A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow

Author:Robert Whitlow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsChristianPublishing
Published: 2017-08-02T04:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

LUKE FELT NUMB when the detention officer at the jail took his photo and rolled his fingerprints. He wondered if the mug-shot picture would be published in the newspaper the following day. Afterward, he sat alone for half an hour on a chair in the hallway near the booking station. There was nothing to do except stare at the concrete floor painted a glossy gray and marred by scuff marks left by the black-soled shoes of detention officers. No one was in the nearby drunk tank, and the jail was quiet as a tomb. The door near the booking area clanged open, and Theo Grayson appeared.

“Let’s go,” the lawyer said. “Magistrate Caldwell set your bail at $100,000, and Clayton Jones posted a property bond. He’s aware that one of the superior court judges could increase bail on his own accord or upon request of the DA’s office. Just make sure you don’t say or do anything that will give the judge assigned to the case an excuse to revoke bond or increase it to a level that Clayton won’t touch.”

“What would make the judge do that?”

“Harassing a witness or making statements that you might leave town.”

“I wouldn’t do either one of those things.”

“Then I suggest you stay away from Stan Jackson and don’t investigate the case on your own,” Grayson said.

“I didn’t hassle him.”

“That’s not what the DA claims.”

“What?!”

“Hold on,” Grayson said in a calm voice. “This happens. People are already saying crazy things about you.”

“Yeah,” Luke admitted. “But it’s tougher coming from someone like the DA, who’s in law enforcement.”

They left the booking area and went through another secure door. Outside, Luke took a deep breath. Even his limited time in the confined area had felt like a crushing weight. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like as his day-to-day existence. They got in Grayson’s fancy car.

“I’m still working on finding a lawyer who can take on primary responsibility for your case,” Grayson said as he pulled out of the parking lot. “Judge Andrews knows my role is limited. If I were thirty years younger, he could force me to represent you, but that’s not going to happen now.”

“I wish it would,” Luke replied.

“One step at a time. Let’s get you home to Jane and your little girl. If the reporter from the newspaper tries to ask any more questions, refer her to me.”

“I’ve always refused to talk to them, which hasn’t done me any good.”

“But it hasn’t made things worse.”

Luke wasn’t sure how things could get worse. Grayson turned onto the main road away from the center of town.

“How is Hamlin doing?” Luke asked. “Has there been any improvement in his condition?”

“As far as I know, he’s still in a coma, which disqualifies him from having surgery to remove the bullet,” Grayson replied.

“I sure hope he makes it.”

“Yes,” Grayson said, glancing to the side at Luke. “We all know his death would make things a lot worse.”

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