Chapter 7
Sunday truly had been a day of rest, punctuated only by tender lovemaking between him and Shana.
Kimble had gotten Dane out of jail since he hadn’t been charged yet.
Special Agent Richards tried questioning Dane, but he said nothing.
Literally not one word. Dane was hoping Richards would smack him, but the agent, as frustrated as he was, wasn’t that dumb.
So when Monday morning came around, Dane and Shana were ready. For court.
The moment Dane arrived, before the jury was assembled, the clerk had them all parade into Judge Katz’s chambers. Kimble, Dane, DA Philimino, and Special Agent Richards went inside and the clerk closed the door. The court officer stood just inside.
“I would tell you to have a seat, but I don’t have enough chairs to go around, so you can all remain standing. Except you, Mr. Blaise. You may sit.” She indicated the chair opposite her and he took it. The others stood behind and around him so that he felt like they were his entourage.
“Your Honor,” Philimino said, “we’re here to add charges of obstruction of justice to Mr. Blaise’s counts and to request a new bail hearing in light of—”
“Did Mr. Blaise break his bail agreement?” she asked with false politeness. Dane didn’t bother turning to see Richards’s face.
“Not strictly speaking,” Philimino said.
“Then your request for a new bail hearing is denied. Tell me about the incident that’s given rise to your added charges. I’ll decide if we need to go to a grand jury on the matter.”
“I want to go on the record as objecting—”
“Can it, Philimino.” Judge Katz turned to Dane. “Perhaps you can tell me what this is all about.”
“Your Honor, if I may—” Agent Richards began.
“No, you may not. You’ll have your turn to speak when I say so. You’re being rude as well as out of order.”
Dane allowed a small smile before beginning his explanation.
“Governor Peter John Douglas asked me and a few others to look into a threat received by his wife recently.” That’s as far as she got before Richards started coughing and Katz glared at him.
“I understand you’re a private detective, or have been for the past several years, headquartered on this island.
I might remark that your caseload seems highly volatile, leading to major upheaval on the island, including the explosion of your home.
” Katz paused. Dane didn’t like the direction she was going with this observation.
Though he couldn’t argue with it, even if she weren’t the judge in his murder trial.
“Maybe it’s time for you to consider a new line of work, at least for the duration of this trial.”
“Judge, my client has requested he be allowed to move to a new, safer location, to the Gables’.
He will continue with his curfew of midnight and be back at that location by midnight every night.
Since it’s highly likely that he will be found not guilty of this crime, it would be only fair and just that he not be unnecessarily penalized while he’s on trial. ”
“I object, Your Honor. Kimble knows better than to presume a judgment of not guilty. It’s up to the jury—”
Katz put up a hand to stop Philimino from going on. Richards looked like he was about to explode.
“Mr. District Attorney, I’m fully aware of the legalities and the jury’s role.
And yet, as you may recall, Mr. Blaise is to remain innocent until proven guilty and his ankle bracelet and curfew are only meant to prevent him from fleeing to avoid conviction.
In fact, I can’t help but think Ms. Kimble and Mr. Blaise’s very confidence in his case is further assurance that he won’t be fleeing the island. ”
Philimino said nothing, but Richards spoke up.
“Your Honor, if I may—”
“No, you may not. In fact, I’m not even sure why you’re in here.”
“It’s our investigation that Mr. Blaise has interfered in.”
“Don’t interrupt me again or I’ll bar you from the courtroom,” Katz said. But Dane knew she was going to listen to the rat.
“In what way do you allege that Mr. Blaise interfered? It’s my understanding that you made an arrest.”
“Yes, however Mr. Blaise was there when we got there and—”
“I see. I think I’ve heard enough.”
“But—”
Katz banged the small decorative gavel on her desk.
“That’s enough, Agent Richards. I’m not going to waste the court’s time because your ego’s been bruised.” She rose. Dane rose and everyone in the room kept quiet.
Dane would have kissed Judge Katz if he wasn’t pretty sure he’d end up in jail for that sooner than he would for murder.
“Let’s get on with the trial.” Katz watched while they all filed out of her chambers and back into the courtroom.
Once they were all back in the courtroom and the court officer escorted the jurors to their seats in the jury box, he announced the judge and she entered the court and took her seat at the bench. Katz glanced around and banged her gavel.
The courtroom was filled to capacity today with more media than there should be unless someone was spinning the case to make it more interesting or newsworthy than it was.
But then he remembered Shana was a key player and the media loved murder trials when someone beautiful and photogenic was involved.
Today Shana would testify. The idea calmed him.
Philimino went first with his opening statement and Kimble deferred, whispering to Dane that she’d save her steam for the closing. No sense giving away her case to the opposition before they started.
Dane ought to be nervous but he wasn’t. The only thing that bothered him was not having Shana sitting next to him, not having her to touch, to keep him grounded. To keep the despair at bay.
It was no surprise that Philimino called Cap for his first witness. The surprise was that the sting was still so sharp.