The Assigned Defense — A Punch-Girl Short (Story #7)

Nobody wants a Punch-Girl case. Stephanie Schmidt just drew one. Court-appointed defense work is supposed to be straightforward — quick cases, clean wins, résumé padding. Then comes Marcus Kumar, a medical equipment distributor caught with counterfeit defibrillators, with evidence gathered by a vigilante who doesn't answer to anyone. Cases like this end careers. Stephanie takes it anyway. As she dismantles the prosecution's case and traces the real conspiracy up the supply chain, she demonstrates an unusually detailed knowledge of Punch-Girl's methods. Whether that comes from brilliant legal instincts or something else entirely is a question. The Assigned Defense is a standalone short story set in the world of the Punch-Girl series by J.M. Reilly — a sharp legal thriller that deepens one of the series' most compellingsupporting characters. Start with Punch-Girl Book One to experience the full story.