Page 36 of Last First Time
I nod slowly. “Isn’t that going to piss him off?”
“Yeah, but he’s already going to be pissed off at having to deal with you. Let’s have him be pissed off tonight rather than tomorrow afternoon or evening.”
“I trust you, Thom. You know the right thing to do here, so I’m going to leave it up to you.”
He nods. “Let me make a few calls. I think I can still get you in front of the judge tonight. How was K.T.? Did they let you meet with her?”
I shake my head. “I haven’t seen her.”
“Well, it’s usually attorneys only until arraignment. I’ll go look for her and tell her what’s going on. She must be worried sick by now, probably making a scene and everything.” He has a smile on, but I feel a chill of fear snake its way along my spine all the same.
“About the photographs, I’ve already sent cease and desists to the different news channels, but to be blunt about it, the damage is already done.”
I wince. “I didn’t know the pictures were already out there. Man, I really underestimated the senator’s bloodthirstiness.” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “This is still just a mayoral race in Valentine, isn’t it?”
Thom shrugs. “I don’t really understand what’s driving the bus on this one, but yeah, the photographs are out there. Really out there. I wish you’d called me instead of allegedly taking a few swings at the senator, but yeah.” His voice trails off.
The cop by the door gives me the little wrap it up gesture. I nod. “See what you can do, Thom. Thanks for being here.”
He nods and hangs up, and I am taken back to the cell. At least they’ve removed the stained mattress, and now the bedframe of springs and metal sits there forlorn and empty.
“He gonna spring you?” the cop asks quietly. Weidenbenner, his nametag reads.
“He’s trying to get me in front of the judge. I guess he doesn’t want to come in.” I shrug “Seems he’s a big donor to my political opponent.”
Officer Weidenbenner winces. “That’s rough. Well, I took that gross mattress out, so um, you’re welcome.”
I give him a genuine, thankful smile. “Hopefully I’ll be out of here relatively soon, but thank you. I really do appreciate it.”
I lean up against the wall and wait. I know Abernathy is the type to get things accomplished, so I’m not worried about him dragging his feet or anything like that. It’s more the wild card of not knowing what’s going to happen next.
But also, I am sick with worry about Karisma. I want to be there for her, to comfort her about the invasion of her privacy. I want to make it all okay for her, but I’m not sure if I can even do that. Hell, I know I can’t do that from here.
Time stretches out painfully. I post up against the wall and feel the acute pain of boredom and worry covering me. Why is this taking so long?
Finally, after what feels like a hundred years, the phone on the duty desk rings. “Thank God,” I mutter.
“Okay, got it.” Weidenbenner nods at me and gives me a thumbs up. Looks like I’m going to get home tonight after all. Take that, Baron von Evil.
This time, we head out the other door and down an elevator. It looks like we’re going to some sort of torture basement, but Weidenbenner assures me that we’re only heading to the arraignment courtroom, which is over in a separate part of the jail building. “We don’t want any weird drama during initial appearances,” he says.
“Okay,” I say slowly, trying and failing to stave off the itchy feeling of panic again. I take a few deep breaths, trying to slow my racing pulse down. I have a terrible feeling about this, and it isn’t just claustrophobia.
“Come on, you’ll be headed home within the hour. Rich guys like you are always let out on bond right away.”
I nod, but even hearing him say that makes me feel a little worse. I don’t want to buy my way out of this mess, but I know as well as everyone else that having a fancy last name and a lot of money means I’m going to be treated better than other people.
I finally exit the tunnel and enter a dim courtroom, where I’m placed next to Abernathy, who is standing and facing the empty bench. “Did you find K.T? Is she okay?” I hiss at him.
His eyes flick over to me for a moment and he shakes his head slightly. “We can talk about all that in a few minutes, Reed. Let’s take this one thing at a time.”
I shift from foot to foot uncomfortably. There’s definitely something wrong that Abernathy isn’t telling me, but hopefully it’s nothing more than the stuff with the judge that he’s already hinted at earlier. I don’t think I could handle any more bad surprises today.
A buzzer sounds, and a side door opens, letting in the judge. I’m surprised to see it’s Judge Kerr, a man with whom I always assumed I enjoyed a good business relationship. Turns out he has been backing my opponent, to the point where he even refused to come in tonight. I look at his face, the stern lines and the perpetual frown. Has he really hated me all this time?
The judge and Abernathy begin with the legal talk, which I basically tune out. I stand up when told to and sit down when told to. Abernathy takes care of all the speaking parts, which I suppose is what I’m paying him for.
Eventually, after a heated bit of back and forth, the gavel bangs and the judge heads out again through the side door.
