35 - Court

*ADA Aldridge is trying to make a reputation for himself. He’s not going to like the one he gets. – Erin*
Camille stepped off her bike and unhooked Tink from his seat. After removing the safety harness, she made sure that his service dog vest showed the appropriate badging that was needed.
Trigg placed a protective arm around her shoulders as they followed Celt and Erin, the local lawyer, into the courthouse. She looked up at the boxy cream-colored limestone and glass building that was the epitome of the Depression Modern style.
Inside, the building had finishes and details that continued the Depression Modern style that could be described as a mix of Art Modern and Art Deco. The streamlined, geometric lines gave way to luxuriously crafted details that had been carved by hand by talented, and hungry, PWA craftsmen during the Great Depression.
The group sat in the pew style seating and put Camille as close to the front as possible. Her parents and Gator sat on one side of her while Celt and Erin sat on the other. A few other Saints, Cajuns and Renegades sat on the row behind them. The three presidents, Roscoe, Gator and Trigg, limited the number of people going. They took only the ones that might be needed to testify.
Doors on the side of the courtroom opened and a long line of prisoners entered. Several were in cheap suits provided by their lawyers and others wore the standard county prisoner orange. Darkness was led into the courtroom near the end of the line and his eyes fell on her.
Camille smiled when she saw him, and they both relaxed a little. She couldn’t help the sigh of relief that escaped her as her shoulders relaxed and she slumped slightly. With her eyes only on her man, she did not see her mother elbow Trigg in the ribs as a warning. Or the same warning given to Roscoe on the other side of her.
Darkness wore an expensive, tailored suit that Celt had picked out. Dark bluish black double breasted with a stark white shirt and blue tie with the Navy’s seal on it. The judge was a navy veteran himself and would recognize it.
Celt and his firm were known for their research, attention to detail and presentation in their now infamous binders. The thicker the binder, the more information that they had on their opposition. Camille had heard the story of when Mia’s kids were kidnapped a few years back and Celt’s father, Phineas, pulled out multiple binders to the dismay of Mia’s ex-husband, Donald.
Darkness couldn’t help but smile as his eyes took in Camille. The gray sweater dress and black silk undershirt hugged her body perfectly. She shifted and he saw the knee-high boots that he loved so much over burgundy leggings. The grin she gave him told him that she knew.
The deputy nudged him, and he turned to apologize. The man looked in the direction that Darkness indicated. Under the scrutiny of both men, Camille felt herself blushing slightly. Trigg cleared his throat and Sid elbowed him again.
“Woman!” he hissed out quietly.
Grinning the deputy slapped Darkness on the back of his shoulder and said something. Laughing, he shook his head at the uniformed man. He said something and the deputy nodded.
After all the prisoners were seated, the deputy walked over to the gallery.
“Camille?” he asked, and she nodded and accepted the hand the officer extended. “Deputy Hayes, I’ve worked with Tomlinson before. I told Amos he doesn’t deserve anyone as pretty as you. He agreed. He’s a lucky man, young lady.”
“Thank you.” She blushed even brighter.
Releasing her hand, Hayes tipped his head towards the prisoners. “He’s a good man.”
As the deputy walked away, Trigg made a motion to Darkness letting him know he was being watched. The man nodded in acknowledgement as Sid rolled her eyes.
“Woman!” Trigg hissed again as Gator muttered under his breath. Both men rubbed their ribs where her elbow had connected again.
Gator shook his head slowly and the dark man simply grinned and shrugged. Darkness would take whatever punishment his president gave him. And if he had to do it over again, he would still break the rules and orders.
The judge entered and the room was sworn in before they slowly made their way through the cases. Finally, nearing lunchtime, Darkness was brought over to the table and Celt joined him on the opposite side from his lawyer.
“Miss Roger, can you please tell me who is joining you today?”
Erin Roger smiled. “This is Sean O’Malley of O’Malley, Tully and Burch.”
“Mr. O’Malley, are you also representing Mr. Johnson?”
“No, your honor, I am merely assisting. My client is Miss Camille Johanson.”
“I do not see that name on my docket.” The judge said looking over his papers. He looked to his assistant who checked the computer before shaking his head no. “Mr. Aldridge, is this a last minute add?”
“No, your honor.” The ADA answered in confusion.
“If I may, your honor?”
“Please, Miss Roger.” Judge Aiken nodded.
“On the night in question, my client was with Miss Johanson.” Erin clarified.
“Your honor, defense wishes us to believe that Mr. Johnson, a thirty-nine-year-old black man, drove six hours to have pancakes with a then eighteen-year-old white woman.”
“Your honor, I am a Harvard man myself, but I assume that my colleague also learned about Loving versus Virginia at Princeton.”
“I assure Mr. O’Malley that we did learn about Loving at Princeton. I just do not see the relevance to this case.”
“Nor do I see the relevance of pointing out that my client is of a different race from the accused.” Celt said innocently. “Unless your personal opinions are influencing your duties.”
“Enough.” The judge said ending the bantering. “I fear that Mr. O’Malley has raised a valid point. Was there a reason for you mentioning their races?”
The up and coming ADA stammered for a brief moment. “Just that it seems very unlikely that such a couple would be together. They have a vast age difference and the difference in their races would only make such a relationship even more difficult.”
“Although I am sure that they appreciate your concern, let us stick with the facts of the case. Miss Roger,” the judge turned his attention back to Erin, “do you have any proof that Mr. Johnson was with Miss Johanson at the time of the alleged assault?”
Erin smiled and handed over the binder to the bailiff. It was what O’Malley, Tully and Burch used, it was quick, efficient, organized. And intimidating. She liked it and decided to implement it in her own office.
“We have affidavits from Miss Johanson, Miss Danisha Smith, who is a waitress at the IHOP they were at, and Mr. David Wells, a member of the Baton Rouge chapter of the Louisianna Cajuns. We also have credit card receipts from where Mr. Johnson stopped for gas and when he paid for their meal.”
She handed over a second binder to the DA. “There are also two logs from when his GeauxPass was activated. These include the time stamps and camera footage. We have also enclosed closed-circuit video footage of them at the restaurant-.”
“Enough.” The judge shook his head. “Was this provided to the DA’s office?”
“After they refused to release my client when Miss Bell recanted her story, we did offer proof to the DA's office.” Erin pulled out a copy of the email thread. “We were informed that, and I quote, we are not interested in this so-called evidence that you have fabricated.”
She held a copy out for the ADA. “If you would like to see the full exchange, there is a printed copy behind the last tab of the binder.”
Erin smiled sweetly at the ADA. “You’ll also find a copy of Miss Bell’s bank statement, obtained through a warrant issued by Judge Cavett, showing a deposit of $5000 the day before she filed her complaint and another $5000 on the next consecutive three days.”
“Your honor, this man is a member of the Cajuns Motorcycle Club. At the time of the assault, he and others were staying with the Renegades.” He emphasized Renegades.
“But obviously, this crime that he has been charged with, was not committed.” Erin pointed out.
“Why exactly were they even here, if not for some nefarious reason?” the ADA countered.
“The Patriots Charity Run benefitting several veterans’ charities.” Celt answered. “I was here the same week for it.”
“Mr. Aldridge, if you believe that the Renegades are involved in a crime, build a case on that. I see nothing here indicating that Mr. Johnson committed any of the crimes he is charged with.” The judge declared.
“All charges are being dropped and wiped from his record. Mr. Johnson, I apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your service.”
Darkness nodded. “Thank you, your honor.”