Page 123 of Winning Bid

The judge looks like every severe authority I’ve ever seen in my life. A white, balding, ancient man. A true grump. Lucky us.

The clerk announces the case number I’ll have imprinted on my soul for eternity, then says, “The Commonwealth versus Anderson West. Murder in the first degree. Assault?—"

“Waive reading, Judge Ackerman,” Dana says as she stands up. Anderson joins her in front of the table, and Tanner, the prosecutor, follows their lead, standing in front of his.

The judge nods, and the clerk sits. “So noted, Ms. Horowitz. Mr. West, how do you plead?”

“Not guilty, your honor.”

“I’ve seen the news. The charges are shocking.”

“The most shocking part is how egregious they are,” she counters. “But I shouldn’t be surprised by that, given Tanner’s looking to run his campaign on my client’s back.”

He acts surprised. “You just wait a minute here, Dana, I am interested in justice for Neil Johnson. As someone who took an oath to uphold the law, I won’t stop until Neil Johnson can rest in peace.”

“Did you practice that line in front of the mirror this morning?”

“Your client murdered an innocent?—"

“Hold it right there, Mr. Walsh,” Judge Ackerman jumps in. “This isn’t trial. Watch your absolutes.”

Tanner gives a deep, respectful nod as though the admonishment worked. But I see it in his eyes. He’s just waiting to get another soundbite out.

“Your honor,” Dana begins. “If you don’t limit the news presence in this trial, this case will be nothing but Tanner’s campaign speeches. I’m sure you don’t want to give him that kind of free press at the expense of my client’s future.”

“I am the judge here, Ms. Horowitz. I make the rules in my courtroom. But like you, I do not favor cameras in a courtroom, so there will be none for the trial.”

“Thank you, your honor.”

Tanner says, “But the people have the right to know?—"

“Enough, Mr. Walsh.” The judge looks down his nose through his glasses at a stack of papers in front of him. “Now, on to bail. Mr. Walsh, what say you?”

“What happened to Mr. Johnson should be taken into account. The man was beaten to death, his body dumped like garbage. The act of an animal, not a man. The murderer who did such a thing should not receive bail.”

Judge Ackerman arches a brow in annoyance. “Yes, and if we had a convicted murderer here, I might agree with you. We do not.”

“That’s right, your honor,” Dana says swiftly, seeing an opportunity. “Mr. West is an upstanding member of the Boston community with deep ties throughout. He has no priors and is not a flight risk?—"

Tanner laughs at that. “Your honor, we are talking about a man with a strong motive to commit a heinous crime and enough money to run away.”

“Fair points, both of you.” He flips a paper over, moving on to the next one. “Bail is set at one million dollars.” He knocks his gavel, and that’s that.

59

ANDERSON

When we walk into our apartment, it’s blessedly silent. We’re both quiet. But when June leans on me at the doorway, I can tell she’s feeling the way I do. Worn out. Humiliated. Horrified. I hold her tight to me, memorizing the feeling just in case I don’t get to feel it much in the future. “I love you. Would you hate me if I said I wanted a shower?”

She quirks a confused look at me. “Why would I hate you for that?”

“It feels like I should be spending time with you instead. Just in case.”

“Go shower. I’ll order some delivery.”

“Anything but sandwiches, please.”

“You got it.”

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