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Tori’s brow furrows. “But he still wanted to sleep with you?”
Swallowing the last of my wine, I resist a third glass. “He said that this morning, right after he told me he was moving out.”
“After you had sex last night,” she clarifies, confused.
“Yeah, and after I yelled his brother’s name when I came.”
Tori nearly spits out her wine and quickly pulls the glass away from her lips to gape at me. Her stare continues for a long moment until she suddenly bursts into laughter. She slaps a hand over her mouth way too late and leans over to put her glass on the table.
“I’m…sorry. It’s not…I know it’s not funny,” she manages, still laughing her ass off.
“It was mortifying!”
She covers her face, her shoulders shaking. Laughter is contagious, especially if you have a good wine buzz, and giggles begin to spill out of me too.
“Poor Oliver has not had a good twenty-four hours,” she says, shaking her head.
Tears pour down my face through my giggles until I can’t tell if I’m laughing or crying. It’s all so insane. Everything that’s happened. Just horrible and macabre and fucking ridiculous. How has this become my life?
After we both calm down, Tori hugs me. “There’s nothing to feel guilty about. No one would judge you or Oliver. If they do, they have no right. You don’t have to figure this out right now.”
“No, all that matters now is getting him out of jail and proving he had nothing to do with the robbery.”
“And once that’s accomplished, you need some space. Some time apart. Him moving back to his apartment is a good start. Get some distance and perspective.”
It’s the opposite of what I want, especially now. He needs me.
CHAPTER2
After a brief meeting with Oliver’s lawyer this morning, Milo, Smith, Tori, and I sit in the gallery of courtroom four. Oliver is led in wearing the same clothes that he was arrested in. He glances back at me and nods. Exhaustion is written over every inch of him.
I’m not familiar with court proceedings, other than what I’ve seen on TV, but Lowell explained that this would go quickly. He’ll hear the charges and they’ll argue for bail. That’s the most important part today. If they choose to remand him, he could stay locked up until trial. The thought has my stomach in knots while I listen to the exchange taking place.
The court clerk is a thin, older woman with a voice that carries. “Your honor, Mr. Stokes is now present. Mr. Stokes, you are charged with conspiracy to commit murder. A plea of not guilty has been entered.”
The judge is scary. His expression gives nothing away as he peruses the file in front of him. He looks to the assistant district attorney. “Can we hear the facts from the state?”
“Good morning, your honor. Jason Hanlon for the state. On April second, Alden Stokes and Kevin Thornton were shot and killed in the commission of an armed robbery at The Stop Along convenience store at 637 Bowen Street. Two suspects, Dean and Connor Warren, have been apprehended and held in custody. On November thirteenth, we received a signed confession from Dean Warren stating that Oliver Stokes hired him to rob the store at that particular time to murder Alden Stokes. A search warrant has been executed at Mr. Stokes’ home and business, Stokes Brothers Custom Cycles. Detective Victor Ramos arrested Mr. Stokes yesterday morning to be arraigned here today.”
A confession? That’s why he was arrested? On the word of some lowlife, robbing, murdering asshole?
The judge pauses to finish whatever he’s reading, then asks, “Does the state have a recommendation for bail?”
“Due to the seriousness of the offense, the state requests that a bail of one million dollars be set to ensure his return to court.”
I’m relieved they aren’t requesting remand, but a million dollars? Even under bond, that would be a hundred thousand to get him out. I’m doing well, but I don’t have a hundred grand lying around.
The judge doesn’t blink at the request which makes me think it isn’t out of the ordinary or unreasonable to him. My eyes fill while I swallow back a knot. Smith reaches over and takes my hand.
“Response from the defense?” the judge asks, looking down at Lowell.
“Your honor, Attorney Richard Lowell on behalf of Mr. Stokes. My client has no prior convictions or arrests. He was gravely injured during the robbery in question, remained in a coma for over two months, and now suffers from multiple mental deficits for which he is receiving medical care. He has been diagnosed with amnesia and has no memory of himself or anything before his injury. He’s an upstanding businessman with strong community ties. There’s no evidence that he would be a flight risk. We ask that he be released on his own recognizance and he would agree to wear a GPS monitor.”
The judge looks down at him over his glasses. “You want me to O.R. on a murder charge?”
Lowell smiles. “These are unique circumstances, your honor.”
The judge considers it for a moment. “Having heard these arguments, I’m setting the bail at five hundred thousand. Should you post bail, additional conditions are imposed. The defendant will surrender his passport. He will also wear a GPS monitor and remain inside the city limits at all times.”
