Redeeming (3 page)

“She is… was.” Daniella replied. “But she’s better now and freshening up. I just need to grab her purse for her.”

The women nodded and followed Daniella back into the kitchen. As she approached, she heard the men talking to one another.

“Everything alright?” Jett said as he stood from his chair. “Where’s your mom?”

“She’s fine,” Daniella replied as she gestured towards her mother’s chair. “Billy, can you hand me her purse?”

Billy reached across the chair, grabbed the bag, and handed it to Daniella.

“Thanks.” She looked at all of them and said, “Everything’s okay. We’ll be right out.”

About ten minutes later, Daniella and Marilyn returned to the table. No one said much as they entered the room but Jett stood and pulled out Marilyn’s chair from the table.

She nodded towards Jett.
“Thank you,” She began. “But I won’t be staying I’m afraid.”

“Oh?” Jett replied as he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“No,” she said as she looked around the room at everyone. After she finished, she looked back towards Jett.

“Jett, I had my misgivings about you early on…” she said as she lifted her hand to her chest and covered her heart. “And I believed for good reason.”

Jett nodded in understanding.

Marilyn continued,
“But… since that time I’ve learned you are a good person with loving parents. And, I’m very sorry for the loss of your brother, Wyatt. Truly, I am. Even so, as a mother, I am worried sick about my daughter.”

For several seconds everyone remained silent until at last David spoke and said,
“That’s understandable, Marilyn. Thanks for the kind words.”

“You’re welcome…” she said. “Believe me when I say they come from the heart.”

“I do.” He replied. “I have no doubt about it.”

“Good,” Marilyn began. “I’m glad. Still, at this point I think it’s best if go ahead and leave. I know that’s very rude but I just need some time to myself… to think things over. I’m very sorry…”

“Don’t be,” Jo began as she shook her head. “If I was in your situation, I know I would feel the same way.”

“Thank you for that.” Marilyn said as she slipped her purse over her shoulder.

“Well…” Billy said as he stood from his chair. “I think that means it’s time for us to get going as well.” He glanced at Tricia. “You ready?”

“Yeah…” Tricia replied.

For the next minute or so, everyone hugged and said their goodbyes.

“I’ll walk you out.” Daniella said after her mom and Tricia gathered up their things.

***

Jett,
Daniella, and Billy stepped out on the porch along with her mom and Tricia. As Jett closed the door behind them, the chill of the nighttime air hit Daniella’s cheek. She shuddered before she could get her light jacket on. She managed to get inside and zip it up as they started to walk down the stairs towards their cars.

“I need to talk to you guys about something,” Billy began. “It’s important.”

They stopped about halfway down and turned to face each other.

“What is it?” Daniella said. Jett put his arm around her and pulled her close. It took the chill off almost right away.

“Tricia,” Billy began as he fished around in his pocket for the keys to his car. “Here, go start the car. You and Marilyn get in and I’ll be right there. I have to discuss this issue with them in private.”

Tricia nodded and took the keys from him. As she did, Jett and Daniella hugged Marilyn.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Mom.” Daniella said.

“Okay dear,” she began. As she turned to leave, Marilyn looked at Jett and said, “Thank you for your understanding tonight. I really appreciate it.”

“No worries,” Jett replied. “Don’t even think twice about it.”

After a quick series of hugs all the way around, Tricia and Marilyn walked down the rest of the stairs and headed towards Billy
’s vehicle. Billy watched them until he figured they were out of earshot. He raised his right hand to his chin and rubbed it before turning his attention back towards Daniella and Jett.

“So, I’m going to need both of you to come down to the courthouse with me tomorrow.” He said.

They looked at him with confusion in their expressions.

“Why’s that?” Jett asked.

“Yeah,” Daniella added. “It’s kind of last minute Billy. I have to work you know.”

“Yeah, I know.” He said as he lit a cigarette. “I got the text while we were eating. I was hoping to give you a day or two to arrange your schedule but this will probably work out for the best after all.”

“What will?” Jett asked.

Billy slipped his lighter back into his pocket. He took a long drag from the cigarette and exhaled.
“Judge Bingham. He’s agreed to meet with me about your case.”

“Who’s that?” Daniella asked.

“He’s the one who decides if this whole plan of yours goes off at all or if the case will go straight to the District Attorney.”

“Oh…” Daniella said.

They continued to walk once again until they made their way out onto the gravel driveway.

“See, I figured as soon as the old man was out of the picture, you two…” he began as the cigarette tip glowed orange from another deep inhale, “… would need more time, probably a
whole lot
more.”

Jett nodded.
“Well, it wouldn’t hurt. What’s the catch?”

Billy chuckled.
“You knew there had to be one, didn’t ya?”

“Usually is…”

“Yeah, well, there is… sorta.” Billy said. “The thing is that unless you can convince him that you’ve been framed, he won’t hesitate to move ahead with the prosecution. And believe me, Judge Bingham is no one to mess around with.”

“Why wou
ld he believe us?” Daniella asked.

“I’m not sure he will but with me there, we’ve got a shot.” Billy said. “With any luck, he’ll cut me some slack and we’ll be able to get some more time. How much I couldn’t say but at least more than you have at the moment.”

Daniella and Jett looked at one another. Billy dropped his cigarette and ground it out on the crushed gravel beneath their feet.

“I guess we don’t really have any other options do we?”

“I suppose you could make a run for it.” Billy joked. “Of course, I know how to get to Fesser’s Grove so it wouldn’t do you much good. Short of that, no, you don’t.”

Daniella chewed on her lip.
“Um, okay, I can try calling in sick or something. What time is the meeting?”

“Nine in the morning, sharp, at the municipal building.” Billy replied. “So in Judge Bingham time, that means eight thirty.”

“Okay then,” Daniella said. “We’ll be there.”

Jett nodded in agreement.

“Good,” Billy replied as he turned to leave. “I’ll meet you there… In the lobby just past security.”

Billy spun in the opposite direction and started to head towards his police car.

“Hey Billy…” Jett called out.

Billy stopped and looked back in their direction.

“Thanks man,” Jett began. “Sorry if I was ever a dick to you.”

“No problem,” Billy replied. “There’s plenty of that to go around for both of us. Don’t thank me yet though. At least not until Judge Bingham has his say.”

With that, he waved at them, climbed into his patrol car and moments later, drove away into the night.

***

Judge Bobby Bingham appeared from a door in the back of the room.

“Get up and don’t sit down until he does.” Billy whispered to Daniella and Jett as he entered.

They nodded as the man came into the private judge’s chamber. He made no eye contact with them whatsoever as he made his way behind the desk and took a seat. As he did, Billy motioned for Daniella and Jett to sit as well. The judge picked up a manila file folder, opened it and began to leaf through the paperwork. After a couple of minutes, he closed the folder and leaned back in his chair.

“Officer Holder…” he began. “We’ve had what… a half dozen discussions about this case in the past month or so?”

“Yes, Judge. At least that many.”

Judge Bingham removed his reading glasses and placed them down on the desk. He rubbed his eyes for a few seconds and nodded. Afterward, he gestured in Jett
’s direction and said, “And this man, the one you’ve been pursuing the entire time and the one the city spent tens of thousands of dollars to capture… Now that he’s in custody, you are proposing what… We don’t move forward with the prosecution?”

“Um, well, your honor it’s a bit more complicated than that but…”

“What evidence do you have?” Judge Bingham interrupted.

Billy cleared his throat.
“Ah, it’s circumstantial mostly, some eyewitness accounts…”

“And you are telling me that is more reliable than discovering the fingerprints of the accused on the murder weapon
?” Judge Bingham asked as he stared up at Billy beneath a furrowed brow. “Is that what you are telling me?”

“I’m not sure yet, your honor.” Billy said with a hard swallow.

Daniella glanced at Jett with a concerned look on her face. This discussion didn’t seem to be doing anything positive for their situation, at least not yet.

“Mmm, hmm.” The judge murmured. He pointed his finger at Jett but kept his eyes trained on Billy. “And you don’t feel this man is a flight risk?”

Billy kept his eyes trained on the judge. “No. I don’t, Judge.”

“Uh huh.” The judge said as he shuffled through a few more pieces of paper. “What about Ms. Tanner? You’ve implicated her as an accessory after the fact. And now… no?”

“That is the charge at the moment, yes…” Billy began. “But as with Mr. Conrad, I feel there is sufficient evidence to the contrary. Nothing concrete yet of course but that’s why I need a bit of time.”

“Alright, well, if these two…” the judge said as he pointed his finger at Jett and Daniella, “aren’t the ones you are after, you need to tell me who it is and why. Otherwise, there’s no way I can sign off on this plan, Billy.”

“Judge,” Billy began. “I wish that I could. I really do. But the truth is that I don’t have all the details myself yet.”

The judge shook his head in disgust.

“Sergeant Holder, you have to be joking.” The judge said. “You know me better than that. The statutes of this jurisdiction bind me to uphold my oath. Without credible evidence to the contrary, I have no choice but to turn this over to the District Attorney. You know that.”

As the judge spoke, Daniella noticed a photo on the credenza behind him. In it was a younger version of him with a girl. She looked to be in her teens and bore a resemblance to him. An instinct hit her and she gestured towards the photo.

“Excuse me, sir?” Daniella stammered.

“Daniella…”
Billy said in a hushed tone. “Not now.”

Daniella ignored his admonition.

“If you don’t mind me saying…” she began as she pointed to the picture. “That’s a lovely picture of you. The girl… is she related to you?”

“Oh man…” Billy muttered under his breath as he rubbed his face in frustration.

Daniella’s question caught the judge off guard. He shifted his attention from the paper in his hands towards her.

“Yes, it is… was.” The judge sighed as he did a half turn in the direction of the picture. “That was my d
aughter, Rebecca. She died… in a car crash. I suppose she would be about your age today, if she’d survived.”

Daniella swallowed and placed her hands in her lap.

“Oh, I’m so sorry…” she said as she averted his gaze and looked past him towards the photo once again. “I didn’t mean to pry, I…”

The judge nodded for a moment and then with a dismissive wave of his right hand he said,
“Ms. Tanner, it’s alright. It’s been many years now and besides, you couldn’t have known.”

“Even so,” she began. “I feel terrible, I… It’s just that you both look so happy in the picture.”

The judge made a full turn, picked up the picture from the credenza, and held it in his hands. He admired it for several seconds. “Yes, that was a happy time… For both of us.”

Daniella smiled and then let out a deep exhale.
“I never knew my father. My mother raised me.”

Judge Bingham placed the photo on his desk, admired it for a moment
longer, and then turned his attention towards Daniella.

“Well, I am sorry to hear about your father.” He said.

“Thank you.”

The judge paused for a moment and looked at each one of them. He nodded, leaned back in his chair, interlaced his
fingers, and placed them in his lap.

“These are very serious charges you are facing Ms. Tanner.” He said. “You realize that don’t you?”

Daniella nodded. “Yes, sir. I do.”

“How well do you know this man?” He asked as he pointed in Jett’s direction.

“Well, I…” Daniella began.