House of the Silent Moons (Star Lawyers Book 4) by Tom Shepherd

Author:Tom Shepherd [Shepherd, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-20T08:00:00+00:00

Fifteen

A brace of security guards marched Flávio Tavares into the courtroom and down to the empty defense table. The Capitão had shed the yellow-and-red striped prison garb for a single-piece green jumpsuit, but he was still shackled hand and foot. He did not wear any apparent breathing assistance equipment. His A crowd of spectators eagerly watched him approach the Captain-Judge, and most chairs were filled. A few dozen latecomers stood by the windows along the sides of the chamber. Four more Japanese attorneys joined Kaito at the prosecution table.

“Middle son of Tsuchiya, probably assisted by Sakura House’s top barristers,” Suzie said. “If those fuck nuggets get their hands on Flávio, force him to spill the beans—”

“M-double-I will face an enemy with super-weapons from the old Empire.” Tyler rose. “Let’s go to work.”

The judge put his blaster back in the drawer. “So, Flávio, how have you been, lad?”

“I have been better, Colin.”

“That you have. ‘Tis a shame you’ve come to this, isn’t it now?”

“Do I receive a trial, or will you shoot me summarily?”

“Well, yes, I could do that. But all these people have gathered for a beautiful trial. It’s a little amusement they’re craving. So, why don’t we have a trial, and then I’ll blast you?”

“Uh—Your Honor?” Tyler and his team moved forward to the gate separating spectators from trial participants. “May I cross the bar?”

Judge Camran laughed. “Wish we had a bar. I could use a wee nip.” The audience hooted and whistled, thumped their feet. He motioned Tyler forward and the Star Lawyers took positions behind the defense table.

“I am representing Capitão Tavares. He pleads not guilty.”

“And what be your name, young man?”

“Tyler Noah Matthews the Fourth.”

Hundreds of blasters appeared in the hands of aroused spectators, who leapt to their feet. Every weapon pointed at Tyler’s head. Including the Judge’s execution special.

Tyler gulped. “You did hear me say the Fourth, right?”

“Son of Noah Matthews and Admiral Bianca Matthews-Solorio,” the Judge said. “You prance in here with that pedigree, expecting to walk out alive?”

“Your Honor, sir, I have always believed in ‘Honor thy father and thy mother,’ but I’m not particularly keen on dying for them.”

The Captain-Judge laughed and put his blaster away. “Stow your firesticks, everyone. The Free Enterprise League has rules about fair trials and quick executions. Let’s have us one of them. Mr. Matthews, take your place beside this guilty sonuvabitch and let’s have a grand clash of legal combatants.”

“Thank you.” He nodded to his team. “If it please the court, my co-counsels, Your Honor. Lieutenant Lovey Frost, Prince Zenna-Zenn of the Quirt-Thyme Empire, and my fiancé Suzanne London.”

“Well, well. You may have terrible taste in parents, but perhaps your choice of female companionship mitigates the misfortunes of birth.” The Judge did a double take. “By gaw, that is a dog-eared Quirt lawyer and a prince to boot, you say?”

“Absolutely, Your Honor. His Royal Highness Tertiary Sub-Prince Zenna-Zenn Ringadool-Khelida-LeBokk, Junior. Third husband to Empress Veraposta, who rules 2.1 trillion Quirt-Thymeans.” Tyler smiled. “I call him Indigo.”

“Third husband, eh? No wonder you’re here and she’s there.

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