Each limping step radiated such deliberate confidence that it almost seemed choreographed, like he was letting everyone in on some private joke. Even his apparent weakness felt like just another move in his carefully calculated game, his face threatening to crack into laughter at any moment as he surveyed his perfectly positioned legal army.

“Good morning, Mr. Roma,” Judge Donahue called from his chambers doorway, his eyebrows raised at the unexpected sight. “That’s quite a pronounced limp you’re sporting today. Are you OK?”

A lazy smile spread across Roma’s face as he turned toward the bench, like a cat who’d found something entertaining to play with. “Oh, this? Nothing serious, Your Honor. Think I might have stepped wrong last night helping my brother-in-law tamp down his fire pit.”

Oh wow, Juniper thought to herself. Mr. Miscellaneous over here.