“But it’s the most sensational, Judge. Don’t you get that?”
As he spoke, he used both hands to fiddle with his bow tie, like he wanted to make sure it was straight. I took a closer look at him. Earl was all dolled up, wearing a flashy suit and a striped bow tie. The man was camera-ready.
I should’ve anticipated it. The mayor of Union Springs was a social-climbing tool who was not content to abide in our community. Earl Hodge had higher ambitions. He’d made it clear, on multiple occasions, that he would do anything to get a bigger job in Birmingham or Montgomery.
“Earl, I don’t know what you expect me to do. We’re the county seat, and the DA has filed the case in Bullock County, alleging that the crime occurred here. He has to file his suit in the correct venue. In a criminal case, the proper venue is the place where the crime occurred. If you don’t believe me, go talk to the DA.”
I stepped toward the back door, opened it, and glanced around. Didn’t appear that the press or public was waiting to pounce. I stepped across the threshold.
Earl Hodge followed me out. “I already talked to the DA. Reeves was the one who told me it’s going to be a really big deal. With national press. Did you see how many people turned out today?”
Did I see?I didn’t respond. The question was too ridiculous for words. I’d had the best seat in the house for the day’s events.
The mayor dogged my heels as I made my way to my car, parked in my personal space.
In a loud whisper, Hodge said, “He told me something in confidence, but it doesn’t need to be a secret from you. You’ll be the first to know.”
I had the key fob in my hand. But that statement made me pause. What secrets about the case was the DA sharing with the mayor? “Tell me.”
“He’s bringing in the Alabama attorney general’s office to serve as co-counsel. To balance the scales, he said.”
“Balance the scales?” I echoed. “Against Chuck Rich? He thinks he needs more muscle to litigate against Chuck Rich?”
Hodge grimaced. His eyes cut to the right. I’ve seen the eye dart, it’s a giveaway. Deciding whether to lie or not.
He looked down at his shoes and kicked at some loose chunks of asphalt in the worn parking lot. “I guess he means you, Judge Mary.”
“What?” My voice was sharp enough to make the man scoot back.
He said, “I’m just repeating Reeves’s words. He told me you rule against him all the time. He needs somebody to back him up. That it will even the scales.”
It would reveal weakness—vulnerability, insecurity—to let on that I was offended. So I didn’t give any indication that the words had wounded me.
But I was curious. Wanted to know just who Reeves had chosen as his bodyguard. “Any idea who’s going to rep the AG’s office?”
“Yeah, he told me. It’s Eleanor Lindquist. You ever run across her in court before?”
Oh, my Lord. Eleanor Lindquist. Yeah, I’d seen her in action.
Things were about to get worse for Bria Gaines.
CHAPTER
21
That was a long old day. When I reappeared at the courthouse in the afternoon, I had to make up for cutting out in the morning. It was past suppertime and dark outside when I finally left the courthouse for good. And I had more work—farm chores—waiting for me at home. By the time I finally pulled off my chore boots and shucked my overalls, I was spent.
I stood on the kitchen floor in my stocking feet, wondering what I should eat. I didn’t have enough ambition to microwave a frozen dinner, much less cook from scratch. So I pulled a box of Ritz crackers and a jar of peanut butter from the shelf. Ate standing up, dropping crumbs on the kitchen counter, until I decided that spreading the peanut butter required too much effort. Carried the cracker box with me into my bedroom.
I had to shower; no skipping that step, regardless of how worn out I might be. The hot water felt good on my tired muscles, therapeutic. I dried off, pulled a clean T-shirt over my head, and crawled into bed.
With the cracker box.
I appreciated the irony, you feel me? Eating crackers in bed. But no one was around to appreciate the joke.
I had my phone in bed with me, because I intended to check the news online, to see whether the Gaines arraignment had generated an uproar. Didn’t quite make it. My eyes drooped, head nodded. I fell asleep with the phone in my hand.
Later that night, the ringtone jerked me from a restless sleep. My sheets were tangled into a jumble. I must’ve been kicking them while I slept.
