Chapter 12
“Next case:Scott Holland.”
Scott stood and walked over to the table where the other defendants had been standing. He’d been here for over an hour listening to the other people being arraigned. Apparently, it had been a busy weekend for crimes.
The bailiff read out his right to a trial and all the other information. He’d heard the same thing six times already this morning. He understood. When his charges were read, Scott cringed. It sounded horrible. It was horrible. But hehadn’t done it.
The judge looked him up and down. A woman. Usually he was more than happy to have a woman doing any kind of job, but it seemed everything was stacked against him now. A female detective, an Assistant DA whose goal was to stop men who hurt women, and now a female judge. He’d bet his life she had some agenda against women beaters too. Not that he was one, or wanted them to get away with it, but shit, couldn’t hecatch a break?
The ADA read off the evidence against him. Too damned much. He almost believed he’d done it.
“How do you plead, Mr. Holland?” Judge Mary Barlow asked.
He clenched his hands at his side, wishing he’d had something nicer to wear to this hearing. But he hadn’t even been allowed time for a shower before he was given back his dirty work clothes and brought to court.
“Not guilty, Your Honor.”
She tried to keep her expression neutral but the tightening of her jaw let him know her thoughts on attacking a woman.
After whispering a few things to the court clerk, she looked back up. “Pre-trial conference will be scheduled for two weeks from today, July nineteenth.”
“Your Honor,” the prosecutor cut in. “We are asking for the defendant not to be released on bail considering the violent nature of the crime and the condition of the victim. You’ve seen the evidence ofher injuries.”
No. Fuckin’. Way. How could they do that to him? Spend another two weeks in that facility? This time he’d most likely be able to move around, hanging with the nice boys. Like the ones who’d asked for a date when he’d been dragged past their cells thismorning. Shit.
He looked at his lawyer, who was practically shaking at the thought of talking in court. Scott cleared his throat and glared at the kid.
“Um, Your Honor. Mr. Holland has no prior convictions and runs a respectable business in the state. He is not a flight risk. We request he be let out on his own recognizance.” Finally, something in his favor. It probably could have been more though. He’d done lots of good things in his life. Where was his list of them all?
The judge scanned the documents on her desk and looked up. “I see that, but prosecution has a good point. Due to the violent nature of the crime bail is set at five hundred thousand dollars.”
Five hundred thousand. Holy shit. How the hell would he come up with that kind of money? He certainly had equity in the business, but he’d taken out a huge loan for the renovation project.
“Next case: William Chadwick.”
Scott threw Billy a tight smile as he moved away from the table. The court officer who escorted him here led him back out to a waiting area in a private room. A few other mensat there too.
“What happens now?” he asked the officer.
“You stay here until either your bail is posted or the van is ready to bring you back to the correctional facility. There’s a phone over in the corner if you want toarrange bail.”
Scott nodded, moving into the room. The phone was currently being used. Who would he call anyway? Jack? He and Callie certainly didn’t have the money to post bail. Keith was a Boston cop. Cops didn’t make big money and his friend sent much of his pay to help his parents. Drew? Would that be a conflict of interest having a prosecutor for the DA’s office bail him out? Plus, Drew was still paying off huge law school loans.
Nick? He came from money. Lots of money. But he and his dad were on the outs. Would he be willing to eat some crow to get a loan? Scott wasn’t sure he wanted to ask his friend to do that.
That didn’t leave him with a whole lot of options.There’s one option you haven’t mentioned. He didn’t even want to go there. Heather. Sure, they were partners, but did she believe that he didn’t do this? Or was there some niggling doubt in her mind that he had? He’d pushed her a few times with the sexual innuendos. Maybe more than innuendos. Would she think her refusal had set him off to do this to someone else? He stared at the window in the room, wondering if it would be one of the last times he’d get to see outside. Three more guys took their turn on the phone before it was finally his. He moved toward the table to pick up the receiver, still not surewho he’d call.
“Scott Holland.”
The clerk waved at him. “You’ve been released on bail. Here’s the form with the dates of your next appearance. You are reminded to stay away from the witness. Please sign here.”
“Wait. Bail? Who…?”
Her finger pointed to where he needed to sign, but his eyes skimmed the rest of the document. Heather Silva. God, he could kiss her. Desperately wanted to kiss her.
The pen moved across the form and he looked at the clerk who pointed down the hall. He didn’t need to be told twice. Shoving his copy in his pocket, he half-trotted down the corridor. There stood Heather. Gorgeous as ever, her silky hair falling around her shoulders, not pulled back into its proper confines. Her smart business suit showcased her shapely figure and her high heels accentuated those incredible long legs. He could eat herup right here.
“Scott. How are you?”
