Page 28 of Desert Loyalties
MANDRAKE
The day’s here, the one we’ve been waiting for. Probable cause hearing, that’s what we’re calling it. I know it has some fancy legal name, but all I can think is: this is the day we find out what the feds have and if it’s enough to ruin my life.
I’ve been in this courtroom before, but this time, it’s different.
I’m not in shackles. No orange jumpsuit either.
I walk in beside Christina, Skye close at my side.
I’m wearing real clothes ones she picked out for me.
Something about them makes her smile, says I look like a teddy bear in them.
That shouldn’t matter, but somehow it does.
Perception is everything in a courtroom, and today, we need the judge to see me as human not as a threat, not as the face of some dangerous motorcycle club, but as a man with a life, a partner, and a future that’s worth protecting.
The courtroom’s still cold though. Still has that same weird smell. Skye squeezes my arm as we pass through the aisle, and for just a second, her hand slips into mine. Then she veers off toward the gallery, and I keep walking, following Christina to the defence table.
Across the room, the prosecutor is already setting up. He’s not the frat-boy clown from last time, no Douche today. This one’s older, composed, no flashy bullshit.
I lean toward Christina. “Who’s that?”
She doesn’t look at me when she answers. “Henry Cheng. Used to be a federal bigshot in DC. Then he screwed up and got transferred to Nevada.”
My jaw tightens. “Great.”
She exhales through her nose. “I have a feeling you’re not the real target here.”
I glance at her, confused. “What?”
“Cheng is still good and if he’s here, they’re not just trying to convict,” she says quietly. “They’re hoping to scare you. Pile on the pressure. Make the case look heavier than it is so they can flip you.”
“Flip me?” I repeat, half a scoff. “Like hell that’s happening.”
She finally meets my eyes. “I know. But they don’t.”
Christina opens her folder, hands moving with slow precision. "Stay calm, answer only what you have to, and remember, we’re not here to prove your innocence today. We’re here to find out what they have and whether it’s enough."
The bailiff's voice cuts through the low murmur of the courtroom.
“All rise. Court is now in session. The Honourable Judge Lucille Benton presiding.”
Everyone stands. I plant my feet firmly on the floor, square my shoulders, and try to remind my body how to breathe. The door opens, and in walks Judge Benton, black robe, silver hair pulled back in a tight knot, expression that doesn’t give a damn who you are.
I steel myself, trying to look every bit the respectable citizen Christina wants me to be. Not the biker they’ve painted in some file. Not the monster who killed his friend. Just a guy who loves his girl and wants to go home.
The judge takes her seat. The bailiff gives a short nod.
“You may be seated.”
Everyone settles. The courtroom’s heavy silence makes my skin itch. The judge adjusts her glasses, flips open the folder in front of her, and clears her throat.
“This is the preliminary hearing in the matter of the United States versus Drake Lloyd.”
Her voice is even. Neutral. But the weight behind each word could crush bone.
“The defendant is charged in the complaint as follows: Count One: Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1111 - Murder . Count Two: Violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1512 - Witness tampering . Count Three: Violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 371 - Conspiracy to commit a federal offense . Count Four: Violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1505 - Obstruction of justice .”
She looks up, eyes landing on me for the briefest of seconds.
“I’ll now hear from the prosecution.”
Next to me, Christina clicks open her pen, not even flinching. Her hands are calm, controlled. She leans in just enough to murmur, “Relax.”
Across the courtroom, Henry Cheng rises. I can already tell that this guy is nothing like the frat-boy from the last time. This one’s here to win.
I feel Skye’s gaze on me from the gallery. And I don’t look at her. Not yet. Because I need to sit here and make the world believe I’m not the monster they say I am.
Henry Cheng straightens his tie and steps forward, voice measured but firm. “Your Honor, members of the court, this case concerns the tragic disappearance and presumed murder of one Kyle Donahue, also known in certain circles as ‘Locke.’”
He lets the name hang in the air for a moment before continuing.
“Mr. Donahue was last seen roughly one month ago. On the very day he vanished, he sent a video message to law enforcement, a declaration addressed to his family and authorities. In it, Mr. Donahue warned that if he was not heard from in the following days, his death should be presumed and investigated.”
Cheng walks back to his table, flicking through a folder, then looks up.
“In this video, Mr. Donahue implicates Drake Lloyd as responsible for his disappearance and warns of ongoing threats. We have since been unable to locate Mr. Donahue. No physical evidence has been recovered yet, but we believe that Mr. Lloyd’s involvement is supported by credible witness statements and other circumstantial evidence. ”
He pauses, scanning the courtroom.
“The defendant is charged with murder, conspiracy, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice, stemming from the events surrounding Mr. Donahue’s disappearance and the subsequent investigation.”
Henry’s eyes briefly meet mine, cool and unyielding.
“Today’s hearing will determine if there is sufficient probable cause to proceed to trial based on the evidence we will present. I believe there is enough evidence, which will be supported by my witness. At this time, the prosecution calls Special Agent Munez to the stand.”
The courtroom door to the side opens, and a tall man in a neat suit steps inside. He nods briefly to the bailiff stationed nearby before making his way to the witness stand. The room hushes as he settles onto the chair, hands folded in front of him.
The bailiff steps forward, holding a small black book.
“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” the bailiff asks, voice steady.
The man raises his right hand without hesitation. “I do.”
“Please state your full name for the record.”
“Special Agent Miguel Munez, Drug Enforcement Administration.”
The prosecutor turns to Munez. “How did you come to know the victim?”
Christina’s hand twitches. She glances at the judge, then stands quickly. “Objection, Your Honor. The prosecution has not established that Mr. Donahue, known as Locke, is deceased. Asking how SA Munez ‘met the victim’ presumes a fact not in evidence.”
The judge nods thoughtfully, fingers steepled. “Sustained. Counsel, please rephrase your question.”
I let out a quiet breath. Christina’s sharp. She’s on top of this.
The prosecutor smirks and asks, “Agent Munez, how did you come to know Mr. Donahue?”
Munez clears his throat. “He contacted our department two months before his disappearance, on May 3.”
Cheng leans forward, “And how was his demeanour?”
“He was scared, jittery. He said someone at his club was dealing drugs and he wanted to help us catch them.”
Cheng raises an eyebrow. “And you believed him?”
“They call each other brothers,” Munez says. “One wouldn’t turn against the whole club for nothing. Plus, he gave us leads that led to several arrests.” Christina scribbles something on her notepad.
Cheng flips through his notes. “What happened the day before Mr. Donahue disappeared. On July 9?”
“We led a raid on the clubhouse based on his intel,” Munez answers.
“Did you find any drugs?”
“No.”
“And which members were missing during the raid?”
Munez hesitates. “There were several. Mr. Lloyd was one of them.”
The judge’s eyes flick to me.
Cheng presses, “Is it possible the reason no drugs were found was because Mr. Lloyd wasn’t there?”
Christina cuts in sharply, “Objection, speculation and leading the witness.”
Before the judge can respond, Cheng says, “I’ll rephrase. Agent, why did Mr. Donahue say no drugs were found?”
Munez responds, “He said Mr. Lloyd probably found out about the raid and moved the drugs offsite. He was very agitated and scared, said that now the club knew there was a CI, they’d find him.”
Cheng nods. “When was your next conversation with Mr. Donahue?”
Munez shrugs. “There wasn’t one. The next time I heard from him was when he sent me a video.”
Christina stands quickly. “Your Honor, we haven’t been given access to this video, nor have we had the chance to verify its authenticity. I object to its admission.”
Judge Benton taps her gavel lightly. “Sustained. The prosecution will provide a copy for the defence to review.”
Cheng speaks up, calm but firm. “Your Honor, Special Agent Munez is a decorated DEA officer with over ten years of field experience. His direct handling of the confidential informant, as well as the chain of custody for the video, speaks to its credibility.”
Judge Benton considers, then nods. “The defence will receive a copy of the video, and it will be formally reviewed at trial. However, for the purposes of this hearing, I will allow Agent Munez to testify as to the contents of the video, pending further verification.”
Christina exhales sharply, but says nothing. I glance at her, and she meets my eyes just briefly. We both know this is the game, and today’s not about winning, it’s about surviving.
Cheng gives a tight smile. “Understood, Your Honor. Agent, what did the video say?”
“In the video, which arrived by timed courier, Mr. Donahue said if he wasn’t heard from again, he was dead, and that Mr. Lloyd was responsible.”
Cheng walks back. “No further questions.”
Christina stands; voice steady. “Agent Munez, you said Mr. Donahue was jittery when he first met you, correct?”
Munez nods.
The judge leans forward. “Please answer verbally for the record.”
Munez leans close to the microphone. “Yes.”
Christina fixes him with a look. “Could that have been due to drug use?”
Cheng jumps up. “Objection, Your Honor. That calls for speculation.”
Christina shrugs. “Your Honor, SA Munez has over ten years of drug enforcement experience. I’m asking for his expert opinion on Mr. Donahue’s state at the time.”
The judge considers. “Overruled. The witness will answer.”
Munez clears his throat. “Maybe. Or maybe he was scared of the gang.”
Christina nods. “You also said the intel Mr. Donahue gave led to several arrests?”
“Yes.”
“Were any of those arrests connected to the motorcycle club Mr. Donahue and my client belong to?”
Munez hesitates, then answers quietly. “No.”
Christina presses on. “Is it possible no drugs were found during the July 9 raid because there simply were no drugs there?”
Munez looks at Cheng, who’s visibly tense.
Christina quickly adds, “Do you need to consult the prosecution before answering?”
Cheng opens his mouth but Christina cuts him off with a sharp, “Withdrawn.”
She looks back at Munez. “Would you answer, please?”
Munez nods slowly. “Yes, it’s possible.”
I wanted to tell Christina about the burner phone text from Locke, how it told the DEA contact he was leaving. But that was more of a ‘don’t say shit that’ll get me in trouble.’
Christina flips through her notes. “Agent Munez, did you find Mr. Donahue’s body?”
“No.”
Christina turns to the judge. “Your Honor, the prosecution’s case rests on the word of a man who may have been under the influence and whose death is not even proven.
He could very well be lying on a beach somewhere.
Their claim is Mr. Donahue disappeared and was murdered on July 10.
Yet here,” she holds up a stack of papers, “are sworn statements from multiple witnesses placing Mr. Lloyd at his engagement party that very same day. My client was arrested on baseless charges. I move to dismiss for lack of probable cause and to correct this gross injustice.”
The courtroom goes quiet. Judge Benton studies the affidavits, then looks up.
“Counsel for the prosecution, I’m inclined to agree with the defence. Do you have anything to persuade me otherwise?”
Cheng stands, face tight. “Your Honor, I just received word from Nye County. A body matching Mr. Donahue’s description was found near Tonopah. I request 48 hours to complete DNA testing and autopsy.”
Judge Benton taps her gavel lightly. “You’ll have 24 hours. Court is adjourned until tomorrow morning.”
She turns to the bailiff. “Mr. Drake’s release on ankle monitoring continues. Per defence motion, I’m lifting the internet restriction. All other conditions remain.”
Gavel bangs.
Christina packs her bag at the defence table, eyes locking with mine. “You can smile,” she says quietly. “This is good.”
We start toward the aisle when AUSA Henry Cheng steps in front of us, smirking like he owns the place.
“Don’t get too happy, LaGuerta. When the DNA comes back, your client’s going to jail for good.
But I’ll make you an offer, plead guilty to second-degree murder, serve fifteen years, and I’ll drop the rest of the charges. ”
Christina stops, cool and sharp. “My client wants his day in court. And you better believe I’ll be contacting Nye County to confirm that the body, if it exists, matches Mr. Donahue’s description. Otherwise, you’ve just lied to the court.”
She walks past him, leaving the smirk wiped clean from his face.