Chapter 20
CHAPTER
After the arraignment of Bria Gaines, I made my escape. Ran from that courthouse like a coward.
Didn’t exit through the front door, though.
I’m no fool. I figured the press would be jockeying for prime position in front of the courthouse, hungry for some footage of the key figures in the case of State v.
Bria Gaines. I’d come to terms with my new reality, understood that I was more newsworthy than I used to be.
That’s why I headed for the back door, keeping my head down. Almost made it. Stood an arm’s length away from the exit when Earl Hodge, the mayor of Union Springs, popped out of the probate office.
“Judge Mary! Hold on, I need a minute!”
He hustled up to me and grabbed my arm, right above the elbow.
What the hell?
I stared at his hand for a moment and then raised my eyes, fixed them on his. He got the message. Let go of me, took a step back. Thrust his offending hand into a pocket.
“Sorry, Judge, but I’ve been meaning to talk to you. About this abortion case.”
I literally groaned, couldn’t help it. Took a breath and repeated my go-to line. “I can’t discuss this matter with you.”
“Not the facts. Nothing like that. Just the situation, you understand?”
I didn’t. He must have read it on my face; he quickly added, “I need to lay out the situation it’s putting us all in. You know, the city.”
I didn’t ask for any details on the city’s situation. I was itching to get away. “It’s a felony case, Earl. We see them all the time. And this isn’t the ugliest set of facts I’ve heard in my courtroom. Isn’t the most horrific crime I’ve presided over this year.”
“But it’s the most sensational, Judge. Don’t you get that?”
As he spoke, he used both hands to fiddle with his bow tie, like he wanted to make sure it was straight. I took a closer look at him. Earl was all dolled up, wearing a flashy suit and a striped bow tie. The man was camera-ready.
I should’ve anticipated it. The mayor of Union Springs was a social-climbing tool who was not content to abide in our community. Earl Hodge had higher ambitions. He’d made it clear, on multiple occasions, that he would do anything to get a bigger job in Birmingham or Montgomery.
“Earl, I don’t know what you expect me to do.
We’re the county seat, and the DA has filed the case in Bullock County, alleging that the crime occurred here.
He has to file his suit in the correct venue.
In a criminal case, the proper venue is the place where the crime occurred.
If you don’t believe me, go talk to the DA. ”
I stepped toward the back door, opened it, and glanced around. Didn’t appear that the press or public was waiting to pounce. I stepped across the threshold.
Earl Hodge followed me out. “I already talked to the DA. Reeves was the one who told me it’s going to be a really big deal. With national press. Did you see how many people turned out today?”
Did I see? I didn’t respond. The question was too ridiculous for words. I’d had the best seat in the house for the day’s events.
The mayor dogged my heels as I made my way to my car, parked in my personal space.
In a loud whisper, Hodge said, “He told me something in confidence, but it doesn’t need to be a secret from you. You’ll be the first to know.”
I had the key fob in my hand. But that statement made me pause. What secrets about the case was the DA sharing with the mayor? “Tell me.”
“He’s bringing in the Alabama attorney general’s office to serve as co-counsel. To balance the scales, he said.”
“Balance the scales?” I echoed. “Against Chuck Rich? He thinks he needs more muscle to litigate against Chuck Rich?”
Hodge grimaced. His eyes cut to the right. I’ve seen the eye dart, it’s a giveaway. Deciding whether to lie or not.
He looked down at his shoes and kicked at some loose chunks of asphalt in the worn parking lot. “I guess he means you, Judge Mary.”
“What?” My voice was sharp enough to make the man scoot back.
He said, “I’m just repeating Reeves’s words. He told me you rule against him all the time. He needs somebody to back him up. That it will even the scales.”
It would reveal weakness—vulnerability, insecurity—to let on that I was offended. So I didn’t give any indication that the words had wounded me.
But I was curious. Wanted to know just who Reeves had chosen as his bodyguard. “Any idea who’s going to rep the AG’s office?”
“Yeah, he told me. It’s Eleanor Lindquist. You ever run across her in court before?”
Oh, my Lord. Eleanor Lindquist. Yeah, I’d seen her in action.
Things were about to get worse for Bria Gaines.