Page 102 of The Boy from Half Moon

He stood back up. Tate nudged my knee hard, like he wanted me to pay attention.

“I think the court should be made aware that the defendant is in a sexual relationship with his attorney,” Mr. Browning said. “Surely you see a conflict with that, Your Honor.”

The judge turned to Tate and motioned for him to stand. “Is that true, Mr. Finnigan?”

“Yes, Your Honor. That is a true statement,” he agreed. “However, I disclosed that to the court, as well as to the prosecution, before this trial was scheduled, per rules code #567-88A. I believe Mr. Browning would have received that brief, Your Honor.”

“Mr. Browning?” the judge inquired.

“That’s not the point,” Tate’s former boss argued, glaring at the judge.

“Are you addressing me, Mr. Browning?” she snapped. “Perhaps you didn’t notice the robe I’m wearing? Because the last time I checked, you’re required to address me as Your Honor.”

Mr. Browning ignored her and turned to face our table. “Tate is covering for his gay lover. He knows that Moonie killed that ridiculous cult leader.”

The judge slammed her gavel hard. “Order in the court!” she demanded, her voice deeper than I thought possible based on her smaller stature. “Mr. Browning!” she yelled. “I am two seconds from having you removed and dismissing this case based on the shoddy job of this entire investigation.”

“I don’t give a fuck!” he muttered, barely audible.

“Excuse me?” the judge asked.

By then, the other two men at the prosecutor’s table were trying to calm Mr. Browning down. Tate remained quiet, calmly looking forward until his former boss came running across the aisle and threw himself at me.

I ducked, and Tate grabbed him by the neck the moment he landed by us. “This kid killed someone, and nobody gives a shit!” he squawked, trying to catch his breath, and clutching at Tate’s arms until three officers of the court ran to our aid. “Fucking Moonie!” he screamed, thrashing and kicking as the officers dragged him down the aisle and out of the courtroom.

Five minutes ticked by before the judge spoke again, both tables straightening out paperwork and gathering themselves. “Anything else from prosecution?” she asked.

“No, Your Honor,” the prosecutor answered. “Nothing further.”

She turned her ferocious eyes toward me and Tate. “Mr. Finnigan?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” he began, coming to his feet. “I’d like to ask the court to grant release of custody to Mr. Oliver. The prosecution has provided no evidence, other than hearsay, and he-said-she-said, hyperbole, concerning their case against my client. There are literally a dozen people with the motive and the incentive to kill Mr. Franklin Smith. Whereas this is a tragedy, Your Honor, as my client is innocent, and until they can provide state evidence to the contrary, Mr. Oliver deserves to be freed on bail.”

“Is your client a flight risk?” she inquired.

“No, Your Honor.”

“Are you willing to provide bond and agree that you are responsible for Mr. Oliver appearing in court should there ever be a resumption of this case, of course, with further evidence provided?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Tate responded.

“Then it is my judgment that Mr. Oliver be immediately released from the Jefferson County jail, with zero dollars in bail required,” she decreed, slamming her gavel.

The opposing table attempted to continue arguing, but the judge was already halfway to the door of her office. Tate remained standing until she exited, turning to face me once she had.

“We can go home now,” he said.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE: Tate

Three Months Later

“You use that instead of cash,” I explained, handing the debit card back to Luke. “When your statements come, I’ll explain how to keep track of your balance.”

“And my paycheck goes into the bank without me ever seeing it?”

“Exactly,” I said, studying him as he absorbed yet another ‘magical-to-him’ thing about a world he’d never lived in. “Your very own bank account. Pretty neat, huh?”

Luke lifted me off the floor and spun me around, kissing my face as many times as he could. His raw strength never ceased to amaze me when he did things like this. I had to admit he looked incredibly sexy in his work overalls, a nice side benefit to his new job.

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