2096
Brian stewed in his thoughts until Jaden exited Albertson's chambers. Tension clouded her eyes and stretched her mouth thin. It wasn't unusual for a judge to speak privately with a witness. Especially in a case where false accusation carried such a high penalty.
He shifted to lean against the back wall. The charges she'd tossed around last night still weighed on his mind. And her haunted sea-green eyes and tousled honeyed hair left his nerves ragged.
He'd spent the night in his office reviewing old cases looking for any trend of missing evidence. At first glance, nothing seemed wrong. Burglaries, car theft, fraud, and murders had all been processed without delay or questionable tactics.
He went back further, kept digging until the insidious pattern emerged. Rape, mugging, and the occasional domestic dispute frequently settled out of court when evidence disappeared. Evidence the crews swore they gathered and filed. Yet crime scene photos were lost, DNA compromised, and testimony tossed on the basis of coercion. Except in cases processed by Larry. Most of those ended up in court and resulted in heavy sentences.
But only a few had been Judge Albertson cases and none of them connected to Jaden Michaels. So he'd hopped the el for two full circuits of the city to think it all through. But when the news monitors in the train car announced that the Judge had ordered verification of holograms brought to court by Michaels, Brian changed his plans.
Now, as Jaden's eyes met his, it felt as if she stared straight through to his soul. Deeper, if there was such a place. The woman acted as if she knew what he was about better than he did. Unease swept over him, raising the hair on the back of his neck. Was she mystery or threat? Did he really want to know?
* * *
Jaden took her place next to Brenda on the pew-like bench, thinking of the last time she'd been to a church. Weeks ago. She should go again, for Larry's sake if no better reason occurred. Neither she nor Brenda spoke, unified in their apprehension as they waited for the bailiff to return. Mentally, she worked through various, hopefully unnecessary, escapes.
Then the bailiff appeared from a side door, crossed the courtroom and disappeared into the Judge's chambers. Jaden's mind blanked and her body tensed for action.
Judge Albertson mounted the dais and raised his gavel. His eyes locked on Jaden before shifting to give Billy a quick nod. She knew before he spoke the words: Brenda would have to run.
"The lab has found nothing fraudulent with the hologram," the Judge began. "I sentence the defendant to five years incarceration with behavior modification in a maximum security facility. Effective immediately."
Brenda clutched Jaden's hand and gave a watery smile of gratitude. Jaden knew relief was premature.
"However." The judge cleared his throat. "The manner of presentation of the evidence in this case compels me to make an example for the future integrity of the law. I'm obligated to place the woman who pressed charges and all advocates and witnesses on her behalf under house arrest for a period not less than thirty days. Also effective immediately." His black eyes landed on Jaden with a sharp, satisfied glint.
She met the gaze even as she plotted her way around it.
The court authority led a confused Brenda, a protesting advocate, an unaffected defendant, and a much-too-calm Jaden out of the courtroom through the back hallways.
Once the procession reached street level, Felon Transport took over, ordering silence as they waited on separate vehicles for the ride to their respective destinations.
Seeing Brenda gulp back a sob, Jaden sought a way to reassure the stunned woman before the transport shuttled her away.
"Officer," Chief Thomas said. "I need a word with Ms. Michaels."
Jaden saw him flash his shield, then nod for her to approach. She ignored him.
"We need to talk." He took her elbow, moving them away from Brenda and the officer.
She disagreed.
Brian stewed in his thoughts until Jaden exited Albertson's chambers. Tension clouded her eyes and stretched her mouth thin. It wasn't unusual for a judge to speak privately with a witness. Especially in a case where false accusation carried such a high penalty.
He shifted to lean against the back wall. The charges she'd tossed around last night still weighed on his mind. And her haunted sea-green eyes and tousled honeyed hair left his nerves ragged.
He'd spent the night in his office reviewing old cases looking for any trend of missing evidence. At first glance, nothing seemed wrong. Burglaries, car theft, fraud, and murders had all been processed without delay or questionable tactics.
He went back further, kept digging until the insidious pattern emerged. Rape, mugging, and the occasional domestic dispute frequently settled out of court when evidence disappeared. Evidence the crews swore they gathered and filed. Yet crime scene photos were lost, DNA compromised, and testimony tossed on the basis of coercion. Except in cases processed by Larry. Most of those ended up in court and resulted in heavy sentences.
But only a few had been Judge Albertson cases and none of them connected to Jaden Michaels. So he'd hopped the el for two full circuits of the city to think it all through. But when the news monitors in the train car announced that the Judge had ordered verification of holograms brought to court by Michaels, Brian changed his plans.
Now, as Jaden's eyes met his, it felt as if she stared straight through to his soul. Deeper, if there was such a place. The woman acted as if she knew what he was about better than he did. Unease swept over him, raising the hair on the back of his neck. Was she mystery or threat? Did he really want to know?
* * *
Jaden took her place next to Brenda on the pew-like bench, thinking of the last time she'd been to a church. Weeks ago. She should go again, for Larry's sake if no better reason occurred. Neither she nor Brenda spoke, unified in their apprehension as they waited for the bailiff to return. Mentally, she worked through various, hopefully unnecessary, escapes.
Then the bailiff appeared from a side door, crossed the courtroom and disappeared into the Judge's chambers. Jaden's mind blanked and her body tensed for action.
Judge Albertson mounted the dais and raised his gavel. His eyes locked on Jaden before shifting to give Billy a quick nod. She knew before he spoke the words: Brenda would have to run.
"The lab has found nothing fraudulent with the hologram," the Judge began. "I sentence the defendant to five years incarceration with behavior modification in a maximum security facility. Effective immediately."
Brenda clutched Jaden's hand and gave a watery smile of gratitude. Jaden knew relief was premature.
"However." The judge cleared his throat. "The manner of presentation of the evidence in this case compels me to make an example for the future integrity of the law. I'm obligated to place the woman who pressed charges and all advocates and witnesses on her behalf under house arrest for a period not less than thirty days. Also effective immediately." His black eyes landed on Jaden with a sharp, satisfied glint.
She met the gaze even as she plotted her way around it.
The court authority led a confused Brenda, a protesting advocate, an unaffected defendant, and a much-too-calm Jaden out of the courtroom through the back hallways.
Once the procession reached street level, Felon Transport took over, ordering silence as they waited on separate vehicles for the ride to their respective destinations.
Seeing Brenda gulp back a sob, Jaden sought a way to reassure the stunned woman before the transport shuttled her away.
"Officer," Chief Thomas said. "I need a word with Ms. Michaels."
Jaden saw him flash his shield, then nod for her to approach. She ignored him.
"We need to talk." He took her elbow, moving them away from Brenda and the officer.
She disagreed.
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