Page 23 of The Captive Missing

“Agent Finn,” Val breathed, her voice was barely audible over the noisy din of the packed room.

Continuing behind Theresa in their slow walk down the aisle, Val’s progress was impeded by the press of people shifting all around. Eyes intense, Agent Finn did not respond to her verbally. In silence, he deliberately placed one foot in her path, causing her to stumble forward. Swiftly, he then shifted his body to catch her fall. His mouth brushed close to her ear and he whispered a few words before setting her back to rights and walking away.

Anyone watching would have thought she simply tripped of her own accord, and then he braced her, as any person would. But the hushed words he had just spoken echoed loudly inside her head.

Stunned, Val stood still in the aisle.

A quick nudge from Jeremy got her moving again.

Senior led the way to the first row and stood aside to allow Theresa down first, followed by Val. After seeing them safely tucked in, Senior sat and slid along the bench until Jeremey joined them. Everyone was seated directly behind the defendant’s table.

Glancing sideways, Val saw Agent Finn take a seat on the side of the prosecution. Her gut churned. What was he doing over there? She had been told a representative from the FBI would be present to ensure the integrity of her witness protection identity, but she hadn’t expected it to be Agent Finn. And she certainly hadn’t expected him to be sitting across the aisle.

Before she could analyze the implications further, a side door at the front of the courtroom opened and in walked Jason.

She gasped. They had shaved his head.

Where a thick crop of chestnut locks had been, a short bristle poked up instead. It was almost blonde in the glint of the overhead lights. Senior took one of her hands in his and held on tight. The courtroom fell into a ghostly silence.

“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you,” Senior whispered, leaning close. “But I knew it would only make you upset.”

For the first time since Sharon’s trial, anger brewed deep down somewhere. Well, Val thought the feeling must be anger, for it tasted like bile stuck burning inside her throat. Not able to rip her gaze away from Jason, Val saw the moment he spotted her. Those arctic eyes that had always pierced her so deeply, registered with shock, then a slice of fear before he purposefully blinked the emotions away.

Wedged between two large bailiffs, Jason’s hands were bound in metal cuffs. A chain dropped from his wrists down to his ankles, where the iron wrapped itself around first one and then the other leg. Even with the fancy suit and tie, the combination of haircut and restraints screamed criminal.

A rumbling murmur worked its way through the room. Everyone present was wondering the same thing, was this really necessary?

“Remember,” Senior spoke quietly next to her ear. “You aren’t married, you haven’t seen one another in years.”

“You didn’t tell him I would be here?” Val asked. They watched as the bailiffs took out their keys and began the process of removing the cuffs.

“No,” Senior admitted, keeping his voice low. “I wanted it to seem real when he walked in and saw you. I wanted the cameras to believe he hasn’t seen you in a long time.”

Val nodded at that, her eyes fixed on Jason who kept looking over his shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of her. All these years, Val had thought Elaine was the calculating one. Now it seemed it was really Senior you had to watch out for.

When the last metal chain lay loosely on the floor, Jason stepped out and was greeted by his lead attorney. The short man was heavy set, with silver rimmed glasses and a great booming voice. He was the best that money could buy, and he clapped a hand heartily on Jason’s shoulder as they walked the short distance to the defendant’s table and sat down.

“What are you doing here?” Jason hissed. Turning around in his seat, his hands reached impulsively over the side of the partition.

“Uh-uh.” Senior gave a slight shake of his head, before laying a protective arm across Val. “I know you haven’t seen her in years, Son, but Val has agreed to come out of hiding to testify on your behalf. Eyes forward. If you please.”

Taking the hint, Jason rotated back around to face front, but not before giving them both an exasperated glare. Tilting towards his attorney, Jason spoke quietly, obviously trying to get as much information on Val’s involvement as possible.

Up at the front of the courtroom, things were happening. The clerk came to standing along with the court reporter and other staff. The buzzing and rumbling of the packed space rose ever higher, until one tall bailiff cried out, causing silence to fall like a blanket, smothering them all.

“All rise. The Court of New York is now in session, the Honorable Judge Allen presiding.”

In unison every single person rose to attention. Chairs rolled back from both the prosecution and defense tables, attorneys tucked ties and straightened skirts. The audience rustled papers, set down purses, shifted briefcases to make room. Val held her breath as Judge Allen swept inside.

His long black robe hung off of his slight frame. He was slender and short, maybe five-foot-eight at the most. Once dark hair had turned silver-grey, and a matching short beard graced his chin. Intelligent, almond-shaped brown eyes surveyed the room, taking in the respect he knew he deserved.

“You may be seated.” The bailiff announced, after Judge Allen had assumed his throne.

For the first several minutes the judge verified the case number, title and other various procedural issues with his clerk. No one dared to speak a word. The attorneys waited patiently and everyone else took their cues from them.

Val stared at the back of Jason’s neck, eyes cruising up and over his newly buzzed head. How she longed to wrap her arms around his shoulders, to kiss him, and feel the reassurance of his presence. Ruefully she thought that Jace would want to cut his hair now to match. Then abruptly she shoved the image of her son from her mind. She was not a mother here. If she wanted to save his life, then she must remember that above all else.

“This is a specialty hearing granted to the defendant based on the presentation of new evidence as well as the answering of a summons by a formerly absent witness.” Judge Allen spoke with command, eyes focused on Jason’s attorney. “Is that correct?”

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