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Laura said. “And the IT crew is headed straight for her computer.”
    “Make sure the techies hold back until the detectives are hands-on, so we don’t tip off that we’re onto her if she doesn’t know yet. That should be done within five minutes, right?” The District Attorney’s Office Squad, an elite branch of the NYPD with officers handpicked to work complex investigations, had its own version of a mini precinct just one flight upstairs from my wing. “Keep me posted.”
    Judge Fleming reached for her phone and started for the door. “Let’s move this to the courtroom. I want to put this whole thing on the record. The Bar Association can make Gino sweat out his role in this. Let’s see if I can get Josie’s prenup out of her. I haven’t had my chance to do a tough cross since I graduated to my judicial robes.”
    “I think we’ve met our match,” I said, following her out. “Can you imagine what balls it takes to go through all the security clearance for this job, then walk in ready to commit a felony, smiling at me every time she passed me in the hallway? Josie’s made of tough stuff.”
    “Estevez says he’s got a kid. It’s hers?”
    “I don’t think so. There’s a baby mama, but he keeps her away from all his business.”
    The court officers and reporter were caught by surprise when Fleming and I walked back in. Moretti was on the phone but hung up when he saw us.
    The judge stepped onto the bench and everyone resumed his or her position.
    “You want Mr. Estevez in here?” the captain asked.
    “No. Not now. Not ever again,” Fleming said. “Tell him I hope his parole officer hasn’t been born yet.”
    Moretti was seething.
    “I’m thinking of who the toughest judge on the block is, and that’s where this case will be tried. I’ll adjourn this for a month,” she said, tossing the case folder to the captain to hand to the clerk. “Let Eddie Torres have a crack at Mr. Estevez.”
    The Honorable Edwin Torres was as formidable as he was smart and solid. The fact that he packed heat was known to every inmate, and none had dared any tricks in his courtroom.
    “Your call, Mr. Moretti. Do you want to testify before or after Ms. Aponte?”
    “Testify about what, Your Honor?”
    Fleming was trying to come up with a reason to get Gino on the witness stand. “People’s lives are at risk here, sir. Do you understand that? What did you know about this harebrained scheme to get into Ms. Cooper’s files?”
    “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Is Aponte Josie’s surname? I didn’t even know that.”
    “You better hope she says the same thing. She’ll be up here in—what?” Fleming asked, looking at me.
    “Probably another few minutes.”
    “Ladies first, Your Honor,” Moretti said.
    “Cute, Moretti,” Fleming said. “This just happens to be the wrong time and place for cute.”
    “You want me to question her, Judge?” I asked.
    “Not a chance. She’s all mine.” The young woman had flaunted her relationship with Estevez in open court, and Fleming would try to hold her toes to the fire, on the record, before the police met with a refusal to answer questions. She opened her notebook and started to write in it. “Just give me some background, Ms. Cooper. Was Josie Aponte one of the women in the defendant’s stable? Did she work for him?”
    “I don’t believe so. I never heard her name before today.”
    “What’s his MO?”
    I didn’t answer.
    “Stand up and start talking, Ms. Cooper.”
    I didn’t want to give away my whole case to Moretti, but I was getting the feeling that it wouldn’t matter much at this point.
    “On your feet. That’s good. How did Estevez meet his girls?”
    “He’s got a couple of young men on the payroll who scout for him.”
    “You know their names?”
    “I do, but—”
    “Don’t worry. If I need them when I’m questioning Señora Estevez, you’ll give them to me. Scouted where?”
    “The usual places, Your Honor. One went inside the