Innocent by Mary Martinez

Author:Mary Martinez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NYPD, Police procedures, Similar to Sandra Brown, Romantic Suspense, Romance, Mary Martinez, The Beckett Series
Publisher: Mary Martinez
Published: 2018-01-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

It seemed like only yesterday the judge had called for a holiday recess. So why had it felt like time stood still with the verdict hanging over her head the entire break?

Now the day was upon her and it had dawned sunny and cheery, the opposite of what it should have been. How could the first day of her trial not be filled with rain and gloom? Like it had been during the holiday break. Okay, maybe she should look at it in a different way. An omen that the trial would be short and she’d come out declared innocent as she should be.

A knock, then the door opened just enough for her mom to poke her head in. “Christine will be here in a bit, come and have a good breakfast, you’ll need it.”

Jessica pulled herself out of her dressing table chair. “Aren’t you going to the court today?”

“Yes, both your father and I are. We’re taking our car, we weren’t sure if Christine would need to stay for anything. You can ride home with us if she does.”

“Okay, thanks. Is Matt coming too?”

“I think so, he’s at the table, come ask him yourself.”

Christine arrived promptly as usual. “Are you ready?”

Jessica had been nibbling on a bagel to appease her mother, the bread sat like a stone in the pit of her stomach. Her sister would save her from her torture of pretending to have an appetite.

“Chris dear, sit down and have some breakfast.” Her mother nodded to a chair as she deftly tossed some pancakes.

“I’ve already eaten, and I need to fill Jess in on what will happen today.”

Jessica jumped up before her mother could protest more. “Bye, I’ll see you all there. Let me grab my jacket.”

“You look very professional, I’m glad you bought that suit.” Christine complemented her as she followed.

Her mother’s disgruntled voice floated after them. “Those two girls are going to dwindle away to nothing if they don’t eat something.”

*****

Opening statements had flown by and luckily had not been as rough as Jessica had expected. Both attorneys had taken a turn to outline their side. And since she’d read everything and studied as if her life depended on it, which it did, there had been no surprises.

“Let’s grab a sandwich at the deli during lunch recess.” Christine snapped her case shut and stood, looked down at Jessica who remained seated.

“I don’t think I can swallow a bite.”

“Fainting in the courtroom will not win you any brownie points from the judge and the jury. In fact, they’d think you were trying to garner sympathy. You need to be strong. Eat, keep your strength up.”

Jessica sighed and pulled herself out of the wooden court chair. Just like the ones used on Law & Order. She’d been told court would be nothing like the television show. So far it had been the same. Her sister was correct though, she wanted to be strong, not show any weakness to her adversaries. The coach and the three boys.

Once

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