Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Exactly my point, Your Honor,” the prosecutor says. “We don’t know where Hendrix obtained the knife used to murder David Fairfax seven years ago. Perhaps he got it from his brother. Or perhaps he killed David. Either way, Hendrix threw that knife in the pond, and Alexei went to prison for seven years. No doubt Alexei wanted revenge.”
I think her name is Vicky Sloth or something like that. I wasn’t really listening when she introduced herself, because my mind has been spinning all day.
She keeps tapping that damn pencil. “The defendant has an excellent motive for killing his half brother. Can you imagine spending seven years in prison for a crime because your own brother ensured the murder weapon would be found?” She looks at Alexei on my other side as she hints that he still murdered the victim. “I’d be angry, Judge.”
“So would I,” the judge agrees. She’s an older woman with long white hair named Valerie Flanders. “But motive is irrelevant in a criminal case, as you know. Well, legally it’s irrelevant, but a jury always likes to know what it is.”
“He has the means and the opportunity to have killed his half brother, as well, Your Honor,” the prosecuting attorney says, slapping the pencil on the table. It rolls an inch my way.
Alexei smoothly steps behind me, leans over, and grabs the prosecutor’s pencil.
She jerks.
He quickly steps back into place and leans down to scribble on a notebook.
“Mr. Sokolov,” the judge snaps.
He pauses and looks up. “Yes, Judge?”
She blinks. “What did you just do?”
Alexei has the grace to appear surprised. “I thought the pencils were for everybody, and we don’t have one.” He leans around my front to face the prosecutor. “Sorry about that. I thought you were finished with this one.”
How had he known the tapping was killing me? I completely kept my cool. Does he know me that well? “Your Honor,” I say, trying to keep all emotion out of my voice.
The idea that Alexei could have been killed the other day sticks with me and forces me to make several harsh realizations. The first is that somehow I’ve completely fallen for the guy. The second is that he’s in danger all the time. And the third is that this murder charge is real. He does have an excellent motive to kill Hendrix for setting him up years ago. Or just to regain ownership and control of Hologrid Hub now. Alexei’s prints are on the letter opener, of course, as are mine.
I clear my throat and try again. “For some reason, Mr. Sokolov was sent from the jail to await a bail hearing, to prison, a place he barely escaped and was immediately attacked.”
The judge looks at the prosecuting attorney. “I agree with a concern there. Why in the world was Mr. Sokolov removed from the local jail and taken back to prison?”
The prosecutor visibly swallows. “We’re trying to figure that out, Your Honor, and I haven’t found a good answer. Orders came from high above, but nobody quite knows what that means.”
“That doesn’t sound suspicious,” I retort. Of course, I must be careful because Alexei engineered the entire situation. He put himself in a cell with a murderer in order to protect my friend. He risked his life to save her, someone I consider my sister. The only reason he gave me the truth is because if there’s one hit out on her and it doesn’t work, there’ll probably be another one.
She hadn’t seemed even remotely surprised when I told her the news. I can ask Alexei to keep her safe, but I still have to talk Ella into receiving help. She’s a stubborn one.
The judge shakes her head. “You know, I have to agree with Miss Mooncrest. I don’t know where the breakdown of procedure occurred, but Mr. Sokolov could have been killed. He is innocent until proven guilty, and yet you sent him to a prison.”
The prosecuting attorney plants both hands on her desk. “I don’t know what happened, Judge. I really am trying to figure it out.”
Apparently, money can buy almost anything. A fact that I do not appreciate.
The judge reads through several papers. “In light of the fact that Mr. Sokolov was nearly killed due to the state’s negligence, I’m more inclined to rule in his favor in this matter. Bail is set at one hundred thousand dollars.” She slams down the gavel.
I look over my shoulder as Garik exits the courtroom, no doubt on his way to pay the entire amount.
A sense of calm settles in my chest. Good. Alexei can come home with me.
“One more motion, Your Honor,” the prosecuting attorney says.
I glance her way, surprised.
“This is based on new information, and we haven’t had a chance to notify Mr. Sokolov.” The woman hands me several pieces of paper. “We have a motion to remove Ms. Mooncrest as the attorney for the accused.”