Muted Judgement (Legal thriller, thriller) (5 page)

When they reached the office, Joe sat on a chair, water bottle in his hand. Sarah, a tall woman with long wavy hair down her back, sat behind her desk.

The office spoke of power.
Bold colors, leather and many awards. Plus pictures of Sarah with local celebrities. Sarah never apologized for anything. Probably why she'd gotten so far in local politics.

Her opponent in the next election had already begun to smear her, but Sarah had met each accusation head on.

"Brad, nice to see you," Sarah said. "Have a seat."

The two shook hands.

When Brad and Lauren had seated themselves, Sarah said, "Joe hasn't told me anything. My secretary is going to take notes and record it with Joe's permission. I want this on record."

"Good idea," Lauren said.

At that moment Sarah's secretary came in with a digital recorder and a notepad. She set up the equipment then looked to Sarah for direction.

"Shall we start?" Sarah said.

Looking at each occupant of the room for approval, she got it.

Lauren's boss stated her name and the date then asked Joe to state his name and that he was a juror in the murder trial of Claire Smith.

"Also present are lead prosecutor on the case Lauren Heath and the defense attorney Brad Kennedy," Sarah said.

Joe took a sip of his water then started speaking. "Judge Grogan yesterday asked the jurors to stay behind in the jury room after the trial. We did despite some of us needing to get home to kids or families."

"Did he make you wait?" Sarah asked.

"Not long. He was out of his robes. He sat down at one end of the long table and told us that we had to find Claire Smith
innocent. He said she didn't do this and that we'd ruining a young girl's life."

"What was the jury's reaction?" Sarah asked.

"We mostly looked around at each other. I had never been on a jury where we had contact like this with the judge. No one has ever asked me to vote a certain way either. I thought it was odd."

"What else did he say?"

"That we couldn't let this leave that room. No one would believe that he'd done this."

"Did he threaten you?"

"No, he didn't. It was as if because he asked he just expected we would do it. Very arrogant."

Sarah looked at Brad then Lauren as if seeing if they had any questions. Both shook their heads.

"Why did you come to us with this?"

Joe looked around the room. "I know this is wrong. That poor girl can't get a fair trial if someone is tampering with the jury."

"I think we're done here," Sarah said.

The secretary packed up the equipment. "I'll have my notes typed up within the hour and send them to everyone via e-mail."

"Please put a copy of that recording in my safe," Sarah said.

The secretary nodded then left. Joe and Brad left not long after.

Lauren remained in her seat contemplating if she should mention the water bottle to Sarah.

"I have an issue," she said finally.

"As if jury tampering isn't enough?"

"I have a feeling."

"Lauren, your feelings are usually right. Go with it."

"Do you want to know?"

"Is it illegal?"

Lauren cocked her head. "Not exactly, no. Maybe unethical, but I think I know who raped Claire Smith and who may have killed Sheffield."

"Then run with it."

Lauren stood at the door to the lab, still conflicted. She'd never been involved in subterfuge and she didn't like the situation at all. So here she stood with the water bottle in her hand, about to ask someone to do her a favor.

Mac Morrison sat hunched over a microscope, a lab coat on and a large cup of iced coffee at his elbow. He looked up,
then smiled when he saw Lauren. His smile revealed straight white teeth and added a sparkle to his blue eyes.

"Well, what brings you to our humble corner of the world?"

She had to smile at his charm. "I have a huge favor to ask."

Mac pulled a stool out,
then patted it. "Sit and tell me what you need."

She sat, still grasping the water bottle. Glancing down at it, she started, "I need to know if the DNA on this bottle matches the DNA found on Claire Smith."

She said it and no lightning struck her. No cops came out of the woodwork to arrest her. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. Her palms itched.

Mac held out his hand. His long, thin fingers were relaxed, but insistent. "Okay."

"That's it?"

"Did you expect me to give you a hard time?"

Lauren let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Yes, I did."

"Then you need to hang around with a better class of men," Mac said. He smiled, but she couldn't sense any agenda behind his charm.

He took the bottle from her. "Is this a rush?"

"Yes, actually it is. How fast can you do it?"

"I can do it, with a push, by tomorrow night," he said.

"Wow. That would be great.
Can I ask another favor?"

He cocked his head. "Sure."

She pulled a piece of paper out of her purse. "Can you find out whose phone number this is?"

She'd gotten her phone records from her cell carrier.

"Easy, peasy," he said, taking the slip of paper from her. His hand lingered on hers for a moment too long. "Then you owe me."

She smiled. "I guess I can't blame you for calling in a favor. What do you want?"

He shook his head. "Not sure yet."

She found herself flirting with him.
"You're going to leave me hanging?"

"Not for long, especially if these results turn out how you think they will," he said, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"What if I'm wrong?" she said.

"Then I make have to take longer to call in the favor."

She left puzzled, but not bothered by Mac's insinuations. Some part of her trusted him.

***

Lauren lingered outside the courtroom the next trial day, with the DNA results in her hand. And she knew who had threatened her.  Mac had just given the results to her, but he'd explained what they meant. He was on call if she needed him to testify. If he could take a break he said he'd show up today.

But she didn't think the trial would continue after today. She didn't think it would continue after this hour.

"You look like the cat that ate the canary," Brad said behind her.

"Just the person I need to see. Let's find a room."

One eyebrow of his shot up. "Oh?"

She rolled her eyes,
then she feigned punching him on the arm. "Get your mind out of the gutter. I have some test results to show you," she said, leading him to a room down the hall.

When they were settled, she pulled the file out of her briefcase.

"This is what I didn't want to talk about."

She opened the file then slid it across the metal table. Staring out the window at the sunny day, she waited. She tapped a fingernail on her chin.

Brad flipped back and forth through the two page report for a few minutes before closing the file. He drummed his fingers on the table. "So you've matched the DNA that was found on my client."

"Yes."

She swallowed. His face remained impassive so she had no idea what his reaction was. Her anticipation shifted her to the end of the seat.

"Okay. You've never tried to prove she wasn't raped," Brad said.

"No, I've never disputed that. I've only disputed who," Lauren said. She tapped the file. "This tells me who."

"This tells us that you've found a match for the DNA. It doesn't tell me who."

"Only one person's DNA was on that bottle," she said. "Only one person drank from it."

"But the report doesn't tell me who that is."

She waited a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I took that water bottle from Ethan's desk."

Brad leaned back in the chair as if she'd pushed him. His gaze went to the ceiling. Lauren had never seen him this out of control. His polished veneer slipped for a moment.

"So how do you want to proceed?" he said finally.

"We put Claire back on the stand."

"Why? Can't we just go to your boss?"

Lauren shook her head. "Ethan will think he can deny it if he isn't faced in court with it. Besides, doesn't it appeal to your dramatic flair to do it that way?"

Brad grimaced. "Okay, I get it. I need to prep my client. I don't want her ambushed. Can you see if you can get a half hour delay from Ethan?"

"Oh, thanks. Let me go into the lion's den."

***

That's exactly how Lauren felt when she knocked on the door to Ethan's chambers. As if she were entering the lion's den. And she was an unarmed Christian.

"Come in," he said.

His smile lit up his face.
"Lauren, so glad to see you."

His reaction puzzled her, but then she remembered, he had no idea what was about to happen.

"Thanks for seeing me Ethan. Brad and I would love to postpone the trial for just a half an hour."

"That must be some great evidence you've uncovered."

He had no idea. Did he really think that not one of those twelve jurors that he tried to convince would tell on him? He'd never stopped being the quarterback, the star of the team. He expected everyone around him to do his bidding.

"Yes and Brad just wants to prep his client a little better."

"You're being awfully understanding," he said from behind his desk.

Lauren had never bothered to sit. She stood a foot away from the desk.

"I'm a big believer in due process, Ethan. Everyone gets their day in court."

"How righteous of you.
You haven't changed a bit since college. Still that strong sense of right and wrong," he said.

He was probably mocking her. She didn't care. That smug smile would be wiped off his face soon enough.

"A leopard doesn't change his spots," she said. She turned towards the door to leave. "See you in court."

***

Claire was escorted into the room Brad had met Lauren in. Lauren had just made it back from talking with Ethan.

Claire eyed Lauren.

"What now?" the girl said.

She possessed her bravado today. Lauren stole a glance at Brad who shrugged.

"We've found some new evidence," Brad said.

Claire's eyes widened as her gaze bounced from one to the other. She leaned her elbows on the table. Her suit jacket sleeves rode up her arms, but the outfit still didn't fit her.

"The kind that will get you off this murder charge," Lauren said.

Claire chewed on her lip, brushed an errant hair out of her face. "What's the
catch."

Cynical?

"No catch, except that you need to tell the truth under oath," Brad said.

Claire crossed her arms. "I've been telling the truth."

How were they going to get through to this young girl that couldn't seem to get out of her own way? Lauren wondered if Sasha would ever get this stubborn.

"No, Claire, you haven't," Lauren said.

Brad put a hand on her arm as if to say he could handle this.

"Claire, we know who raped you," Brad said.

The young girl flinched, but her gaze didn't waver from the table. She then picked at her nails as if the two lawyers were not in the room.

"I've told you who raped me," she said finally.

"So you want to stick to that story? When we know the truth and as they say the truth shall set you free?" Lauren said.

What as this girl's problem? Lauren stood, then paced in the room her thoughts a jumble in her head. They had a deadline here.

"Claire, please. We have DNA evidence of who raped you. Incontrovertible evidence," Brad said.

The girl's shoulders slumped. Her head slumped onto the table. Brad patted her arm.

Enough, thought Lauren. She leaned on the table, getting close to Claire. "Enough. Tell us the truth."

When Claire raised her head, tears streamed down her face.
To Lauren, she looked even younger than she had all trial. How did this young woman get mixed up with a judge old enough to be her father?

Claire sniffed. "Okay. Ethan raped me."

Lauren let that sink in for a moment. "Did he kill Sheffield?"

"Yes," Claire said as if she was now interested in telling her story.

Brad leaned back in his chair. "Tell us the whole story."

"Can I have a glass of water?" Claire asked.

Lauren fetched her one, and then sat down to take notes.

"How did you meet Ethan?" Brad began.

"He's a friend of my father's."

Claire sipped her water then wiped tears from her face. Her relief was written on her face. For the next fifteen minutes she told her tale. Both Brad and Lauren took notes.

When her words no longer came, she placed her hands on the table. "Can you help me?"

Brad and Lauren looked at each other. "Yes," Lauren said.

***

Armed with the DNA evidence and the knowledge of what had transpired between Claire and Ethan, Lauren felt a little
surer of herself. Waiting for Ethan to appear, she didn't fidget, just watched the door to his chambers. His charges for harassing her would only add to his jail time.

Claire had cleaned herself up. She'd tied her hair back in a tidier bun and
freshened her make up. Her eyes had a little more brightness to them as if she knew this was the end of a long journey.

Lauren understood. The trial had started only five days ago, but this week had been long and arduous. She would be glad to get things back to normal.

"All rise," the bailiff said.

Claire just about jumped to her feet. Lauren chose not to look at the juror she spoke to. She didn't want to make him nervous or give away any of what was about to happen in this courtroom.

Ethan entered with his usual swagger, making his robes flow behind him. He sat down then nodded to the jury then the audience. "Be seated."

Everyone sat, but no one really settled. The noise of the crowd indicated they knew something was about to happen. But how could they?

Ethan looked over his courtroom his brow furrowed. He must have sensed the electricity in the air also. "Who's calling a witness?"

"Defense, your honor. Remember, the prosecution rested," Brad said.

Ethan looked at him through hooded lids as if he was unamused by Brad's correction. "Then call one."

"Actually Claire Smith was still under oath. I'd like to call her back."

"Didn't prosecution already cross-examine her?" Ethan said.

Lauren stood. "I'm okay with this your honor."

The judge waved a hand to tell Brad to proceed.

Claire rose, and not looking at Ethan, strode to the witness box.

"Remember Miss Smith, you are still under oath," Brad said.

Claire nodded.

"I'm going to ask you some of the same questions as I did last time."

Ethan looked at Lauren. "No objections?"

"None, your honor."
Lauren just about choked on the last part.

Brad turned back to his witness. "Did Mr. Sheffield, the deceased, rape you?"

"No, he did not."

The crowd gasped. The jurors shifted in their seats. Lauren's gaze went to Ethan. He didn't react other than to bang his gavel.
"Order."

The audience settled down.

"Why did you say he did?" Brad said.

"And that would be lying under oath, Miss Smith," Ethan said. "You can be held in contempt of court."

"My client understands what she's done. I think we can deal with the contempt part later, your honor," Brad said.

Ethan looked at Lauren. "You're okay with this?"

"Yes, your honor," she said.

Ethan frowned. "I don't like you making a mockery of this court, Miss Smith."

"My client understands that. She will reveal her reasoning in a moment. May I continue?"