She arrived in the courtroom as the bailiff was calling the case that she knew was several before McMillian’s. When she’d first started practicing she’d arrived early for her cases but as the weeks and months and now years had passed, she’d learned to time her arrival so she spent as little time in court as possible.
She dug the McMillian file out of her briefcase and reviewed the statistics. She could argue that there was enough reasonable doubt to at least get McMillian’s bond dropped or reduced.
The noises of the courtroom buzzed around as she burrowed deeper into the file. Suddenly, she had an odd sense of unease. She looked up and across the aisle sat Deke Morgan. He was staring right at her. When their gazes locked he nodded and then turned back toward the judge.
She swallowed, wondering if he was here for McMillian’s bail hearing.
Her answer came swiftly when the bailiff called McMillian’s name and armed deputies led her client into the courtroom. She rose and moved to stand beside him.
“Council for the defense is?” The judge was in her early fifties and wore dark graying hair in a short bob. Dark-rimmed glasses magnifying her eyes had earned her the nickname of Owl. Owl, or rather Judge Osborne, was a stickler for the rule of law.
“Rachel Wainwright for the defense.”
Large brown eyes peered over the brief. “Ms. Wainwright, we are here today to discuss Mr. McMillian’s bail, is that correct?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Judge Osborne rifled through a collection of papers on her bench. “And do you have a comment about bail?”
“It’s far too high. My client has no prior arrests for violent behavior.”
The judge pulled off her glasses. “There is a first time for everyone, Ms. Wainwright.”
“He is a solid citizen, who has lived in the same apartment for two years. He’s held his job for over two years. He is not a flight risk.”
The judge glanced past Rachel. “Detective Morgan, you are now standing. Do you have a statement?”
Rachel’s spine straightened as she imagined Detective Morgan pulling back his broad shoulders.
“Yes, Your Honor.” The deep timbre of his voice carried the weight of authority.
“You are the arresting officer?”
“Correct.” His voice reverberated through the courthouse.
The judge sat back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest. “And what say you about the defendant?”
Rachel faced Deke, who kept his gaze on the judge as if she didn’t exist.
“There is clear evidence against him in this case, Your Honor. We have eyewitness testimony that suggests he should be held until trial.”
“This is not a trial, Detective,” Rachel said. “It’s a bail hearing.”
His gaze flickered to Rachel and then back to the judge. “I understand that. But I would argue that Mr. McMillian is a danger to society and should remain behind bars until his trial. There’re details of his past I’m investigating. He is a time bomb. Not a matter of if he goes, it’s a matter of when.”
“Do you have facts or merely opinions?” Rachel asked.
Deke shot her a glance. “He should not be let out of jail before his trial.”
The judge sighed and glanced at her notes. “And he has no priors?”
“Correct,” Rachel said.
The judge shook her head.
“I would also add,” Rachel said. “That Ellen was dating two other men at the time of her death and it is possible that either could have killed her. I know we aren’t trying the case now but there is enough today to lower the bail from one million dollars to ten thousand dollars.”
The judge smiled. “Nice try, Ms. Wainwright. Bail is set at one hundred thousand dollars and the defendant is ordered to stay in the Nashville area until trial unless he has permission from the court.” She banged her gavel.
Deke shook his head and then left the courthouse as McMillian turned to thank Rachel. “Thanks, Ms. Wainwright.”
She gripped the handle of her briefcase. “You have a bail bondsman?”
“Yes.”
She handed him her card. “As soon as we have a court date, I’ll contact you. Don’t leave Nashville.”
“No, no, I won’t.” Tears welled in his eyes. “Thank you again, Ms. Wainwright.”
She left the courthouse knowing if she hustled she could beat the evening traffic. As much as she needed a run, her shoulder still ached and she wasn’t ready to jog alone at dusk.
Outside she fumbled with her briefcase, keys, and coffee when a shadow cast over her. Tensing and heart racing, she gripped the handle of her briefcase, ready to swing. She looked up to see Detective Morgan glowering at her. His menace didn’t dampen her relief. “How is your afternoon been going, Detective?”
“Not great.” He shoved his hand in his pocket and leaned toward her. “A cold-blooded murderer scored bail.”
“If you are referring to Mr. McMillian, you must use alleged in your sentences when you talk about him.”
“Nothing alleged about it, Ms. Wainwright. The guy killed Ellen. He picked her out of a crowd, stalked her, finally convinced her to go on a couple of dates and when she didn’t want to see him again, he killed her.”
Her skin prickled, singed by his fiery intensity. “Nice theory but no proof.”
“I’ll prove it. Make no mistake. Let’s hope he doesn’t kill anyone in the interim.”
She dropped her keys, cursed, and then crouched to pick them up. “You are being dramatic. The guy has no criminal record.”
“Dig a little deeper. No formal charges have been filed but talk to the women who work with him. He’s made several of them nervous.”
“He makes them nervous. Please. That doesn’t mean he killed Ellen.”
He studied her, his frustration reminded her of an adult talking to a child. “Be careful around him. He’s clever and he could easily turn on you.”
She unlocked her car door. “I’ll keep that in mind. By the way, how is my DNA coming along?”
“You’ve a one-track mind.”
She tossed her briefcase and purse in the backseat, grateful to have the weight off her shoulder. “So I’ve been told.”
“How’s the shoulder?”
“Hurts like hell. Have they done Lexis’s autopsy yet?”
“Today. The medical examiner will release her body soon.”
Suddenly the fire and vinegar seeped from her bones. “Good. You’ll let me know when I can take custody of her?” She couldn’t bring herself to say body. A simple word but it reduced Lexis to a thing and she couldn’t do that.
“Sure.” His own heat and fire still radiated, but it had cooled. In the courtroom he’d been all business and now she saw the face of the man who’d come to the hospital for her. That man she could almost like.
“Thanks.”
“Had any trouble?”
“No. But I’m as nervous as a cat.”
“Good. Stay that way and be careful.”
“Always.”
Deke was still irritated with Rachel when he arrived at the medical examiner’s office. Despite her know-it-all attitude, she was wrong about McMillian. On a hunch, he’d called dispatch and requested all uniforms to keep an eye out for McMillian, especially if he made a move on Rachel who would be an easy unsuspecting target.