Against the Law
Page 30
‘I agree. Bring me a warrant and I’ll sign it. Just a moment, Ms Linnett.’ Edward turned to see Valerie standing in the aisle. A bailiff hurried toward her. Valerie’s eyes and mouth were open wide.
A minute later, there were two women in handcuffs in the courtroom. Valerie Linnett sat in the jury box looking stunned.
The judge addressed the one standing next to Edward.
‘I’m sure you had the most well-meaning defense in the world, Dr Shilling. But you should have gotten a real lawyer. I’m granting the motion for new trial,’ Cynthia said brusquely. ‘I find the defendant received ineffective assistance of counsel, and I find there is new evidence that tends to negate her guilt.’ She turned to the bailiff. ‘Release her. Here. Now.’
Cynthia rose quickly. But then she stopped to give David Galindo a hard look. ‘I don’t expect to see this case again, Mr Prosecutor.’
She left the room quickly, never looking back at Edward. No one would be able to say she’d tended to favor him.
Amy leaned her head against Edward’s shoulder.
‘I had a great lawyer,’ she whispered.
Edward drew a deep breath and had to sit down, relief flooding his system.
The bailiff led Amy over to his desk and Edward turned to the prosecutor, who remained slumped down in his chair.
‘Thanks, David.’
David snorted. ‘You know I had no choice.’
Edward continued, ‘So what are you going to do now?’
‘You heard the judge. When my office asks me I’ll say I agree. When they ask me to evaluate it, I’ll say I think a second trial against Amy is unwinnable.’
The knot in Edward’s stomach unwound. He felt quite sure that David would make a compelling case within his office no matter what his official status.
He nodded toward the arrestee in the jury box. ‘What about Valerie Linnett?’
‘Given your testimony’ – David gave Edward a look – ‘I feel pretty sure I can convict her.’ Then he stood, again not offering to shake hands, and walked away, fading into the spectators like a ghost.
Edward turned and saw his family in the front row, all smiling at him. But Linda wasn’t there. Scanning the crowd, he saw her just outside the side gate in the railing. She was beaming at him.
Edward stood and felt Amy back at his shoulder, now free of handcuffs. He turned and they smiled at each other, the secret crooked smiles they’d always saved for each other.
‘I’ll never forget you, Edward.’
‘Of course not. I’m your brother.’
Amy socked him in the arm. ‘You know what I mean. Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome,’ he said seriously.
Then Amy gestured him closer and when he leaned in she whispered, ‘And I want my lock picks back.’
They touched their heads together and laughed, then turned to embrace their incoming families.
THE END
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The courtroom action in this novel takes place in the Harris County Criminal Justice Center, which was inundated by Hurricane Harvey to the extent that at this writing it is inoperable and needing extensive repair. So this novel has become a slight period piece. But I prefer to think of it as set in the near future, when Houston will be back stronger than ever.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Heartfelt thanks to Ann Collette, who as soon as she began representing me found me a great home. Sincere thanks also to Holly Domney, who has made the editing of this book the most pleasant of my writing life, and to everyone at Severn House, which sounds to my American ears like a place the Sorting Hat would send me, and in my case it made a great choice. I must also thank my lifelong friend Robert Morrow for sharing his insights into the practice of criminal law in Houston and life in the Harris County Criminal Justice Center. And I totally stole from him the line about ‘the day after you walk out of this courthouse for the last time …’ What else are best friends for?