Revenge by Hugh Holton

Author:Hugh Holton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2012-07-07T00:00:00+00:00

The bond hearing went exactly as Franklin Butler had anticipated. Judge Angelica Pate, a no-nonsense jurist from the old school, took a dim view of Morgana’s story that she knew nothing about the men who had spirited her away from the police. The judge had even been guardedly critical of the defense attorney when he also professed ignorance of his client’s whereabouts during the twenty-four-hour period that she was a fugitive from justice. However, a great deal of steam went out of the State’s case when Larry Cole and Judy Daniels were forced to leave the courtroom because of an emergency.

Prosecutor Kim Wong had carried on, and Morgana’s bond had been set at a high—but hardly unreachable for the DeWitt Corporation CEO—half a million dollars. A brief moment of bedlam erupted in the so-far-orderly courtroom when Butler requested that the complaints be amended to reflect the defendant’s name as Morgana DeWitt. Judge Pate had quickly taken back control of the courtroom with a few bangs of her gavel and threats to have anyone ejected who continued to behave in a disorderly fashion. The judge then informed the defense that she would take the name-change issue under advisement before adjourning the proceeding.

In the corridor outside the courtroom, Butler issued a statement to the press: “My client’s trial date has been set for September fifteenth, at which time I promise that she will be proven innocent of all charges, including the onstage murder of Richard Banacek and the escape from custody charges.”

“Attorney Butler,” asked Randy Salerno, a tall handsome reporter from WGN TV News, “you made a motion for your client’s surname to be changed from Devoe to DeWitt on the court complaints?”

“That’s correct,” Butler responded, staring deadpan into the bank of cameras facing him.

Salerno quickly asked a follow-up question. “Is your client the daughter of Margo and Neil DeWitt?”

“She is,” Butler responded, before using his formidable strength to forge a way through the media throng, which had erupted with questions. As Butler and his chauffeur ushered Morgana toward the exit, the attorney called back to them, “I have no further comment at this time.”

Morgana remained mute during the bond hearing and the impromptu Criminal Courts Building press conference. Later, that pose, caught by the still and television cameras, would draw comparisons between the young woman and the notorious serial killer who was alleged to be her mother, Margo DeWitt.

On the ride back from the courthouse, Morgana said very little despite Butler’s attempts to make small talk in the wake of the successful legal proceeding and appearance before the media. The attorney attempted to gauge her mood, and he initially believed that she was sullen, as if she were pouting. Then he realized that there was something less emotional and a great deal more calculating about her. Ms. Morgana DeWitt, as Butler thought of her now, was deep in thought.

When they arrived at DeWitt Plaza, Morgana hesitated before getting out of the limousine. “I am staying at the Swissotel on Wacker Drive.”

Butler was ready for this.

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.