The detective unlocked the door and ushered her out.He put handcuffs on her wrists but in front of her body instead of pulling her hands behind her back.He walked her down the hall, then to an elevator.They rode down in absolute silence.Then finally he escorted her and into a waiting room in the courthouse.
She sat waiting quietly for a while then when her name was called, Detective Burrios grabbed her arm and pulled her into the courtroom.
She saw Tomas at the defendant’s table but she also saw Shay and half the members of the Hell’s Fire Riders MC in the public seating area.
Kelly didn’t look at anyone directly, especially Shay.She needed to not fall apart here.So she sat down and looked ahead to where the judge sat.
No one said a word.
Finally, the judge looked up from his iPad and stared at Kelly.“Mrs.Montross, do you understand the charges against you?Assault and murder charges.”
Kelly rose to her feet.“I do your Honor, but I didn’t kill Ty Regis.”Her voice didn’t waver.
The Judge shook his head.“This isn’t a trial, Mrs.Montross, this is just a bail hearing.”The judge looked beyond her table at the members of the MC.“I understand you have ties to the MC in the area.I also understand that they are putting their hard fought for reputations on the line here as well.”
“Your Honor,” Kelly spoke up.“I didn’t kill Mr.Regis.So I’m not going to run away from this.”
Tomas interrupted her.“Your Honor, Mrs.Montross has ties to the area.She also isn’t going to disappear.She wants the truth to come out and to clear her name.”
The Judge nodded.Then he spoke, “Bail is set at 250 thousand.I suggest you stay in town, Mrs.Montross.We’ll get the trial onto the calendar soon.”
Shay stood as did the other Riders.
The judge nodded at Pappy then called in the next case.
Detective Burrios stepped over and grasped Kelly’s arm to haul her to the police department part of the courthouse.He didn’t say a word as he led her to another waiting room.She would be there until bail was paid and her attorney came for her.
An hour later...
Tomas came around to collect her and led her out of the waiting room to the outside door.They both knew Detective Burrios and another officer were watching them.
When they stepped outside, Tomas stopped her and asked, “What seems to be that Detective’s problem?”
Kelly shook her head.“I have no clue but I don’t trust him.”
Suddenly, Shay was there and grabbed her up, then he just held her for several minutes.
Now, Kelly relaxed for the first time since the police dragged her out of her home.She simply clung to him like he had just caught her from a long hard fall off of a cliff.In essence that was what all this felt like.
“Are you alright?They didn’t hurt you, did they?”he whispered in her ear.
Kelly shook her head.Then she looked up at him and whispered back, “The detective seemed to judge me guilty even before we got a chance to speak.The Chief put him back in his place but the resentment is still there and it seems to be growing by the minute.”
“But he didn’t touch you last night?”Shay asked her.
More Hell’s Fire Riders came closer.Pappy and Dewey at the front of the group.
Kelly shook her head as she answered Shay, “Not after he put me in the holding cell.But he came by the cell during the night and he didn’t look happy.In fact, I think if the bars weren’t between us he would have taken advantage of the fact.”
Shay growled low.
Pappy looked at the men around him then at Dewey.“I want Trudy to check this Burrios guy out.I want a complete background done on him.If he’s got something to hide I want to know what that secret is.If he’s got ties to the Barron’s I want to know before we go back to court.I have a feeling this case is going to be rushed and we need to know what we’re dealing with here.”
Dewey nodded then texted his wife.
Pappy looked over at Kelly and his expression changed to concern.“Come on, let’s get you home.Your friends are very worried about you.”
Kelly nodded then wrinkled her nose.“Yeah, and I need a hot shower with some industrial soap.”
