Staring right back, she said, “Mr. Latch, this is not an arraignment, we’ll do that later. There are two pressing issues here, one is your representation, the other is the matter of bail. Mr. Lassiter is here as a matter of courtesy, as I understand the relationship. Will he continue to represent you?”
“No ma’am. If I can make bail, I will find another lawyer. Mr. Lassiter has advised me, pro bono, until now. He is here only as a friend.”
Evidently, Raymond was quite taken with the size of the crowd and the number of cameras and reporters. Simon’s would be the biggest trial in the recent history of Braxton, and Raymond’s office was not far from the courthouse. It would be a shame to miss it, fee or no fee. He said, “Your Honor, if it’s okay with you, I will continue to represent Mr. Latch until he hires other counsel. Show me as his attorney of record.”
Simon looked to his right, nodded humbly at Raymond, and whispered, “Thank you.” Simon, and the other lawyers in the courtroom, knew damned well that Raymond Lassiter was now on the hook for the trial. He could not dare allow another defense lawyer to trespass on his turf.
Her Honor said, “Moving right along. Mr. Lassiter, what are your thoughts on bail?”
“Only one, Your Honor. My client has practiced law in this town and in this courtroom for almost nineteen years now. He is well known in this community. He owns an office building on Main Street. He will surrender his passport and agree to leave the state only with your permission. He is not a flight risk and should be released on his own recognizance.”
“And for the Commonwealth, Ms. Cook?”
The Cougar was well aware that public sentiment, for the moment anyway, was running strongly against the defendant. She said, “Your Honor, this is first-degree murder and bail is always required. A high bond should be set for Mr. Latch, same as any other defendant facing such a serious charge. Just because he’s a member of the bar doesn’t mean he gets special treatment. Releasing him on recognizance would send the wrong message to the rest of the community.”
Raymond was quick to jump in with “Bail is not used to send messages to the community, Your Honor. The purpose of bail is to guarantee an appearance in court to face the charges. Nothing more or less. Do you really believe, Ms. Cook, that Simon Latch will skip town and disappear?”
Lawyer Latch was dreaming of skipping town on the first bus and getting off somewhere in Canada.
Ms. Cook said, “Stranger things have happened. I never dreamed he would be indicted for murder.”
Judge Pointer raised her hands and said, “Okay, okay. Give me a figure, Ms. Cook.”
“Five hundred thousand.”
“Mr. Lassiter?”
He wanted to say Zero, but then he would not be taken seriously. So he said, “One hundred thousand.”
“Okay, here are the terms of bail, Mr. Latch. Turn in your passport, pledge the title to your office building, and post a bond in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars.”
Simon nodded in agreement as if he had plenty of spare cash, but he really wanted to scream.
Scheduling was the next issue and the lawyers went back and forth. Judge Pointer finally raised her hands again for quiet and said, “All right. We’ll have an arraignment next Wednesday at nine A.M. Anything further?”
Both lawyers shook their heads no. Simon was escorted out of the courtroom after being there for less than fifteen minutes. Judge Pointer tapped her gavel and disappeared from the bench. For a few moments, the spectators didn’t move, as if they were waiting for more drama. Realizing there would be none, they slowly rose and began filing out.
Raymond followed Simon out of the courtroom and asked the officers if he could speak to his client. Simon was handcuffed again and permitted to follow his lawyer. They stepped into the law library, which was always empty, and closed the door.
“How you doing?” Raymond asked.
“I guess I need thirty thousand dollars, right?”
“Yep. That’s what it costs to post the bond. I’ve talked to a good bondsman, one I’ve used before. He’ll meet us at the jail. You said you could scrape together ten grand.”
“Scrape is the word. Can you loan me twenty?”
Raymond laughed and Simon managed a grin, a brief one. “Can’t do it. Against the ethics. Any equity in your office building?”
“I told you, Raymond. Everything I own is double-mortgaged. I could probably squeeze ten thousand out of our home, but I don’t own it anymore. It’s all Paula’s, as per our property settlement agreement.”
“Can you ask her?”
“No. And I can’t go to the bank. No one will loan me a dime right now. Can’t really blame them.”
“All right. What’s the plan?”
“I’ll call my mother.”
“Is she loaded?”
“No, but she’ll try. And I’d like to pay you too, Raymond, I swear I would. I’ll put the office building on the market and hope for a miracle, and if I can find the right buyer maybe—”
Raymond held up a hand as he shook his head. “We’ll talk about it later.”
At 1 P.M., Judge Pointer convened another hearing, a much different one with no spectators. In Courtroom B, she stationed two bailiffs at the door with instructions to allow no one to enter.
Teddy Hammer had filed a petition to establish a conservatorship for the estate of Eleanor Barnett. There were several pressing matters, the most obvious being the burial of the deceased. Her bills needed to be paid and her assets inventoried. Hammer had requested that his client, Jerry Korsak, be appointed to handle everything, on a temporary basis. Jerry was called to the witness stand and put under oath. He began lying immediately when he tried to convince the court that he and Ms. Barnett, or “Mom” as he called her, had actually been quite close over the years. Since she had no children of her own, she had always relied on Jerry for advice on a wide range of topics.
Hammer was careful not to let him go too far. He knew that phone records would be subpoenaed and scrutinized and would show little contact.
Clyde Korsak was not in the courtroom and his brother had no idea where he was.
Judge Pointer was skeptical. She knew the story of Clyde’s last visit and his arrest for pummeling Wally, and she had heard plenty of rumors since Eleanor’s death. There was no one to cross-examine Jerry, and Judge Pointer was dismissive of his testimony. And, she already had a plan.
When Jerry stepped down, and when Teddy had nothing else to say, she announced she was appointing a young lawyer named Clement Gelly as conservator. He was a local attorney with a good reputation. Her instructions were strict: There would be no probate until a few weeks passed. The last will and testament prepared by Simon Latch and signed by the deceased would be held in abeyance until further orders. In the meantime, Mr. Gelly would make sure the bills were paid and the assets identified. The file would remain sealed and she would keep it on her desk.
Late that afternoon, Raymond went to the jail and informed Simon of the new conservatorship. He was intrigued by it but had more pressing matters to worry about. He wanted to get out of jail, get out of town, and go see his kids.
After Raymond left, Simon called Paula and they talked for half an hour. She and the kids were at her parents’ home in Richmond and felt safe, no one was bothering them. They discussed the hearing that morning, and the ins and outs of bail procedure, but at no time did she offer financial assistance. Simon did not ask for any. In addition to her future as a single mother, she was afraid she was about to lose her job. Her parents were semi-retired. They had worked hard, saved religiously, and had a nice retirement fund that was off-limits.