Here's the next chapter in the seventh 888-555-HERO saga!
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The next morning, Aisha Franklin sat beside Carol Inunza at the defendant’s table in one of Canyon Pointe’s federal district criminal courtrooms, wondering how the hell she let her law partners talk her into temporarily representing Carol. Harri had refused to press charges against Carol for kidnapping her and was still searching for a criminal defense attorney for Carol. However, their fellow attorney couldn’t escape the charges for aiding and abetting the prison break of four inmates from Mauvaises, the federal maximum security prison specifically for those inmates classified as supervillains.
“I still don’t understand why you’re doing this,” Carol murmured. She wore an orange jumpsuit and had what Harri referred to as “jail stink”. Aisha had never noticed the odor before she had superpowers. Harri claimed Aisha’s smoking back then had deadened her nose to the funk. But with the super senses her mother-in-law gifted her, the scent was a million times worse than a skunk.
“Because your husband did me a solid when Mike Michaels had Harri arrested on trumped up charges,” Aisha said. The former Canyon Pointe D.A. was now doing his own residency in the state pen for corruption and fraud.
“Pablo wouldn’t do a ‘favor’ for anyone with a case in his court,” Carol whispered. “He follows the law. Always.” And she was right. Pablo Inunza had a perfect reputation as a criminal court judge.
Until his wife was arrested. Now Aisha’s ex-husband Calvin Johnson, one of the few assistant D.A.s to survive the Michaels purge, headed the city’s district attorney’s office. Cal didn’t have a choice but to investigate Judge Inunza because the judge had made a lot of enemies, and the mayor and city council were embarrassed as hell after their pledge to clean up the city after what their predecessors had done.
“Right now, I’m thinking you should have followed in his footsteps,” Aisha hissed back.
“Hi, Aisha!”
She looked up at Jim Duncan’s cheery greeting. The federal prosecutor was still as good-looking as he had been in law school. He was a sweetheart in life, but in the courtroom, he was a freaking bull shark. She was kind of glad she was only handling the arraignment.
“Hey, Jim.”
“Can we talk for a moment?” He inclined his head toward the empty jury box.
“Of course.” She turned to Carol. “I’ll be right back.” She stood and strode over to Jim.
He lowered his voice. “My boss is refusing to offer a plea deal.”
“My client cooperated and spilled everything she knows about Miss Purrception and Trubble,” Aisha whispered back.
“She’s also a member of the bar in a city that just last year had a huge scandal in the D.A. and mayor’s offices.” Jim crossed his arms.
“These are federal charges,” Aisha protested.
“I’m aware of who I work for,” he said dryly. “If it helps, I believe Carol thought she was protecting her husband and son. But let’s face it, she kidnapped Harri and planned to murder Trubble. I can’t get a plea deal to fly. Not right now.”
“Did you argue the money coming out of the taxpayers’ pockets by taking this to trial? Not to mention burying an upstanding judge as collateral damage?”
“Girlfriend, give me a little credit.” Jim made a face at her.
“What about bail?”
He shook his head.
Aisha nodded. “Okay. Thanks for trying.” She returned to her seat.
“What did he say?” Carol whispered.
“No leeway,” Aisha murmured. “His boss thinks your case is a slam dunk.”
“Damn.” Carol stared at her shackled wrists. “I’m so screwed if I go to prison.”
“Don’t give up just yet,” Aisha said. “Let’s give the judge a chance.” Carol was totally right though, but Aisha couldn’t give in to despair. She hadn’t lied about Carol’s chances, but neither could she look at the glass as half-full like Harri did.
However, part of her wished Susan was handling the arraignment. The newest partner had a lot more trial experience. But they needed to look out for Mother Defiant’s interests, and the superhero preferred Susan. Harri was right about it being a nuisance suit from Dewey & Cheatham, but maybe they should have sent one of their super clients with Susan to watch her back. Aisha still had a sneaking suspicion Dewey & Cheatham were in bed with the dismantled black ops group Corvus.
Carol snorted softly. “I’ve been in front of Judge Castillo before as an attorney. He likes throwing books at people. Especially attorneys who do dumb shit.”
Aisha kept her mouth shut. Insulting her client wasn’t going to help the situation. She also didn’t want to give Carol false hope, but maybe, just maybe, she could get the judge to recuse himself.
“All rise,” the U.S. marshal acting as bailiff called out. “The United States District Court, District of Southern Mojave, is now in session. The Honorable Judge Francis Castillo presiding.”
The judge strode into the courtroom. He was medium height with salt and pepper hair and beard. His black robes rustled when he dropped heavily into his chair. “Be seated.”
For once, Aisha didn’t have to nudge her client to stand or sit in court. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
While everyone resumed their seats, his clerk handed him the first case file and he flipped it open as he put on his black plastic reading glasses. “The United States versus Inunza.”
Aisha, Carol, and Jim stood.
Judge Castillo looked up from the paperwork. He ignored Aisha and Jim, and his attention focused Carol. His expression was a cross between anger and a disappointed dad. Aisha crossed her fingers, praying he would say something, anything, truly stupid, in order for her to move for him to recuse himself from Carol’s case.
Alarmed murmurs and the slaps and clicks soles and heels on the tile came from the hallway. Something was going on outside the courtroom. Aisha turned to look.
“Am I boring you, Counselor?” the judge snapped.
“Sir, I think we need to evacuate the court—” Aisha started.
The bang of the public doors of the courtroom crashing open made everyone look toward the back. A security guard panted. “Judge, we need to clear everyone through your—”
A shot rang out, and the guard collapsed, blood drenching the front of his uniform. Shrieks and shouts from the other attorneys, accused, and spectators filled the air.
Masked people in black rushed inside, armed to the teeth. The lead invader aimed and fired. The bailiff didn’t even have a chance to draw his weapon before he went down in a spray of red.
Instinct kicked in. Aisha pulled Carol off her chair and down to the carpeted floor before she covered her client’s body with her own.
“Get on the floor!” one of the assailants yelled. Everybody who hadn’t done so already, including Judge Castillo, hit the carpet.
Someone poked something metal in Aisha’s back. She tensed, waiting for the bullet that would tell the whole world she was a super.
“Are you Aisha Franklin?” a gruff masculine voice said.
She gritted her teeth and raised her hands. Something in her gut said he already knew who she was. “Yes. I’ll cooperate. Please don’t hurt anyone else.”
“Get up,” he ordered.
She slowly and carefully got to her feet. The leader was around six foot tall. From the snug and proper way his tactical gear fit, not only did he know exactly what he was doing, there wasn’t an ounce of fat under his clothing.
He slammed an item on the defendant’s table. “Call the Ghost Owl. We want him in return for the hostages.”
Aisha stared at the cheap burner cell phone.
Well, crap. Maybe hiding her superhero identity’s gender wasn’t such a smart move after all.
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