Berenson said. "Isn't that a little steep for a first-time offense?"
"Well according to my documents Mr. Beadles was arrested for shoplifting in Rockford in 2005."
"That was a misunderstanding, your honor," Beadles said. Berenson looked at him reproachfully.
"We're satisfied with the bail, your honor," Berenson said.
Black nodded her head. The door to the hall popped open with a degree of urgency. Whitaker appeared before the judge clutching a warrant.
"Your honor, if I may?"
The judge nodded. "Go ahead, officer."
"Last night one of Professor Beadle's students, Rob Whitfield, died from a poisonous insect sting that occurred when Beadles violated university policy and a non-disclosure agreement he had signed and admitted Whitfield illegally to view a closed exhibit. That makes Professor Beadles an accessory to manslaughter. Professor, I'm placing you under arrest for involuntary manslaughter."
Whitaker whipped out his handcuffs.
***
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
"Phil Ruby"
This time Beadles had a cell to himself. Betty came to see him in the afternoon. They ushered him into a common room with a formica counter running down the center and individual cubicles separating the inmates from visitors with a thick, plexiglass shield. There was a slot at the bottom like they have in box offices but everything was done under the watchful eyes of two armed guards and cameras in every ceiling corner. There were three other guys on his side spread out among the six slots.
Betty wore jeans and a loose-fitting plaid blouse and looked worn without makeup, her hair gathered in a ponytail. They pressed their palms together on the plexiglass.
"How's Lars?" Beadles said.
"He's upset. He knows there's something wrong, but Mom and Pop arrived and are trying to jolly him up."
"How you holding up, baby?" Beadles said.
"I can't believe this is happening. Don't worry. Mel is getting Phil Ruby, a big-time criminal attorney to take over."
Beadles did a mental audit of his bank account and assets.
"We can afford him," Betty said. "Mom and Pop are willing to help out if it goes to trial."
"It won't go to trial. This is absurd. Listen. I've had a lot of time to think about this. You've got to find that girl Stephanie."
"The babysitter?"
"Yes! She had plenty of opportunity."
"But why, Vaughan? Why would she do something like that?"
"I don't know. Maybe Liggett put her up to it. He's hated my guts ever since he overheard me doing my impression of him at a faculty meeting."
Betty bit her bottom lip. "That thin-skinned son of a bitch."
"I don't know it's him. It's all I've got. Maybe the girl had her own motives. Maybe I flunked her, I don't know!"
Betty nodded. "I understand. What was her name again?"
"Stephanie Byrd. First thing you do, tell the new attorney about her, okay?"
"You got it, big guy."
She looked like she was going to say something else but she didn't. "I love you," she mouthed as she stood and went to the door, waiting for one of the guards to buzz her out. Three other guys on Beadles' side of the partition watched her go.
Beadles was released into the day room with the other non-violent offenders. Three blacks, two Mexicans and three white guys. The three blacks huddled together laughing loudly with big hand gestures. The three white guys sat in plastic chairs bolted to the formica floor in front of the flat screen television fastened high up on one wall watching the Quality Value Network. Two breathless blond cougars hawked ersatz emeralds in Empire settings.
Beadles had no intention of joining the Aryan Brotherhood. The two Mexicans sat in the back row talking quietly in Spanish. Beadles sat in the back row at the opposite end. The Mexicans glanced over once and looked away. Nobody else paid any attention. Cameras hung from the ceiling corners.
Was it possible? Was Liggett a psycho who would plant stolen goods in his house? It was the move of a desperate man and not something that could withstand scrutiny. If Liggett were
"Well according to my documents Mr. Beadles was arrested for shoplifting in Rockford in 2005."
"That was a misunderstanding, your honor," Beadles said. Berenson looked at him reproachfully.
"We're satisfied with the bail, your honor," Berenson said.
Black nodded her head. The door to the hall popped open with a degree of urgency. Whitaker appeared before the judge clutching a warrant.
"Your honor, if I may?"
The judge nodded. "Go ahead, officer."
"Last night one of Professor Beadle's students, Rob Whitfield, died from a poisonous insect sting that occurred when Beadles violated university policy and a non-disclosure agreement he had signed and admitted Whitfield illegally to view a closed exhibit. That makes Professor Beadles an accessory to manslaughter. Professor, I'm placing you under arrest for involuntary manslaughter."
Whitaker whipped out his handcuffs.
***
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
"Phil Ruby"
This time Beadles had a cell to himself. Betty came to see him in the afternoon. They ushered him into a common room with a formica counter running down the center and individual cubicles separating the inmates from visitors with a thick, plexiglass shield. There was a slot at the bottom like they have in box offices but everything was done under the watchful eyes of two armed guards and cameras in every ceiling corner. There were three other guys on his side spread out among the six slots.
Betty wore jeans and a loose-fitting plaid blouse and looked worn without makeup, her hair gathered in a ponytail. They pressed their palms together on the plexiglass.
"How's Lars?" Beadles said.
"He's upset. He knows there's something wrong, but Mom and Pop arrived and are trying to jolly him up."
"How you holding up, baby?" Beadles said.
"I can't believe this is happening. Don't worry. Mel is getting Phil Ruby, a big-time criminal attorney to take over."
Beadles did a mental audit of his bank account and assets.
"We can afford him," Betty said. "Mom and Pop are willing to help out if it goes to trial."
"It won't go to trial. This is absurd. Listen. I've had a lot of time to think about this. You've got to find that girl Stephanie."
"The babysitter?"
"Yes! She had plenty of opportunity."
"But why, Vaughan? Why would she do something like that?"
"I don't know. Maybe Liggett put her up to it. He's hated my guts ever since he overheard me doing my impression of him at a faculty meeting."
Betty bit her bottom lip. "That thin-skinned son of a bitch."
"I don't know it's him. It's all I've got. Maybe the girl had her own motives. Maybe I flunked her, I don't know!"
Betty nodded. "I understand. What was her name again?"
"Stephanie Byrd. First thing you do, tell the new attorney about her, okay?"
"You got it, big guy."
She looked like she was going to say something else but she didn't. "I love you," she mouthed as she stood and went to the door, waiting for one of the guards to buzz her out. Three other guys on Beadles' side of the partition watched her go.
Beadles was released into the day room with the other non-violent offenders. Three blacks, two Mexicans and three white guys. The three blacks huddled together laughing loudly with big hand gestures. The three white guys sat in plastic chairs bolted to the formica floor in front of the flat screen television fastened high up on one wall watching the Quality Value Network. Two breathless blond cougars hawked ersatz emeralds in Empire settings.
Beadles had no intention of joining the Aryan Brotherhood. The two Mexicans sat in the back row talking quietly in Spanish. Beadles sat in the back row at the opposite end. The Mexicans glanced over once and looked away. Nobody else paid any attention. Cameras hung from the ceiling corners.
Was it possible? Was Liggett a psycho who would plant stolen goods in his house? It was the move of a desperate man and not something that could withstand scrutiny. If Liggett were
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