Twisted Justice, page 5
Judge Hembeck turned toward the prosecution table. “Any objections?”
“Dozens,” Garfield said.
“I thought as much.”
“For starters, this is a murder case, soon to be a capital case, and historically judges have almost never allowed bail in those circumstances. The fact that the defendant is a lawyer is irrelevant. Sadly, we all know respected professionals who have turned to crime. If anything, the bar should be stricter on its own, not more lenient, given the importance of maintaining respect for the judicial system. And I don’t agree that Mr. Pike is not a flight risk. He has a history of...eccentric behavior. He is known to be wealthy and well-connected. Who knows what someone facing the death penalty might do? If he decided to flee, he’s smart enough to pull it off.”
“Would the prosecution be reassured if he wore an electronic monitoring device?”
“Not in the slightest. What good would that do? We would know he was running when he ran, but not in time to stop him. More likely, before he made a break for it, he would rip off the bracelet and disappear. We wouldn’t have any advance notice and we wouldn’t be able to react in time to stop him.”
The judge turned her attention back to Maria. “She does make some valid points, Ms. Morales. The court might be willing to acknowledge that the defendant is not a likely flight risk. But these are capital charges, and traditionally, courts have preferred to keep accused murderers behind bars until trial.”
“Which could be a long time,” Maria said.
“Granted.”
“Your honor, my client knows many of the people currently behind bars. If the court locks him away with them, his life is in danger. He has already been attacked by people bearing a grudge. We have submitted several petitions for relief.”
“I did see that,” the judge said. “Extremely disturbing.”
“Would the court consider coupling the electronic bracelet requirement with a daily visit with a bail officer?”
Dan looked up at her. Daily?
The judge considered. “That would leave him little time to fly to Argentina. Madame Prosecutor?”
Garfield shook her head. “It only takes a few minutes to get to the airport and fly anywhere. Or to drive to Miami and disappear on a cruise ship. Or to walk into the Everglades and never return.”
“My client would never do that,” Maria said, “and with respect, I think my worthy opponent knows that. Dan is more likely to launch his own private investigation to find the true culprit.”
Garfield rolled her eyes. “Yes, as I recall, O.J. also launched an investigation into who really committed the murders. Oddly enough, he didn’t turn up anything.”
Maria fumed. “Are you kidding me? This case is about as far—”
The judge raised her palm. “Counsel. Let’s keep this professional.”
Maria tucked in her chin. “Yes, your honor.”
“You do understand, Ms. Morales, that even if I were inclined to set bail, it would be for an extremely high amount.”
“Of course.”
“Like, perhaps, a million dollars.”
Maria did not blink. “Understood.”
“Could your client post that? I don’t think you’ll find a bondsman willing to help.”
“I have talked with the head of our firm, your honor, and he has assured us that he will post the funds. Whatever it takes. And there is precedent for this. If I may remind the court, when Mayor Pérez was charged with murder—”
“The first time,” Garfield said dryly.
“—the court allowed her to post bail. She was released and wore an ankle bracelet. And she did indeed appear for trial.”
“And will again, no doubt,” Garfield murmured in a withering tone. “Your honor, the fact that the defendant consorts with and conspired with someone facing capital charges for the second time only shows what a dangerous idea this is.”
“If I may remind the court,” Maria said firmly, “the mayor was found not guilty after it became perfectly clear that she had been wrongly accused. The actual culprit has since been convicted and sentenced. That came close to being a hideous miscarriage of justice. And this will be too if we don’t—”
“Stop. Right there,” the judge said. For the first time, she looked perturbed. “We are not going to try the case during this hearing.”
“I’m sorry, your honor.” Dan could see the desperation in Maria’s eyes. She was losing this hearing and she knew it. “But the test is supposed to be whether the defendant poses a flight risk or a threat to the community. And the answer here is clearly in the negative. Dan will appear for trial. I guarantee it. He poses no threat to anyone. He has been a law-abiding citizen his entire life.”
“Until now,” Garfield said.
“He has no grudges. No enmity. No—No—”
Dan sprung to his feet. “Your honor. May I be heard?”
Maria’s head whipped around. The what-are-you-doing expression was all too easy to read.
“Mr. Pike, you are represented by counsel.”
“I know. But as the court is aware, I am an attorney myself.”
“And the lawyer who represents himself has—”
“Yes, I know the aphorism. And my lawyer is doing a fine job. But I wanted to expand briefly on one point, with the court’s indulgence.”
The judge shrugged. “You do have the right to speak on your own behalf. For better or for worse.”
“Thank you, your honor. Ms. Morales mentioned that if freed, I would likely investigate the case on my own. She’s absolutely right about that. And this wouldn’t be a PR ploy. Nothing against the fourth estate, but in my experience, you get more work done and gather more information when you stay out of the papers. I might be able to contribute something.”
“Or stir up a lot of dust,” Garfield said, her voice more forceful than before. “Your honor, this man has been charged based upon compelling evidence. Any so-called investigation can only be seen as a smokescreen to create doubt in the minds of potential jurors.”
“That’s simply not true,” Dan said.
“This defendant has a history of courtroom trickery and theatrics.”
“What I have a history of,” Dan said firmly, “is success. Of getting the job done. In many cases, not only exonerating my client but uncovering the true offender. I was the one who solved the Coleman murder.”
“I did read about that,” the judge said quietly.
“When I represented Gabriella Valdez, I not only proved she had been framed, I identified the murderer.”
“Yes.” The judge nodded.
“And the case I’m most proud of,” Dan added, “was several years ago. I investigated the murder of young Nancy Rockwell, a fifteen-year old girl who was abducted, abused, and killed on her way home from school.”
The judge’s eyes lifted.
“I don’t mean to toot my own horn. But I will say that if I hadn’t investigated, it’s possible that young girl’s parents would never have found the solace they so desperately sought.” He looked into the judge’s eyes, straight and direct. “This is my promise. I will not flee. I will not threaten anyone. I will investigate this case and I will find out who murdered our district attorney. The cops have stopped investigating. There is no chance they will discover what happened. But I will.” He drew in his breath. “If the court gives me a chance.”
Judge Hembeck stared back at him, tapping a ballpoint pen against her desk. “You will submit to wearing an electronic ankle bracelet?”
“Gladly.”
“And you will check in with your bail officer every weekday?”
“I will.”
The judge thought another moment. “Very well. Bail is set in the amount of one million dollars. The defendant will not be released until it is paid in full and the funds are verified. The conditions of his release will be laid out in my written ruling.”
Garfield started to speak, but the judge cut her off. “The prosecution’s objections are noted for the record.” She hammered her gavel. “This hearing is adjourned.”
* * *
Before the marshals came for Dan, Maria sat him down in a chair and leaned into him. “In the first place, Mr. Defendant, if you ever try anything like that again—”
He held up his hands. “I’m sorry. But it did seem to work.”
“I would’ve gotten us there. You didn’t give me a chance.”
“I’m used to being the lawyer, not the client.”
She exhaled slowly. “This is a difficult change of pace for both of us.” She pondered a moment. “And who was Nancy Rockwell? I don’t remember that case.”
“Several years before we started working together. When I was still with Friedman & Collins. The DA charged some poor loser who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Had a tendency to hang around schoolyards looking at girls.”
“Sounds like a creeper.”
“Which is why no one would represent him. But he wasn’t a murderer. Which is why I did. Spent months on that case.”
“Got him off?”
“And eventually found the killer. Didn’t bring Nancy back, of course. But it helped a lot of people sleep better.”
Maria squinted. “And you decided to bring this up today because...why?”
He hesitated. “What’s the most important thing to know before you enter the courtroom?”
“What is this, Jeopardy? Fine, I’ll take a guess. Know the law?”
“Know the judge.”
“You’re lucky she even remembered that Rockwell case.”
He lowered his voice. “Nancy Rockwell lived in Tampa. So did the judge, remember?” He paused. “Nancy Rockwell was her niece.”
Chapter 10
Dan had always admired the Snell Isle mansion they called their office, but never more so than today. Forget the luxurious appointments, the fine-trimmed lawn, the palm trees, the pink adobe finish. Forget the fabulous kitchen and his private office upstairs. This place represented sanctuary. The press could not invade, the enemies could not penetrate. He could be safe, if only for a little while.
This was a place where, he hoped, he could lie down for a moment and try to get his heart to stop pounding like a piston. He had to control his fear.
What he needed was a plan, some line of attack, some angle for restoring his name.
“Glad to be back?” Maria asked as she parked the Jag out front.
“Very much so,” he murmured. “But to be fair, any place that doesn’t have bars would be a significant improvement.”
He stepped inside. He hadn’t taken five steps before Jimmy encircled him in a huge bear hug. “I am so glad you’re out of there. I was worried.”
“No need for that,” Dan said, his face a happy mask. “I can handle myself.”
“If that were true, you wouldn’t’ve been in there.”
A valid point. “Thanks for coming to visit.”
“Maria said Crenshaw got in there. Tried to hurt you.”
“Tried. Didn’t succeed,” he replied, lying through his teeth. He’d already made a doctor’s appointment.
“Thank God. You were lucky. That man hates your guts.”
“There’s a lot of that going around these days.” He walked toward the kitchen. “Has anyone heard anything about Camila? I’m worried about her.”
Garrett sat at his usual spot at the kitchen bar. Today, instead of the keyboards he loved to play, he was hunched over a laptop. “She’s still behind bars. I’m sorry, Dan.”
The aching inside his heart intensified. “That makes no sense. I get out but my co-defendant doesn’t?”
“In the first place,” Garrett explained, “she’s not your co-defendant anymore. The two actions have been bifurcated.”
“Why?”
Maria cleared her throat. “That was done on my motion, actually.” She averted her eyes. “Better to split the cases now. We can’t assume that you’re both in the same situation. Remember, she’s a public figure. A politician. She carries a lot of baggage that wouldn’t necessarily improve your situation.”
“Tell me she’s represented by counsel.”
“She is,” Garrett replied. “Gary Davenport.”
“Good. I trust him. Did he raise bail at her arraignment?”
“He did. It was denied.”
“Why?”
Garrett pivoted the laptop so Dan could see the screen. “In the first place, she had a different judge. For another, she does not have a spotless record, unlike you. She’s been down this road before, remember? The court could not appear to be playing favorites.”
“And,” Maria added quietly, “Camila never handled a case involving the judge’s niece.”
“This is completely unacceptable.” Dan leaned against the counter, his fingers white. “Garrett, call Mr. K. I’m sure he can pull some strings. There must be some way to get her out.”
Maria sighed heavily. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Dan.”
“Why not?”
“Because K thinks this is for the best. He prefers that Camila remain behind bars, at least for the time being.”
“Why?” He practically screamed, then regretted it. He was letting his feelings show, the sure sign of the non-professional. “I’m sorry. But can you please explain his train of thought?”
“K feels—and I might say, I agree with him—that there will be enough public outrage about the fact that you’re walking the streets. If both of you were free, it would be too much. People would cry foul, suggest some kind of corruption. Too much negative buzz could infect the jury pool.”
“So Camila rots in jail?”
“For now. Her lawyers will raise the issue again after the heat dies down. And K was absolutely right about the public reaction to your release from custody.”
“I’m wearing a damn ankle bracelet. I’m checking in with that bozo at the courthouse every day.”
“They don’t care.” Garrett punched a few keys, then brought up a new screen. “Not to depress you or anything. But you want to see what people are saying? Here’s a subReddit page completely devoted to your case. The Twitter stream is worse.”
He glanced over Garrett’s shoulder and read. “‘Money buys justice.’ ‘Rules don’t apply to lawyers.’” He continued scanning. “Can you use that kind of language on the internet?”
“On Reddit. These people aren’t using their real names anyway. If one account is shut down, they’ll open another. They don’t care. Just so they have an opportunity to share their uninformed opinions.”
Dan continued reading. “‘Sex-murder cult will continue.’ ‘Pike drank DA’s blood.’ Where is this coming from?”
“There’s no limit to the lies trolls will post on internet bulletin boards.”
He looked away from the screen. “I suppose I should thank them. They’re making my life much more interesting.”
“Please don’t start drinking blood,” Jimmy said. “It gives you diarrhea.”
“And you know this—how?”
Garrett drew in his breath. “I’m afraid there’s yet more bad news. The bar association has filed disciplinary proceedings against you.”
“They want my license to practice.”
“It’s standard procedure when a lawyer faces a serious offense. They have to keep up appearances. Nothing will happen until the jury delivers a verdict.”
“But if I lose, the bar will revoke my law license.”
“If you lose,” Garrett said quietly, “it won’t matter if you have a law license.”
Good point. “Okay, team. We need to get to work. Jimmy, time to call in all the favors. Contact—”
“Stop right there.” Maria strolled to the center of the three men. “Dan, I don’t know how else to say this, so I’m going to be blunt. You are not in charge here.”
“I was brought onto this team—”
“None of that matters today. You’re not the lawyer. You’re the defendant.”
“I’m the lawyer and the defendant.”
“No. You’re the sad sack who’s been slammed with trumped-up charges. You cannot represent yourself. That stunt you pulled at the bail hearing was the start and finish of you trying to wrest the reins. Like it or not, this time, I’m the team leader.”
He tucked in his chin. “Gee, Maria, tell me what you really think.”
“I just did.”
“And I concur,” Garrett said. Jimmy nodded aggressively.
“How quickly the worm turns.”
“Oh, stop being melodramatic,” Maria said. “We're right and you know it.”
“May I offer suggestions?”
“For the moment, no. I know where that leads. I’m perfectly capable of handling this, and I don’t want your constant interference. We’re both going to have to suck it up and play roles we don't like. You can’t be objective about your own defense.” She looked at him, blinking rapidly. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, Dan.”
“Like a lethal booster shot,” Jimmy added.
“Thanks for explaining. I wasn’t quite sure what she meant.”
“I won’t let that happen to you.” Maria said. “We need you.”
“Agreed,” Garrett added.
Dan cleared his throat. “I didn’t realize you all felt so—”
“I do not want to start a search for a new partner,” Garrett said. “Interviews, resumes. It’s a drag.”
Dan pursed his lips. “Well, I wouldn’t want to increase your workload...”
“He’s kidding you, Dan,” Maria said. “We all care about you.”
“I appreciate that. But—”
“There is no but,” she said firmly. “Listen. And don’t argue.”
“Fine.” He raised his hands in surrender. “What’s the plan, chief?”
She cleared her throat. “Jimmy, time to call in all the favors. Contact—”
“This sounds familiar.”
“Shut up. Contact everyone who might have any information about George Belasco. Who are his enemies? Who might have a motive? What has Sweeney been up to lately? Who has he been seen with? Jimmy, don’t you have a friend at the court clerk’s office?”
