Three months later
×
The woman rushed to answer her cellphone as it rang in the background, her bedroom was exceptionally dark but she managed to manoeuvre herself through it as best as I could. Sleep consumed her and she spent a few seconds wiping it from her eyes. The woman wondered who it could be calling her at that hour.
Cursing quietly after stepping into the counter and hitting her hip, Joslyn snatched the phone up. "H-hello," her voice was grating from the thickness of sleep that consumed her. She was sure her irritation was obvious.
"Is this Judge Joslyn Harper?"
"Yes, who's this?" She rubbed her forehead, stifling a yawn.
"This is officer Cruz from the downtown precinct. A few minutes ago we arrested a young girl by the name of Amberle Wilson who claims that you're a relative. We were asked to make contact with you and I would just like to confirm that she's your niece, your honour."
"What the fu-" The woman says beneath her breath. There must've been a mix-up. Joslyn was confused, she tried to recall if she had a niece known by that particular name, but she was certain she didn't.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled.
"Your niece ma'am, we have her at the precinct for questioning on a gun-related offence. She requested that we made contact with you." The officer said and then it hit. No wonder the name sounded vaguely familiar. That little brat!
Joslyn sighed on the call. "Has she lawyered up yet?"
"No ma'am, all she did was ask for us to contact you."
"Okay, I'll be down at the station in about half an hour," replied the woman who ended the call with a harsher sigh.
What?
"Who was that?" Luther asked. He startled the woman and she spun around at the sound of him behind her. His voice held the same annoyance as hers did at the beginning of the call.
"It's a friend of mine, her daughter was arrested and she asked if I could go down to the station with them."
"Joslyn, it's one o'clock in the night, can't this wait until morning?" He asked scratching his greying stubbles and the woman studied at him.
"Technically, it is morning. I hope you don't expect me to sit idly by while someone I know needs my help." She retorted and the words silenced him. At that exact moment, she chose to ignore him, making her way back into her room and over to the closet to find a change of clothing.
Luther could only glare at the woman's silhouette.
×
They had her held within a cell at the precinct and surprisingly she was the only one locked up when the woman got there. She laid on her back on the thin mattress, her hands beneath her head propping it up, her eyes laid shut and the casualness of the girl caused Joslyn's blood to boil. It was certainly the thudding of her footsteps against the floor that alerted Amberle and she sprang up from the bed. With those attentive eyes searching her face as she once was near, the admiration Joslyn experienced a few months prior returned as she studied her.
She didn't change one bit, except her hair was cut shorter, hanging directly above her shoulders in its dark mass and Joslyn couldn't deny it but she was stunning. A stunning nightmare possibly.
"What is wrong with you?" She asked, her tone strident while regarding the shorter girl who stood in the cell. Amberle walked towards her and just then she noted the colour of her eyes was a deep ocean blue, similar to hers.
Amberle smirked at her and she frowned, swearing beneath her breath.
"I wasn't expecting you to come," She replied and Joslyn shot a brow up, her anger was chilling.
"No shit. Who do you think you are having the police call me in the middle of the night? And pretending to be my niece?"
"So, about that," Amberle trailed off, scratching her head. "I'm sorry, but I need your help." She adds, her face reflecting concern.
"Why should I help you?"
"Because I'm being framed. I didn't do anything these people said I did and I need your help."
"Why are you telling me? You need to get your lawyer and let them help you because I can't."
"Please, you don't understand.." She said calling out to the woman who was about to walk away. The fear was evident in her tone.
"Honestly, I don't care either, you had no right to call me, you're not my concern, I don't see why I should help you."
"Please Joslyn, I need your help."
Tears settled in her bright eyes. The older woman wanted to be stone-cold and tough but she was affected by the girl's fear. Something tugged in her chest, drawing her closer. The callous disposition she portrayed quickly faded.
Sighing with an eye roll, she gazed around scanning the building for a cop she could talk too.
"I'll help you, but never try something like this again, do you understand? I am not your friend or your relative."
"Yes, I understand." Amberle sighed wiping her eyes and nose.
"Good I'm glad you do. Start explaining what happened, how did you get involved in this mess?" Joslyn's tone and visage were stern.