CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE
(part two)

“Sandra, nice to see you,” the judge said.

Mouth open with shock, Aden turned in place to look at Sandy. She shrugged at him.

“Uncle Howard,” Sandy said. “How are you?”

“Angry, my dear. Angry,” the judge said. “You must know how heart broken we are about all of this.”

“Your honor, I hardly see…” the District Attorney said jumping to his feet.

The judge pointed at him and he sat down.

“I bring up the fact that I know the victim in the larger case. She is my brother’s step-daughter and my niece,” Judge Alberts said. “Even though I am the senior justice, and this case falls in my specialty, I had no intention of trying any of these cases. My duty was to oversee the entire debacle while other judges can hear these cases. It’s my understanding that death threats have been received by our justices. Is that correct, Lieutenant Robinson?”

“Yes, your honor.” A uniformed police officer stood in the back row of the audience stood. “They are in protective custody.”

“So we have death threats against judges. A pedophile who the Feds were willing to leave roaming the City and County of Denver looking for victims until they got around to arresting him. And surprise, surprise, the cretin ends up dead. The FBI, CIA, UN and a bunch of other people irked at the cretin’s death. In the middle of it all, we have… what was Ms. Hargreaves term? Ah yes, a miniscule assault case.”

Nervous, Aden shifted in his chair.

“Mr. Norsen, no doubt you remember who I am?”

“Yes, sir,” Aden said.

“Do you remember what I said to you the last time we were in a courtroom like this?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good,” the judge said. “Ms. Hargreaves? Your motion to dismiss?”

“Yes, your honor.”

“I’m going to set that matter aside for the moment.”

The judge put his hand over his microphone and said something to his bailiff. The bailiff brought a stack of paper over to Samantha Hargreaves. Samantha looked at the top sheet, then began reading in earnest.

“Mr. Norsen, given my relationship with a relative of the victim in your case, and the victim of the larger case, are you willing to allow me to try this case? That means you would give up any chance to appeal over judicial bias or judicial prejudice.”

“May I have a moment to speak with my attorney?”

“Go ahead,” the judge said. Pointing to the prosecution table, he added. “I need to talk to these guys anyway.”

Aden turned to Samantha. She was digging through the stack of papers.

“What is that?” Aden asked.

“It’s charges!” Samantha’s words came out in a panic induced rush. “And all the documentation about why they should or shouldn’t charge you with… everything. Aden, you’re in real trouble here. I don’t know if even I can defend you. We might want to get someone older, more experienced, and…”

“Samantha, you’re losing it. I’m supposed to lose it today, not you.”

“Oh, right.” Samantha let out a breath then gave him her most beautiful smile. “I’m back.”

“Can they charge me with all of this?”

“Yes,” Samantha said

Denver Cereal continues tomorrow….