Caught up in the decorum, Jessica came close to standing up herself.
“Titus, Dinah…” He leaned forward, fingers intertwined. “The state of North Carolina has charged you with breaking and entering, felony count. If you do not have counsel, counsel will be appointed for you. If you cannot afford counsel, bailiff will hand you the forms requesting the same…” He turned to the assistant DA. “Does the state have anything it wishes to add?”
Jessica didn’t care for the callous speed of the proceedings.
Still sorting through the Judge’s declaration as the infant prosecutor rose to his feet.
When he spoke, his authoritative voice wiped the wet clean from behind his ears. “Your honor, the state has also obtained indictments from a grand jury on the following charges… Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury with intent to kill; injury to real property; and common law false imprisonment.”
Jessica began to fill in the blanks from yesterday’s bail hearing.
Hardly able to decode the legal jargon as the assistant DA marched ahead.
“The investigators have also brought evidence to us that are related to two similar crimes that also contain the same MO… Based on these charges, the state respectfully requests that bond be denied for the defendant as she poses threat of injury to herself and others, or that she poses a threat to suborn perjury, or intimidate witnesses, or destroy evidence.”
Jessica shot Chaucer a panicked look: what the hell?
Without so much as a second thought, Judge Mitchell deferred to the prosecution’s request. “Based on the evidence presented before me by the state, bond will be denied to you. There will be another opportunity for review on the next bond date set seven days from now.”
He brought down his gavel, sparking an instant wave of murmurs from the spectators.
A scant two minutes in the life of the Verona criminal justice system, and it was over.
Jessica lapsed into a paraplegic state. Unable to move, even as Randal and Donahue quickly made their way past her, avoiding all eye contact. An officer took Dinah by the arm, led her away as the press snapped pictures, took notes, ordered the cameras to catch every step in.
Chaucer was saying something.
Soothing words a flat dial tone.
Jessica closed her eyes and sent her thoughts chasing after Dinah.
Chapter 37: Taking Sides.
For a moment, Jessica was sure she was going to be fired.
The conversation with Nora and Evan Stern had not gone well. They had sat her down in Nora’s office, a cramped ten-by-ten clerical jungle. Dumping ground for paperwork, budget, inventory, and payroll files. Even the PC monitor served as an improvised shelf, folders sticking out above the screen like thick, manila eyebrows. An improvised rack of freshly pressed housekeeping uniforms gobbled up what little space was left, temporary residents while their usual storage area underwent renovations.
Evan’s presence had sent Jessica on the defensive from the jump. Hotel brass didn’t mix with wait staff.
“I guess you know what this is about,” Nora had said, voice calm.
As always, Jessica’s reaction to the management was instant aggression. The more they tried to reason, the angrier she grew. Back at Spiro’s she’d always been able to keep her superiors guessing. Expertly walking the line between veiled dissent and outright insubordination.
This time around, Jessica had gently shifted the weight from one side of the scale to the other, then kicked the whole contraption over. Almost shouting by the time Nora suggested that Evan give them a moment alone.
He closed the door behind him.
“OK, Nora…” Jessica took a deep breath. “I suppose you got a job to do, right?”
Nora rested her weight against a filing cabinet. Arms crossed beneath her pink blouse, green eyes unmoved by Jessica’s backhanded apology. She carefully moved a strand of strawberry blond from her forehead.
“So I think you know that Dinah’s been on the news.”
“This morning I met the woman who’s tearing down my home. Went to Dinah’s first court appearance, watched the judge revoke her bail, then hightailed it here to start my shift.”
“If you can remain calm for the rest of this conversation, yes. You will be starting your shift shortly.”
“Dinah hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“I know that.”
“You’re firing her for something she didn’t do.”
“She is being temporarily suspended,” Nora clarified. “For something she didn’t do, yes, that part’s right.”
“Well?”
“Well, then I think you’re going to appreciate what I have to say… Our guests are roughly as narrow-minded and ignorant as anybody you’ll find outside these walls.”
Jessica cleared her throat. “I didn’t know management was allowed to talk like that.”
“I can say it because I don’t hate them for it. On any other day, I wouldn’t care. They’re just people, and all they want is good service, good food. A good time. How are they supposed to do that if they find out an alleged psychopath is serving them their porterhouse?”
“But they don’t know that she did it –”
“They don’t care,” Nora explained, sounding every bit as displeased as Jessica. “I’m dealing with dinner guests. I’m not selecting a jury.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re on her side. It insults my intelligence. You’re not on anyone’s side.”
“You know, Guy warned me that you had an attitude. He also said you were a great server, especially for someone your age…” Nora crouched down, eye to eye with Jessica. “You know, most of the staff at Spiro’s like working there. And most of the staff here feel the same way. Maybe they don’t like the fact that they have to work, but they know they have a pretty good deal. As do you. My job is to keep the machine chugging along. For my guests and for you. But that does not include making life any more bearable for anyone. We clear?”
Jessica stared back. “Where does that leave Dinah?”
Nora straightened, back to business. “We will review our decision as the situation develops.”
“Now you’re sounding like a manager.”
“Then let’s not stop there; you want the day off, go ahead and take it.”
“No thanks.” Jessica rose from her seat, took her book bag with her. “Looks like I’m working for two.”
“Yes it does… If I were you, I’d work on your upsell.”
“I suppose I have to apologize to Mr. Stern?”
Nora opened the door with a shrug. “You don’t have to do anything.”
Truer words never rang so false.
Jessica went to go change into a tan vest and welded smile.
Chapter 38: On Her Magistrate’s Secret Service.
Jessica was back in her civilian clothes by eleven-thirty that evening.
She cut across Pantheon’s campus with every intention of heading home. Her feet had other plans, dress shoes leading her north through the misty streets. A helicopter soared overhead, sweeping the area with a blinding spotlight. The insect chatter accompanied her as far as the railroad tracks, then took its business elsewhere.
When she arrived at On The Rail, the regulars were kind enough to greet her without a single question regarding Dinah and the arrest. Even the basic how’s it going was deemed too intrusive.
Casper caught her eye from across the room.
With a quick nod he rounded the bar, arms full of empty beer bottles. Placing his back against the door, he called out to the barflies, “When Tom gets back from the bathroom, ask him to cover for just a minute.”
Jessica followed him out. They rounded the corner, where three large recycling bins looked out over a lot littered with broken glass, and stubborn weeds sprouting from massive cracks.
“Please do not hate me,” he said, dumping the bottles. It didn’t sound like an apology. His candor was almost too much,
another authority figure ready with another tough shit speech. “I’m sorry about what happened yesterday.”
Jessica leaned back against the wall. “I don’t hate you.”
“This situation’s all kinds of fucked up.” Casper popped an American Spirit in his mouth, lit up. Exhaling upwards, a massive smoke stack with a law degree. “If I had been on duty just a few hours earlier, I wouldn’t have even signed the arrest warrant. But when I’m on the bench, I can’t be your lawyer. There was no way I could have let Dinah go on her own recognizance. Wasn’t going to happen.”
“Shit, I know that. I guess I just… didn’t think it would be ten-thousand.”
“It’s standard for breaking and entering. What happened in court today was what ordinarily would have happened last night. I set bare minimum, they wanted more… And nobody walked away happy.”
“Well, thanks for giving her an early first hearing, anyway.”
Casper leaned up beside her. “They’re padding it out. Looking to put the lean on her, delay the arraignment. And when she pleads not guilty, they’re going to do all they can to push back the prelim.”
“I thought delaying tactics were supposed to work in favor of the defendant.”
“With a solid case, sure. Evidence gets lost. Witnesses disappear, change their minds. With what the cops got on Dinah, at this point? They’re buying all the time they can to gather more evidence. It’s when they start rushing her to trial that you got to start worrying.”
“Yeah, then I’m gonna start worrying.”
Casper laughed, rubbed her curls.
Jessica wrapped her arms around his massive torso and squeezed as hard as she could.
“What’s this I got on me?” Casper asked, straining for breath. “Some kind of bug? One of them little Paris Hilton dogs, what?”
Jessica gave him a shove, sending her back a couple of steps. “Whatever, Casper.”
“You know who the public defender is yet?”
“No idea.”
“Look, here’s the facts…” Casper flicked his cigarette out into the parking lot. “The arraignment’s open and shut. Not guilty, bam. When it comes to the prelim, a dismissal is just as unlikely. You stay with the public defender until the actual trial is set. Then we’ll see about getting your aunt some real guns.”
“Until then…?”
“What?”
“Can you help me out?” Jessica looked up at him, choking on her pride. “Help me sort through all the shit the public defender’s got no time for? See what we can figure out?”
Casper watched a police cruiser barrel past. “On the DL, though. All right?”
“Nobody has to know.”
“Nobody better… Now let me buy you an orange soda.”
Jessica walked him to the door. “I’d rather not.”
“You sure?”
“I’m tired. And those guys inside are sweet as hell putting on a show for me but…”
“Yeah, bunch of wags…” Casper stretched, grunting. “You walked here, didn’t you?”
Jessica nodded.
Casper reached into his pocket and handed her a ten-spot. “Stay here. I’m going inside to call you a cab.”
“Casper, I can’t –”
“You absolutely can…” He glanced up and down the street, large brown eyes displaying a near imperceptible fear of what might be waiting for her. “There’s a killer on the road.”
He ducked in long enough to get the house phone, then joined her beneath the awning and dialed for a ride.
Chapter 39: At The End Of The Day.
Eli was sitting on the top step before her apartment.
Tie hanging down between his legs.
A single daisy in his hand.
Jessica shook her head. Propped her shoulder against the wall, unable to summon any heartfelt contempt. “You honestly think flowers were going to work on me?”
Eli smiled timidly. “Who said this is for you?”
“If it’s for Dinah, she ain’t available right this moment.”
“I heard about what happened at the courthouse…”
“Imagine if you’d been there.”
“You know I wanted to be,” Eli said. “You know I have to keep a low profile. You know all of this, Jessica. So, just give me break, OK?”
A couple of moths fluttered in through the stairway window, began to beat their heads against the dirty, overhead light. Jessica watched their epic struggle. If they didn’t wise up, sooner or later, they were going to crawl through the cracks in the cover. Taking their fight to a seventy-watt bulb. Tap, tap, tap, till all that was left were two brittle, singed carcasses.
“You want to come in?” Jessica asked. “Got a bottle of Jack with your name on it.”
Eli nodded, extended the flower.
“Don’t point that thing at me,” she said. “Come on. Let’s get you liquored up.”
Jessica hopped past Eli, and let him back into her home.
***
Eli lit a cigarette, took a prim sip of Jack.
Jessica sat across from him, annoyed with her threadbare tonic on ice.
Clifford Brown on the radio.
“Look…” Eli ruffled his hair, sighed. “This would be a lot easier if you could just admit that, at the end of the day, it’s no fun having no friends.”
“Dinah and I do fine.”
Eli leaned back in his seat, quietly counted the purple Christmas lights. “Fine, here’s what…”
Jessica didn’t let him trap her into speaking.
Let the silence linger in the smoke until Eli had no other recourse.
“I don’t have any friends,” Eli told her. For all the effort he had put into postponing the admission, it came out with his typical forthrightness. “Never had one really. Had a girlfriend when I was seventeen. Didn’t end well. When I moved to New York, I couldn’t stay still for very long. My circumstances demanded constant shuffling. Sound familiar?”
“Everything except the girlfriend part.”
“If you don’t want to admit that it’s lonely at the bottom, that’s fine…” Eli refilled his glass, tapped on his cigarette, missing the ashtray by a mile. “And maybe, when you’ve doing this long as I have, you’ll start to feel it.”
“Feel what?”
“That something has to change.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that Dinah’s in jail, and I want her out. You’re on your own for God knows how long, and I want to be here for you. Sound stupid? You bet it is. But that’s the triple truth, Ruth. I like who I’ve found, and I don’t want to let either of you go.”
Jessica yawned. “I’m still not sure about you.”
“Even if you’re not my friend, I suppose all you need to know is that I’m yours.”
“I’m going to bed,” she said. Picked up her glass and stood from the table. “You stay for as long as you like, Eli Messner. Got plenty of ice, plenty of Jack. You can stay in Dinah’s room. You know where everything is.”
Eli nodded, a little worn out by all the honesty.
Jessica traced a thumb across her lower lip. “Did you see anything out of the ordinary on the Fourth?”
“I only saw out of the ordinary.”
There wasn’t much arguing with that.
“Doesn’t look good for Dinah, does it?” Eli asked.
Jessica eyed Eli’s drink, then headed for the hallway. “Going to have to wait and see…”
But that really wasn’t the case at all.
Not for Jessica.
Half a cup of tea later, she was at her computer. Bare knees bouncing urgently beneath her desk. Checking her email. Didn’t need a whole lot of words to make her case. The situation was as simple as it was stark.
I don’t know who you are.
But you seem to know a lot.
June 27. The night Davenport got it in both eyes.
Any police reports involving GHB?
She left the sub
ject line blank, then sent if off to Mr. Disney Owens.
Jessica took a deep breath. Listened to the sounds of Eli trekking to the kitchen for another couple of cubes. A little pleased to be free from the numbing silence of an empty apartment. Far more than a little afraid by how high the stakes had just been raised.
It didn’t matter how badly Eli wanted to step up and prove himself worthy of her trust.
At the end of the day, Jessica was alone.
Only one way to get Dinah back home.
She picked up her red notebook. Stared at the words ANGRY JONNY with cold determination.
“Looks like it’s up to me,” she said, opening the notebook and getting to work.
PART FIVE
July 21 - July 25
Chapter 40: Dirty Laundry.
Tuesdays at the Orion Laundromat tended to be the slowest. It was one of the first things Dinah had taught her in the early days of their new life together. Neither of them were ever able to figure out what it was about that particular day of the week. After years of looking for a satisfactory explanation, it had finally occurred to Jessica she would never know the answer until she took the effort to come in on some other day when the place was packed.
On that particular Tuesday, July twenty-first, Jessica couldn’t have cared less.
Dinah’s preliminary trial was scheduled for Friday, and Jessica had run out of ideas.
She opened the drier and checked the results. A month’s worth of dirty laundry didn’t dry as fast as her standard load, and she grudgingly shoved a few more quarters in. Set the whole thing spinning.
Four days earlier, a small window of hope had been pried open by two separate acts of homicide. The regional manager of a software company had been found in his own back yard, stabbed in the neck and both eyes. The killer had carved the words Angry Jonny into his arm. Even as the news spread, another victim was discovered in East Verona. Front door busted open, shot twice through the chest. Angry Jonny spray painted on the wall.
The gunshot killer was easily traced through ballistics. Turned out to be the victim’s next door neighbor and best friend, an unfortunate case of love thy neighbor’s wife. As far as the first victim, police were conducting an investigation of some five hundred laid-off employees.