officer eyed Roman and Riley suspiciously, but didn’t say anything.
Talie looked around the courtroom, her expression clearly terrified until her eyes met Roman’s. Then she smiled as her eyes filled with tears.
Roman gave her a bright smile and mouthed, ‘I love you’ to her.
As soon as she reached the table, the officers helped her sit in the center chair and secured her chains to the floor in front of that chair. Patrick took the chair to the right, closest to the aisle, and Raymond the one closest to the left. The officers moved back against the wall just a few feet away, and the bailiff called the hearing to order.
They sat quietly as the prosecution presented their case, ending with it was fairly evident that Talie was not only the killer as they’d found her standing over the body, covered in the victim’s blood, with the knife in her hands, she was also the individual responsible for the stolen property on the premises as her prints were the only ones found on that property.
When it was Patrick’s turn, he stood and stepped into the aisle, taking a few steps toward the judge’s bench.
“Your honor, not only will we prove that Ms. Davis is not the killer, we will prove that she made every attempt to save the victim’s life, and that she is not responsible for the theft of the items found in the home she shared with her ex-husband.”
“Noted,” the judge said, making notes in the folder on his desk.
“Further, I’d like to request an extension of the court date you have set for the end of the month, your honor,” Patrick said.
“What?” Roman burst out. He didn’t want Talie in jail any longer than necessary.
“Shh, it’s okay. We need a little more time,” Ms. Autry whispered to Roman.
The judge glanced up at Roman momentarily as he listened to Patrick’s explanation.
“Forgive him, your honor. This is Ms. Davis, now Mrs. Lyakhov’s husband. Her records are in the process of being updated to reflect the recent change of status and her new name.”
The judge regarded Roman for a moment before beginning to write in his file again. “And spell the defendant’s new name,” he said.
“Lyakhov, your honor,” Patrick said. “L Y A K H O V.”
The judge looked up and pinned Roman with a closer stare. “Like the baseball player?”
“Yes, sir. Just like that,” Patrick said, beaming.
The judge wrote for a few moments before looking up at Patrick again. “Why do you request an extension?”
“There are additional tests that we’d like to order. We need time for the results to come in and be analyzed,” Patrick said.
“Such as…” the judge said.
“DNA testing of the victim’s mouth, face and chest. Our client claims she contacted the victim’s blood while performing CPR. DNA will prove that she did or she didn’t try to perform lifesaving measures on him. Further, we’ve become aware of the fact that multiple pairs of gloves that Ms. Davis now Lyakhov used for cleaning repeatedly went missing. We plan to have tests run on the recovered property to prove whether or not the gloves have come in contact with that property. And if so, if Mrs. Lyakhov’s fingers would have made the same impressions while wearing the gloves that are found on the property,” Patrick explained.
“Provided there is any evidence on the property of said gloves,” the judge said.
“Of course, your honor,” Patrick answered.
“You feel this is a fruitful investigation, Mr. Rooney?” the judge asked, laying down his pen and looking directly at Patrick.
“Absolutely,” Patrick answered, smiling confidently at the judge.
The judge pursed his lips as he watched Patrick watching him. “Only because I know your reputation and the fact you are rarely wrong do I grant this extension. But this is it. There will not be another. Be sure your tests and the results of the same are ready when we reconvene,” the judge said.
“We will be ready, your honor,” Patrick answered.
“Now, Mrs. Lyakhov,” the judge said, looking at Talie, “Please stand.”
Talie stood and faced the judge.
“How do you plead?” the judge asked.
Talie was trembling so hard as she stood with her hands clasped in front of her, the chains leading from her wrists to the belt around her waist and then down to her ankles and the shackles around them were making a faint rattling sound. But she cleared her throat and raised her voice to be sure all heard her. “Not guilty, your honor.”
“Very well. Your plea has been heard. The extension granted. We’ll see