The Home Court Advantage by N.M. Silber Page A

circumstances,” Braden shot back. He was coming at me full force on this one but I wasn’t going down. There was a bigger issue here. There were times that I did get to fight the good fight and today I felt like I really was defending the Constitution so I wasn’t giving in.
    “What circumstances? That it was night in a poor neighborhood?”
    “That it was dark in a high crime neighborhood!” Braden believed in his position too, though, and I respected him for it. Things were rarely simple in law. There were always two sides.
    “If you allow that argument, it will mean that anyone who can’t afford to live in a good neighborhood could be searched at night!” I argued passionately.
    “If they run from the police!” he countered fiercely. “And then not because they’re poor but because there is greater likelihood that a crime has taken place! Should we assign just as many patrol officers to low crime neighborhoods as high crime neighborhoods so that we equalize everything?” He was a smart and strong opponent and when he brought it he brought it hard.
    “Okay!” Judge Channing finally stopped us. “I have your briefs and I’ve heard your arguments. I’ll let you know when I’ve made my ruling. That’s all that we have on the docket today. We’re adjourned.” He banged his gavel and left the bench. Braden and I looked at each other and it was clear that we were both very worked up. The combination of flirting and arguing had excited both of us. A lot.
    “I have an office meeting that I have to be at in thirty minutes,” he said, looking at his watch and sounding kind of edgy.
    “I’m supposed to interview a witness in half an hour,” I said, looking at him a little desperately. I was mentally calculating how long it would take me to get back to my office if we visited the negotiation room first.
    “What is it with us, Gabrielle? This can’t be normal,” he said, looking flushed. “If it were, they would put beds in those interview rooms. Oh fuck. I just pictured you in bed.”
    “I think we just have an exceptional amount of sexual attraction and chemistry between us. It’s got to be biological, like pheromones or something,” I answered, feeling pretty warm myself. “I’ve met a lot of attractive lawyers before but I’ve never pictured them naked while they were cross-examining a witness.”
    “Yeah, well, you’re the only lawyer who’s ever made me fantasize about demanding sexual favors in exchange for a plea bargain. Do you know how many erotic dreams I’ve had about nailing you in the jury room while court was in session?” he asked with a tense laugh.
    “Yeah, I’m not really sure how I made all those months without breaking any laws. I remember I had this dream once that you were sitting up on the bench presiding as judge over a case and I was down on my knees …”
    “Stop! Please! Baby, I’m begging you. I can’t take anymore. I’m approaching stage three here!” He plowed his fingers through his hair and started striding back and forth at an almost frantic pace. I had a feeling he was trying to redistribute the blood flow in his lower regions.
    “We’ll be home in four hours,” I said. I tried not to think about what kind of condition I would be in by then, though. I had a feeling that I might be knocking him down again.
    “Four hours. That’s what? Two hundred and forty minutes. Just to let you know, at two hundred and forty-one I’m going to need those panties off, baby.”
    “I’ll take them off before I leave. It’ll save us a few seconds. I don’t think we have to go all the way to the bedroom either.”
    “Hell, no. I’m going to nail you right there inside the front door.”
    “I’m good with that,” I said with a nod.
    “Sounds like we have a plan. Good working with you, counselor,” he said decisively. We packed up our briefcases and off to respective offices.

    Thursday
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY,