with the brutal murder of his mother’s lover and the State asks that no bail be allowed,” Laraway stated.
It was Alex’s turn. “Your Honor, the defendant was a proud member of the US Navy and he fought for this country. He is a man of honor with deep roots in this community and he does not have the financial wherewithal to be a flight risk. The victim, Lucas Wakefield, was not his mother’s lover, as Ms. Laraway is salaciously trying to suggest, he was engaged to the defendant’s mother, to be married shortly. Also, we have recently learned that the victim had duped quite a number of local people out of millions of dollars. The murderer could have been any number of people. The State has a very flimsy—”
The judge raised his hand. “Save it for the trial, Mr. Martínez.” He folded his hands in front of him, and looked directly at Josh. “Young man, I appreciate your brave service for our country. That being said,” he paused, “this is a serious crime and the State seems to believe they have enough evidence to charge you with Lucas Wakefield’s murder.”
The judge momentarily glanced over at ADA Laraway before proceeding. “Bail is set at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in cash or bond.”
The banging gavel echoed throughout the courtroom. Emily and her friends watched as Alex leaned over and said something to Josh before the deputy escorted him from the courtroom. Words of encouragement perhaps.
The row full of friends sat with their eyes riveted on Alex, waiting for news of the next step, like hungry baby birds waiting to be fed by their mother. He picked up his briefcase and walked through the low, swinging door to speak with them.
“Maggie, I’ll need to take you to arrange for the bail.”
“I can put my house up for collateral,” she offered. “I don’t owe much on it.”
“What about Josh?” Camille asked. “What’s going to happen to him?”
“I’ll do all I can to get Josh out today,” he assured them all, looking from face to face. “Why don’t we step out into the hallway?” he suggested, motioning toward the door with an outstretched arm. “There’s another arraignment coming up.”
They all filed out of the row and congregated in the wide hallway.
“I was half expectin’ Lucas’s momma to be here,” Maggie said.
“She’s probably still in the hospital,” Emily suspected. “Maybe Colin and I could stop by and check on her.”
“I can’t even imagine walking in and finding my son lying bloody and dead on the floor. No wonder she had a heart attack,” Camille said.
Isabel elbowed her and shot her a harsh glance.
“What?” Camille snapped at Isabel.
Then as suddenly as she spoke, she seemed to realize her inappropriate comment with Maggie staring at her, tears filling her tired, bloodshot eyes. “I am so sorry, honey,” she gushed, putting her arms around Maggie. “Me and my big mouth.”
“Seems like a good time to get to the bail bond office, Maggie. Shall we?” Alex held out his hand to her.
Camille released her embrace. Maggie took Alex’s hand, and then he brushed a light kiss on Isabel’s cheek as he led their distraught friend away.
“See you for dinner?” Isabel called after her husband as he and Maggie rushed down the hallway.
“I’ll call you,” Alex yelled back over his shoulder.
~*~
Emily and Colin arrived at St. Luke’s Hospital and checked in with the gray-haired woman at the circular information kiosk in the lobby. She happily looked up Gloria’s room number on the computer and wrote the room number on a slip of note paper.
“Thank you, Mrs. Grimaldi.” Emily took the note from the woman and turned to walk away.
“You’re welcome, dear. Bye, now.”
They boarded the elevator and glided up to the third floor.
“You know that woman?” Colin asked while in the elevator.
“No,” Emily answered, watching the numbers change above the door.
“You called her by name.”
“It was on her name tag,” Emily replied, threading her hand through the crook in Colin’s arm.
“I thought maybe you knew everyone in town,” Colin laughed.
“Actually, I do know her,” she admitted, “or at least I did. I listed and sold her home in my first year in real estate. She was quite a talker. Nice lady, but lonely. She moved into senior housing after the house sold and I never saw her again. She probably forgot who I was.”
“Why didn’t you mention it to her?”
“Did you want to be stuck there, talking for the next hour?”