Chapter 21
Nell couldn’t believe an hour passed by.
Henry made her and Rowan laugh so hard that her arrest was becoming fun.
Rowan promised he was in touch with Gator, and Sue Ellen and the kids were safe and well hidden.
That took most of the pressure off Nellie.
So, she laughed at the stories Henry told and about fell out of her chair when Henry described himself being a GILF.
There was a knock on the door and Nellie instantly tensed up. Rowan placed his hand on her shoulder and Nell took a deep breath. Here goes nothing—well, everything.
Granger opened the door, his lips tilted up in a smirk.
He gave a slight nod to Henry and Henry’s smile widened.
“It’s go time,” Henry told her. “Don’t say a word unless I ask you directly by starting with your name.
If I ask you anything without starting with your name, just know it’s rhetorical and don’t reply. Don’t even nod. Got it?”
Nell nodded and Rowan placed his hand on the small of her back as they were led out into the middle of the open office space, close to where Tristan had filled out her paperwork earlier, then out into the lobby where Robbie Payne was standing.
Tristan and Josiah weren’t around, so Nell guessed Josiah was visiting Micah in jail.
“If you’re the lawyer, I can’t wait to see your briefs,” Henry said to Robbie Payne who was standing in the lobby. Robbie’s umber skin darkened with embarrassment as he blinked at Henry as if he’d never seen anyone quite like him before. “Henry Rooney, Miss Hale’s attorney.”
Robbie shook Henry’s hand. “Strong,” Henry said, giving Robbie a wink. “I bet you can really handle a gavel.”
Robbie sputtered. Nell almost burst out laughing. Robbie had played high school football and was still in shape. He was no stranger to women hitting on him. A fellow male attorney in a gold sparkling suit? Well, that must be a new one.
“Robbie Payne. Prosecutor for Holland Springs. Sheriff Faust called me in to oversee Miss Hale’s transfer back to Holland Springs.”
“I actually wanted to talk to you about that,” Henry said, opening his briefcase, and handing Robbie some papers.
“Motion for Change in Venue? On what grounds?” Robbie asked with surprise.
“Oh, it’s all in there.”
Robbie started reading then he glanced down at Nellie’s arm. He must have gotten to the part about Micah grabbing her. There was a bruise forming. Henry had added that part about ten minutes ago when the bruise began to darken.
The door opened and Nell looked with surprise as a judge walked in, wearing a full robe and all. “Judge Fuller,” Granger said. “Thank you for coming down. We have a bit of a situation with the venue.”
“Whoa,” Robbie said, holding up his hand. “No offense, but your local judge has no jurisdiction in this case.”
“What’s going on?” Judge Fuller, who had a full head of white hair, asked.
Granger gave him a brief summary. “That is a bit of a legal pickle,” Judge Fuller said as Robbie started defending the motion even though Judge Fuller didn’t have jurisdiction. “And you fear for your client’s safety?” Judge Fuller asked Henry.
“Yes, your honor.”
“Let’s take care of this now. Everyone is here, aren’t they?” Judge Fuller looked around.
“Sheriff Faust is here and I would bet my favorite briefcase that Ingram Faust is on his way. I just need to gather my witnesses, but they can be here in five minutes,” Henry said.
“Call them, and get Sheriff Faust and Ingram Faust. Let’s go up to my courtroom and videocall in Judge Harnett over in Holland Springs.”
Granger gently placed his hand on her shoulder. “Right this way, Miss Hale. Brenda, will you escort Sheriff Faust to Judge Fuller’s courtroom?”
“If I have to,” Brenda grumbled.
Nell wanted to ask what was going on, but Henry told her not to say a word, so she took it to heart. Rowan linked his fingers with hers in silent support as they walked up the grand staircase leading to the second floor, which was where the judges’ chambers and courtrooms were.
“Janelle,” Judge Fuller said to the pretty assistant who was eying Robbie with appreciation. “Can you set up a court recording with Judge Harnett over in Holland Springs?”
“Sure thing, Judge.” Janelle’s warm tawny skin blushed slightly when Robbie smiled at her. She picked up her phone and got to work getting everything set up as Judge Fuller led them into his courtroom.
“Mr. Payne, you can take the prosecutor’s table. Mr. Rooney, the defense table is yours.”
A couple of minutes later, Janelle came in and set up the cameras and recording microphones. “All set, Judge.”
“What’s going on?” Sheriff Faust demanded as he entered the courtroom with Ingram Faust right behind him.
Olivia, Wade Faulkner, and Mrs. McDougal from Holland Springs entered quietly right behind him and took a seat in the last row of the courtroom.
But it wasn’t the witnesses Nellie was watching.
It was the shit-eating grin on Ingram’s face as he took a seat in the first row, right behind his cousin and the prosecutor.
Robbie and Sheriff Faust got into a heated whispering debate until a large screen came to life and was filled with Judge Harnett.
He was similar in age to Judge Fuller. Harnett smiled.
“Fuller! How are you doing? Are you getting your strokes down? We have to get ready for the bar’s golf tournament.
I’m going to take you down this year. Now, what’s going on? ”
“I’m down two strokes and coming for you,” Judge Fuller joked.
“Now, onto the reason for the official call. I have no skin in the game here but I thought I’d save you and your guys some time with a hearing.
My sheriff has a lady here with a warrant for her arrest issued in your county.
Her attorney is here and already served your prosecutor, Mr. Payne, with a motion to change venue to here in Shadows Landing.
Figured we’d do this now instead of transporting a prisoner back and forth. ”
“Sure thing. Mr. Payne, what case do we have so I can pull the file? Do you have all your witnesses there?” Judge Harnett asked.
“Nellie Katherine Hale, your honor. For her assault against Ingram Faust. I believe you signed off on the warrant. All parties are here, sir.”
“Ah, yes. I remember. Let me get that file.” Nellie was sitting at the table next to Henry.
Up on the large screen was Judge Harnett, both tables, and an empty witness box.
Nellie tried not to stare at the cameras even though she felt self-conscious about the whole thing.
She didn’t understand how they’d arranged this, but she had a better chance at getting the hearing out of Holland Springs with Judge Fuller observing.
“Okay, got it. Who is representing Miss Hale?”
“Henry Rooney, sir.”
Judge Harnett nodded as his assistant handed him some papers.
“Ah, your motion. Thank you for sending that to our clerk. We got it stamped,” he said, holding it up so they could see where it was submitted electronically.
Judge Harnett read over the motion without reaction.
Then he stated the court case number and name and that a motion had been filed. “Mr. Rooney, make your case.”
Henry laid out his case. None of which went to her guilt or innocence, just how it was clear she couldn’t get a fair trial in a town where the named victim was a sitting judge, who was related to the mayor and the sheriff, and thus presented a conflict of interest. He stated so many court cases that supported his case that the judge ended up shushing him.
“Yes, I see them all listed here, Mr. Rooney. Mr. Payne, your response?”
“Judge Ingram is the victim here, not Miss Hale,” Robbie argued, but it was clear the law wasn’t on his side.
“Seems like an open and shut one, Harnett,” Judge Fuller said from the bench where he’d been listening.
Nellie was wondering why the witnesses were here since this seemed to be nothing but a technicality.
She would love for Ingram to drop dead instead of smirking at her as if he knew he was about to destroy her.
It was obvious Judge Harnett didn’t like what he’d read or heard though, and that was in her favor. “Miss Hale, can I see the injury?”
Nellie lifted her arm where the bruise had continued to darken.
“Your honor, I also have video of the incident and you can clearly hear Micah Faust threatening that Ingram Faust will guarantee that my client will not get a fair trial in Holland Springs,” Henry said. “Can I play it for the record?”
Robbie objected, but the judge had to let Henry play it after Henry called Wade Faulkner to the stand to swear he was the one who provided the video from his museum’s surveillance cameras. The video played until Henry turned it off with Micah’s threat still echoing in the room.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Payne. After that stunt, there’s no way I can keep this case in Holland Springs. The case for Nellie Hale’s warrant and assault of Ingram Faust will be moved to Shadows Landing. Judge Fuller, can you take this case on?”
“Only for you,” Judge Fuller told him with a wink. The two were obviously friends. “Sign the order and send it over right now. I might as well get started on it since Miss Hale is currently in custody.”
The video feed was cut, and Nellie wanted to ask Henry what was going on, but he very subtly shook his head at her before turning to the judge. “Your honor, we’re prepared to hold a hearing on the validity of the warrant, which, I think, will answer your question about bail for my client.”
Henry handed more paperwork to both Mr. Payne and the judge.
“Mr. Payne,” Judge Fuller said to the prosecutor. “You argued for this warrant, correct?”
“I did, sir.”
Judge Fuller read the motions and nodded. “Mr. Rooney, you’re claiming a bond hearing should not be heard since the warrant is invalid based on a false claim from Judge Faust?”
“That’s correct, sir.” Henry stood and Nell startled when Ingram jumped up.