“It's not good.” Kat said as she entered the door, dropping her bags at her feet. Savannah had jumped out of her seat as soon as she heard her keys rattle in the door, and was waiting for the latest feedback. It had been nearly two weeks since Chad had been arrest for theft, and so far the courts were not budging on sentencing. “They still won't let me see or speak with him, and they are still undecided on whether to go to trial as a Juvenile case, or try him as an adult.” She sighed. “If he goes as an adult, and is convicted, then it's all over.”
“Isn't there anything we can do?” Savannah asked desperately. “Bill said if we were all alibis for each other then we were all safe.”
“It's deeper than that now, Honey.” Kat said softly, seating herself down on the couch. “That was all fine and dandy to protect each other before as suspects, but the problem is now that he's admitted to it. A confession from a convicted Juvenile Delinquent is pretty open and shut.”
“Do you think he did it?” Savannah asked quietly.
Kat thought about it for a second, before nodding. “Yes. I'm almost convinced he did. But not,” She added “to make money, or buy drug or anything sinister.” She told Savannah of their conversation on the Saturday afternoon where he'd admitted to her that Andrew had gotten into trouble with a drug pusher, and that Chad had paid off his brother's debt that same day. They had never discussed an amount, and Kat had assumed it was a small debt. She had to consider now that the debt had been a lot larger than she'd suspected.
“You have to tell Bill!” Savannah begged. “Surely this will help Chad's case if he was doing to for someone else? To save his brother?”
“It doesn't work like that.” Kat explained. “Firstly, it was discussed off record. There's only my say so that the conversation even happened. Secondly, we end up exposing him for the break in and theft at the pharmacy. So we'd be back to square one. Thirdly, we expose his brother and his link to a serious underground drug and crime network which in turn, makes Andrew and Chad 'rats' to them. They'd be killed as revenge before anything went to trial in order to keep them both quiet.”
Savannah's head whirred with the hopelessness of the situation. “So what, for now we just leave it to Max and hope for the best?”
“For now, yes. Max is an excellent attorney. He's the best of the State's representatives.” Kat put her hands on Savannah's shoulders and took a deep breath, encouraging her to do the same. “If there's a way out for Chad, Max will find it.”
The Court hearing to determine the type of trial was soon set for the day before Chad's birthday and still no one except Max had been permitted to meet with him. Bill however, would often pass by his holding cell and relay short messages where possible. Usually he was accompanied by other officers, so it made any conversation extremely difficult. He had however managed to provide Chad with a hired suit, so that he looked presentable for his court appearance.
The Court room was pretty packed with several small cases being heard that day. Kat and Savannah sat close to the back, holding hands. Chad was kept in the court's holding cells for some time before his case was called for presentation. When he was escorted into the courtroom, Savannah gasped as she noticed how much weight he'd lost in just three weeks. His eyes were shadowed and face gaunt, but with his fresh clean suit, he still managed to look good. She said a silent prayer of thanks to Bill for thinking ahead on the suit hire. When the charges were read out, Chad stood silently, answering only that he understood the charges levelled against him and the difference between trial as a minor versus trial as an adult.
The judge open the court to a statement from the attorney representing Drake's parents. She was a no nonsense blonde with stilettos that clicked as she walked. She was obviously one of the best money could buy, oozing confidence and a level or arrogance that she'd probably earned. She told the court of Chad's troubled past and his multiple legal infractions, and how he'd gone so far as to openly confess to the crime in question. She explained that he was a risk to society and that if a Juvenile Detention Sentence had not worked previously, it surely would not work again this time. She asked the courts that Chad be tried as an adult and with his confession, be held accountable and sentenced as such.
Savannah's hands were shaking by the time the attorney retook her seat. Shaking from anger of the cruel things she said and how she didn't know him at all. If they only knew him they would see that the list of stupid mistakes as a child did not make up the man in front of them. He was more than a list.
Max was not deterred by the blonde bombshell, and launched straight into Chad's defence.
“Your Honour. I'm here to plead with the court to not waste the State's time and money on this matter. If your Honour would grant my client the benefit of a small and private hearing, I can assure you that I will have convinced you, even before lunchtime, that this has been one huge misunderstanding.”
The judge, a burly man well into his sixties looked down his glasses at Max. “Approach the bench.” He said in a bored voice, causing Max to immediately shuffle his way through to the front. He covered the microphone in front of him and leant forward to have a private conversation with Max. After some words and some nods Max gave a respectful bow to the judge and returned to his podium.
“The court hereby grants a preliminary hearing.” The judge announced loudly. “All parties concerned are to meet back in this courtroom at 14h00. Next matter please.”
Max and the blonde bowed respectfully again and Chad was escorted back to the holding cells, a confused look on his face. Max turned to the back of the court, and motioned that Kat and Savannah were to meet him outside.
“What's going on?” Savannah said quickly when they were in the quiet hall outside. “New information came through last night. I didn't get a chance to call.”
“What do you need from us?” Kat responded immediately.
Max looked at the time on his watch. 11H00. “You,” He said to Savannah “have got three hours to get Carly Wright here, dressed and ready to be called as a witness. And you,” he turned to Kat “have got the same amount of time to get Andrew Denver here.”
Carly was there in record time, looking shy and innocent, as Max had instructed. She wore a white summer dress with a black cardigan over it, and pink make-up to enhance her already young and girly features. He told her to make sure her hair was shiny and perfect. They spoke in a small consultation room at the court and Max rummaged through his briefcase when they sat down.
“Alright max, what's the plan?” Savannah asked.
Max pulled out a photocopy of Carly's statement that she'd given at school. “This is the plan.” He said waving it in front of them. “I didn't make the connection until last night.”
“I'm not following.” Carly said.
It's so basic that I missed it. Everyone did.” He started explaining, pulling a highlighter out of his briefcase as well. He scanned through the statement quickly and then highlighted a sentence or two in the middle of the statement,and then again and the end of the statement. “You're going to go in there, onto the stand and you're going to read these highlighted sections when I ask you too. And then,” He looked at Savannah sympathetically, “She's going to tell everyone the truth about what really happened in that bedroom.”
Savannah blushed deeply. “Oh God.”
“Oh, not even God is going to save you from the wrath of your mother.” Max said with a grin. “But it is going to save Chad's ass from sitting in a jail cell until he's twenty five.” He turned back to Carly. “And you're going to explain to the court that you lied to protect your best friend from getting into a whole heap of trouble with her mom. And if you can bring the tears and remorse, it would be a whole lot better.”
“And what do I do?” Savannah asked.
“The same. Admit you lied in your statement, because you didn't want your mom finding out. Because your mom would have flipped her lid and kicked him out on the street. Again. And she may have even lost her job, and you wanted to protect her. And you didn't want the boy you love in trouble again.” He smiled slyly. “The rest, you leave up to me.”
When Carly and Savannah followed Max into the now nearly empty courtroom at 14h00, Kat was sitting next to a rather scruffy looking man with the same dark hair and skin as Chad. He turned and greeted her with a smile and a wink of his eye. The same wink Chad always gave her.
“Now I kinda get what all the fuss is about.” He said simply, extending his hand. “I'm Dru.”
The judge entered before she could compose herself to respond, and Chad was brought in from the holding cells. He beamed at Savannah when he saw her, and gave her the same wink Andrew had just given her. Definitely brothers, she mused. When he saw his brother, he did a double take and nearly lost his footing.
“Let's make this quick please everyone.” The judge said loudly. “The Defence wished for a small preliminary hearing which we hereby grant at this time and place. The Defence has requested that witnesses be called to assist in his case which I have granted. I ask the Defence to give your opening statement and call your first witness.”
Max stood up and thanked the Judge for the opportunity. “This is clearly a case of misguided, idiotic stupid teenage love. Quite possibly with the accused here being the most idiotic and stupid of them all. I'm not going to waste your time in a speech, Your Honour. I'm going to go straight to my witnesses and allow you to hear for yourself. The Defence calls Carly Wright to the stand.”