Page 29 of Hard to Kill

“Judge,” I say, “it would not only be unfair to force my client to remain in custody, it would be cruel in light of the time he has already spent behind bars for previous crimes he absolutely did not commit.”

I move back to our table and point to Rob Jacobson.

“Mr. Ahearn says this man, this innocent man, is a flight risk.No, he is not.On the contrary, he isn’t going anywhere, because he is going to stay right here and fight to clear his name.Again.And I’m going to fight right along with him.”

I’m walking back to the table, talking to Judge Kane over my shoulder, surprising myself with what next comes out of my mouth before I can stop it.

“Like we’re both fighting for our lives here.”

Judge Kane says we will have her decision shortly, and that no one should leave the courtroom. She’s not lying. She’s back in less than ten minutes. A jury of one coming back.

“I’ll make this short and sweet,” she says. “Bail is set at five million dollars.”

I see Jacobson lean forward, feel the steam come off him, know him well enough by now to know that he’s about to say something stupid, react like this is a restaurant and he’s shocked at the amount of the bill.

I stop him with a grip on his arm strong enough to quickly cut off circulation.

“Shut up,” I say into his ear. “And pay up.”

Judge Kane then begins to explain the conditions of Jacobson’s bail apart from the money, including his wearing an ankle monitor, and how he will be released from the jail in East Meadow as soon as he has paid the $5 million either by check or wire transfer. And that any violation, of any kind, will land him back in East Meadow, with absolutely no chance at supervised release until the trial begins.

“Do you understand these terms as I’ve explained them to you, Mr. Jacobson?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“No, Your Honor, I do not.”

“Then we’re done here, at least for now,” Judge Alicia Kane says, before heading for her chambers as if being chased, the click of her heels sounding like gunfire.

When the door shuts behind her, I turn to Rob Jacobson.

“You’re welcome,” I say.

Then he’s the one putting a hand on my arm and telling me we need to find a conference room because there’s something important he needs to tell me.

“It’s about Brigid.”

TWENTY-THREE

ANOTHER CONFERENCE ROOM FOR Rob Jacobson and me. Flashing back to the first trial, at the courthouse in Riverhead, I can’t remember a single time I felt better about things when walking out of a room like this than when I walked in.

“We need to make this quick,” I say to him. “I’m jet-lagged, I need a hot bath, and then I need a hot meal with the man of my dreams.”

“Dr. Dolittle,” Jacobson says.

“Funny,” I say, “since Ben thinks I’m the one who talks to the animals.”

“Ouch,” Jacobson says. “And here I thought I still had a chance to be the man of your dreams.”

“Onlyinyour dreams,” I say. “Now please focus, Rob. WhataboutBrigid?”

He hesitates, somehow looking at everything in the room except me.

“There’s no easy way for me to tell you this,” he says finally. Still not looking at me. “But we’re seeing each other again. She wanted me to be the one to tell you. And to tell you at the same time the subject is not up for discussion.”

I’m not sure what he thinks my reaction will be. I’m notdisappointed in him. There’s nothing more he can do to disappoint me. Iamdisappointed in my sister. She’s shown shockingly bad taste. What’s more, she knows this man’s history with women, the younger the better.

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