Kidnapped by a Client by Sharon R. Muse

Author:Sharon R. Muse
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781510735958
Publisher: Skyhorse
Published: 2019-02-15T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

THAT’S JUST WHAT WE DO

Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.

—JONATHAN SWIFT

“Sharon, remember what we talked about on your back porch?” Steve began slowly, his soothing voice belied the white of his face. “Remember we were talking about juries, how difficult they can be, how they often make decisions that make no sense? Didn’t we decide that if they came to you with twenty years, you would accept it as opposed to the risk of a trial?”

“Things were different then,” came my quick reply. That conversation was calm, with a rational me, not the Gideon-like warrior I had become. I could face any odds because God was going in front of me. “No, I want a trial and a life sentence. Twenty years just means a twenty-year countdown until Morrison gets out to come back for me.”

After a long talk, I agreed with Steve. I trusted his judgment better than mine right now. My head was spinning. Twenty years was better than a gamble, and maybe this was the Gideon version. I didn’t have to do anything, just accept the plea. If I’d had any idea how strong the testimony was from the other witnesses, I’m not sure Steve nor I would have agreed to twenty years. Absent communication from the prosecutor, I would take what I could get.

“Call them back, Sharon. This judge will not go against your wishes, so you have to approve it.”

I called Arnett and agreed to the plea.

I sat quietly stunned at what just happened as Steve reassured me this was great news.

Still thirty minutes out on the ninety-minute ride to the courthouse, Steve sped up leaving my caravan of friends behind. He wanted me in front of Judge Johnson posthaste. Steve parked, and we practically ran to the building. My caravan was streaming in as we crossed the street. I gave them a brief rundown and told them to come in as fast as they could. The trial was over.

We made our way to the courtroom to find it empty. No judge, no Morrison. A bailiff approached to usher us to a conference room where witnesses wait during trial and where the jury deliberates. We filled the space in the room as my friends filed in behind me.

Everyone was quiet.

Gordie, Trooper Arnett, and Detective Murrell were seated at the conference table waiting for me. Gordie informed us the Judge Johnson did not want to wait for me to arrive and moved forward with Morrison’s guilty plea. I’m thankful. No need to give him the time to change his mind.

Arnett said he recorded the guilty plea. His lack of training had certainly caused me great pain up until now, but I appreciated that he made the effort to document the plea for me. Through the static, we could hear the judge walk Morrison through a lengthy colloquy. The judge asked if Morrison was on any medication, and if so, did this mediation in any way

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.