Page 89 of JoyRide

“Morning, Molly. Is Smollett the only one going to court this morning?”

She smiled. “He’s the only one today, Harlan.”

“I’ll get him into the squad.”

“He wasn’t saying much when I distributed the breakfast containers,” said Molly. “I wondered if he wasn’t well.”

“I’ll check on him.” I got the keys for the run from the rack in the office and when I was unlocking the door to the run, Travis came in from the back with my brother.

“You getting Smollett ready for court, son?”

“Yep. I’m getting him now.”

“Go ahead. I’m here if you happen to need me.” Travis stood just inside the door with Virgil next to him. I had no idea what was going on, but I was pretty sure I didn’t like my little brother standing so close to my dad.

I unlocked Smollett’s cell and said, “Time for court.”

Smollett glanced up and saw Travis leaning on the wall at the end of the run and nodded his head. “Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s get going. I’ll be glad to get the hell out of this place.”

I cuffed Smollett’s hands behind his back with no trouble and walked him out the back door.

He climbed into the back seat of the Bronco without saying a word. Whatever had gone on in his little meeting with Travis the night before was working like a charm.

Harrison County Courthouse.

Totally silent on the trip to the courthouse, I stopped at the back of the building and handed him off to the bailiff.

Smollett’s case was the third one called and Mrs. Smollett tensed up when she heard her husband’s name.

The lawyer Smollett hired stood beside him in front of the judge while the clerk read the charges.

“Do you understand the charges against you, Mister Smollett?” asked the judge.

“Yes, sir. I do.”

“How do you wish to plead to the charges against you, sir?”

“I plead guilty, your honor. I’m guilty of all of it.”

Sitting next to Virgil, Travis smiled. “Look at that, Virgil. Smollett is pleading guilty.”

“Yep. He sure is.”

Mrs. Smollett burst out crying across the aisle from us and Tammy scooted over to her. We could hear the conversation.

“Are you all right, ma’am?”

“I’m shocked my husband pled guilty. I never pictured him doing something like that.”

The judge said, “Your plea has been entered, Mister Smollett. You are remanded into custody until your sentencing hearing.” The gavel came down and the next case was called.

Tammy took the opportunity to question Mrs. Smollett a little more. “You knew what your husband was doing with all the young boys, didn’t you?”

“I did, but I couldn’t say anything because Kevin would kill me if I breathed a word of it.”

“Where do the boys in the gang live?”

“They all live in Brownwood,” she said. “I have a list of their names at home. We don’t live far from any of them.”

---