The Landlord's Portfolio

Julian put his hands on the glass, breathing hard, ready to pull himself over.

"A sloppy way to clear your name." The calm voice cut through the noise.

The crowd stepped aside as Jude Lawson walked forward, Harper right beside him.

Cassidy frowned, annoyed by the interruption. "Who are you?"

Jude ignored her, walking toward the railing and stopping a few steps from Julian. He looked the young coder up and down once, then turned his gaze back to Cassidy.

"You don't look like someone who was just cornered," Jude said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Cassidy asked, taking a step back.

"Someone confronting a real threat doesn't look relaxed," Jude said, watching her face. "You just backed him into a camera blind spot, waited for him to break, and now you're watching him climb a railing with a smile on your face."

Jude lowered his voice slightly, stepping into her space. "So tell the room what really happened."