Page 51

Story: Ms. Temptation

“Shelly, can we get a device with internet? I want to check something.” I asked.

If I was right, Randy Shepherd hadn’t been a harasser at all. He’d been hired.

“We can’t have any electronic devices until we’re done.”

“Can Ramon get us any pictures from Alex Hernandez’s public appearances in the last few months? Especially any at the Evergreen Gym? Can we ask Judge Ye for more?”

Shelly frowned, and my stomach sank.

“I don’t think so, but I’ll try.” Her kindly eyes met mine. “You have a theory, Andi?”

I nodded. “It’s too soon to say anything, I’d like to have proof if we can get it.”

The others grumbled when they finished lunch and Shelly hadn’t returned, but I held out hope. Maybe the wait meant we’d get what I asked for.

All eyes turned to the heavy mahogany door as it opened to admit Shelly. Her quick head shake sank my hopes. I sighed. I had my suspicious, but were they enough? Would my fellow jurors join me, without evidence to back it up?

Shelly cleared her throat, and attention swung to her at the head of the table.

“I went to ask the judge for additional evidence, but we were denied. We have only the testimony and exhibits already provided to make our decision. We can only vote on whether the prosecution presented enough information to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the crime.” She focused on me. “Andi, do you have something to share with the group?”

I pushed to my feet, taking a moment to assess the faces around me. Sam looked interested in what I had to say, but I knew he was already in Camp Acquit. Ty’s expression was neutral, and that was all I could hope for.

“I have a theory that makes it difficult for me to convict on the harassment and stalking charges, given the reasonable doubt standard.” I paused, swallowing. “Looking at Shepherd’s financials, I find it implausible that he pulled this all off without help. He needed a lot of cash to fund these pranks, and there are no signs he had the money.Unlesshe had help.”

I let the words hang over the group. Ty shifted in his seat. “From whom?” he asked.

“Alex Hernandez.”

Jack threw up his hands at the end of the table. “What kind of crap is this?” he asked.

I held out my hands, palms out.

“I know, I know, but think about it. I found a credit charge for Evergreen Gyms on Shepherd’s statements. Hernandez endorses those gyms. He told us himself that he’s made multiple appearances there. What if Hernandez and Shepherd aren’t strangers?”

“So?” Jack shrugged. “Doesn’t that only add weight to the stalking charge if they met?”

“But what if this is Hernandez’s plot to return to the Yankees? In his own testimony he admitted to being unhappy with the trade. What better way to encourage the Mariners to trade him again than to fake an injury? And when that didn’t work, add in bad press?”

Maybe I’d watched one too many court dramas. Admittedly, it was a stretch. Still, I couldn’t convict without at least airing my theory.

“You really think a professional athlete would fake an injury?” Ty asked.

Ty’s censure cut deep, but it was a fair question. And I could understand his disbelief.

“Think about it. Shepherd seemed to know Hernandez’s schedule, and some of those pranks would have taken hours to execute. Is it plausible Hernandez wasn’t in on it somehow? Maybe for press, maybe for sympathy? I don’t know, it seems fishy to me.”

“Hernandez did say there was talk of trading him once the pranks became common knowledge. Something about the fans not accepting him hurting ticket sales. Management may want to win, but they also want to fill seats. It could have been a bid to go elsewhere,” Mary said.

Ty shook his head, and my stomach sank. “I’m not sure I buy it.”

“Nevertheless, let’s take a new vote,” Shelly said.

Silently, we marked out fresh pieces of paper, passing them to her. When she finished counting and smiled, I hoped my theory had swayed some.

“We now have all but two votes to acquit on the harassment, stalking, and property damage charges. Any discussion?” Shelly asked.

Ty’s dark stare made me think he was one of the holdouts. But how to convince him? I glanced around the table, wondering who the other was. Only Bill had his arms crossed.