oh, please," she laughed, "tell Helen, I'd never miss that soup for any reason." "I will" Jim chuckled, "Bye, Judith"