Chasing The Dead

Chapter Forty-Four

Judge West’s courtroom was crowded, a few bodies shy of shoulder to shoulder, a testament to how well liked and respected Robin was. From the number of lawyers and judges milling around, Alex figured the wheels of justice had ground to a halt.

Off to one side, she saw Kalena Greene and her boss, Tommy Bradshaw, chatting with Lee Goldberg, who ran the local Innocence Project. Goldberg was his usual histrionic self, arms flapping as he spoke. Kalena caught Alex’s attention, rolling her eyes at Goldberg, and Alex pointed to a vacant spot at the back of the courtroom, gesturing to Kalena to join her. Kalena mouthed a thank-you and broke away.

“You rescued me,” Kalena said. “As far as Goldberg is concerned, the jails are filled with innocent people.”

“Including Jared Bell.”

“You’re worse than Goldberg. That case is tight.”

“The only reason it’s tight is that Rossi didn’t look past Jared.”

“You mean he didn’t look past your client after he confessed and after he was found in possession of a crucifix the victim was wearing when she was murdered and after the coroner found evidence of rape and after your client admitted having sex with her.”

“Consensual sex. He paid her with the crucifix, which I admit sounds creepy, and he took it back after he found her body because he intended to give it to Mathew Woodrell’s daughter, which I admit sounds even creepier.”

“Or crazy and crazier. Was Woodrell telling the truth about what happened to his daughter?”

“Let me put it this way. Jared told me the same story the army told Woodrell, and I believe Jared. He’s so fucked-up from the war he thought Joanie was Ali Woodrell. He was in love with Ali and never would have hurt her.”

“So what are you going to do? Use a post-traumatic stress disorder defense?”

“Only if I have to. He didn’t rape or kill Joanie Sutherland, which is why you’re going to end up dismissing the charges.”

Kalena laughed. “I think I was better off listening to Goldberg.”

“Laugh all you want now, because you won’t be laughing when I get your case tossed out at the preliminary hearing.”

“And why will Judge West, of all judges, toss my case?”

Alex preferred not to share her theories or her evidence with the prosecutor any sooner than she had to because that would only give the other side more time to blow up her defense. But she wanted to plant a seed of doubt in Kalena’s mind, especially about Rossi’s investigation.

“Here’s what Rossi missed. Someone was looking out for Joanie Sutherland, someone she’d known for a long time. This person was giving her money but not for sex, probably because he thought he could turn her life around. He even paid for a private drug rehab stay.”

“And then decided to kill her? Really? That’s the best you can do? Why would he do that?”

“Because Professor Henry Higgins didn’t like it when Eliza Doolittle turned out to be a blackmailer.”

Kalena smirked. “And who’s Henry Higgins in this fairy tale?”

Alex’s attention was drawn away from Kalena when she saw Judge West and Judge Steele and a blond woman she didn’t recognize emerge from Judge West’s chambers.

“I’ll let you know.”

Alex wound her way through the crowd. Judge West saw her coming and motioned for her to join them.

“Alex Stone, say hello to Judge Anthony Steele and his bride, Sonia. Alex is one of the public defender’s best and brightest.”

Alex shook both their hands.

“I was at the state bar convention last spring when you presented a service award to Robin,” she said to Judge Steele, not mentioning the photograph of them Robin had kept in her office.

“She deserved it,” he said. “Her death is a terrible loss. She was a good friend.”

“Our dearest friend,” Sonia added.

“Alex was almost the last person to talk with Robin,” Judge West said.

“Almost?” Sonia asked.

“Your Honor,” Alex said, “I’m not sure we should be talking about that since there’s an ongoing investigation.”

The judge dismissed her hesitation. “Nonsense. Tony and I are judges, and Sonia, like all judicial wives, is an even higher authority. One of the few perks we get is being able to talk about things no one else can. According to the police, Robin called Alex’s cell phone a second or two before her accident, but Alex didn’t hear the phone ring.”

“Oh, my,” Sonia said, her hand covering her mouth. “Did Robin leave you a message?”

“I’d rather not talk about it, if you don’t mind.”

“Hell,” West said, “she didn’t even tell me what was in the message, so it must be pretty important.”

Sonia squeezed Alex’s arm. “You’re absolutely right not to say anything. Don’t let him bully you. Let the police do their job without us gossiping about it. Robin deserves at least that much.” She glanced past Alex and turned to her husband. “That’s Paul Levine standing all by himself in a corner. I’ve got to talk with him. He’s stalling on an agreement my client needs signed.”

“And I’ve got to find my bailiff,” Judge West said, both of them walking away, leaving Alex alone with Judge Steele.

“Despite what my good friend Bill West says, you’re right not to discuss that phone call. Not when there’s a pending investigation.”

“Thank you, Your Honor. When in doubt, keep your mouth shut, right?”

He laughed, and when he did, Alex saw the same twinkle in his eye that she’d seen in the photograph of him and Robin. He had an easygoing manner that invited you in, nothing like the stiff, aloof style of so many who wore a black robe.

“It’s funny, you and I running into each other,” Alex said.

“And why’s that?”

“Your name came up earlier today in one of my cases.”

“Do you have an appeal pending?”

“No. This goes back to when you were on the trial bench in Clay County.”

“So it’s an appeal of one my old cases?”

“No, but it does involve one of your cases from more than ten years ago. A young woman was arraigned in your court and pled guilty, and you put her in a diversion program.”

Judge Steele smiled. “That happened more times than I can remember. Used to drive the prosecutors crazy that I gave kids a second chance, but it made the defense lawyers pretty happy.”

Alex chuckled. “And not too many judges are known for doing that. Only this young woman didn’t have a lawyer.”

Steele’s eyes clouded for a moment. “Well, that’s a bit unusual, but I imagine it happened from time to time. That’s all so long ago, I’m afraid I don’t remember the case.”

“Don’t worry. It’s probably more interesting than it is important. Unfortunately, she didn’t take advantage of the second chance you gave her, because a couple of years later she was turning tricks on Independence Avenue and last week she was murdered. I’m defending the man accused of raping and killing her.”

Steele arched his eyebrows. “Is that the woman whose body was found in the creek? I read about that in the paper.”

“Yes, that’s the woman. I was going over her arrest records this morning and saw the case you had with her.”

“Well, it’s a small world. And a sad one at times, like today.”

“At least there are people like you who give people like her second chances. In fact, you weren’t the only one who did. She had a drug problem and someone paid for her to go to Fresh Start, you know, that private rehab facility up north.”

He cleared his throat. “That was very generous.”

“We’ve subpoenaed her medical records from Fresh Start. I imagine the name of whoever paid for her treatment will be in her file.”

Alex was fishing, not knowing whether Steele would bite.

“Is that relevant to your case?”

“It could be.”

“How?”

“I shouldn’t say. If my client is convicted, you may be one of the judges to hear his appeal, and I’d hate for you to have to recuse yourself because of our conversation.”

“I wish all lawyers exercised as much discretion. It was nice talking to you.”

Alex shook his hand, holding him there for a moment, looking him in the eye. “The woman’s name was Joanie Sutherland, if that means anything to you.”

He pulled his hand away, pressing his lips together, opening them just enough to answer.

“No. Nothing at all.”