Cruel Justice

64

AS BEN PUSHED HIS way forward he could feel the heat radiating from all points in the courtroom. The place was packed. Not only was every seat in the gallery filled, but to make matters worse, there were two rows of standing-room observers on three sides. It was like trying a case in a sardine can.

Everyone Ben had noticed in the gallery on previous days was there again today. Ernest Hayes was back, of course, with several of his children. He kept glancing back at two black youths standing in the rear. They weren’t wearing their matching jackets, but Ben was almost certain they were Demons.

The coterie from the country club was all there, including Harold and Rachel Rutherford. Today, they were sitting together. Though the physical space between them had closed, Ben had a feeling the emotional space between them was as great as ever.

To Ben’s surprise, he saw Mike enter the courtroom, with Abie clinging tightly to his pant leg.

As they walked down the nave of the courtroom, Harold Rutherford stopped them. “Abie!” he said to his son. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here!”

Abie did not answer.

“I don’t think Abie should be here,” Rutherford told Mike.

“Just a brief stop,” Mike answered. “I need to speak with one of the attorneys. Then we’ll be leaving.”

“They say the trial will probably end today,” Rutherford said. “Abie, would you like to do something afterward?”

Abie took an extended interest in the parquet floor.

“Maybe we could go to Bell’s, if you wanted.” He glanced at his wife. “Or we could just go to the mall and … hang out. Whatever …”

Abie squeezed Mike’s hand and tried to pull him away.

“I’ll bring him back to the house this afternoon,” Mike said. “Maybe you can work something out then.”

Rutherford nodded politely, then let them pass.

Mike struggled through the crowd and made his way to the defense table, boy in tow.

“What a cute pair you two make,” Ben said, punching his pal on the shoulder.

“We do not,” Mike said, bristling. “I’ve never been cute in my entire life.”

“You are now. You really seem like a natural for this sort of work. Kind of like Mary Poppins.”

“Ha-ha.”

“Maybe you should give up law enforcement and open a day-care center.”

Mike laid a finger firmly on Ben’s chest. “That’s enough.”

Ben laughed. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to suggest that you had a sensitive side.” He leaned into Mike’s ear and whispered, “Why do you still have the kid? I thought Blackwell called the protection off.”

“He did. But the Rutherfords don’t know that. I’m not letting the kid roam unprotected till I’m absolutely positive it’s safe.”

“I see.” Ben leaned back and spoke normally. “What brings you to court?”

Mike glanced down at Abie. He was fascinated by the courtroom and the crowd and didn’t appear to be paying any attention to Ben and Mike. “I need a favor. Will you help me?”

“If I can. What do you need?”

“This is a problem that should be very familiar to you by now. I need a baby-sitter.”

“Mike—”

“Look, I can’t ask any of the boys on the force. I’m not even supposed to be doing this. If Blackwell found out I wasn’t treating this case as closed, he’d be royally pissed.”

“Mike … maybe you should just give this a rest. After all, they found the baseball cap. …”

“Look.” Mike stepped closer to Ben and dropped his voice to a whisper. “The last few nights, while I was off duty, I did some footwork in the area where I think the creep took Abie. Covered almost half of it myself, block by block.”

“Have you slept?”

“Not in three days, but that’s beside the point.”

“Mike, you can’t—”

“Just listen. I think I’m close, Ben. I really do. I can’t explain why, but I think I’m closing in. I know I am. If I can find the creep’s lair, then I’m certain I’ll find something that will tell us for sure who he is. Or was. If it was Bentley, fine. We can all rest easy. But if it wasn’t …” He glanced down at the boy. “Then Abie is still in danger. I want to finish my search today, without delay, before Blackwell finds out what I’m doing. And I can’t do it with—” He jerked his head violently in Abie’s direction.

“But Mike—I’m in the middle of a trial!”

“Well, what about Christina?”

“She’s at my place looking after Joey.”

“Perfect!” he exclaimed. “If she’s already stuck babysitting, she won’t mind taking one more.”

“Well … I suppose you can ask.”

“Great. I’ll drive over now. By the way—” His voice dropped again to a whisper. “Word at the station is that Bullock has plotted a nasty surprise for you. I mean something even worse than what he’s done already. Stay on your toes.”

Swell. “I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will.” He slapped Ben on the back. “Personally, I hope you kick Bullock’s butt, but I never said that.”

“Of course you didn’t.”

“Break a leg.”

A few minutes after Mike left, Leeman Hayes was escorted into the courtroom. Ben heard some footsteps in chambers, and the bailiff announced the judge’s entrance.

“I’m glad to see everyone made it back to the courtroom today,” Judge Hawkins said. “Mr. Kincaid, I guess it’s your turn at the tee. What have you got for us?”

Ben pushed himself slowly to his feet. “The defense calls Ms. Carlee Crane.”