INTRUSION

CHAPTER 1

"All rise! All rise!"

Luncheon being over, Sir Carter Braxton closed his chamber door behind him, mounted the bench in his red, black and white judge's robe (the only judges to keep robes were in the criminal division, and were colored red, as it was the color of blood) and his white wig, extracted his wire-rimmed reading glasses to scan his notes, then glanced over to the prosecution, the defense, and the fifteen -person jury, without making any direct eye contact.

His last glance was over the spectators. Just as the door was to be closed, a middle-aged woman, her auburn hair held up by a unique silver hair clasp, only missed being shut out by seconds. Whoever she was, she made the judge start. He scribbled a note for the clerk to deliver to the woman on which he had written, 'tea after, my chambers?' and watched as curious eyes followed the path of the clerk. He hoped he had not embarrassed either of them.