“Of course,” Colin said, chuckling and rocking Joshua in his arms, “I’m taking you out to dinner. Anywhere special you want to go? Do you want to ask Davy and Nate?”
“No and no,” Joshua replied. “In fact, I’d rather just grab take-out and eat here with you.”
“Two PhD’s,” Colin breathed out, shaking his head in wonder.
Joshua handed Colin his jacket. “They’re just letters parked behind my name,” he said, then took Colin’s arm as they moved toward the door. “They don’t mean a damn thing ‘til I do something with them.” He hugged Colin’s arm against his body as they walked down the steps, headed for Colin’s car. “Let’s grab Burger Bach,” Joshua suggested, picking one of Charlottesville’s well-loved burger joints. “You can get that curried mustard dip for your fries that makes your heart go pitty-pat.”
Colin laughed as he climbed into the car. “We can get anything you want, DOCTOR Campbell-Abrams. This is your night.”
“Well, that’s what I want,” Joshua told him as he fastened his seatbelt.
“Do I have to say ‘DoctorDoctor’now when I talk to you?”
“Only if you want me to make fun of you,” Joshua replied.
Colin smirked and pursed his lips in a fake kiss. “Pass.”
* * *
Later that same week,Joshua crept into a courtroom at city hall and took a seat in the back row. He’d been anticipating this day and felt his stomach clench as he peered toward the prosecutor’s table where his husband sat next to Adilynn Clemons, the attorney of record for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was there acting as Adilynn’s co-counsel, much against her wishes. She’d been informed of his participation two days earlier by Esther Jackson whose instructions on the matter were short and to the point: “Colin is co-counsel. He’ll do the direct on Detective Bund.”
Adilynn had opened her mouth to protest, but a quick look at her boss’s face had changed her mind. “Fine,” she snapped. “Let’s hope he doesn’t screw us up.”
“I’m not concerned with Colin screwing up,” Jackson had replied.
Now Adilynn scowled and shot a sideways glance at Colin who sat beside her, peering at his notes. He had nodded in greeting when she arrived but had not spoken a word since then. “You’ve got Bund,” she told him, nudging his arm.
“I know,” Colin replied, getting to his feet as the judge entered.
* * *
In the spectator section,Joshua watched as the court clerk called Detective Robert Bund to the stand and swore him in. This was Colin’s first experience doing a direct examination of a prosecution witness in a felony case, and Joshua knew from the set of his shoulders alone that he was on edge. “Take a breath,” Joshua whispered. “Remember your stance.”
As he watched, Colin squared his shoulders and drew in a deep breath, which brought a slow, satisfied smile to Joshua’s lips. He leaned forward, listening intently as Colin led the detective through several preliminary questions.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney (ACA) Campbell: State your full name, please, and your occupation.
Detective Bund: Detective Robert Bund, Albemarle County Police Department, currently assigned to the homicide squad.
ACA Campbell: In the course of your work for the Albemarle police, did you become involved in the investigation into the death of Glen Corbyn?
Detective Bund: I did.
ACA Campbell: When and where did you first become involved?
Detective Bund: On April 27th, 2021 at approximately 10:00 a.m. I was notified that a body had been recovered on Hazel Street near I-250, and I was dispatched to that particular location.
ACA Campbell: Do you know the Defendant, Edward Delaney?
Detective Bund: I do.
ACA Campbell: Directing your attention to the 28th day of April in the year 2021, did you have occasion to see Mr. Delaney on that day?
Detective Bund: I did.
Now, the Court Security Officer handed a document to the witness for his examination.
ACA Campbell: I want to show you this document that's marked ‘Commonwealth's Exhibit Number Forty’ for identification and ask, have you ever seen it before?
