Page 25 of Dirty Judge

“Okay, done.” Lindsay stuffed the wrapped bread into my purse. “Get to your interview early and then come back for that drive.”

“Okay…” I took one last look at myself in the mirror.

My white button-down shirt and khakis made me look like the perfect inmate already.

Not wanting to unravel any further, I headed downstairs and walked across the street to Happy Burger.

The smiley face on the double doors begged me to walk away, but I couldn’t afford to be picky while searching for a new job; I had to consider everything.

“Welcome to Happy Burger!” The employee behind the counter beamed once I stepped inside. “How can I make you smile today?”

“I’m here for an interview.”

“Well, that’s amazing!” She clapped, and then she picked up a bell. “Someone here wants to join our patty team!”

Turn around and walk out…

“Oh my god, yes!” Another employee moved behind me, blocking the door. “Are you Olivia Spencer by chance? The woman I spoke to yesterday?”

“That’s me.” I nodded.

“Oh, well—I already put your profile in the system, so we don’t really have to do a formal interview.”

“Really?”

“Really.” She grabbed a clipboard. “Follow me.”

I obliged, letting her lead the way to a bright red booth near the windows.

As we settled into our seats, three policemen walked into the restaurant. They looked around the dining room, muttering words I couldn’t hear.

One of them stared right at me, and he didn’t look away. Instead his lips parted as he looked me up and down.

My heart sprinted in my chest, and I braced for my arrest.

The three of them burst into laughter and walked to the counter.

Okay, maybe it’s all in my head…

I let out a slow breath, but then I wondered if they were planning to arrest me after they finished eating.

“Like I was saying, Miss Spencer—” The manager clicked her pen, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You seem like someone who would thrive in our frying kingdom, so I only need to get a few answers before I send things off for a background check.”

“Sounds great. I’m ready.”

“What’s your highest level of education?”

“I have a master’s degree in Journalism.”

“Oh, wow,” she said. “That has to suck.”

“Huh?”

“Journalism in this day and age?” She shrugged. “Everyone just listens to podcasts and goes to social media for the news.”

Please don’t remind me…

“I mean, between you and me, I think universities should get sued for even offering a useless degree like that.” She laughed. “Don’t you?”