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For me.
“Now, as we discussed yesterday, today is a preliminary hearing. In reality, it’s only a formality.”
Avery eyed Tensen, a question that had formed the day before coming to his lips. “I don’t understand why we have bother with this judge. Does he have the power to rule on my case?”
“Yes, but he has no power to change the law, which is what we want. The only way to do that isthroughhim. He’ll likely uphold the guilty verdict from your first appearance. Then we proceed to a full hearing before the Tribunal panel.”
“Oh,” Avery murmured. “So there’s no chance I’ll get out today.”
Tensen frowned, warmth in his expression. “I’m afraid not.”
“How long will it take before I can see another court date?”
“Another month, more than likely,” Rohan said, his voice low.
“Another month?”
“We’ll have to wait for the results of today’s hearing before we can submit argument to the Tribunal. We have to follow the correct procedure.” Tensen tapped his laptop. “I’ve already got the brief drafted. After the trial, I’ll fine-tune it per what happens today, if need be, and submit it by the end of the day.”
“Thank you… for doing all this,” Avery commented. “I realize it’s not exactly your normal services.”
“No,” Tensen said. “But it’s definitely a hell of a lot more interesting. I didn’t realize how bored I’d become with handling surrogacies until your case came along.”
“Perhaps you’ve found another calling?” Rohan asked.
“If Avery’s appeals make the difference we hope they do, perhaps I have,” Tensen agreed.
“Actually, I have another question for you,” Avery asked Tensen.
“Go ahead.”
“You met with Tulla?”
Tensen’s face darkened. “I did.”
“I never gave you his name. How did you find him?”
“My investigators found him. It didn’t take long for them, either, but then, my guys are top notch.” Tensen cocked his head to the side. “How did you find out I’d spoken with Tulla? No one’s harassing you in there, are they?”
Avery thought back to Tulla’s hands around his throat. “Tulla’s my new cellmate.”
Tensen’s eyes widened for a heartbeat before he shook his head. “I told him it had been too easy to find him… and that the Red Guard might follow behind me.”
“You swear to me you didn’t give the Guard his name?”
Tensen frowned. “No… I didn’t.” He scribbled something onto his legal pad. “Itoldhim to hide. I knew this was going to happen. Hopefully, they’re not calling him up as a witness today.”
Avery frowned. “What use would bringing Tulla in offer the prosecution?”
“We plan to plead for the drug charges to be dropped. They don’t have physical evidence you were on them. They found no bottles or pills in the cottage, nor did they think to drug test you when they arrested you. Without proof, they can’t charge you.”
“Theyhaveto realize I was on something or else I wouldn’t have lasted as long as I did.”
“They likely do. But can they prove you were? No,” Rohan answered. “We’re operating from a presumption of guilt, but that can be overturned if there is insufficient evidence to sustain that presumption. In other words, they still have to prove their case.”
“If they put Tulla on the stand… and he confesses to selling you the drugs, then we lose that chance,” Tensen said. “So, no. Ididn’tgive the Guard Tulla’s name. I didn’t want him to be found.”
“We don’t know that he’d confess to a crime. It wouldn’t benefit him,” Rohan said.
