“Thank you, Your Honor. Yes, I do. I want the victims’ cell-phone records, the downloads from their laptops, and their navigational systems’ records-”
Zack cut in, his voice cold. “We’re working on it, Your Honor. It may take a little while.”
I glared at Zack. “I remind the prosecution that we’re not waiving time. We want the preliminary hearing and trial set within the statutory limit.”
The judge nodded. “Mr. Chastain, how long will it take you to get those records to Ms. Brinkman?”
“I probably can’t get all those records before the preliminary hearing.” Zack stared down at his legal pad for a moment. “But Ms. Brinkman won’t have to worry about discovery for the moment. I’m going to scrap the preliminary hearing altogether and take this case to the grand jury instead.” He glared at me. “Since Ms. Brinkman’s in such a hurry, that should move things along a little faster.”
I returned his glare. “It figures Mr. Chastain would prefer to put on his evidence in secret, where he doesn’t have to worry about a judge throwing out this feeble excuse for a case-”
Zack shot me a dagger. “Feeble excuse? This is a slam dunk, no-brainer-”
The judge banged his gavel again. He had the expression of someone who’s slipping out of the saddle on a horse that’s galloping at full speed. “Ms. Brinkman, is there anything else?”
“Other than putting a stop to the smear campaign? No.”
“Then we’ll be in recess.”
TWENTY-NINE
Reporters had gathered downstairs, but I’d had my say in court-and then some. When I got outside, I gave a shortened version of my earlier statement, adding only that I was “confident the jury would know better than to be swayed by these underhanded tactics.”
Edie and Brittany waved to me, but I wanted to get out of there. I waved back and pointed to Xander, who was idling at the curb. As I made my way toward the car, Trevor came up and spoke to me in a low voice. “Why didn’t you come to me first with the story about your father?”
“Sorry, Trevor. I just thought it was more of a face-time story. I promise you’ll get the next one.”
He gave me a measuring look. “What’ll you give me if I find out who leaked?”
If I could prove Zack was the leak, it’d really hurt his credibility. That wouldn’t necessarily be a game changer. But with a case this tough, every little bit helped. The only problem was, I didn’t really have anything to trade yet. “Get me the information and we’ll talk.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
I got into the car. Xander slowly pulled away. “I watched you on my phone. You’re having quite the day.” He pulled into the left-turn lane.
“Yeah.” I sighed, thinking he didn’t know the half of it. “Thanks for driving me, Xander. At least I get to suffer in style. Is this helping your business any?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure it will.”
Alex and Michelle were watching the news on the television in my office when I got back. Alex gave me a thumbs-up. “You really reamed that prosecutor-”
“And that was nice work with the press,” Michelle said.
I set down my briefcase. “How’d Zack do with the reporters?”
Michelle sighed. “Unfortunately, pretty well. Said he had no idea who would’ve leaked that report, and he hopes the guilty party is caught immediately, blah, blah, blah. But he sold it.”
I glanced at the screen and saw a reporter standing on the courthouse steps. They’d be chewing on this story all night. “You sure you’re not just a sucker for a pretty face?”
“Oh, I most definitely am. But so is your jury pool.”
Unfortunately, true. I turned to Alex. “What’d you think?”
Alex gave me an apologetic look. “I agree. Sorry. What can you do about him going to the grand jury? Can you object?”
“No, but I don’t want to.”
Michelle’s eyebrows lifted. “You don’t? But the grand jury always indicts. A judge might-”
“Dismiss?” I asked. Michelle nodded. “No friggin’ way. It’s a solid case, and most of the testimony is going to come from experts talking about DNA and fingerprints. Janet’s the only civilian they’ll call, and a nuclear bomb couldn’t shake her testimony. So all a prelim does is get the bad stuff out there where the jury pool can chew on it for the next couple of months. A grand jury keeps it quiet.”
Michelle deadpanned, “Unless there’s a leak.” She saw my expression. “Too soon?”
Alex stood up and put on his jacket. “I’m on my way to go talk to Dale.”
“Just in case you can’t get a decent address for that tweaker, have Dale tell you where he busted him. He might still be hanging around there-”
“You want me to talk to the tweaker if I find him?” I nodded. “How am I supposed to get him to talk to me?”
“Michelle, give him a twenty.” Dale’s retainer check had cleared, so I’d replenished our slush fund. She fished out the bill and gave it to him. “And give him my card. You’ve got some, right?” Alex shook his head. Michelle gave him a stack. “Always keep these on you. It’s a nice carrot for guys like that.” I wouldn’t necessarily represent him if he called, but he didn’t have to know that.
Alex tucked the cards into his jacket pocket. “Any chance I can get some of my own cards? It’d give me a little more credibility.”
Michelle nodded. “Already ordered. Should be ready for pickup in a couple of days.”
The cards couldn’t say he was licensed, but that wouldn’t be much of a problem. Most people don’t really look.
Alex smiled. “Thanks, Michy.” He started for the door, then turned back. “If I find Jenny, do you want me to talk to her?”
“No. Hold off on that one. We need to do it together.” That would be a tricky interview. If Dale was telling the truth about her, she was a dangerous person to tangle with. I didn’t need the state bar investigating me for some bullshit charge that I’d threatened or pressured her. “But find out where she lives, see if you can find people who know her, and get them talking.”
“Got it.”
I looked at his khaki pants and navy-blue blazer. “And for God’s sake, change into something grungier. Put some street on your back.”
Alex made a face. “Fine.”
“We don’t have a lot of time to waste on this rape charge. So get done what you can today and report back.”
After he’d left, I told Michelle about my phone call with Celeste-and that it’d been my last. I hadn’t been sure if I’d be able to talk about it. I’d thought I’d be too upset. But I wasn’t. I’m not saying I was in the mood to light fireworks or lead a conga line. I was just… at peace.
When I finished, Michelle gave me a long hug, then stood back and gave me a searching look. “I’ve been hoping to hear you say this for years. She’s poison. I can’t remember you ever coming off a phone call or a visit with her that didn’t leave you feeling like shit.”
No question about that. “But shouldn’t I be at least a little torn up about this? I feel kinda okay with it.”
“Like you stopped beating your head against the wall?”
I smiled. “A little bit, yeah. But still…”
“Look, you might feel lousy at some point, but if you do, it’ll only be because you finally admitted that you never had anything close to a real mother.” Michelle put her hands on her hips. “Or it’ll be a guilt trip, which I will not allow.”
I owed Michelle so much. She was a friend like no other, and I loved her like a sister. But that thought brought me to the likely repercussions of cutting off Celeste. “Her friends are going to think I’m the monster. So will Jack.” I didn’t like most of her friends, so that was no loss. But my stepfather had saved me from myself when I was going down the drain in high school. I’d only wished he’d met Celeste sooner. “For some reason, no one else ever seems to see her ugly side.”