Page 67 of Operation: Sharp Angel

“It’s okay, they’re with us,” Briana said when one of the women protested the door opening. “This is Meg Fitzgerald with the D.A.’s office.” Briana pointed to the older woman in the black pantsuit. “And this is Denise Bradley, the advocate who’s been assigned to the case.” She was younger with long, dark red hair.

“Hello, I’m Rebecca Elliot, Missus Hoch’s attorney,” Becca introduced herself to the two women. Then her attention turned to the only one in the room with facial injuries, her client, Simone Hoch. “Hello Simone,” she said, reaching her left hand out to her. “It’s nice to meet you in person.”

“Thank you for everything,” Simone said.

“And I’m Carter Tessman, one of Miss Elliot’s outside investigators,” he introduced himself, the role that had been thought up by Shepherd. Briana had already informed Simone he and Jackson would be there and what their roles would be.

“We were just telling Missus Hoch that Jacob Hoch is number three on the docket. Judge Kinean is known to be tough with domestic violence perps,” Meg Fitzgerald said. “We’ll inform the judge of the divorce papers having been served this morning, the order of protection request, and we’ll ask for remand, which I’m sure she will grant. There are two police reports now to back up our insistence that the defendant is a danger and should not be granted bail or if it is granted that it is so high he won’t be able to raise it, not to mention the fact that his wife will not put up the bail for him.”

“Are you sure the divorce papers were served this morning?” Simone asked.

“Yes, we have confirmation they were,” Tessman answered.

“Okay, good,” Simone said, obviously relieved.

“Any other questions?” Meg Fitzgerald asked.

“No, so, we just wait here until Jacob’s case is called?” Simone asked.

“I’ll be in the courtroom across the hall and will come get you when the second case is finishing up. I’ll bring you right up to the seats behind the D.A. You and your attorney will sit there until your husband is brought back to the prisoner area after the arraignment. Then we return to this room to go over the orders the judge gives,” Denise Bradley said.

Simone Hoch blew out a loud breath and nodded.

Briana took hold of her hand. “We’ve got you, Simone. One step at a time.”

Simone nodded.

Just as the A.D.A. and the victim’s advocate were leaving, Jackson entered the room. Briana filled him in on whattranspired. As Jacob Hoch could identify both Tessman and Briana, they would not go into the courtroom. They’d wait in the room.

When Denise Bradley came to get them, Becca and Jackson accompanied Simone into the courtroom. They sat in the back row until the proceedings on case number two ended. Then, Denise led them up to the front of the courtroom as Jacob Hoch was led into the room by a bailiff. Becca stared at Simone’s husband, noticing that he was wearing handcuffs. The bailiff removed the cuffs as he reached the defense table where a court appointed lawyer stood.

Jacob Hoch stared at his wife throughout the entire arraignment. Becca judged his facial expression as pleading. He was silently pleading with her to end this, to retract the charges she wanted to press, retract the divorce papers. Becca bet that it would take little to throw him into a rage. He was smart enough to know he had to keep it locked down though. His defense attorney surely would have told him to exhibit no anger. He’d probably told him to avoid looking at his wife too, advice he wasn’t heeding.

The arraignment didn’t last long. Becca was very happy that when it was over, the judge ordered all motions they wanted granted, except for bail. But even that, she set the bail so high that Jacob Hoch would not be getting out. They returned to Briana and Carter in the room across the hallway. Only then did Simone Hoch noticeably relax. Denise Bradley went over all of the motions and what they meant, and gave Simone a card with her information and the case information on it plus a pamphlet on her rights as a victim. Then Denise excused herself, but advised they could use the room for another fifteen minutes if needed.

Becca gave Simone her card as well. “I’ll be in touch, but call me if you have any questions,” she told her client before they all left the room. Briana would escort Simone home.

Jackson went out ahead of Tessman and Becca to retrieve the car. Standing alone just within the law enforcement entrance Tessman could see something was on Becca’s mind. “That went about as well as it could have,” he said.

“Yes, I’m very glad the judge set bail so high. She couldn’t deny it, but Simone is sure there is no one who will come up with that amount to get him out. Unfortunately, he may get time served as his sentence when it does go to trial,” Becca said.

“We deal with that when it happens,” Tessman said.

“Carter, I need to go home,” she said.

“Sure, you want to pick up a few more things? We can swing by on our way back to HQ.”

“No, I mean home to stay.”

“Oh,” he said, visibly disappointed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea yet.”

“My place is a mess. I need to put it back together. And I can’t hide at your office indefinitely.”

“How about a few more days? Just until after you confront Standish?” he whispered. “Becca, we can protect you so much easier at the office.”

“Do you know how soon I can do that?”

“A day or two, I’m sure,” he answered as Jackson pulled up with the agency SUV.

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