Strong Alibi by K.C. Turner (story reading txt) 📗

“Well, if my victim still wants to follow through, that is who Lydia technically listens to.”

“So, get your victim to listen to you.” He grinned devilishly and winked before going back over to the police station.

Elizabeth shook the confusion from her face and walked through the large wooden doors on the opposite side of the hall, her eyes circled the courtroom until she saw Pam sitting with Brandon. Awe shit, she said to herself. She called out Pam’s name and upon recognition and waved her hand motioning her to follow. Pam quietly spoke a few words to her husband before getting up from her seat and following Elizabeth into the hallway. The look on her face was pure shame.

Taking a deep breath as they sat on a bench just outside the courtroom, Elizabeth attempted to assess the situation. “Pam, how are you doing?”

Apprehensive, she tried to explain, “Well, as you can see, we’re trying to work things out.”

“I see that. But how are you?”

“I’m tired and I just want things to go back to normal.”

“You know, I read through the evaluation you gave me. Things do not seem too normal.”

Crossing her arms defensively she asked, “What do we need to do to make all this go away?”

She refrained from rolling her eyes. “This isn’t just going to go away. Right now all I can do is tell the prosecutor where you stand. Brandon’s attorney will take care of the rest. The prosecutor could give him a plea deal.”

“A plea deal?”

“Yes. That means he could be offered a lesser offense to plead guilty to.”

Sighing, she placed her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her hands.

Touching her forearm, Elizabeth tried to console her. “Look, this is typically what happens. At least he wouldn’t have a domestic violence conviction on his record.” She could tell her efforts were for naught. “Let me talk to the prosecutor and see what is going on, okay? Sit tight.”

Making her way through the clerk’s office, Elizabeth opened the door to the judge’s chambers and took a seat in front of the desk across from Lydia who was thumbing through DeFranco’s small file. She grabbed the police report, scanning it. “What do you have for me? Did you talk to your victim?”

“They’re working it out, of course.”

Lydia looked up at Elizabeth and smiled, “Of course. You know he doesn’t have an attorney?”

“Really?” Remembering what Shawn asked of her, she decided to try and take one for the team. Setting the evaluation on the desk in front of Lydia, she said, “I think Pamela DeFranco gave me this for a reason.”

Picking up the document, she reviewed the highlights. “Nice. But you know we can’t use this?”

“What do you mean? His wife gave it to me. Obviously, she’s concerned.”

“It’s confidential. His wife shouldn’t even have it. Come on, Liz, you should know that. Give it back to her. You can’t keep that in your file.”

She let out a frustrated sigh. “So what should I tell her?”

“I’m offering to drop the disruption of public service if he pleads to the misdemeanor domestic violence. At least if he’s charged again with a DV it will be a felony but, I’m guessing this was a one-time-thing. He can go through anger management classes and be put on probation for the next six months. I’ll meet with him while you talk to her and see how he wants to proceed.”

“I doubt it was a one-time-thing, but I’ll let Pam know. Thanks Lydia.”

Elizabeth returned to the lobby and took a deep breath before sitting down next to Pam. She looked as tired as Elizabeth felt and it wasn’t even time for lunch. “I just talked with Lydia, the prosecutor, and she’s going to offer Brandon a plea deal. If he pleads guilty to the domestic violence charge, she will drop the other charges. Of course, this means he will need to complete anger management classes and be on probation for the next six months as well.”

The expression on her face was a mixture of disbelief, anger, and confusion. “But – I’m not pursuing anything. I’m here in support of him. Didn’t you tell her that?”

“Of course I did. I told her the two of you are working things out. She’s well aware you are not interested in pursuing anything.”

“Then why do they have it out for him so bad? You know, his articles about the police department and the entire system in this town in general are important. His work is important.”

Growing impatient, Elizabeth took a breath and tucked her hair behind her right ear in an attempt to calm her nerves. I think it’s time for a happy pill. This one is wearing off. “Pam, no one has it out for your husband, but he certainly hasn’t made any friends here. You have to remember, just because you changed your mind since your original call to the police, they still have a job to do. Every case is reviewed the same. Not every case has the same outcome. You are free to change your mind, but when it comes down to it, you mess with the bull, you get the horns. It’s that simple.”

A tear streamed down her cheek out of frustration as she bit the side of her lip to hold back her anger. Grabbing her purse beside her, she gracefully stood up. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth, but this is nothing but pure backlash for the important work my husband does. When all this began, you told me you would be here until I no longer wanted you to be.”

Seriously lady? “And I stand by that,” she said in an attempt not to show her own frustrations.

“Good. Because I no longer want you to be.” With that she stormed off into the courtroom to be with her husband.

She stretched out her neck before paying Lydia a visit to fill her in. “It’s all yours, Lydia. My work is done here,” she said as she fanned