C18 Joana

Dennis opened a brief smile when he noticed that I was actually touching our glasses, as I uncrossed my legs and dragged me to the edge of the armchair, almost falling directly into his lap on the couch.

"You're not using your seduction tactics to convince me to anticipate the processes of this case, are you? " asked Dennis, giggling maliciously when I pretended to be surprised. "Oh, Joana, I've always loved how funny and spontaneous you are.”

"And you're always too straight for such a powerful man," I hummed, opening a pompous smile. "Sell me, is it a basic requirement to be so serious when the person applies for the position of judge?”

Dennis snorted, even though he was still smiling. The man was a spectacle. Blonde and slightly wavy hair. Amber and captivating eyes. A beautiful jaw, a seductive mouth. A tall and muscular body. He was my ideal type. And, although I was always repudiating Jessy's attitudes towards men, I was also always surrendering to the charm of most of my co-workers, and ended up having sex with some of them.

In my office, for example, there were at least three who still blushed when they saw me pass by and threw all the charm for another night of pleasure. Dennis was one of the few who kept something beyond just casual sex. He was on a slightly higher level now, almost as if it were my usual sex, even without commitment.

I had overcome a period when I only related to politicians, because they were all good at heart, but terrible in any other aspect. The worst thing is that I fell in love very easily, and always got heartbroken when I understood that politicians were too cold to engage something deeper.

Among the Jones sisters, maybe I was the one who nurtured the most feelings after a night of sex, although my audacity did not allow me to admit it out loud. Dennis, unlike any man of power I got involved with, it was also very easy to fall in love with, and I was at that moment even rubbing the tip of one of his feet around my leg.

"You know I lose all my posture when I'm with you," he said in a seductive tone.

"We are two," I purred, sliding my nails against your hand. The man's eyes caught fire, but I moved away a little, giving an affected smile. "However, I really need your help, Dennis. I know you are responsible for this case. The decision is entirely yours. And I want a chance to prove that my client is innocent.”

"I didn't think we were going to talk about work," he said, frowning.

"The faster we talk about him, the more time we will have alone later," I explained, giving a cheeky giggle. Dennis nodded, solemn. "So, I want to know how many are my request for habeas corpus.”

"As long as there is no risk to the individual, I cannot accept it, Joana," he said, slightly loosening his tie. "He is still seen as a suspect, not as a witness, he cannot be released by a guess from his lawyer.

"What if he confesses? "I asked softly. "If I get a confession, could you accept the request?”

"As long as he doesn't plead guilty," Dennis said, shaking his head. " But still, he is not arrested for the crime that everyone thinks he has committed. He refused to present a defense, his lawyers have been leaving the case over the months, and, in the case of a crime of embezzlement, he does not necessarily need to confess when we have messages on his cell phone that prove that he was periodically with the real guilty and deceased.”

"He was arrested for being in a bar where, coincidentally, the real criminals were" I pondered, lightly stirring the contents of the cup in my hands. "So, theoretically, he knew what was happening. But, I wonder, what if the cell phone that everyone thinks is his, actually were from the real criminal and he only used it because he had no other way to communicate? We are talking about a man without money and that everyone knows to have used drugs throughout his life.”

"Yes, and this same kind of element is usually involved in all kinds of crime," said Dennis, shrugging. "It wouldn't be new if he just refused to speak for fear of retaliation. He's not the only one who was arrested for being connected to those people. The difference is that that night they were preparing for the final attack on the crime committed, were carrying weapons and ammunition in the middle of the bar, and did not deny fire when the police approached. Our suspicion has always been that the person threatened by that group would have his life reaped that night, for some reason that, as far as it seems, only his client would know how to inform us.”

"I can make him tell the truth," I assured firmly, even though I knew that that task was more difficult than brushing a lion's teeth. "I can make him admit it in writing and in court. I just need some more time.”

" With a new lawyer, we can advance the trial process," he said. "Thes you can present your resources.”

"How soon can you advance the process?”

"Maybe I need a few weeks.”

"Is there no way to be faster?”

"No, Joana, you know the laws of our country," Dennis explained, turning his face into a legitimate grief. "I can only guarantee that we will schedule this trial, without further delay. I can't guarantee anything else.”

"That's enough," I said softly, opening a smile. "Thank you, Dennis.”

Dennis just nodded, so he watched me more carefully than before.

"Wor are you so interested in this case, Jo? "An informal question.

"Because I feel that he is innocent and that my family can be harmed with the conviction of an innocent," I explained, without lies. "I just want to protect my sisters.”

"I will do what I can," said Dennis, putting his hand against mine again. "In the name of our friendship.”

I opened a wide smile, despite knowing that my eyes would be shining with admiration for that man. Friendship was a euphemism, we had more than that, and when his fingers continued on mine, my whole body warmed up. We had everything but just friendship.