Chasing Justice: A Matt Royal Mystery by H. Terrell Griffin Read Free Book Online

I don’t think they can show that at this point. I’d like to get this behind us now, rather than try for a bail hearing later. The downside is that the prosecution’s belief that you had an affair with Bannister is going to be front-page news tomorrow.”
    “Let’s go for it.”
    “I hoped you’d say that.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    The first appearance hearing was going to be held via video conferencing at three o’clock in the afternoon. I had gone to the clerk of courts’ office and gotten the paperwork moving, including filing a motion for bail and my notice of appearance on behalf of the defendant, Abigail Jane Cooper Lester. Both would be transmitted to the prosecutor and the judge before the hearing.
    I was told that the governor had appointed the state attorney from Jacksonville to prosecute and because all the Twelfth Circuit judges had recused themselves, the governor had appointed a Tampa judge to preside over the case. That judge would handle the first appearance.
    Robin Hartill called to tell me she had talked to the First Circuit state attorney’s office in Jacksonville and was told that an assistant state attorney named George Swann would be the lead prosecutor.
    “He’s tried twenty-two murder cases and won them all,” Robin said.
    “Big deal,” I said.
    “That’s a lot of wins, Matt. You might be in for some trouble.”
    “The prosecutor always gets to pick the cases he tries. If the case is too difficult, they often grab a plea deal. We’ll see what this guy’s made of when we get into the courtroom.”
    “Can I quote you on that?”
    “That sounded kind of arrogant, didn’t it? I’d rather you not quote me on that. No sense in pissing Swann off this early.”
    “Maybe later, on the quote?”
    “We’ll see. Did you find out anything else?”
    “Did you know they found your client’s fingerprints in Bannister’s condo?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did you hear about the emails between Abby and Bannister?”
    “I heard about them, but I haven’t seen them yet. Did you get a look at them?”
    “No, but I’m told one of them was pretty threatening.”
    “Did you talk to FDLE?” I asked.
    “Tried. Got a strange response.”
    “What?”
    “I talked to the agent in charge of the Tampa office, a man named Stan Strickland. He said he couldn’t discuss this case, but asked if I worked for Matt Walsh. I told him I did, and he said he’d call Walsh.”
    “Strange.”
    “Very. Your turn. I need more for my story.”
    “Okay. I don’t know much, but we’re going to turn the first appearance this afternoon into a bail hearing. I doubt Mr. Swann is going to be expecting that. Make sure you’re in the jail video conference room at three this afternoon.”
    “That’s it?”
    “You can get the story on your Internet edition before the other papers get it out. I won’t talk to anybody else until I get with you. You’ll have an exclusive interview with me, for what it’s worth, for your Internet edition. And you’ll have your print story for tomorrow.”
    “Okay. See you at three.”
    * * *
    I drove out to Bill Lester’s house to tell him what was about to hit the papers. It was not an easy conversation, but I wanted him to know what was coming. “Under the circumstances, Bill, I think you should be at the hearing this afternoon. I want the press to see you as a man standing by his wife, no matter the circumstances. Don’t say anything to the press. Refer all questions to me. Just look resolute and supportive.”
    “Do you think the judge will grant bail?”
    “Hard to say. Probably not. I filed the motion as soon as I met with Abby, but I don’t hold out much hope for success. Whoever the judge is, he’ll know he’s going to be under a lot of press scrutiny. He won’t want to appear to be giving Abby a break because her husband’s a cop.”
    “Do you know which judge the governor appointed?”
    “Not yet. Typically, the governor would decide on which circuit the judge would come