Sedona Law 4 by Dave Daren (ready to read books TXT) 📕

of cocky swagger universal to every rock star I had ever met. He looked to be in his mid-forties, with dark close-cropped hair, sharp brown eyes, and I caught a couple of tattoos on his fingers. He raised an eyebrow as he took us all in, and then he sat down.

“You may be seated,” he said and spoke with the quick, unimpressed manner common to intelligent Gen X men. “In the matter of the state of Arizona versus Julianna Spencer and Gabriel Montago, counsel please state your appearances.”

“Chet Levison,” he said. “Prosecution.”

“Henry Irving,” I began, “and Vicki Park, defense counsel for Julianna Spencer and Gabriel Montago, respectively.”

The judge looked down at his notes, and then he shook his head and then looked back at us. “Prosecution, can you please state the charges?”

Chet read from a paper, “The defendant Julianna Spencer is accused of second degree murder of Beowulf Vandergarten. Defendant Gabriel Montago is accused of aiding and abetting in the murder.”

The words fell like a bomb in the room, and I looked at Julianna who stood resolutely. I could hear Zondra gasp and emit a sob. I half wondered if she would have an outburst right in the courtroom. Fortunately, she stayed in control of herself.

The judge sighed and looked our defense team over.

“This is a murder case,” he said as he toyed a pen in his tattoed fingers. “Pretty serious. Do you understand the charges?”

“Yes, your honor,” Julianna said.

He nodded toward Gabriel. “And you?

“Yes,” he said.

“Okay,” he said. “Are you prepared to enter your plea?”

“Yes, your honor,” Julianna said.

“And how do you plead?” he asked.

She looked at me for confirmation, and I nodded.

“Not guilty,” she said.

“And Mr. Montago?” he asked.

“Not guilty,” he said.

I noticed his lips turn up in a quick half smile. “Have they been advised of their rights and the charges?”

“Yes, your honor,” I said.

He nodded. “Alright. Court will reconvene in six weeks.”

He banged a gavel. “Court dismissed.”

Judge Florian disappeared, and I handed Chet the discovery requests AJ had done.

“Hope you’re ready for this,” he shook his head. “You can’t win every time, Irving.”

“Who says I can’t?” I asked.

He laughed. “Just because you’re a hotshot from L.A., you can’t just waltz into town and ‘fix’ the legal system. That’s a bit presumptuous, don’t you think?”

“I’m not trying to ‘fix’ anything,” I said. “But, why would I need to fix it if it isn’t broken?”

He laughed and that surprised me. “You know, we bust balls around in the courtroom. But I like you, Irving. We should have a drink sometime.”

“That would be good,” I said. “Excuse me, I have to go get to my clients before the media does.”

“You do that,” he said. “I’ll have the discovery sent over to you as far before the deadline as I can.”

“Thanks, Chet,” I replied.

I left the courtroom and met up with Vicki and the clients in the lobby. Zondra tried to comfort Julianna who still didn’t want to be comforted.

“It’s done,” Gabriel said. “We’re in this, we can’t turn back now.”

“Yeah,” Julianna’s voice was hoarse. Olivia glanced at her, and Julianna turned away. I glanced at Vicki, and she shrugged.

“Alright,” I said, “there’s a media circus outside. The specific details of the case are privileged information, so you can’t tell them anything that isn’t already available on public record. I can’t tell you not to talk to the media, but I would advise you to have Vicki or I present if you do so.”

“It’s none of their business,” Gabriel said defensively.

“Yeah,” Chloe said. “They didn’t know Beyo. They think it’s just entertainment when it’s our nightmare.”

I nodded. “That’s a valid way to see it.”

Julianna burst into fresh tears, and Gabriel held her. We all walked out of the building together and were again attacked by reporters, shouting, flashing, chaos. This time, we didn’t stop.

“Thank you, no comment,” I said multiple times, in multiple directions.

Zondra on the other hand, lost it.

“Back off, you fuckers,” she yelled, as she flashed dual middle fingers at all the cameras. “You didn’t know my daughter. You don’t know anything about us.”

This was the worst thing she could have done. It occured to me that maybe we needed a publicist.

“Zondra, Zondra,” Vicki tried to calm her down, but the damage had already been done. The reporters were onto her like a swarm of bees.

“Why did she do it? Was it revenge? Money? Jealousy?”

“Is it true that she was in a four way love relationship?”

“Julainna, what is it like to share a penis with three other women?”

“Thank you,” I stood in front of Zondra and blocked the media parade. “We have no further comment. You can direct any more questions to my office.”

This effectively stopped the barrage, and they got the message.

“Zondra, what the fuck?” Gabriel muttered once we were far enough away that we were in a separate parking lot, out of view of the reporters.

“I just can’t stand that,” she said. “They’re making a joke out of this case.”

“None of us can stand it,” Olivia piped up. “But you don’t have to make it worse.”

“I’m not making it worse,” she said. “I’m standing up for all of you in the middle of this spectacle--which none of you are doing for yourselves. A ‘thank you’ might be nice.”

“This is not your spectacle,” Julianna stopped and turned to Zondra with tears brimming in her eyes. “This is my life! It’s not about you, mom!”

“I’m not trying to make it about me,” she said. “I’m trying to let you make it about you. All your life, I did nothing but prop you up, in pageants, and cotillions, acting lessons. I expected it would do you some good, when life throws lemons at you,