A Puzzle in a Pear Tree by Parnell Hall

Author:Parnell Hall
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Published: 0100-12-31T22:00:00+00:00

30

JUDGE HOBBS SURVEYED HIS COURTROOM WITH DISPLEASURE. It was packed, which was unprecedented for a simple arraignment. But the venerable jurist understood the situation perfectly. The defendant was an attractive young woman. The defense attorney was an attractive young woman. And the crime was sensational. How often does the Virgin Mary get bumped off? The TV guy had even tried to bring his camera into court. Judge Hobbs had put an end to that. Even so, the TV crew was doubtless hanging out on the front steps waiting to shoot interviews.

Judge Hobbs scowled, picked up his gavel, banged the courtroom quiet.

“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Somewhat against my better judgment I have allowed spectators for whom there are no seats. This privilege is not irrevocable. If you can’t be quiet, you can leave. I would imagine most of you are here because you expect a show. Well, you’re not going to get one. I’m sorry to be a killjoy, but this is not fun. A girl has been murdered. A young woman has been charged. This is an arraignment for the purpose of binding her over for trial.”

Becky Baldwin rose to her feet. “I object to that, Your Honor.”

Judge Hobbs froze with his mouth open and his finger raised, midpontification. He turned to the defense table in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“Excuse me, Your Honor,” Becky Baldwin rejoined. “But I object to Your Honor making statements as to the outcome of these proceedings. Surely the defendant has some rights.”

“And I assure you none of them will be violated,” Judge Hobbs said dryly. “Now, if you will allow me to proceed . . .”

“Certainly,” Becky said, and sat down.

Judge Hobbs scowled, nettled. He turned to the prosecution table, where Henry Firth sat fumbling with his papers. “Mr. Prosecutor, what have we here?”

A little man with a thin mustache and a twitchy nose, Henry Firth had always reminded Cora of a rat. He located the document he wanted, looked up, and said, “Your Honor, this is the case of the People versus Sherry Carter with regard to the death of Doris Taggart. We ask that the defendant be bound over on the charge of murder in the first degree and attempted murder in the first degree.”

Becky shot to her feet. “Make up your mind,” she said. “Is it murder or attempted murder?”

Judge Hobbs banged the gavel. “Young lady, I will thank you to address the court and not opposing counsel.”

“Your Honor, I will thank you to address me as Ms. Baldwin rather than by a pejorative sexist term.”

“Then you’re outta luck,” Judge Hobbs informed her. “If you were a male attorney your age, I’d address you as young man. If you want equal footing, you can’t have it both ways. Now, then, Miss Baldwin, what is your problem?”

“Speaking of having it both ways, Your Honor, the prosecutor is charging the defendant with murder and attempted murder. Any crime that is committed is also attempted. Not that my client did either. Still, this would seem like a case of the prosecutor gratuitously piling up the charges.

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