“These were aberrant episodes that will not be repeated,” Justin asserted. “As you have heard, Dr. Reggis is full of remorse for his rash actions.”
Judge Harlowe toyed with his glasses. His eyes wandered to Kim’s. He had to admit the man did look penitent. As well as pitiful. The judge looked at Tracy. The woman’s presence and testimony had impressed him.
“All right,” Judge Harlowe said. “I’ll allow bail, but what has swayed me is not your Ivy League bombast, Counselor, but rather the fact that Dr. Reggis’s former wife has graciously consented to come before this court to attest to his character. With my probate experience, I find that a convincing testimonial. Five thousand dollars bail and trial in four weeks. Next case!”
Judge Harlowe struck his gavel and picked up the next set of papers.
“Excuse me, Your Honor,” Justin said. “There’s no question of flight here, so five thousand dollars is blatantly excessive.”
The judge peered down over the tops of his reading glasses. He raised his eyebrows. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” he said. “And I advise you not to push your client’s luck, Counselor. Next case, please!”
Justin shrugged and beat a hasty retreat back to Kim and Tracy. After gathering his things, he motioned for them to follow him out of the courtroom.
With Justin’s help the bail was quickly posted. In less than a half hour the group emerged from the courthouse out into the overcast, wintery morning. They paused at the base of the courthouse steps. A few isolated snowflakes drifted down from the sky.
“At first I was afraid Harlowe wasn’t going to give you bail,” Justin said. “As the judge implied, consider yourself lucky.”
“Under the circumstances I have a hard time considering myself lucky,” Kim said with little emotion. “But thanks for your help. I apologize for getting you out on a Sunday morning.”
“Glad to do it,” Justin said. “And I’m terribly sorry about Becky. My heartfelt sympathies to you both.”
Kim and Tracy echoed their thanks.
“Well, I better be going,” Justin said. He touched the brim of his hat. “I’ll see you two. My best to you both at this difficult time.”
Justin gave Tracy a peck on the cheek and Kim a handshake before starting off. He got only a few paces away, when he stopped. “A word of advice to you, Kim. Don’t get arrested again. If you do, I can guarantee you won’t get bail. Back-to-back arrests like you’ve managed obviously puts you in a special category.”
“I understand,” Kim said. “I’ll be careful.”
Kim and Tracy watched Justin walk away until he was completely out of earshot. They turned to each other.
“Now I want you to tell me really what happened,” Tracy said.
“I’ll tell you as much as I know,” Kim said flatly. “But I have to get my car. Would you mind giving me a ride out to Higgins and Hancock?”
“Not at all,” Tracy said. “I’d planned as much.”
“We’ll talk in the car,” Kim said.
They started across the street in the direction of the parking lot.
“I’m living a nightmare,” Kim confessed.
“As I said last night,” Tracy responded, “we both need help, and we might be the only people who can give it to each other.”
Kim sighed. “It must seem crazy to you that I’ve plunged headlong into this E. coli crusade. Our daughter is dead and all I want to do is race around like some cloak-and-dagger sleuth.” He shook his head. “All these years I prided myself on being the strong one, but now I see that, really, you’re the one with the inner strength. I know I can’t avoid the fact of Becky’s death forever, but I just can’t look at it now. I hope you can understand that I’m just not ready to deal with it.”
Tracy was silent for a while. Then she reached out and put a hand on Kim’s arm. “I understand,” she said. “And I won’t rush you. I’ll even support you in your quest. But you won’t be able to deny Becky’s death forever.”
Kim nodded his head. “I know,” he whispered. “And thank you.”