Page 103 of Precise Justice

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Kadella. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Nicole said shaking Marc’s hand.

“Oh, oh,” Marc said. “Don’t believe everything Gondeck told you. He’s a biased prosecution lawyer.”

“Have a seat kids. Let’s get at this. You gonna plead insanity?”

“I haven’t even thought about it,” Marc said. “You gonna set bail?”

“We’ll do that on the record,” Lundgren said.

“No offense, Nicole,” Marc said, “but I don’t think you’re gonna first chair this. Do you know who is?”

“No, I don’t. I’m not even sure they’ll let me sit in on it all.

“I have some discovery for you,” she said handing Marc a box of papers she had. “It’s a copy of your client’s diaries.”

There was a knock on the door and a deputy came in.

“Mr. Kadella, your client’s here. She’s at the defense table with Maddy,” he said.

“Thank you,” Marc said. He looked at Lundgren and said, “I swear she knows every cop in the metro area. That’s why she drives like she does and never gets a ticket.”

“Hell, I wouldn’t give her a ticket either,” Lundgren said. “Let’s go.”

Judge Lundgren went through the formalities of the first appearance. Marc, Robbie and Nicole Barnes stood in front of the bench while he did. He read the only charge so far, one count of second degree murder for the death of Priscilla Powell.

Marc informed the court, for the record, that they had a copy of the complaint and waived reading it.

Nicole served Marc, for the record, appearance documents. She then told the court that he had received some discovery.

Finally, they got around to the real issue, bail. The prosecution went first. Nicole had been instructed to request that bail be disallowed.

“Your Honor, there are other homicides we will be taking to the grand jury for indictment. These victims,” here she looked at Robbie, “were brutally, viciously attacked and murdered by hammer blows to their skull, spilling their brains out.

“This young woman, the defendant, is obviously a clear and present danger to the people of the entire Metro area.”

Here, Marc turned his head to look at Philo. He, and others, were taking notes as quickly as they could. Marc then looked at Robbie who had tears streaming down her face.

“Your Honor, I don’t know if you’ve seen their evidence which will likely be suppressed,” Marc began.

“Objection, speculation,” Nicole said.

“This isn’t a trial, Ms. Barnes. Let him have his say,” Lundgren said.

“It amounts to a hammer that mysteriously appeared in her dorm room at St. Catherine’s. She is no more of a threat to the community than Ms. Barnes is.”

“Your Honor!” Nicole said.

Lundgren waved a hand at her and smiled.

“Does she have means to make bail?” Lundgren asked.

“Depends, what are you thinking?”

“A million cash or bond and she wears an ankle monitor. Do you have a passport?” Lundgren asked Robbie.

Before answering the question, Robbie looked at Marc.

“You can answer,” Marc said.