It was rare that Lizzy made it to the university district, but they did have the best law library in the state, and she needed some more ammunition in a brief she needed to file regarding an appeal that had been filed last week. Normally, Lizzy was all for diversion, keeping people out of Blackgate, but this man had committed violence against children, and that was one of the few things that Lizzy would not tolerate. So she had spent her morning pouring through case law and books. Sure, she could have used some of the online searches, but there was something more real, more concrete about holding the paper in her hands. It just felt more concrete, more complete.
It was later than she realized when she left the library, and she hadn't eaten since breakfast. She ducked into a small coffee shop and ordered a vegan pastry and a latte macchiato with soy milk. She would be eating dinner with her father, sister and stepmother in a few hours, and her stepmother would be upset if she didn't eat.
She glanced around the crowded cafe and spied an empty seat. The table was already occupied by a young man and his computer, and Lizzy decided that she would just have to make a new friend. She walked over and gave him one of her warm smiles. "Is the seat taken?"