37
Euclid stood as the clicking stride of Belen Caldas’s stilettos echoed down the courthouse hallway. She had been waiting outside of courtroom 4B in the hopes of resolving some of these motions outside of court. Or getting inside Caldas’s head. Whichever worked best.
Caldas swiped off her sunglasses as she approached.
“You must be the poor sucker Adewale assigned the Brooksfield case. Nova, was it?”
Euclid held out a hand for Caldas to shake. “Nova Euclid.”
Caldas gave her hand a pump. “Let me guess”—Caldas began polishing her sunglasses with a satin neck scarf—“you’re gonna ask me to drop some of these motions?”
Euclid practiced her best contemptuous smile. “Well, you’ve been ignoring my emails. I think we can both agree that the motion to suppress evidence is brought on extremely questionable grounds. Judge Horton is easily annoyed by frivolous motions. I would urge you to reconsider making some of the arguments you brought up—at least for the sake of your client. I’m sure there’s an agreement we can come to.”
“I’ve appeared in front of Judge Horton more times than you’ve appeared for trial, Ms. Euclid. When did you pass the bar? Last year?”
Euclid tried not to bristle. She had moved up fast in the DA’s office, and digs at her age were fairly commonplace. “I know the judge would prefer if we work this out between us,” she said. “The motion for change of venue isalsounsound. There’s been little publicity denigrating your client, certainly not enough to warrant a change of venue—”
“Let me save you the trouble,” Caldas interrupted. “I am not going to be dropping any of these motions. That absolute shit show of an arrest was not only embarrassing for the Eagle County DA’s office but it was terrifying for my client. Not to mention she is injured because of it. I have body-worn camera footage to prove it.”
“If you had informed your client about our request to surrender herself, the arrest wouldnothave been necessary. You put her at risk—”
“I’m sorry that this is your first high-profile case, because it will certainly be your last after I’m done with you.”
Caldas stalked past her and into the courtroom. Euclid gritted her teeth. She had heard that Caldas was unfriendly, but it was another thing to experience it. She also understood that most of it was for show and not personal. She followed her inside. Within moments, Judge Horton arrived in a flurry of black robes.
“Counsel.” His eyes landed on Euclid. “Ah, Ms. Euclid. Glad to see you in my courtroom again.”
From the corner of Euclid’s eye, she watched with satisfaction as Caldas tensed.
“Thank you, Judge. Glad to be here.”
Judge Horton called the court to session. Behind them, Margie Brooksfield—accompanied by her husband, Paul—filed in. Margie took her place beside Caldas, Paul taking a seat in the gallery. Margie looked gaunt and fidgety, her eyes dark. A smattering of press and the public had been allowed in the courtroom, taking up most of the seats.
“So we are hearing”—Judge Horton whistled between his teeth—“fivemotions today. I will hear argument for the motion for discovery of law enforcement conduct now. Ms. Caldas?”
Caldas stood and clasped her hands behind her back.
Euclid’s fingers tightened around her briefcase as she noticed Adewale slide into the back of the courtroom. If she performed badly during this hearing, it could impact her career. Or if she lost the change of venue motion, the case would be ripped from their hands and given to another county. Adewale didn’t play when it came to high-profile cases.
Caldas began her argument. She looked comfortable and assured in the courtroom, using small hand gestures as she spoke.
“Your Honor, the arrest of my client was a complete and utter disaster,and we need to determine if a violation of her rights occurred. She is suffering from a persistent cough, a swollen throat, and blurry vision as a result of beingtear-gassedby the arresting officers. The gate to her ranch burned down as a result of this arrest. It is essential that the defense be given the information requested in our motion, including Internal Affairs files, disciplinary records of officers involved, and time to investigate whether there are undocumented incidents of aggressive or unprofessional behavior by those officers during prior arrests.”
Caldas rapped the defense table as she spoke the last part, the sharp noise reverberating around the courtroom. Euclid could see she was a pro at acting pissed. The performance appeared to be working. Judge Horton nodded as if in agreement with her.
“That is very concerning indeed. I’ve watched the body-worn camera footage, and it is shocking, to say the least. Ms. Euclid, your response?”
Shit, Euclid thought. This wasn’t starting well. She had originally planned to argue this was an inappropriate request that was overbroad, and that personnel records were confidential—who knew what bullshit Caldas could rustle up and try to throw her way—but her gut was now telling her not to make that argument. It was a risk, and the police department wouldn’t be happy with this at all, but she knew Judge Horton. She had to trust herself and build credibility with the court so she could win her other motions.
She steeled herself. “Your Honor, I am willing to withdraw my opposition to this motion, as long as we limit the scope of the request only to the officer who deployed the tear gas and the ones involved with physical contact with the protesters. Asking for records on every single officer involved is overbroad.” She turned and shot Caldas her best friendly smile. “If Ms. Caldas will work with me on this.”
Judge Horton raised his eyebrows in approval.
Caldas scowled. “Absolutely not.”
“Ms. Caldas, I am inclined to grant your motion for discovery of police conduct but with the scope limited as Ms. Euclid suggested here.
Ms. Euclid is beingverygenerous with her offer, and I suggest you take it.”
