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Marx scoffed. ‘Pure speculation. The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.’
Ella's hands clenched into fists. She knew the Red Diamonds existed. She had seen firsthand the devastation they caused, even captured three of them with her own hands. She wanted to scream, to show Marx all the evidence she had amassed over the years, but she couldn't. This was the courtroom's game, and she had to let it play out.
A representative from the Virginia County Police raised his palm. ‘Your Honor, if I may. We have testimonies. Witnesses who have seen the operations of the Red Diamonds, individuals who have barely escaped with their lives. This isn't just about Mr. Pindell; it's about exposing a dangerous organization that's been operating with impunity for far too long.’
Ripley, Ella's partner, gripped her wrist. She, too, must have been feeling the tension.
Marx continued, ‘Your Honor, we are going off-topic. The matter at hand is whether Mr. Pindell should be granted bail. My client is innocent until proven guilty, and he has rights. Denying him bail based on speculation and hearsay is unconstitutional. Mr. Pindell is nothing more than a businessman. He’s operated D.C. Freezer Hire for thirty-eight years.’ Marx waved a handful of papers. ‘Tax records, employment records, sales records. If he was operating some kind of assassination business, these records wouldn’t be so detailed.’
Ella could feel a cold anger building inside her. The manipulation, the carefully crafted façade – it was all a ruse. And worst of all, she could see how it might work in a court of law. Ella couldn’t admit ninety percent of the evidence she had on Logan because she’d acquired it outside of the law. All she had was a voice recording of Logan claiming to have killed three-hundred people, but voice sample or not, it wasn’t enough to land Logan a lifetime behind bars. The recording had no context and wasn’t hard evidence of anything.
Ripley leaned over, whispering in Ella's ear. ‘He's playing the game. But we have our cards too.’
‘If he gets bail, I don’t know what I’ll do,’ Ella said.
The police representative said. ‘Your Honor, while Mr. Marx has presented records of Mr. Pindell's legitimate business, this does not negate the other evidence we have that ties him to the Red Diamonds and the charges he is currently facing. The legitimate front of a business can often be used to mask the illicit activities underneath. We have testimonies, recordings, and physical evidence connecting Mr. Pindell to these crimes.’
Marx countered, ‘Again, these are mere speculations, Your Honor. Accusations without concrete evidence.’
‘That warehouse is under D.C. Freezer Hire,’ Marx began, ‘And you conducted a thorough search of the place, did you not? Where were the dead bodies that my client was apparently stockpiling?’
‘We didn’t…’
‘Enough,’ the judge’s voice boomed. ‘This isn’t the place for argument. Save it for the trial.’
Marx returned to his seat.
The judge continued, ‘I've heard both sides. The charges against Mr. Pindell are indeed severe. However, considering his ties to the community and his willingness to defend against these accusations in court, I will set bail. Given the gravity of the charges, the bail will be set at one million dollars.’
Ella felt as if she'd been punched in the gut. A million dollars was a drop in the bucket for someone with Logan's connections. She watched in horror as Lionel Marx whispered into Logan's ear, a smile crossing his face.
She turned to Ripley. ‘He's going to walk, Mia. He's going to walk, and we both know he won't stick around for the trial. He'll disappear, and we'll never find him again.’
Ripley squeezed Ella's wrist, her usually composed face showing signs of worry. ‘We won't let that happen. We've come too far. We'll watch his every move. If he tries anything, we'll be there.’
‘Before we adjourn, I'd like to make it known that bail has already been posted for Mr. Pindell.’
Ella's heart stopped. The courtroom erupted into whispers.
Logan’s head spun, a triumphant glint in his eyes. The weight of his gaze crushed her, and it was clear he was sending her a message - he had won this round.
Mia Ripley whispered fiercely, ‘This is not over. It can't be.’
But Ella felt paralyzed, the weight of years of relentless pursuit, and the looming possibility of failure bearing down on her. She could hear her father’s voice in the back of her mind, urging her to keep fighting, to not let Logan win.
The judge continued, ‘Given the sensitive nature of this case and the potential threats Mr. Pindell might face from either the public or from associated individuals, I am ordering that Mr. Pindell be placed in a police-designated housing for his safety until the trial proceedings commence. The location will remain confidential.’
Marx stood up, an objection forming on his lips, but the judge raised a hand to silence him. ‘This decision is non-negotiable. It's as much for Mr. Pindell's safety as it is for ensuring he remains present for his trial.’
‘Minimal security,’ Marx declared. ‘This man has a business to run.’
Logan turned around and grinned again. Ella had to fight the crippling urge to launch herself across the chairs and smash her knuckles into his skull.
‘Minimal security,’ the judge confirmed. ‘Ankle tag. Five-mile radius. Any attempts to remove the tag or go beyond the designated lines will result in arrest, am I clear?’
Logan nodded, his smirk never fading. ‘Crystal clear, Your Honor.’
Ella felt a fury she'd never known. Every fiber of her being was screaming for justice, for her father, and for all the other victims Logan had claimed over the years. The system was bending, bowing to the whims of a monster.
