Page 84 of The Seven Rings
“Your Honor, you have to understand! She’s trying to ruin me! She’s out for revenge because I broke our engagement. She won’t let it go!”
“And yet you’re the one arrested for criminal trespass in her home in a state other than the one in which you reside.”
The prosecuting attorney got that dig in, and made Trey’s smile widen.
“That’s bullshit. I went to see her as a favor. I just wanted to— I only tried to—”
The judge slapped his gavel. “I will not have that language in my court. Counselor, if you can’t control your client, I will hold him in contempt, and I will rethink granting bail.”
The judge waited a moment while the defense attorney whispered in Brandon’s ear. Then he brought down his gavel again.
“This hearing is adjourned.”
Satisfying, Trey thought as he watched them lead Brandon out. Even more than a solid punch to the face.
Since Trey had faced off against the prosecutor in the past, he rose and hailed him.
“Got a minute, Derrick?”
“Got a few of them. Let’s walk. I know you’ve got an interest in this one.”
“I do. He’s going to want to deal.”
“Oh yeah.” They moved into the hallway, stopped. “Scared of going to jail, and his counsel would have warned him, if found guilty, he could serve up to a year. He’ll want a deal.”
“And?”
“A thousand-dollar fine, a year’s probation. I won’t start there, butI’ll go there. If he contacts or attempts to contact the complainant again, he’ll do time for it. That’ll be clear, too.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear. Maybe you can let me know when it’s set?”
“I can do that. Question? Is he as big an asshole as he seems?”
“Bigger. Thanks, Derrick.”
“Sure. Grab a beer sometime?”
“Yeah, on me.”
Satisfied the case was in good hands, Trey drove back to Poole’s Bay.
When he walked in, Sadie, his father’s admin, raised her head from her work. “So?”
“He didn’t endear himself to the judge. He made bail, trial set for September.”
“He best stay away from here if he knows what’s good for him.”
“He’s too scared of jail not to. People like that? They think they can do anything, have anything, riding on good looks and surface charm. When they find out different, it’s someone else’s fault. But when they find out there are consequences, real ones? They roll into a ball and whimper. He’s whimpering now.
“Is my dad busy?”
“He’s between clients. Ace is in with him.”
“Perfect. I’m going to have a word.”
When he went in, he found his father and grandfather in the clients’ chairs, drinking coffee.
Ace shoved up his glasses. “Don’t tell your grandmother I’m drinking coffee in the middle of the day.”
