Chasing The Dead

Chapter Twenty

Everyone stood for the judge, sitting when he did. He was in his early forties, with blond hair, great cheekbones, and blazing white teeth, making him well suited for the televised courtroom he’d never see as an associate circuit court judge.

“The court calls case number F458-2013. Counsel, state your appearances.”

“Kalena Greene for the people.”

“Alex Stone for the defendant, Jared Bell, who is also present. We’ll waive reading of the charges.”

“Very well. Bail?”

“My client is indigent, Your Honor. Short of releasing him on his own recognizance, he can’t make any bail you’re likely to set. But, for the record, the defendant requests bail be set at ten thousand dollars.”

Kalena sprang to her feet. “For a vicious rape and murder by a homeless man with no ties to the community? I don’t think so, and I don’t care if he can’t make a ten-dollar bail. The court should send a message that people who commit violent crimes won’t be allowed back on the street before trial. Bail should be denied.”

“He’s also a decorated war veteran who’s been charged, not convicted,” Alex said.

“I agree with both of you,” Judge Upton said. “Mr. Bell is innocent until proven guilty, but given his current circumstances, notwithstanding his military service, for which we are all grateful, and the nature of the charges, bail is set at one million dollars. Anything else?” Both lawyers shook their heads. “Hearing nothing, we are adjourned.”

“Here,” Kalena said, handing a file to Alex after the judge and Jared left. “It’s the investigating officer’s report and the complaint.”

Alex had been waiting for this moment to find out whether someone in the prosecutor’s office had given an advance copy of the file to Robin Norris.

“Thanks, but I’ve already got a copy.”

Kalena squinted at her. “What do you mean you’ve already got a copy? From who?”

“You heard about Robin Norris, right?”

Kalena’s face fell as she let out a breath. “Yes, and I’m so sorry. I didn’t know her well, but I never heard a bad thing about her. What a blow.”

Alex was struck by her sincerity, reminded again of one of the things she cherished about the practice of law. She and many of the lawyers in the Prosecutor’s Office were friends, and no matter how hard they fought over a case, they could still kick back over a beer. She and Kalena hadn’t gotten to that point yet, but this felt like a first step.

“Robin had five kids, and I can’t stop thinking about them.”

“How are they doing?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been so busy with this case, I haven’t had a chance to get over there, but I’m going to stop by tonight.”

Kalena put her hand on Alex’s wrist. “Please give them my sympathies.”

“I’ll do that. Anyway, about the file. Robin’s interim replacement is a woman from the St. Louis PD’s office named Meg Adler. She found the file on Robin’s desk yesterday. My name was on a Post-it note stuck to the file, so Meg assumed Robin wanted me to handle the case. That’s all I know.”

“Hmm. That’s so odd.”

“Why? Is it that big of a deal?”

“Depends on how you look at it. Whether you got the file yesterday or today doesn’t impact the case. But how you got the file might be.”

“Why?”

“Because my boss’ policy is to wait until the initial appearance to produce this file, and because this is my case, I’m the one who would produce it. You know Tommy Bradshaw and what a stickler he is for stuff like this.”

“Yeah. He was like that when we were in law school together. Which means someone in your office didn’t follow your policy or someone outside your office sent the file to Robin Norris.”

“If it came from my office, whoever did it could lose their job. My boss has fired people for less. I have to tell him what happened, and when I do he’ll turn the office inside and out to find whoever leaked it.”

“Really? Why? You said my getting the file early won’t impact the case.”

“That’s not why he’ll turn it into an inquisition. The guy is paranoid about leaks, worse than the White House. And the only thing that will drive him crazier is if someone outside the office did it, because whoever did that is sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. So, yeah, it’s a very big deal.”

“But as long as it doesn’t impact the case, how about sending me the standard discovery before the grand jury indicts my client?”

Kalena smiled and shook her head. “Then I’d be the one looking for a job. Besides, I won’t have all that stuff before the grand jury convenes. We’re still working the case up, and I’ll save you the trouble of asking me to reduce the charges to a misdemeanor. You’re not that stupid and I’m not that easy, especially when the death penalty is in play.”

That was the response Alex expected unless Kalena was getting pressure to put the case on a fast track to a plea bargain, her response making it clear that she wasn’t.

“Never hurts to ask. Can you at least tell me if the victim has been identified?” Kalena hesitated. “C’mon. Don’t make me wait for the grand jury for that information. You’re going to release her identity to the press anyway.”

“We’re not quite there yet, but I’ll give you a call as soon as I can.”

“Fair enough,” Alex said. She had gathered her things and begun to walk away when she stopped and turned back toward Kalena. “By the way, who else in your office had access to the file?”

“Everyone,” Kalena said.