Chapter 20

Once Josh decided to take the plea deal, things moved more quickly than Emily had expected. By the end of October, she was sitting in the same courtroom where Josh had been charged. Josh sat with both Phin and his JCC officer, Harry Benson, and he hadn’t looked back at Emily once.

Emily blew out a breath. Her heart was still pounding hard, and she was glad she was behind the trio of men. Otherwise, she was afraid she might faint. Or sob. Or both.

When everything began, Josh finally looked over his shoulder at Emily. He shot her a wan smile. She prayed that the judge would accept the deal and be merciful toward Josh.

Phin had warned her that Josh could still spend time in a juvenile detention center. She hated the very thought, but it was still better than adult prison. Anything was better than that.

“I accept the plea deal as set forth by your lawyers,” said the judge, “and as such, the lesser crime of theft in the second degree, which is a class B misdemeanor.”

Emily waited with