Judith (Queen's Birds of Prey Book 3)

by Kathi S. Barton

  The judge—Harmon, if she read the placard correctly—cocked a brow at her. She didn’t pay him any mind. This was going to be an all-day event anyway. Being as old as she was, getting up and down like he thought he deserved was hard on her old bones. Once again, she thought some jail time would be perfect right about now.

  As soon as the doors were closed behind her, she didn’t bother waiting on someone to ask her to speak. Standing up, because she wanted to have his full attention, she cleared her throat when he asked her what she had to say.

  “Plenty, as a matter of fact. But for now, I want to plead guilty.” He asked her if she knew what the charges were. “I haven’t any idea what sort of crap was concocted on my behalf. But I want to plead guilty to it. All of it, as a matter of fact.”

  “I see. Do you have an attorney? It says here that you’ve refused the one assigned to you.” She didn’t point out how he’d asked a question he already had the answer to but told him she didn’t need one. “I see. So, I’m to assume you don’t care what the charges are against you. You’re just going to assume it’s nothing to get you into too much trouble and be done with it. I’m sorry to say, it’s not going to work like that with this trial. There are a great many people who are going to need to hear what you were doing out there under the guise of caring for children.”

  “I’m assuming you mean the porn videos?” He didn’t even blink at her. “Yes, yes. I did those. I wasn’t getting enough money by being a nice person. That was what I had to do to care for those brats and my family. I did it. Move on.”

  “Be that as it may, I’m going to tell you now, there will be a trial, as well as witnesses and the entire gamut of things that happen in a courtroom. It’s what I get paid to do.” He hit his gavel on the desk like that was supposed to be taken as fact. “Is there anything else, Ms. Holloway? As it stands right now, you’re already getting on my nerves. It’s only eight-thirty in the morning too.”

  “I’m well aware of what the time is. Even though they took my watch from me, I know the time without a clock better than most. I’m not going to sit through a trial with you. I told you, I’m guilty. I just want to get on with the sentencing and be done with you. This is a total waste of my tax dollars.” She gave him her best “I’m not fucking around with you” stare, but he only laughed. “And what, pray, do you find so funny?”

  “You. Especially if you think this display of temper or whatever it is you’re trying to convey to me by your look is going to get you anywhere. I’m married to a beautiful Irish woman who has the temper to match her fine red hair and freckles. If you think to even get close to what I’ve put up with over the last thirty some years, then you’re sadly mistaken.” He laughed a little more before continuing. “Now, have a seat, Ms. Holloway, before I have you removed to be shackled. I’ve suddenly decided that having you here for this entire trial might be the most fun I’ve had in some time. Sit down.”

  She was sitting before she could think about it. He had used the mojo stuff on her, which meant he wasn’t a good Christian human, such as she was. What was this world coming to when every Tom, Dick, and Harry could simply take over the jobs of humans that needed it?

  They droned on about all the things she’d done. It wasn’t as if anyone in this room didn’t know she’d been caught. Most of these idiots thought she was wrong for doing something to provide for her family. People needed to get their heads out of their asses and think about the things she’d had to give up while she’d been doing the job of keeping kids off the street.

  You don’t honestly think you did the right thing in this, do you? She looked around for who was speaking to her. I’m in the room with you, Hanna, but I’m not close enough to speak to you directly. I do believe that sitting next to you would be dangerous—for you, not me. I’d strangle you where you sit and not have a single thought about it.

  “Who is this?” Everyone stopped talking to look at her. “There is someone here speaking to me, and I want to know who it is.”

  No one can hear me, but you. You’re only making a fool of yourself—or I should say, a bigger fool of yourself—by talking about me. She asked the person again who dared to speak to her. Dares? I suppose you would find it as a cut on your personality to have someone like me speaking to you. You don’t like shifters, do you?

  “They’re an abomination to the world. Where are you? I want to know who this is.” He told her not to speak aloud, or she’d never find out what they had to say. “I’ll do as I want, you bastard. Where are you?”

  As I said, here in the room with you. Go ahead and speak to me aloud. They’ll only think you’re insane and lock you up in an institution someplace. I, however, don’t think you’d enjoy that overly much. The people there, the criminally insane, would have it in their heads that you’re a monster. More so than they might be. People, shifters or not, they don’t take kindly to having children killed. Especially ones so young as a month. She thought of all the things she could say to him on that score. Ah, so you’ve thought about it, have you? Well, think of this. When they put you into a room with equal criminals such as yourself, they’ll latch onto you like you’re fresh meat—a new face. You won’t be able to get away from them. Then one night, when you’re trying your best to ignore them, the staff will turn their back on the room, and you’ll end up dead. Did I tell you how much people hate your sort of murderer?

  Hanna had to think about how to answer without speaking when it occurred to her to just think her answers. I don’t care what they call me. I will not be put into an insane place either. I’m not crazy. He asked her why she thought she wasn’t. I’m as sane as anyone. I needed more money than they were paying me.

  I don’t think they could have paid you nearly enough for you to have stopped what you were doing. You seemed to enjoy it too much, I’d say. She didn’t have to answer—she had enjoyed some aspects of the movie-making. Why was it necessary for you to kill them off when you were finished with them? Why not allow them to be adopted instead of killing them, then burying them in the back yard as you did?

  Children have no concept of keeping their mouths shut. If they’d mentioned me at all and what we were doing, then I would have been caught decades ago. He told her it sounded as if she had enjoyed that as well. Killing them? I suppose I did in some way. They were forever wanting this or that. What did they expect me to do, shit a toy out for them? As it was then, I’d have to take all the gifts they were given and sell them off. Do you have any idea how much it costs daily to feed them? More than you make in a month, I’m betting.

  I’m sure you thought so. But it’s doubtful you were spending all that much. I have heard what you were feeding them. Oats two meals out of three? Then peanut butter sandwiches the other meal? No meat except on Sundays? Hanna told him she was working on a budget. You mean a budget for the children. Just the night before you were arrested, you and your brothers had steaks along with large baked potatoes. That wasn’t just one of either. You and the other two ate like that every night of the week. What a shame you won’t get those sorts of meals while in prison.

  She didn’t bother pointing out to him that she’d had to keep house daily. Make sure the kids had a bath, food, and some sort of learning craft. It took a lot out of her to do such things. Not to mention, fending off all the people who wanted to take her from her job. Keeping a home full of children from potential deadbeat parents was a full-time job.

  Oh, and don’t forget the time it took you to make and sell your side job. I don’t know how you were able to live with yourself doing what you did. Again, there wasn’t any reason for her to answer him. He’d just make some sort of snide remark back to her. I’d never do that. I’m a nice person. It’s you that is the monster in all this.

  This time she turned to find him. There was no doubt in her mind that she’d be able to pick him out. The man was going to pay for talking to her this way. When his laughter echoed through he
r mind, she glared harder at each man until they looked in her direction.

  You won’t figure it out, I’m afraid. You’re assuming I’m a man when I’m not. I’m not human either. I can change myself into whatever creature and person I want to be. How about I give you a little hint? The laughter again. Look to your right, Hanna, and I’ll prove to you what I mean.

  Looking to her right, she saw nothing. Then as she was looking again, just to be sure, she saw herself sitting in a chair at the back of the room. The little wave had her waving back. Hanna turned in her chair so quickly it tipped in a way she was sure she was going to hit the floor. However, with the tilting of it and her weight, the chair broke and splintered under her.

  Getting herself upright proved to be more difficult than she thought it should have been. It wasn’t until she was standing up, holding onto the table for a moment, that she realized she’d been hurt. The blood running down her leg worried her. It was a steady stream that had her sick to her belly.

  “Are you all right?” She glared at the man who was helping her. “I’m only asking because a woman your age cannot afford to break a hip.”

  If she hadn’t had to hold onto the table to stand up, she would have slapped the piss right out of him—the nerve of some people. Glaring at him didn’t seem to work either, as he wasn’t looking at her face. Finally, she felt something hard hit the back of her legs, and she plopped down. It was undignified, but she was sitting rather than holding onto a wobbling table.

  “I’ve called an ambulance.” She told the judge it wasn’t necessary, she was fine. “Perhaps you should look at the piece of wood that has become a part of your body, Ms. Holloway. You’re bleeding badly too.”

  Looking down, she saw the sliver of wood that was indeed in her calf. It was making her ill again, so she looked away. The blood pooling under the table and chair was bad enough, but the wood sticking out both sides of her leg like an arrow was too much. Getting dizzy now, she felt sick and thought she might pass out as well. Damn it all to hell, she thought. This was going to drag things out longer than she wanted.

  ~*~

  Jude watched the proceedings. The ambulance drivers were trying their best not to puke on their patient, while the others in the room were using their phones to send what had happened out to the masses. She wondered briefly how they’d gotten their phones in here. She’d been asked to leave hers in the car.

  Not that she didn’t feel bad for Hanna being hurt. She had been teasing her, and that had made her angry. That was what she wanted, not her being hurt to the point she had to be taken away in an ambulance. Getting up, careful of the men working, Jude slipped out of the courtroom and into the bright sunlight.

  You seem pissy right now. She told Mercy she wasn’t so much pissy as disappointed. Having her in jail and awaiting trial couldn’t have happened to a more terrible person if you ask me. They’re still pulling blankets from the ground over here. So far, they’ve unearthed three dozen blanket wrapped bodies. That’s fucking sick.

  Are you just standing there watching them? She told her she was in a tree looking down on them. I’m sure that’s not scary or anything. I’d be scared if I looked up into a naked tree and saw a large falcon sitting there staring down at me.

  No one has noticed me. I think they’re set on this job. Did you hear that her brother George has been hospitalized? She told her that she hadn’t. I guess he’s some kind of germophobe. When one of the officers touched him to cuff him, he went berserk. After they took him to the jail, giving him his bottle of hand sanitizer back to him, he drank it. He was heard saying it was the only way to get all the germs off him. He’s also being treated for his hands. I guess they’re a mess as well.

  This is one fucked up family. Hanna is on her way to the hospital as well. Jude told her what had happened. It was sort of my fault. I was having fun with her when she was startled while turning in her chair. I’m not really sorry about it. Hanna deserves what she gets. However, I think this might be a good thing. They might have all the bodies accounted for by the time she’s ready to come back. Didn’t she have two brothers? Harland, I think that was the other one’s name.

  That’s right. He’s not competent to stand trial. The officer that arrested him while he was in the yard got socked in the face when George started screaming. The officer wouldn’t allow Harland to go to his brother, and that caused a ruckus. When the doctor at the hospital was treating his wounds—the other officers took him to the ground, and he was cut—and started talking to him about what had happened, the doc said he could barely comprehend anything that was going on around him. Even his last name was something he wasn’t able to think of. Jude asked her if Hanna had been talked to, to see if she had any mental instabilities. Not that I’m aware of. But then, she was in a jail cell when the other two were arrested. I would guess they should test her, don’t you think?

  I think it’s a given that she’s nuts. Mercy laughed. The thing is, I’ve been through her mind. She’s all right with being arrested. In fact, she’s thinking of it as a kind of vacation.

  Along with the trip in her mind, I have found out where her money is. And she’s amassed a fortune, too. I have an idea it should be used for the burial of these children. Barring that, perhaps a fun set up for children that have been adopted out in the last few days. All of them have been, did you hear?

  I did. I think finding anyone who would know about the dead will be next to impossible. They are finding records with each body, but very little information. I don’t know that I mentioned it to you or not. To me, it looks like she went to a great deal of trouble, making sure she didn’t get caught with the files on the children after they were dead. Jude asked if she could see what sort of paperwork it was. Nothing much, it looks like. A name if she had it. The ones she didn’t, it looks as if she put a number on them. Like the number the hospital would have assigned the infant when it was born.

  There wasn’t any other way to look at this but to call it like it was. Murder. Jude had no idea how the children had been killed—she wasn’t even sure she wanted to know. But they were bringing them out to be identified if they could. Otherwise, Jude knew Hanna would just be blamed for the death of Jane or John Doe, with a number after their names.

  Heading to Castle Dante, the name they’d given their home, she thought about all the things she had going right now. None of it was earthshattering. It was just things she’d been putting off for too long, and now she had to hit them dead on. Damn it, she wished she had more time in the day.

  Knowing more time wasn’t in her future, Jude decided to enlist the help of some of the villagers of New Town. Most of them, if not all, knew more about what was needed to improve the place where they all lived. All she knew for sure was the town needed a new bank. The one there now was part of a bank system that was closing some of its branches, including the one they had in town.

  Jude had spoken to the bank president, the one in charge of such matters, and he told her they were closing the branch because it was much too far for people to travel to work when the bank needed extra help. Jude had asked him when was the last time anyone had to be called in to work.

  “Never. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.” Jude asked him how long this particular branch had been in operation. “One hundred and sixty-seven years. We’re immensely proud of that here at home office. Not a single robbery, either.”

  “In all that time, you’ve never had to have extra help, and now you’re closing the place up because it still might happen? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You have to see how much this bank is needed. You’re the only one for a hundred miles.” He told her that was precisely it. “What is? That you’re the only business in a hundred miles?”

  “Yes. Now you can see that it’ll be much too much of a hardship for anyone to go out and fill in should they need it. My decision is made. The people there can continue to make their payme
nts on outstanding loans via postal service. And we’ll take deposits in the same way. It’s not like we’re abandoning them completely, Ms. Castle. They’ll still be able to reach us by Internet and the phone. It’s been a profitable venture in having our bank there all this time.”

  So the very next day, after speaking to the man, she gathered everyone up who had any business with the closing bank. Then she lent them the money to pay off their existing loans. After that, it was easy to have them close all their savings accounts as well as any other reason they might need the bank. She’d gotten a frantic call from the same bank president just this morning.

  “The bank there, it has no business. Everyone in town is telling them they’re going to a different bank. What have you done?” She told him what she had done, not leaving anything out. “Do you know you’ve cost my company a great deal of money, Ms. Castle? By paying off their loans early, those people have made it so we won’t be getting the interest of the entire loan. That’s a great deal of money for the banks.”

  “And? What’s your point? You were going to hang them out to dry if they needed to get some money out of the bank for an emergency. I had to make sure my people were covered. Apparently, the bottom line is more important to you than the convenience of having good loyal customers.” He told her they’d be able to get money, just not right away. “I guess you should have thought of that when you decided, quite arbitrarily, that this bank wasn’t worth your time.”

  “But don’t you see? That money coming from them was helping the bottom line for all the other branches. Not having that income, interest in the form of loans, and the savings account money, it hurts all the banks. Even the main one that I’m employed at.” Jude hadn’t said anything to him. “Don’t you care what you’ve done to all of us here?”

  “I care no more about how this affects you than you did about telling my people they have to wait ten business days to get money out of their account. Then to make a special effort to mail their checks to some bank thousands of miles away in time to get their loan paid off so as not to incur late charges.” She laughed. “You should have thought this through, at least to the point of having someone here that is much smarter about money and people than you are. As the holder of the property of the bank you closed down, I will expect you to have the building cleared off the land within no less than thirty days of the date you close your doors.”