No Time To Run (Legal Thriller Featuring Michael Collins, Book 1) by J.D. Trafford Page A
Authors: J.D. Trafford
Ads: Link
same.
A door opened on the side wall to the right of the judge, and a black man in an orange jumpsuit, leg irons and handcuffs walked through with a bailiff close behind. A public defender directed the man toward his table and told the accused to remain standing while he tried to locate the right file.
The county prosecutor stood and began laying out the basic facts of the case and charges.
“ How do you plead?” Judge Baumann asked.
“ Not guilty, your honor.” Everyone pleads not guilty, thought Michael.
“ Bail?” the Judge asked.
“ $5,000,” the prosecutor said.
“ Response?”
“ We find that to be extremely high, considering the man has spent his whole life in the city. His family is here, and …” Michael had heard all of the public defender’s arguments before, and in the end, he knew it wasn’t going to make any difference.
“ Bail will be set at $5,000.” The judge swung his gavel down. Paper shuffled from the judge’s desk to his clerk, and then finally to a second and third administrator for filing and entry into a computer.
The black man in the orange jumpsuit was escorted out of the courtroom and the wheels of justice rolled on.
Other men in orange jumpsuits were led into the courtroom, and then out over the next hour. All were not guilty. And all of the public defender’s arguments for lower bail were ignored.
Judge Baumann paused as he picked up the next file that was three times thicker than the others.
“ State of New York v. Andie Larone , case file number CI-09-219375.”
The young public defender and prosecutor sat down as Michael came forward.
“ I’m Michael John Collins, Your Honor, representing the defendant in this matter.”
“ Mr. Collins, welcome to my world.” Judge Baumann rolled his eyes. For the first time, he appeared to have an interest in the proceedings before him. “I believe that Ms. Larone will be out shortly.” He looked at the door where the accused had been coming and going all day. “Could our distinguished guests on the other side now state their names for the record?”
Michael turned toward the prosecutor’s table. He couldn’t quite believe what he saw. The young assistant county attorney was now gone. In her place stood the top three law enforcement officials in the State of New York.
“ I’m Shawn Kasper the New York County District Attorney representing the people of Manhattan in this matter, Your Honor. Also with me is the United States Attorney General for New York, Brenda Gadd, and the New York State Attorney General, Harold Frist.”
The public defender had been packing his briefcase, but stopped. He swore under his breath. “Who the hell is your client?”
Michael didn’t respond.
“ Well, this is quite a surprise and an awful lot of legal firepower to handle an arraignment.” Judge Baumann smiled. “Must be a press conference afterwards.” There was some laughter in the courtroom, but Michael wasn’t laughing. Something was about to happen.
The door opened and Andie Larone came out.
Just like the others, she wore an orange jumpsuit. Her hands were cuffed in front of her. A narrow silver chain attached one leg to the other. Michael wanted to take her into his arms and hold her, but he knew that he couldn’t. All he could do was touch her shoulder.
Andie looked at his hand, and then at Michael. A tear rolled down her cheek. “Hang in there,” he said. She nodded, and then turned to the judge with her head held high.
“ Mr. Kasper,” Judge Baumann said, “it’s your show.”
“ Yes, Your Honor, thank you.” The veteran district attorney of New York shuffled some papers in front of him. It was as if he hadn’t been preparing for this simple arraignment all morning. Then he looked up.
“ As you know, Your Honor, the charges against Ms. Larone are very serious. I have just found out that the federal government will be filing papers in order to initiate federal charges under 21 U.S.C. Section 848.
A door opened on the side wall to the right of the judge, and a black man in an orange jumpsuit, leg irons and handcuffs walked through with a bailiff close behind. A public defender directed the man toward his table and told the accused to remain standing while he tried to locate the right file.
The county prosecutor stood and began laying out the basic facts of the case and charges.
“ How do you plead?” Judge Baumann asked.
“ Not guilty, your honor.” Everyone pleads not guilty, thought Michael.
“ Bail?” the Judge asked.
“ $5,000,” the prosecutor said.
“ Response?”
“ We find that to be extremely high, considering the man has spent his whole life in the city. His family is here, and …” Michael had heard all of the public defender’s arguments before, and in the end, he knew it wasn’t going to make any difference.
“ Bail will be set at $5,000.” The judge swung his gavel down. Paper shuffled from the judge’s desk to his clerk, and then finally to a second and third administrator for filing and entry into a computer.
The black man in the orange jumpsuit was escorted out of the courtroom and the wheels of justice rolled on.
Other men in orange jumpsuits were led into the courtroom, and then out over the next hour. All were not guilty. And all of the public defender’s arguments for lower bail were ignored.
Judge Baumann paused as he picked up the next file that was three times thicker than the others.
“ State of New York v. Andie Larone , case file number CI-09-219375.”
The young public defender and prosecutor sat down as Michael came forward.
“ I’m Michael John Collins, Your Honor, representing the defendant in this matter.”
“ Mr. Collins, welcome to my world.” Judge Baumann rolled his eyes. For the first time, he appeared to have an interest in the proceedings before him. “I believe that Ms. Larone will be out shortly.” He looked at the door where the accused had been coming and going all day. “Could our distinguished guests on the other side now state their names for the record?”
Michael turned toward the prosecutor’s table. He couldn’t quite believe what he saw. The young assistant county attorney was now gone. In her place stood the top three law enforcement officials in the State of New York.
“ I’m Shawn Kasper the New York County District Attorney representing the people of Manhattan in this matter, Your Honor. Also with me is the United States Attorney General for New York, Brenda Gadd, and the New York State Attorney General, Harold Frist.”
The public defender had been packing his briefcase, but stopped. He swore under his breath. “Who the hell is your client?”
Michael didn’t respond.
“ Well, this is quite a surprise and an awful lot of legal firepower to handle an arraignment.” Judge Baumann smiled. “Must be a press conference afterwards.” There was some laughter in the courtroom, but Michael wasn’t laughing. Something was about to happen.
The door opened and Andie Larone came out.
Just like the others, she wore an orange jumpsuit. Her hands were cuffed in front of her. A narrow silver chain attached one leg to the other. Michael wanted to take her into his arms and hold her, but he knew that he couldn’t. All he could do was touch her shoulder.
Andie looked at his hand, and then at Michael. A tear rolled down her cheek. “Hang in there,” he said. She nodded, and then turned to the judge with her head held high.
“ Mr. Kasper,” Judge Baumann said, “it’s your show.”
“ Yes, Your Honor, thank you.” The veteran district attorney of New York shuffled some papers in front of him. It was as if he hadn’t been preparing for this simple arraignment all morning. Then he looked up.
“ As you know, Your Honor, the charges against Ms. Larone are very serious. I have just found out that the federal government will be filing papers in order to initiate federal charges under 21 U.S.C. Section 848.
Similar Books
