‘Two policemen?’ Braun, of course, had heard about the deaths of Sergeants Griffin and Canetta, but the news of their connection to this case was clearly a surprise.
‘Yes, your honor. The state believes that there are three homicides related to the Bree Beaumont case currently before the grand jury. Because the homicide department under the direction of Lieutenant Glitsky has systematically refused to disclose evidence relevant-’
‘Your honor.’ Hardy was mild. ‘This is a habeas hearing whose only purpose is to vacate the contempt citation levied against my client. The homicide department’s handling of what might be other aspects of this case has no place in this proceeding.’
But Randall wasn’t buying that. ‘With respect, your honor. No part of this case belongs in this courtroom. This is a matter for the grand jury to decide. We shouldn’t even be discussing it outside of the grand jury room.’
Braun’s eyes were taking on a telltale flash that Hardy liked to see. ‘If you want me to keep someone in jail, Mr Randall, you have to give me a better reason than your say-so.’
‘With all due respect, your honor, you need no more reason than the witness refusing to answer material questions.’
Next to Hardy, Freeman’s elbow twitched against him, and he cast a quick acknowledging glance at his old ally. They had maneuvered Randall into this spot and now he had just played into their hands, belittling the jurisdiction of Braun’s courtroom, to which she would surely take offense.
And she did. Her eyes burned down at the young prosecutor. ‘I’ll decide what issues and what cases get resolved in my courtroom, Mr Randall. Do you understand that?’
Pratt decided to step in. ‘Your honor, perhaps we could adjourn to chambers?’
The judge directed her displeasure toward the DA. ‘We’ve only just gotten started here, Ms Pratt.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I’m sure you noticed that we’ve got several important people out there – among them possibly our next governor – and I’m not inclined to take any more of their time than is absolutely necessary. Anything we could say in chambers, we can say right here.’
But Randall, true to form, couldn’t seem to let it go and after a short non-verbal exchange with his boss, he piped right up. ‘We’ve got a very unusual set of circumstances here, your honor. I am at this very moment preparing grand jury subpoenas for Mr Hardy and Lieutenant Glitsky to testify on matters related to his case. They themselves may be open to criminal charges.’
Hardy shook his head, derision all over his face, but he remained silent.
‘Additionally,’ Randall continued, ‘the DA’s office has repeatedly requested an arrest warrant for Mr Beaumont, who is seated behind us in the courtroom today even as we speak.’
‘It ought to be easy to serve the warrant, then,’ Braun said drily.
‘Except that the warrant is not forthcoming, your honor.’
‘And why is that?’
Hardy finally had to say something. ‘Because there hasn’t been any evidence, your honor.’
‘That’s ridiculous!’ Randall exploded. ‘We have more than enough evidence for an indictment.’
‘So get one,’ Hardy snapped back.
Braun cast a stern eye. ‘Counsel will address the court, not each other. Is that clear?’ After accepting the nods of apology, Braun softened her tone. ‘Now, Mr Randall, correct me if I’m wrong, but Mr Hardy’s point seems to me to be well taken. If you have the evidence to indict Mr Beaumont, present it to the grand jury and it will order a warrant issued. That’s how it’s done. You should know that.’
Pratt spoke up in her assistant’s defense. ‘He does know it, your honor, but our investigation has been hampered at every turn in this case. Indeed, we believe that Mr Hardy has influenced Lieutenant Glitsky to use his position as head of the homicide department to engage in a systematic coverup of Mr Beaumont’s activities.’
Hardy raised his hands theatrically. ‘Your honor! This is really beyond the pale.’
But Braun, wanting to hear more, pointed him quiet. ‘These are serious charges, Ms Pratt…’
Randall took over again. ‘Which is why, your honor, we wanted to explore them with the grand jury, with the police department’s office of management and control, and with our own department’s investigative staff.’
‘In other words, Mr Randall, it sounds like you want to do all of this investigating except you either haven’t actually done it or you haven’t found anything.’
Blindsided, Randall stammered. ‘Well, no, your honor, of course not. We have strong evidence-’
Hardy cut him off. ‘Your honor, they have nothing.’
‘We are developing a case.’
Eyes on Braun, Hardy nevertheless was arguing with Randall. ‘And bringing accusations before there is anything to support them.’ Now he turned to look up at the judge. ‘If I may, your honor, I have a suggestion that relates specifically to the hearing you have granted today, and will also address the very serious issues and charges raised by the district attorney’ – he paused long enough to make the point – ‘and her staff.’
Braun was getting impatient. She glanced over the lawyers’ heads to the restless gallery beyond. This had already taken too much of the court’s time, of everyone’s time. ‘All right, Mr Hardy, let’s hear it, but make it fast.’
Hardy took a breath. He was in the grip of high emotion, but it would serve little to play to it. When he finally spoke, his was the voice of reason. ‘The gravamen of the contempt charge against my client – the subject of this hearing – is her refusal to disclose to the grand jury information relevant to a murder investigation. I believe we are all in accord here?’
No one objected.
‘Both Mr Randall and Ms Pratt have been clear and unambiguous that the information my client refused to disclose bears upon the motive Mr Beaumont may or may not have had to kill his wife. Isn’t that correct?’
Neither Pratt nor Randall nodded – their defenses had by now come up – so Hardy decided to drive the point home more forcefully. ‘Put another way, if Ron Beaumont didn’t kill Bree, whatever secret shared by my client and himself is not the proper concern of the grand jury or their investigation.’
‘All right,’ Braun said thoughtfully. ‘Where is this leading, Mr Hardy?’
‘It is leading, your honor, to this. Mr Randall has made the point that the deaths of Sergeants Griffin and Canetta were pursuant to their respective investigations into the murder of Bree Beaumont, and I presume by extension that he concludes that all of these killings were committed by the same individual.’
‘That’s exactly our contention.’ Randall was glad to be able to get in a word, and Hardy was happy to let him do it.
‘And it’s a reasonable one to which, for purposes of this hearing, you’d be prepared to stipulate,’ he said.
Pratt saw the trap closing, and moved to stop it. ‘Well, I don’t know, your honor. This is a theory we’ve not yet…’
Braun stopped her cold. ‘Ms Pratt, I’ve just heard Mr Randall say that this is exactly - his word – what your office believes. More importantly, if memory serves this is the theory upon which you both have based, and raised in open court, your accusations against both Lieutenant Glitsky and Mr Hardy. Now which is it? Did one man commit these murders or not?’
The two prosecutors exchanged glances. Pratt answered. ‘That is our belief. Yes, your honor. Subject to contradictory evidence of which we may become aware at a later date.’
‘I would think so,’ Braun declared. ‘Go on, Mr Hardy. You’ve got my attention.’
‘Thank you, your honor. Therefore, it follows that if Mr Beaumont can be shown to be blameless in the deaths of either of the two police officers, it may be assumed that he is likewise blameless in the death of his wife.’
‘That’s a nice syllogism, Mr Hardy.’ Braun remained tolerant, yet unconvinced. ‘But “blameless” is a tall order. Do you mean to say that you can prove he’s absolutely innocent of one or more of these killings? Normally, that’s why we have jury trials.’