Chapter 15
Fifteen
It took eight tedious, painful, endless days to empanel the jury.
In the end, Michael got exactly what he expected—six jurors perfectly suited to the prosecution, six perfectly suited to the defense, and two alternates who could go either way.
He worried about the Italian grandmother the defense managed to secure.
If she saw one of her own precious grandsons in either of the Benedettis, she could be enough to hang the jury.
But whenever he felt the need to worry, Michael reminded himself of how strong their case was.
Regardless of their ages, races, occupations, or built-in biases, the jurors were most likely rational people who, when presented with the facts of the case and Rachelle’s eyewitness testimony, would have no choice but to convict. At least he hoped so.
He always experienced these jitters on the eve of a trial, but this one was different and had been from the beginning.
It wasn’t just that it had received national media attention.
No, it was that the hopes of a lot of people were resting on his shoulders.
Three devastated families and the larger community were looking to him for closure.
He wanted that for the families and for Rachelle, who lost her childhood on that fateful night.
But Michael admitted he wanted it for himself, too.
He wanted to win every case he tried and for the most part he had, but he wanted this one badly.
At times, he felt like everything in his life had led him to this moment, and he hoped he was up to the awesome task.
The Sunday afternoon before he was due to deliver his opening, Michael and Juliana went to meet with Rachelle and her mother.
Rachelle had been moved to a hotel in Annapolis to put her in closer proximity to the courthouse.
This visit was business, and Juliana had been uncomfortable about joining him until he told her Rachelle had asked for her.
“Guess who called me today?” Michael said as they traveled south on Interstate 97 to Annapolis. The fall foliage was at its peak in the late afternoon sunlight.
“Larry King? Nancy Grace?”
“Yes to both, but that’s not who I mean. Derek Gantley, the Florida attorney general.”
“Oh, he’s the one who offered you the job, right?”
“Uh huh.”
“What did he want?”
“Just to wish me luck with the trial and to remind me of his offer. Imagine his surprise when I mentioned I was no longer engaged to Paige.”
“He didn’t know?”
“Nope. He surprised me, though, when he said the offer’s still on the table.”
“That must’ve made you feel good.”
Michael shrugged. “I guess. I told him I’m hardly thinking about my career right now, but thanks for calling, blah, blah, blah.” As he took the Annapolis exit, Michael was hit with a slew of memories of all the time he spent there with Paige. It must have shown on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
She reached for his hand. “Tell me.”
“I spent a lot of time here with Paige when her father was at the Naval Academy.”
Juliana put her other hand on top of his.
He appreciated that she knew when to say nothing.
“You know, I’ve been thinking,” Michael said, wanting to change the subject.
“I don’t have court next Friday because Judge Stein has to deal with some procedural stuff in the trial he has after this one.
Barring any unforeseen crises, I may have three whole days off.
I was thinking about a quick trip home to Rhode Island. ”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
“Will you come with me?”
Startled, Juliana looked over at him. “I don’t know, Michael…”
“Please? I won’t go if you don’t come with me.”
“That’s crazy! Why not?”
“I’m not leaving you alone at my house for three days during this trial. No way.”
“I thought you weren’t worried about any trouble.”
“I’m not leaving you there, Juliana. Come with me. Come on.”
She smiled at the face he made as he pleaded with her. “I am not saying yes, but I will tell you I’m off next Friday and Saturday because Jeremy was supposed to be home.”
“Yes! You’re coming.”
“I didn’t say yes!” she said, laughing.
He pulled the car off the road.
“What are you doing?”
“This.” He reached for her and kissed her with the frustration that came from ten days of doing his best to keep his distance from her. Weaving his fingers into her hair to keep her still, he sent his tongue to find hers.
Her arms closed around him.
“I tried, Juliana,” he whispered. “But I can’t resist you. I think about you all the time. I dream about you.”
“Michael.” This time she reached for him.
After several long, hot minutes, he pulled away from her with great regret. “I’ve never wished for a backseat in this car as much as I do right at this moment.”
“And what do you think would be happening by the side of the road in broad daylight if you had a backseat?”
He gave her a meaningful look as he kissed her hand and then her mouth. “You make my heart pound,” he said against her lips. “And you’ve succeeded in changing my memories of Annapolis.”
With a chuckle, she pushed him back into the driver’s seat. “You have a meeting. Drive.”
He exhaled a long, frustrated deep breath and eased the car onto the highway.
Juliana sat next to Rachelle as Michael spelled out a change in their trial strategy. “We’re putting the victims’ friends who saw the fight in the arcade on first, followed by the detectives, and then the ballistics guys. We’ve decided to put you on last, Rachelle.”
“I thought you said she’d be first,” said Rachelle’s mother, Monique, her stunning black face tight with aggravation.
“We’ve given this a lot of thought,” Michael explained. “We think the case is stronger if Rachelle’s testimony is the last thing the jurors hear before the prosecution rests.”
Knowing Monique’s histrionics got on his nerves, Juliana gave him credit for being so patient with her. When Monique stood up to pace the room, Juliana squeezed Rachelle’s hand. She had noticed in previous visits that Rachelle lost some of her sparkle when her overwrought mother was around.
“I haven’t seen my husband and sons in seven weeks,” Monique complained. “It’s been even longer for Rachelle. You’re sure we have to do it this way? You could call her first and we’d be out of here tomorrow.”
Michael stood up to face her. “I wouldn’t ask it of you—either of you—if I wasn’t sure it was the best way to proceed.
” He moved over to squat down in front of Rachelle, taking both of her hands in his.
“Sweetheart, I know this has been so hard, and you’ve been incredibly brave.
I’m asking for just a little while longer—one more week, maybe two. Can you do that for me?”
Watching him handle the teenager with such infinite gentleness, Juliana felt all her defenses slip away and the door to her heart open to him. She loved him. It was suddenly as clear to her as anything she had ever known in her life.
Rachelle’s big brown eyes were bright with tears, but she nodded. “I can do it for you.”
“That’s my girl.”
They visited with Rachelle for another half hour before Michael said they had to go.
He hugged Rachelle and told her the next time he saw her would be in court.
“Just remember what we’ve talked about. Answer only the questions you’re asked, don’t offer anything extra, and don’t look at them except for when I ask you to identify them, okay? ”
She nodded.
He kissed her cheek. “You’re going to be just fine. You’re my slam dunk, and don’t you forget it.”
“I won’t,” she said with a smile. “Michael?”
“Yeah?”
“Get ’em,” she said softly. “Just make sure you get ’em.”
“I will.”
Juliana hugged the girl. “I’m so glad I got to know you, Rachelle.”
“Thank you,” Rachelle said. “Thank you so much for being my friend.”
“I’m proud to call you my friend.” Juliana folded the girl into one more hug before Michael took her hand to lead her from the room.
Monique followed them into the hallway, closing the door to Rachelle’s room behind her. “Michael?”
He dropped Juliana’s hand and turned to Monique.
“Promise me nothing’s going to happen to my baby,” Monique said, blinking back tears.
Michael put his hand on her arm. “The Baltimore Police chief has made the full resources of the department available to us during the trial. You have my word that nothing’s going to happen to her.”
Monique squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry for what your family’s been through. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it was worth it.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“It’ll be over soon. Stay strong for her, Monique.”
“I’m doing my best.”
When they got back to his car, Michael surprised Juliana when he said, “Let’s go out to dinner.”
“Do you have time?”
“I need to get my mind off it for a while. Help me?”
“Of course. But before we change the subject, I have to tell you that you handled them beautifully. Both of them.”
“Do you think so?”
The insecurity on his face touched her. “I do.”
“Thanks.”
“No trial talk for…” she checked her watch, “three hours. Deal?”
He leaned over to kiss her. “Deal.”
They went to the Chart House on the Annapolis waterfront and talked about everything but the trial and even managed to avoid talking about Jeremy and Paige. Michael was putting his credit card back in his wallet when an elderly couple approached their table.
“Mr. Maguire?” the woman asked.
“Yes.” He stood up to shake their outstretched hands.
“We just wanted to wish you well with the trial,” the man said. “All of Maryland is pulling for you, young man.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Enjoy your dinner and your pretty young lady,” the woman added.
Michael smiled. “I will, thank you.” After they walked away, he extended his hand to Juliana to help her up.
“I’m dining with a celebrity,” Juliana teased.
He put his arm around her. “Shut up.”
They were still laughing as they walked the dock that led to the parking lot.
“Juliana?”