Page 31 of Homecoming

“This is Detective Cosgrove. Your client’s arraignment has been scheduled for eleven o’clock tomorrow.”

“Thank you for letting me know. How are we coming on the report?”

“I’ll have it to you tonight.”

“Thank you. Has Keith gotten an attorney yet?”

“Not that I’ve heard.”

“Will he be arraigned as well?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for the heads-up.”

“No problem.”

The line went dead.

“What was that about?” Kara asked.

“Stuff you don’t need to know, love.”

“I think I’d like to know, if that’s okay. It’s more stressful to wonder.”

Dan wanted to shield her from this situation with every ounce of armor he could put between her and her family, but she was the boss. Whatever she wanted was what he’d do. “They’re being arraigned in the morning.”

“What does that mean exactly?”

“They appear in court to hear the charges against them, enter a plea and request bail.”

“Will they get bail?” Bertha asked.

“Not likely. Because of the seriousness of the charges, they may be held without bail.”

“God,” Kara said. “Kirby must be so scared.”

“He was holding up well when I saw him. He knows he didn’t do anything, so that’s keeping him calm.”

“Still… It’s not like they can’t manufacture a case against him if they’re so inclined.”

“Why would they do that?” Dan asked. “What purpose would it serve?”

“Who knows what anyone’s agenda is?”

“I understand your concerns, sweetheart,” Bertha said, “but we have to let it play out with all our faith in Dan to get Kirby out of there as soon as possible.”

“The judge may take up my motion to dismiss tomorrow as well.”

“What I don’t understand is how they can be charged with this when they legitimately didn’t do it,” Kara said. “Kirby said she was fine when they left her, right?”

“He did.”

“So how can they charge them?”

“They have an eyewitness who put them with her. Someone saw them together.”

“But Kirby never left his truck, you said.”

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