Chapter 10
Hudson
“I’m sorry, Judge Armstrong, but the case is out of my hands and has been.” Jasmine Guthrie was a highly respected prosecutor, her win percentage respectable. Although at the time of the trial, I’d been surprised the state attorney hadn’t put a more seasoned attorney on the case.
My concerns had made me question whether her placement had been to provide the defense a higher chance of beating the charges. That might have occurred had it not been for Valentina’s strong testimony. Even those with promised security and identity protection often caved in such heinous cases.
Especially since Luis Delgado had gone on television and issued a threat to anyone who dared try to prosecute his employees.
Employees, my ass. His statement had been broadcast on every station and captured on social media before a gag order could be issued.
Valentina had seen his violent outbursts and to her credit hadn’t crumbled.
Maybe that’s why I was being forced to curtail my anger and with every passing second, it was becoming more and more difficult.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Jasmine was doing her best to avoid eye contact as she shoved files into her briefcase. “The case is out of my hands. I have no clue whether or not the DA is going to file a new case himself, but the ball is in his court. Not mine.”
If she thought she was going to shove me aside, she was dead wrong.
“I heard the issue with the first case was tampering of evidence. How was that possible? You assured me more than once you had every ‘t’ crossed.”
“Someone made a mistake and tainted the evidence.”
She was visibly nervous, her hands shaking. “What aren’t you telling me, Miss Guthrie?”
Perhaps she hadn’t been prepared for me to confront her. When she darted a quick look toward her open door, I took a deep breath.
“Who’s threatening you?”
“No one.” Said much too quickly. “I was told he was being released and why. I can’t tell you anything else. It’s completely out of my hands.”
“You do realize that places you as well as everyone who worked on the case in harm’s way.”
“I seriously doubt Mr. Jones would risk returning to a federal prison.”
She was doing her best to pretend the situation wasn’t dangerous.
“Except Mr. Jones issued an open and direct threat in court.”
“I’ll be fine. He was spouting off like every criminal does when angry.” Who in the hell did she think she was going to convince? Certainly not me.
When I crowded her space, her voice and breath hitched at the same time, her eyes opening wide with almost the same fear that I’d seen in Valentina’s eyes.
“Let me tell you something, Jasmine. Do you remember the witness, Jane Smith?” I purposely wasn’t using her real name since I could count on one hand the number of people who were supposed to know it.
“Yes. Yes, of course. I contacted her personally to let her know.”
“Well, she’s been threatened. Now, we don’t know by whom exactly because he’s being very careful to stalk her in the shadows and leaving cryptic threats on her vehicle, but the timing is suspicious since it began the day after the Undertaker was released from prison.
I’m not a betting man, but if I was, I’d say our boy has a grudge. Wouldn’t you?”
She had no idea how to answer me. Maybe I couldn’t blame her at this point. Except she was hiding something from me.
“That’s terrible.”
“Yes, it is and as you might imagine, I can’t allow the threats to continue.
I also need to know how in the fuck her information was leaked.
That was confidential with the highest level of security clearance.
That certainly puts a very bad taste in my mouth and when that happens, I become very angry. ”
She wasn’t used to seeing me this way. No one was.
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
Deep breaths were necessary before I could continue.
“If you know anything, Jasmine, I suggest you tell me. If I discover there was any impropriety regarding his release, then everyone involved will be complicit in the crime punishable by time spent in prison. And I assure you that when it allows order and truth to prevail, I’m like a dog to a bone. ”
I backed away on purpose, giving her air.
The ball was in her court.
With a look of confusion on her face, she nodded and moved around me to shut the door to her office.
“You didn’t hear this from me, Judge Armstrong, but from what I’ve heard through the grapevine, the DA was pressured.
By whom I do not know. I’m telling you the truth.
I assure you that I stormed into Mr. Moore’s office demanding answers as soon as I heard the news.
He was visibly shaken as well. While he did a commendable job at attempting to shove aside my fears, I had a sense he was highly anxious. ”
As the man should be. Who in the hell was pushing him into going against the oath he’d taken to uphold the law?
“And I assure you that there was nothing wrong with my case against Mr. Jones. I’m good at what I do.”
“I believe you. That’s all I need to know, Jasmine. I’ll give you a piece of advice. I’d distance yourself from having to do anything with the case or with Mr. Jones. Do you understand? I’d even consider taking a few days off.”
The look in her eyes was now one of relief. “Yes, sir. I completely understand.”
“I hope you do because we could have blood on our streets.”
I headed out of her office straight to Dan Moore’s. The state attorney and I had been buddies for a long time, although I wouldn’t consider us close. We’d had a couple of beers, had shot a few baskets, and compared notes to various cases when appropriate.
As soon as I walked toward his open door, he saw me, immediately shaking his head. I didn’t give him the option of saying no, stepping inside and shutting the door behind me.
“What in the hell is going on, Dan? Just so you know, I’m not in the mood to take any shit. Not today.”
He scoffed. “You never are, buddy. How are you?”
“Let’s skip the shit. What in the fuck happened with Jones?”
“Who?”
He appeared terrified when I took three long strides toward him. “I’m serious about the mood I’m in. I had a very terrified young lady drop by my house insisting she was in danger and being followed. Or what I would call being stalked in a threatening manner.”
“What? You’re shitting me.”
“Do you think that’s something I’d kid about? Now, spill it. You were the one who signed off on his release. Right? You were the one who mentioned tampering of evidence. Yes?”
“Actually, no. That was the Florida attorney general. I was just following orders. That’s it.”
Exhaling, I took pride in being able to know when someone was telling a lie. That made for a better judge of character. He wasn’t.
Yet even in his eyes, there was some fear.
“Then I guess I’ll need to have a chat with Mr. Worthington. And I assure you that he won’t like what I have to say.”
Before I made it to the door, Dan was right behind me. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“And why is that?”
He didn’t answer me right away. Because of that, my patience was shot. I spun on him fast, backing him against his desk. I stopped short of throwing a punch, but given I was a few inches taller, the intimidation factor worked to my benefit.
“Jesus. What the fuck is going on with you? You’ve never been this way. It’s one case. You’ve ruled on hundreds, dozens just as horrible as the one with Jacob Jones.”
“It was my case. There was no tampering of evidence and you fucking know it. There are two attorneys and their assistants potentially in danger, twelve jurors whose lives are in peril. Now, from what I understand, they were all given a warning that Jones had been freed. Only from what it seems, a couple days after and not before. Thank God, the jurors’ and the witness’ names and contact information have been kept confidential.
Or have they?” I stopped talking and calmed my fucking rage.
If it went any further, I’d cross the line with a man I thought I could trust above reproach.
He closed his eyes, his entire body tense.
“You know it’s funny how my phone number and email have been the same for years, yet I wasn’t afforded the same courtesy, Dan.
Plus, there’s a witness still alive and trying to enjoy her life without fearing a madman stalking her and her little girl.
The fact that Jones is out of prison, and the case likely not going to be retried is infuriating and unacceptable.
I don’t know about you, but when I took an oath, it was to uphold the law. That’s what I’m going to do.”
Once again, I was almost out the door. “Worthington is in bed with Delgado.”
The news did surprise me. Of all the people I’d worked with over the years, I’d thought for certain James Worthington was one of the good guys. I guess at this point nothing should surprise me any longer. “How deep?”
“Deep enough to consider him someone you don’t want to piss off. I don’t ask questions any longer and you shouldn’t either. Just know this case is going nowhere.”
“He threatened you.”
“Oh, hell, no. James Worthington wouldn’t dare get his hands dirty. He’s damn good at hiding his tracks. Trust me, I’ve tried to find evidence on him but no longer. It’s not worth it. I prefer breathing to fighting a losing battle.”
“What did Delgado do to you, Dan? Or was it that you were encouraged to back away?” I had to know the truth. I tipped my head over my shoulder. I could tell he was embarrassed.
Even his hands were shaking.
“Goddamn it, Hudson. I thought we were friends.”
It was painfully apparent whatever Worthington was involved with was worth killing over.
“Talk, Dan, or I’ll have you up for review with the Florida bar and you know I won’t hesitate.”