No Time To Run (Legal Thriller Featuring Michael Collins, Book 1) by J.D. Trafford Page B
Authors: J.D. Trafford
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Therefore, we would like to have this proceeding stayed and Ms. Larone held without bail until the federal case moves forward and Ms. Larone is transferred into federal custody.”
“ And then?” Judge Baumann asked.
“ The New York District Attorney and the State of New York both consent to a stay of these proceedings until the federal prosecution is complete.”
“ The point being?” Judge Baumann asked, and then added without waiting for a response, “I’m not a federal judge, but our laws seem to be just as brilliant as the federal ones.”
“ Well, given our limited resources, it would only make sense to wait …” Shawn Kasper paused, and then looked at the United States Attorney Brenda Gadd. He wanted her consent to continue with his explanation.
“ Someone tell me what’s going on, please?” Judge Baumann leaned forward, staring hard at the prosecutors. “Whether this woman ends up in some federal prison or state prison doesn’t really matter. Bars are bars and cells are cells, assuming she ends up in prison at all.”
A few more awkward seconds of silence, and then Brenda Gadd stepped forward. She was a career prosecutor who had made a name for herself putting away Wall Street brokers and analysts who had pumped up worthless internet stocks in the late 1990s.
“ Yes, Your Honor, I believe I can speak to that.” She folded her hands in front of her and waited to make direct eye contact with the judge. Gadd commanded the room with a pleasant, round, Mother Hubbard face that juries could trust. “The remedy that the federal government believes is appropriate is not available via the state court system. As you know, the state statute was found unconstitutional pursuant to state law, and therefore, it is in the people’s interest to handle this case at the federal level.”
Judge Baumann held Gadd’s stare as he processed the information. Then he blinked when the pieces fell into place. “You are seeking the death penalty?”
“ Yes, Your Honor, we are.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Andie threw the plastic pitcher of water across the room. What little liquid was in the pitcher splashed against the wall, followed by the empty noise of the pitcher rattling on the tile floor.
A guard opened the door, his hand on his gun, but Michael waved him off.
“ It’s fine.” Michael stepped between the guard and Andie. “She’ll be fine.”
The guard eyed them both with suspicion, eventually leaving them alone. As the door to the small conference room closed, Andie looked at Michael with an intensity he hadn’t seen before. She was caged and scared.
“ Never even crossed my mind.” Michael’s voice was soft, calm; almost apologetic. “What they’re doing, it isn’t common. Usually the feds do their thing and let the locals do their own, but I guess that’s changed.”
“ Why?” Andie asked, but Michael wasn’t sure whether he should give her the answer: Him. He was the reason. Michael thought about the grand jury. The prosecutors were going to use Andie to get at him.
“ There are actually two court systems in the United States, one is state and one is federal. The state courts deal with state law, and then the federal courts deal with all the federal laws. Most people don’t know that.”
“ I don’t want a civics lesson, Michael ―”
“ Just listen to me.”
Andie folded her arms across her chest. “They’re trying to kill me.”
“ But they can’t,” Michael said. “That’s my point, the State of New York doesn’t allow for the death penalty. In 2004, the appellate court found the state statute u nconstitutional, and that’s why the United States Attorney was here. She’s a federal prosecutor, and she wants to take your case, because the federal government allows for the death penalty. They get to circumvent the state.”
Andie took a step back, and turned away from him. She wasn’t listening any more, but Michael continued.
“ In the 1930s and 1940s, as the
“ And then?” Judge Baumann asked.
“ The New York District Attorney and the State of New York both consent to a stay of these proceedings until the federal prosecution is complete.”
“ The point being?” Judge Baumann asked, and then added without waiting for a response, “I’m not a federal judge, but our laws seem to be just as brilliant as the federal ones.”
“ Well, given our limited resources, it would only make sense to wait …” Shawn Kasper paused, and then looked at the United States Attorney Brenda Gadd. He wanted her consent to continue with his explanation.
“ Someone tell me what’s going on, please?” Judge Baumann leaned forward, staring hard at the prosecutors. “Whether this woman ends up in some federal prison or state prison doesn’t really matter. Bars are bars and cells are cells, assuming she ends up in prison at all.”
A few more awkward seconds of silence, and then Brenda Gadd stepped forward. She was a career prosecutor who had made a name for herself putting away Wall Street brokers and analysts who had pumped up worthless internet stocks in the late 1990s.
“ Yes, Your Honor, I believe I can speak to that.” She folded her hands in front of her and waited to make direct eye contact with the judge. Gadd commanded the room with a pleasant, round, Mother Hubbard face that juries could trust. “The remedy that the federal government believes is appropriate is not available via the state court system. As you know, the state statute was found unconstitutional pursuant to state law, and therefore, it is in the people’s interest to handle this case at the federal level.”
Judge Baumann held Gadd’s stare as he processed the information. Then he blinked when the pieces fell into place. “You are seeking the death penalty?”
“ Yes, Your Honor, we are.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Andie threw the plastic pitcher of water across the room. What little liquid was in the pitcher splashed against the wall, followed by the empty noise of the pitcher rattling on the tile floor.
A guard opened the door, his hand on his gun, but Michael waved him off.
“ It’s fine.” Michael stepped between the guard and Andie. “She’ll be fine.”
The guard eyed them both with suspicion, eventually leaving them alone. As the door to the small conference room closed, Andie looked at Michael with an intensity he hadn’t seen before. She was caged and scared.
“ Never even crossed my mind.” Michael’s voice was soft, calm; almost apologetic. “What they’re doing, it isn’t common. Usually the feds do their thing and let the locals do their own, but I guess that’s changed.”
“ Why?” Andie asked, but Michael wasn’t sure whether he should give her the answer: Him. He was the reason. Michael thought about the grand jury. The prosecutors were going to use Andie to get at him.
“ There are actually two court systems in the United States, one is state and one is federal. The state courts deal with state law, and then the federal courts deal with all the federal laws. Most people don’t know that.”
“ I don’t want a civics lesson, Michael ―”
“ Just listen to me.”
Andie folded her arms across her chest. “They’re trying to kill me.”
“ But they can’t,” Michael said. “That’s my point, the State of New York doesn’t allow for the death penalty. In 2004, the appellate court found the state statute u nconstitutional, and that’s why the United States Attorney was here. She’s a federal prosecutor, and she wants to take your case, because the federal government allows for the death penalty. They get to circumvent the state.”
Andie took a step back, and turned away from him. She wasn’t listening any more, but Michael continued.
“ In the 1930s and 1940s, as the
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