Chapter 6: The Bail Hearing
The following morning at 9:00 AM, Municipal Courtroom 2 was packed with local reporters and town employees.
Sam was led into the courtroom wearing an orange county jumpsuit, his hands shackled to a belly chain. He looked pale, dark circles bruising his eyes, but when he saw Laura sitting in the front row of the gallery, he managed a faint, reassuring nod.
Judge Evelyn Martinez took her place at the bench, reviewing the state’s bail recommendation.
""Your Honor,"" Assistant District Attorney Harris argued, standing tall in a charcoal suit, ""the defendant had administrative access to three point two million dollars of public funds. Given the severity of the theft and the offshore destination of the capital, the State requests bail be set at two million dollars cash.""
Sam’s public defender stood up to object, but before he could speak, the heavy double doors at the back of the courtroom swung open.
Frank Miller strode down the center aisle, his heavy boots clicking rhythmically against the hardwood floor. He wore his crisp investigator’s blazer, carrying a thick legal folio.
The courtroom fell into stunned silence.
""Your Honor,"" Frank announced, his voice booming with unmistakable authority. ""The defense moves for an immediate evidentiary sidebar. New exculpatory evidence has been submitted directly to the State Attorney General’s special investigations unit.""
ADA Harris frowned. ""Mr. Miller, you are no longer the lead investigator on this matter.""
May you like
""I am a sworn officer of the court and a private investigator licensed by this state,"" Frank countered, placing the folio directly onto the clerk’s desk. ""And unless you want to be named as a co-defendant in a false arrest lawsuit, Mr. Harris, you will want Judge Martinez to look at page twelve.""
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