She woke to the tune of WHAM! Rubbing her eyes, Holtzmann blindly reached for her nightstand.

"Jillian Holtzmann, how can I help you?" She tried to sound awake, but the coarseness of her voice was too evident. While she had went to bed at a reasonable time, (not an often occurrence), her mind couldn't rest. Today was the day.

"I was hoping you were already awake."

"It's only," Holtz glanced at her alarm clock and panic rose through her chest. She had twenty minutes. "Oh crap! Abby, I gotta go."

"I figured. Gorin's already down here. You nervous?"

Holtzmann rushed to her closet and haphazardly threw her suit on. Catching a glance of herself in the mirror, she let out a frustrated sigh and hurriedly gelled her hair. While it was wise to cut it shorter and style it in a more presentable manner, Holtzmann liked her signature messy up-do. She adjusted her red tie, (a gift from Abby once she graduated), and smoothed out her blue slacks. She wanted to look her best, even if she wasn't feeling it.

"Me? No. This is what I've been practicing for, Abs. I'm ready."

"Glad to hear it! You got the files?"

Holtzmann smirked as she grabbed the case files off her table and rushed out the door.

"Course! I'm on my way, tell Gorin not to worry."

Abby wished her luck. Holtz hopped onto her bike and peddled. She had been waiting for this day for the past 15 years. She been dissuaded from choosing such a stressful profession. Holtzmann could handle anything, and she was ready to prove it.

"I'm surprised you took this as your first case, Jillian." They're heels echoed throughout the hall as they walked. "A homicide, with a witness. One would call you reckless, Jillian."

Holtz kept her gaze ahead. Gorin, her mentor, had promised to be by her side for her first trial, though Holtz knew Gorin had doubts. A smart person wouldn't have taken on a homicide case, especially with such strong evidence against the defendant. But Holtzmann enjoyed a challenge, even when the odds were not in her favor.

"Yeah, I guess it is." Holtz scratched the back of her neck. "But I kinda owe the defendant a favor." They turned the corner and arrived in the defense lobby. Gorin raised an eyebrow.

"This is news to me. You'll have to tell me after the trial." She carefully adjusted Jillian's badge. "Remember, you can never press too much. Ask questions, think outside the box."

Holtz nodded, her nerves catching up to her as she walked into the courtroom. The bench was located in between the bar and well, with two jury boxes behind each. Holtz took her place at the bar and well, surprised to see the judge already at the bench.

"Well, Ms. Gorin, always a pleasure."

Gorin nodded. "Judge Bradley."

"I see you brought a student of yours." He gestured towards Holtz with his gavel. She opens her mouth to correct him but Gorin bear her to it.

"Actually, she graduated not too long ago. This is her first case. I have faith she will do well."

The judge nodded curtly. "Well, good luck to you. You'll need it." He mumbled the last part, but Holtzmann still picked it up. She gulped.

Minutes later the jury took their seats, and the defendant was ushered in. Holtz tried not to give him a pitiful look, but how could she not? Benny wasn't capable of hurting a fly, let alone murdering someone. Apparently he had forgotten that the trail was today; he was still dressed in his work clothes.

"I forgot to mention," Gorin said, "The prosecutor is one of the best." Holtz looked across the room to see a scrawny-looking women dressed in a tweed blazer and matching skirt. Her auburn hair was pulled into a tight bun and reading glasses hung over her chest. Her head was buried in what Holtz assumed were the case files. "Erin Gilbert. Hasn't lost a trial since she started out."

Holtzmann's jaw dropped.

She hasn't lost one case?

"So, um. What does that mean for me, exactly?"

"I know what you're capable of, Jillian. You can hold your own, even against the best."

The best being Gilbert. Great.

"If everyone is ready, then the court is now in session. Is the prosecution ready?" The courtroom grew quiet. Holtzmann looked to Benny, who looked defeated already. Her heart ached for the guy, and she decided she wasn't letting him walk away in cuffs.

"The prosecution is ready, Your Honor." Holtzmann was surprised by how sweet her voice sounded, a complete opposite of her appearance. How could anyone make tweed look so good?

"Ms. Holtzmann?"

Holtz snapped out of her daze, a blush creeping onto her face. "Um, yes?"

"Is the defense ready?"

"The defense is ready, Your Honor."

The judge nodded. "Ms. Gilbert, would you like to explain the weapon used to the court and what it is?"

"The weapon used to kill the victim was a small statue, which was found lying in the floor next to the victim."

"Ms. Gilbert, the prosecution may call its first witness to the stand."

"The prosecution would like to call the defendant to the stand."

Holtz watched as Benny took his seat. He started bouncing his leg, much to the annoyance of Erin. She wrinkled her nose, but continued.

"Please state your name and occupation."

"Uh, my name is Benny. I deliver Chinese food."

"Is it true that you had a relationship with the victim?"

"She ordered take out every weekend, so we saw each other a lot."

Erin squinted her eyes. Holtz wondered what she was thinking.

"I see. So you were well on a first name basis?"

"Yes."

"And you went to the victim's apartment on the day of the murder, correct?"

Benny eyed the ground below him. Holtz held her breath.

"Well, I just stopped at the door so-"

"So you were there, yes or no." Erin snapped. Patience didn't seem to be in her vocabulary. Benny flinched before answering. Holtzmann found herself cowering as well, coughing before straightening herself out.

"Yes, technically I was at her apartment."

The jury murmured at the statement.

"Well, it seems he was present the day of the crime. You may call your first witness to the stand."

Holtz stood up straighter, mentally preparing herself for the testimony. All she had to do was find a contradiction.

"I would like to call Mr. North to the stand."

Holtz eyed the man. He was short, had untamed brown hair and, in her opinion, looked crazy. He didn't seem nervous, Holtz noticed. Overconfidence was a flimsy shield, however, and Holtzmann wasn't going to waste time breaking through it.

"Please state your name and occupation."

"I am Rowan North, and I work as a maintenance man for the victim's building."

"Mr. North, you found the body at what time?"

"It was around 4:00 p.m."

Erin shot a glance across the room before continuing. "Interesting. What happened next?"

"I was in shock. I couldn't even step inside of the apartment, but once I collected myself I ran to the nearest pay phone and called the police." Rowan stated, rather smug if Holtz was being honest.

"Thank you Mr. North. That will be all."

The judge gestured to Holtz. "Well?"

Holtz gulped. "Uh, what?"

"The cross-examination, Ms. Holtzmann."

Mentally slapping herself, Holtz took a breath. "Y-yes, Your Honor." She could feel the prosecutor's gaze in her as she went over the case file. "So, Mr. North. You say you found the body around 4?"

Rowan nodded.

"Can you tell the court what you were doing there in the first place?"

"Of course. Although, I thought it was very clear." He began. "I'm the maintenance man for the victim's building. I was responding to a call about a leaky shower."

Leaky shower? Holtzmann thought. "Was this call from the victim?"

"No, her neighbor."

Holtz tapped her chin. "I see. So how were you aware that the victim was dead, exactly?"

Rowan smirked, though it came across more as a grimace, making Holtz uneasy. "I had seen the delivery boy leaving just as I had finished. He looked like he was in a hurry, and the door was left cracked open. I thought I would make sure he didn't try to rob her."

"How kind of you, Mr. North!" Judge Bradley commented. Holtzmann sighed. Was he being serious? Erin seemed as annoyed as Holtz was.

"And you said you were too scared to actually enter the apartment?" Holtz asked. "So how did you find the body?"

Rowan shifted in his seat, refusing to meet Holtzmann's gaze. "I could see it from where I was."

"The body was found just inside the apartment." Gorin muttered. Holtz cursed. "Something seems off, don't you think?"

Besides the fact that Rowan looked like a creep, nothing screamed guilty about him. There had to be something.

"Well, sounds good to me. If that's all the defense wants to ask-"

"Wait!" Holtz shouted. "I uh, have a few more questions." The judge sighed.

"Very well."

"So, Mr. North, what time did you discover the body?"

"Objection!" Holtz jumped at the sound of Gilbert's voice. It was louder than she expected. "We've already established the time, Your Honor. It would seem the defense is merely wasting our time."

The judge pondered Gilbert's statement. "It does seem that way. Does the defense have any actual questions for the witness?"

"Yes!" Holtz slammed her hands on the table and took a breath. "You say you never entered the apartment, but you claim to have seen the victim."

Rowan's shoulders slumped and he gritted his teeth. "That's what I said."

Got you.

"Take a look at this, Your Honor." Holtz presented a photo of the crime scene to the judge. "Don't you find this a bit strange?"

The judge brought the photo closer to his face and gasped. "I do! Who in their right mind would have yellow curtains with brown carpet? How peculiar!"

Holtzmann cringed. How is this guy qualified for this? "No, sir. Look at the layout of the scene. The body was found in the living room. But you can't see the living room from the doorway, the hallway makes an L shape that leads to the living room." Holtz pointed her finger at the witness. "That's a clear contradiction!"

Judge Bradley looked to the picture and then to Rowan. Holtzmann stole a glance at Erin. If she was surprised, she didn't show it. Her face was blank, no emotion showing. Gorin gently placed a hand on Holtz's shoulder, nodding in approval of the blonde's actions. She had to stop herself from smiling.

"That does make sense… Mr. North?"

Rowan's eyes darted around the room, as if looking for a way out of this.

"You say she's never lost a case?" Holtz whispered to Gorin. "She doesn't seem to be putting up much of a fight here."

Her mentor shook her head. "It is strange. I've never seen her give up."

"Your Honor, clearly the witness is a little overwhelmed by the whole situation. May I suggest a ten minute recess to collect his thoughts."

It was more of a demand than a question, but Judge Bradley just nodded.

"I agree. The court will break for a ten minute recess."

Holtzmann collect the files and went to leave when she caught Erin's eye.

Is she smirking at me?

The prosecutor sent Holtz a wink and a devilish grin before gathering her things, waltzing out like nothing was wrong.

That can't be good.