Page 99 of Shadow of Justice
“Got it. I’ll keep trying to get a hold of Gus.”
“This isn’t like him,” I said. “Not to check in. Not even with you. Do you think he’s okay?”
I wish Sam were in front of me. I could have read his face. Known for sure what he was thinking. Instead, he gave me what amounted to a party line.
“Gus is good at what he does. If he can’t find this woman, it means she’s unfindable. Either way, I trust him.”
“Okay. But don’t you think he should at least call one of us and tell us that?”
Sam let out a huge sigh. I knew he agreed with me. But he’d never say anything against Gus.
“Mara, my gut’s telling me it’s because he’s found her. We have to trust him.”
“He should call,” I insisted, letting my frustration get the better of me. I clicked off. I had to prepare for what I’d do if I had to rest my case as is. As the minutes ticked away, I felt my options shrinking. And it was time to head to court.
“I’m sorry, she wants what?”Bennett Cutler was enjoying this. He stood at the lectern beside me. I wanted to knock the smug smile right off his face. Behind him, Jamie Simmons looked as relaxed as if he were sitting in his living room, not in a courtroom on trial for his life.
“I just need a bit more time,” I said. “My witness has had some traffic issues.”
“And I will renew my objection to her being able to call this witness at all,” Cutler said. “Holly Logue wasn’t on her witness list.”
“And I’ll renew my response. It’s proper rebuttal. Mr. Cutler has been repeatedly allowed to enter testimony about Dane Fischer’s relationship with the victim. His stunt yesterday opened the door. Ms. Logue has relevant information about the time period Ellie Luke went missing as it pertains to Dane Fischer.”
“Be that as it may,” Judge Saul said. “The elusive Ms. Logue isn’t here. We cannot wait indefinitely. I’m going to ask you point blank, Ms. Brent. Do you know where your witness is?”
I couldn’t lie. But the truth would end this here and now. Where the hell was Gus? I had at least a dozen unanswered calls to him. Never mind how many Sam had placed. Every unspoken doubt I’d had came bubbling to the surface.
This case had changed him. Thrown him off his game. Gotten too far under his skin. I was worried. I prayed he wasn’t at the bottom of a bottle somewhere. Or worse.
“Ms. Brent?” the judge repeated. “Do you or do you not know where your witness is?”
“Detective Ritter is working on getting her here. As I said …”
“Working on it?” Cutler shouted. “Your Honor, enough is enough. Ms. Brent either needs to put up or shut up. She’s stalling for time. She’s wasting the jury’s time as well as everyone else’s in this room.”
“I’m afraid I agree,” Judge Saul said. “I’m sorry. Your witness is either here or she’s not. If she’s not, then we must proceed. Call your next witness, Ms. Brent.”
My knees turned to water. I hadn’t felt like that in a courtroom since I tried my very first case. Unprepared.
There was nobody left to call. So be it. I looked behind me. Sam sat in the back of the courtroom, his face stoic. He gave me the slightest raise of his brow. He had no news for me either. Gus was AWOL.
“Your Honor,” I said. “At this time, the prosecution …”
Sam let out a loud cough that echoed through the courtroom. The door had just opened. Gus walked through, coated in sweat, his face flushed. He held the door open and a tall woman walked through behind him. Gus gave me just the slightest nod.
Holly Logue.
“Your Honor,” I said. “My witness is here. If I could just have thirty minutes to confer …”
“You may not,” Judge Saul said. “You’ve had eighteen hours. Call your witness or rest, Ms. Brent.”
I wished for the gift of telepathy. What had she told Gus? What would she say on the stand? I stared hard at Gus. He nodded again, then mouthed two words.Trust me.
This would have to do.
“I’m ready for the jury to be brought back in,” I said.
Judge Saul motioned to her bailiff. I felt sweat running down my back as the jury filed in and took their seats.
